Course Overview
Because most individuals view conflict as a negative and inevitable occurrence in interpersonal and professional relationships, they often either avoid or suffer through conflicts with little hope of understanding or influencing the outcome of the conflict. In this course you will learn concepts about conflict that will enable you to take an analytical approach to conflict interactions. Using models and theories to examine conflict interactions, you can determine possible causes and consequences of conflicts. With focused effort, you can translate your enhanced knowledge about conflict into improved attitudes and skills in conflict interactions. While the course rests on a theoretical foundation, it also features elements designed to help you apply the course concepts and to improve your competence in conflict interactions.

Course Objectives
At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• define conflict;
• investigate your personal conflict history and the ways it shapes your current attitudes and behaviors in conflict;
• understand basic theories relating to communication and conflict;
• explain the concept of conflict style;
• identify key conflict variables;
• compare and contrast productive and destructive conflict interactions;
• explain the role of identity in conflict;
• explain the role of power in conflict;
• analyze conflict episodes;
• compare and contrast competitive and collaborative negotiation;
• explain the differences in structured third-party conflict interventions (mediation, arbitration, adjudication);
• discuss the personal and interpersonal dimensions of forgiveness;
• lay the groundwork for forgiveness or reconciliation;
• take actions to prevent destructive conflict; and
• make application of course content to daily work and personal interactions.

Course Structure
The course format includes brief lectures, shared-pair discussions, class discussions, role plays, case studies, movies, and other activities to help you make application of the material to everyday life. It will be an extremely interactive course! The role plays require you to assume roles in simulated conflict and negotiation scenarios. You will be interacting frequently with fellow participants as you learn the material through experience and application.

As you know, undertaking a 3-hour course in the span of two weekends requires you to complete much of the work outside of the time in class. You are required to read several chapters and write some journal entries prior to the first day of class. Your dedication to reading and reflecting on the written material outside of class will allow us to have productive, interactive, and highly experiential learning sessions. Your preparation outside of class is the primary factor contributing to the quality of the class. All of the exercises, discussions, role plays, case studies, and other activities require you to have a working knowledge of the written material. Please note the assigned readings for each session of the course. You should read these materials prior to the Friday night session each week.

Wilmot, W.W. and Hocker, J.L. (2005). Interpersonal Conflict, 7th Edition. ISBN-10: 0073135542, ISBN-13: 978-0073135540.

Fisher, R., Ury, W., and Patton, B. (1991). Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. Second Edition. Harvard University Penguin Books. ISBN-10: 0-14-015735-2, ISBN-13: 978-0140157352.

Stone, D., Patton, B., and Heen, S. (2000). Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most. ISBN-10: 014027782X, ISBN-13: 978-0140277821.

Fisher, R. and Shapiro, D. (2005). Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate. ISBN-10: 0670034509, ISBN-13: 978-0670034505.