Course Description
3 Credits. As society evolves, so does the complexity of its challenges. Today's environmental and other social concerns cannot be resolved through research alone. Ranging from local to global in nature, they require conflict management skills in creating a multidimensional approach to problem solving. Students in this on-line course will learn crucial conflict management skills including consensus building, negotiation, and mediation through academic readings, analysis, on-line threaded discussions and papers.
Course Goals
- Explore conflict theory as a precursor to understanding and enhancing individual conflict management styles.
- Obtain a richer understanding of the many facets of conflict.
- Apply concepts to practice so to develop appropriate conflict management skills and mechanisms in a wide range of life domains.
- Master the communication and conflict management skills necessary to navigate interpersonal, workplace and societal challenges including wide scale environmental issues.
Textbook
Mayer, Bernard. (2012). The Dynamics of Conflict, 2nd Edition, Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 978-470-61353-5, Available at the RU Barnes & Noble Book Store and through various online vendors and eBooks. A copy is also on reserve at Chang Library.
Weekly Objectives
- Week 1 - Get to know one another and get familiar with the online process;
- Week 2 - Dissect conflict's multi-dimensional nature and perceive it as an opportunity for growth;
- Week 3 - Understand how we respond to conflict and how our reactions are influenced by values, power imbalances and other variables;
- Week 4 - Increase our own sense of self-awareness as to why we respond the way we do to conflict;
- Week 5 - Master mutual respect and communication techniques which will help in overcoming potential cultural barriers and assist in building upon our multitude of cross cultural similarities;
- Week 6 & 7 - Explore how we balance our own emotional and cognitive dimensions of conflict resolution;
- Week 8 - Identify our communication strengths and challenges and explore conflict management processes we use daily such as facilitation, negotiation and consensus-building;
- Week 9 - Perfect our skills as negotiators within personal and business contexts;
- Week 10 - Learn how to overcome impasse within negotiations, particularly in our roles as managers or community leaders;
- Week 11 - Study the mediation process as both a formal and informal tool in managing conflict;
- Week 12 - Learn about the role of mediation as a conflict management process used within businesses, government, academia, judicial, community, family and international contexts;
- Week 13 - Explore how we can apply conflict management theories, skills, and modalities in addressing large scale conflicts. Integrate all we have learned about the multiple dimensions of conflict management into real life situations—specifically in facilitating productive dialogue and consensus building in multi-dimensional disputes, taking a preventative approach, or intervening to minimize potential escalation or consequences;
- Week 14 - Distinguish the fine line between empowering others and imposing our own values in working towards the constructive management of conflict in our communities and workplaces.
Student Assessment and Grading
Students will be assessed on their application of course content in threaded discussions, quiz, analysis, and papers. All assignments are described in detail within course shell; a separate informational sheet describing the Conflict Immersion Experience and Report is found in the course shell under COURSE.
Breakdown of course grade is as follows:
Each student will be assessed according to the following criteria: quality and effort of work, timeliness in completing assignments, and class participation.
- Introduction (10 points)
- Quiz (40 points)
- Participation/Contribution in Online Threaded Discussions (325 points)
- Reaction Papers (4 Assignments - 200 points total)
- Movie Analysis Paper (80 points)
- Case Study Self Video (110 points)
- Self Mediation Video (110 points)
- Conflict Immersion Pre-Approval (10 points)
- Conflict Immersion Exercise Final Report (115 points)
Grades scale:
- A: 90–100
- B+: 87.5–89.9
- B: 80–87
- C+: 77.5–79.9
- C: 70–77
- D: 60–69
- F:59 and below
Grades including a percentage of .5 and above are usually averaged up whereas below .5 are usually averaged down. However, for purposes of illustration, a student with 79.5 should not assume a grade of 80 or B. There are times when those grades are averaged downward based on overall class performance and /or consistency and punctuality as to attendance and assignments. Late assignments will usually not be accepted and, if so, will receive a significant grade reduction unless a documented emergency necessitates other arrangements. If that is the situation, the student must reach out to me so we can ascertain an appropriate course of action.
It is imperative that you ensure you will be able to consistently access a computer to submit online assignments on time. Usually smart phones are not reliable for this purpose. Also your participation in class is important. This is a living, evolving course that requires ongoing nurturing. Your active engagement is very much appreciated. Submission of all other assignments, without substantive participation in online discussions, is not sufficient to attain a passing grade. Much of what we learn is from each other. Also please remember that respecting the confidentiality of fellow classmates is critical in all of our interactions.
I will be available for phone conferences as needed. In-person appointments may also be scheduled at a mutually convenient time. Email inquiries should be sent to: marily@njaes.rutgers.edu. My cell phone number is: 757-619-0018.
Course Outline of Classes
Classes run from Sundays to Saturdays. Please note that timeliness of all assignments is critical to receiving good grades.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Please follow the procedures outlined at ods.rutgers.edu/students/getting-registered. Full policies and procedures are at Office of Disability Services website.
Academic Integrity
The university's policy on Academic Integrity is available at policies on academic integrity.
The principles of academic integrity require that a student:
- properly acknowledge and cite all use of the ideas, results, or words of others.
- properly acknowledge all contributors to a given piece of work.
- make sure that all work submitted as his or her own in a course or other academic activity is produced without the aid of impermissible materials or impermissible collaboration.
- obtain all data or results by ethical means and report them accurately without suppressing any results inconsistent with his or her interpretation or conclusions.
- treat all other students in an ethical manner, respecting their integrity and right to pursue their educational goals without interference. This requires that a student neither facilitate academic dishonesty by others nor obstruct their academic progress.
- uphold the canons of the ethical or professional code of the profession for which he or she is preparing.
Adherence to these principles is necessary in order to ensure that:
- everyone is given proper credit for his or her ideas, words, results, and other scholarly accomplishments.
- all student work is fairly evaluated and no student has an inappropriate advantage over others.
- the academic and ethical development of all students is fostered.
- the reputation of the University for integrity in its teaching, research, and scholarship is maintained and enhanced.
NOTE: Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
- Resubmitting your own work that has previously been evaluated in this class or any other class.
- Copying text directly from websites and other sources without attributing the original source(s).
- Copying the work of students in other sections (past or present) of this course.
Failure to uphold these principles of academic integrity threatens both the reputation of the University and the value of the degrees awarded to its students. Every member of the University community therefore bears a responsibility for ensuring that the highest standards of academic integrity are upheld.
NOTE: To help protect you, and future students, from plagiarism, all essay assignments will be submitted through Turnitin.com.
Attendance and Participation Policy
Students are expected to actively participate in all of the online activities for the course. Attendance in the online sessions is determined by thorough, thoughtful, relevant and on time contributions made in the weekly assignments including threaded discussions, reaction papers and quizzes. The course proceeds with the assumption that students have thoughtfully read and reviewed the assigned materials.
Students are responsible for completion of all assigned readings, materials discussed and assignments on or before the assigned due date.
Student Wellness Services
Counseling, ADAP & Psychiatric Services (CAPS)
848-932-7884 | 17 Senior Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
CAPS is a University mental health support service that includes counseling, alcohol and other drug assistance, and psychiatric services staffed by a team of professional within Rutgers Health services to support students' efforts to succeed at Rutgers University. CAPS offers a variety of services that include: individual therapy, group therapy and workshops, crisis intervention, referral to specialists in the community and consultation and collaboration with campus partners.
Violence Prevention & Victim Assistance (VPVA)
848-932-1181 | 3 Bartlett Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
The Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance provides confidential crisis intervention, counseling and advocacy for victims of sexual and relationship violence and stalking to students, staff and faculty. To reach staff during office hours when the university is open or to reach an advocate after hours, call 848-932-1181.
Disability Services
848-445-6800 | Lucy Stone Hall, Suite A145, Livingston Campus, 54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational programs. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with a disability must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation.
If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. To begin this process, please complete the Registration form on the ODS website.
Scarlet Listeners
732-247-5555 | scarlet.listeners@gmail.com
Free and confidential peer counseling and referral hotline, providing a comforting and supportive safe space.