Description
The doctoral program, the first of its kind in the United States, provides advanced study for students in the fields of conflict and conflict resolution. Students are prepared for careers as researchers, theoreticians, and teachers in higher education, and as policy administrators, analysts, and consultants in both the public and private sectors.
The program stresses a close link between knowledge of theory and of process in the resolution of conflict. For this, training in the methods of research and analysis is necessary and is emphasized. In addition, students are expected to obtain a background in a substantive area of conflict, usually related to the topic of the dissertation.
Degree Requirements
For students with a master's degree, a total of 57 credits are required.
Required Core Doctoral Courses
CONF 801 Introduction to Conflict Analysis and Resolution - 3 credits
CONF 900 Integrating Theory/Practice/Method in Conflict Analysis (Final Spring) 3 credits
Foundation Courses: Students take 15 credits of required foundation coursework with student options in areas of theory research and practice; each class is 3 credits:
Theory (6 credits)
Any 2 of the flowing 3 classes:
CONF 802 Micro Theories - 3 credits
CONF 803 Macro Theories - 3 credits
CONF 804 Alternative Theoretical Foundations - 3 credits
Research (6 credits)
Any 2 of the flowing 3 classes:
CONF 811 Quantitative Foundations - 3 credits
CONF 812 Qualitative Foundations: Social Sciences - 3 credits
CONF 813 Qualitative Foundations: Humanities - 3 credits
Practice (3 credits)
Any 1 of the flowing 2 classes:
CONF 713 Interpersonal and Intergroup Conflict - 3 credits
CONF 890 Applied Practice & Theory- 3 credits
Specialization Courses: Students take 9 credits of graduate level specialization courses, evenly distributed across the areas of theory, research and practice. The doctoral coordinator must approve courses.
Elective Courses: 15 elective credits must be completed prior to comprehensive exams (credit for prior relevant graduate level degrees.
Dissertation: Students are required to complete 12 combined units of CONF 998 (Dissertation Proposal- up to 6 credits) and CONF 999 (Dissertation Research- up to 12 credits). Students must have a signed dissertation proposal in order to register for CONF 999.
Applied Practice and Theory (APT)
The APT program is a six-credit course running yearlong. It is designed to take the concepts presented in class and practiced in labs into real situations with conflict and consequences. Students work in teams integrating research and practice with theory development and applied ethics.
Students with an M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University may have the course total required for doctoral degree, reduced by up to 15 credits. The actual number of the credit reduction is determined in consultation with the student's advisor and the program coordinator, after a review of courses taken.
Students entering with graduate credit or degrees (M.A., M.S. or J.D.) may have required course load reduced by up to 15 credits. The actual number of applied credits is determined in consultation with the student's advisor and the program coordinator, after a review of courses taken.
Every doctoral student must show competence in a foreign language (that is, a language other than the native tongue), preferably before taking comprehensive exams ("comps"). This requirement must be completed before beginning the dissertation. On no account are dissertations accepted without evidence of meeting this requirement. Overseas students may use English as their foreign language and the TOEFL examination as a demonstration of competency. The Department of Modern and Classical Languages has ruled that American Sign Language or computer languages cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
Advancement to Ph.D. Candidacy
Upon completing course work (except dissertation) listed on the Program of Studies and passing written comprehensive exams, students will be advanced to candidacy. A candidate is permitted five years from the advancement date to complete the dissertation.
PhD Plan of Study Form
Comprehensive Exam and Dissertation Submission Guides
can be found on the John Burton Library page
For more information on the Ph.D Program,
please consult the S-CAR Student Handbook
Each year S-CAR is able to offer funding to a limited number of PhD students. Applications are reviewed carefully for funding decisions. Once the initial offers go out, students offered funding have until April 15th to accept. Any funding packages that are not accepted at that point will be offered to other admitted PhD students.
Students who do not receive direct funding from S-CAR have in the past used the following other sources of funding to support their study:
· Each year S-CAR hires a number of students in part time administrative roles. As these opportunities open they are circulated to the entire graduate student community with information on how to apply. These appointments are not set aside ahead of time but are done through matching of needs of the position and student experience and skills.
· Each year S-CAR faculty hire a number of students in research assistant positions on grants they receive. These positions are at the discretion of individual grant holders and vary in length. Application for these positions is done through the faculty grant holder.
· Students are eligible for a variety of on-campus positions. In the past students have worked at
o University Information http://info.gmu.edu/employment.html for the Arlington campus
o Arlington Campus Library
o University Life
o Other administrative offices
o Most on-campus positions are listed through HireMason, https://gmu-csm.symplicity.com/students/ a service available to active students and alumni
· Students can look for opportunities teaching as adjunct professors at both S-CAR and other relevant Mason departments. PhD students are eligible to teach at the undergraduate level. Adjunct faculty are hired on a department by department basis so to apply for these position requires contacting specific departments that seem to be a good match
· Off-campus employment- Washington, DC still enjoys one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Relevant off-campus employments has regularly been found at organizations such as the United States Institute of Peace, Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy, various International Development agencies and many others. Several websites are particularly good sources for finding positions including:
o Peace and Collaborative Development Network http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/
o Idealist.Org
o S-CAR Community Network and Forum http://icarcommunity.ning.com/ (open to current students and alumni)
· Financial Aid- The financial aid office at George Mason http://financialaid.gmu.edu/ processes both grant and loan assistance requests. They also maintain a database of scholarship opportunities. In addition, the office of Post-Graduate Scholarships and Fellowships maintains a list of additional opportunities and offers assistance with applications http://www.gmu.edu/depts/saa/fellowships/opportunities/gradstudy.html
Important information to consider for the final semester of your program:
• The final copy of your theses or dissertation must be submitted to Mason Library no later than the 1st Friday of December (12/9/11); 1st Friday of May (5/4/12); or 1st Friday of August (8/6/12). These dates are not negotiable. See Mason requirements for formatting, checklists and requirements: http://thesis.gmu.edu/References
• The defense for your thesis or dissertation must occur 1 month prior to those final due dates (11/9/11; 4/4/12 or 7/6/12)
• All committee members must have your final draft of the dissertation or thesis one month prior to the defense (10/9/11; 3/4/12 or 6/6/12).
• The announcement to the community is one week before the defense for the Master’s Thesis and two weeks before the defense for the Doctoral Dissertation. See student handbook for specifics: (http://icar.gmu.edu/Handbook_Fall_2009.pdf). These dates are not negotiable.
[To summarize: If you plan to graduate fall semester you must have a final draft to your committee the first week of OCTOBER; if in the spring, the first week of MARCH; if in the summer, the first week of JUNE.]
