International Conflict Management Specialized Concentrations

PhD INCM Specialized Concentrations

Students may earn up to 18 graduate credit hours in any related field - as approved by the curriculum committee - towards the electives requirement. Within these 18 hours, students may choose to specialize their studies toward concentrations within the degree program. 

Concentration Options

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) encompasses the processes and skills used to resolve disputes outside of court systems. Common ADR processes include negotiation, mediation, facilitation, conciliation, dialogue, truth and reconciliation commissions, diplomacy, environmental/public policy/regulatory conflict resolution, and more. Often, third parties lead these processes and employ skills such as listening, framing, agenda setting, convening, intercultural communication, lobbying, advocacy, and multi-level negotiating. This concentration compliments the core curriculum by giving students practical skills needed to both study and lead ADR processes. Conflict Management is, by its nature, an applied field. Therefore, many of the courses in this concentration emphasize the practice of mediation, facilitation, diplomacy, etc. Students will apply the theoretical knowledge gained from the core courses related to Conflict Theory, Socio-cultural Approaches, International Relations, Negotiation, etc. during role-plays and observations of real-life ADR processes.  The courses in this concentration will enhance the ability of students to draw important connections between theory and practice, including the opportunity to network with experienced ADR experts. This concentration will enable students to gain the practical skills and experiences needed to enhance their ability to effectively pursue an academic career or assume a leadership role with in international governmental or non-governmental organizations engaged in dispute and conflict resolution. 

    Required Courses

    • Course
      Title
      Credits

    • INCM 9320 

      OR

       

      MSCM 7220 

      Essentials of International Negotiation: Theory and Practice (offered once every other year)

      Field Study and Field Work Reports (only if INCM 9320 is unavailable, offered every Fall)

      3

       

       

      4

    • MSCM 7205

      OR

       
      INCM 9603 

      Basic Mediation Skills Clinic (offered every Fall)

       

      Essentials of Mediation (offered on demand)

       

      2

       

       

      1

    • MSCM 7355

      OR


      MSCM 7325

      Advanced International Mediation

       

      Advanced Civil Mediation (offered each Spring. Prerequisite = MSCM 7205 or INCM 9603)

       

       

      1

       

      1

    • INCM 9650

      Special Topics in INCM: Allows the student to create a course customized to their specific interests, in collaboration with his/her faculty advisor (offered on demand).

      3

    • PLUS 6 credits from the following course options:
    • MSCM 7500
      Dispute Systems Design (offered once each Summer)
      3
    • MSCM 7355
      Organizational Conflict Management Skills Clinic (offered each Spring)
      1
    • MSCM 7365
      Workplace Conflict Management Skills Clinic (offered each Spring)
      1
    • INCM 9604
      Nonviolent Resistance (offered online)
      1
    • MSCM 7365
      International Humanitarian Crisis Intervention
      (or PhD Level equivalent, offered each Spring, lab fee applies)
      1

    Transfer Credits

    Students with an MS in CM from Kennesaw State University may use the applicable courses from their graduate transcripts to fill the requirements for master’s level courses listed above. Students with relevant graduate level course work from other universities may substitute up to 9 credits with the approval of the Director of the SCMPD. 

    For more information on the Alternative Dispute Concentration:

    Contact Dr. Amanda Reinke, areinke@kennesaw.edu

  • Conflict is inherent in organizations, especially those working within multinational and multicultural contexts. This concentration prepares INCM graduates to teach courses, engage in research, and conduct conflict prevention and management interventions in organizations. Students may choose from a range of courses in the Coles College of Business, INCM and MSCM programs in order to ensure a knowledge base that includes and exceeds the specific discipline of Business/Management. Students will engage in experiential learning through practice opportunities outside of the classroom as well as hands-on learning methods during class periods. This concentration will prepare INCM students to engage in dissertation research focusing on conflict occurring in international organizations or domestic organizations with an international mission, such as: Red Cross, United Nations, World Bank, Carter Center, Heifer International, consulates/embassies, multi-national corporations and more. These organizations are prone to conflicts related to the intercultural natures of their workforce and their missions. Students will leave the concentration with a clear understanding of the origins and interventions necessary for the successful navigation of organizational conflict, along with the ability to teach in a tenure-track position within a School of Business or elsewhere.

    Required Courses

    In addition to the core INCM courses, students may choose from the courses listed below, in consultation with their academic advisor, with the goal of completing 18 credit hours. MBA Director, needs to approve for INCM students to take MBA courses. 

    • Course
      Title
      Credits
    • MSCM 7100
      Introduction to Conflict Management for Managers (offered once a year)
      3
    • MSCM 7500
      Dispute System Design (offered every summer)
      3

    • BLAW 8340

      OR


      MSCM 7220

      Business Negotiation
      (offered once per year)

       

      Negotiation Theory
      (offered every fall)

      3

       


      3

       

    • INCM 9550
      Directed Study: Organizational Conflict Management Interventions (on demand)
      3
    • GBA 7241
      Experiencing Business in a Global Environment
      (offered once per year)
      3
    • GBA 7233
      Personal and Professional Development Planning (offered once per year)
      3
    • MGT 8050
      Managing and Leading Work Behavior
      (offered once per year)
      3
    • MGT 8550
      Consulting Services
      (offered once per year)
      3
    • MGT 8840
      Reinventing Business Leadership
      (offered once per year)
      3
    • MGT 8860
      Managing Projects, Teams, Resources (offered once per year)
      3
    • MGT 8910
      International Management (offered once per year)
      3
    • MGT 8970
      Ethics in Managerial Decision Making
      3
    • GBA 8095
      International Internship (optional, varying crdit)
      1-6

     

    Transfer Credits

    Students coming into the INCM program with a pre-existing Master’s Degree in Business Administration/Management, Organization Psychology or related courses may use transfer credits to fulfill requirements, with the permission of their academic advisor or director of the INCM program. Any student who has already completed 18 or more graduate credit hours from an accredited MBA program (or related Business or Industrial-Organizations Psychology program) may transfer up to 12 credits from that degree to fulfill this concentration, leaving 2 courses to be taken at KSU. All transfer credits must be approved by the Associate Director of SCMPD and/or the Director of SCMPD, in consultation with the faculty affiliated with this concentration.

    For More Information:

    Contact Dr. Amanda Reinke, areinke@kennesaw.edu

 

 

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