Summer School
Undergraduate Certificate in Conflict Management
Course Descriptions
Transfer of Credit
Student Status for Non-Seaver Students
Libraries
Residential Technology and Computer Labs
Disabilities Services
Academics
Pepperdine University is a Christian institution committed to providing students with a top-flight academic experience. Given this, along with the intensity of the program and the compressed schedule in the summer, students should expect a rigorous workload.
Students in the Undergraduate Certificate program enroll in 14-16 units over sessions two and three of Seaver Summer School. Students will take two conflict management courses and one theory course during each session for a total of 7-8 units per session.
Course Descriptions
Conflict Management Courses:
Negotiation and Settlement Advocacy (2)
Negotiation and Settlement Advocacy examines the dynamics, constraints and skills needed in the negotiation process. It focuses equally on using negotiation in business planning and in conflict management. Theories of negotiation are examined through current literature and specific techniques are taught through simulation exercises. The course content is drawn from the fields of law, psychology, business and communication. Students learn about theories of negotiation and themselves as negotiators.
Mediation (2)
This course explores the dynamics, benefits, constraints and skills needed in third-party intervention in the settlement of disputes. It examines mediation as a collaborative process of resolving conflict and considers legislative, ethical and practical limits on its use. Through discussions, simulations and case studies, the course focuses on the skills a mediator must have to facilitate a constructive resolution of conflict.
Arbitration (2)
This course is an introduction to arbitration emphasizing skills necessary for the process to function well. Course work will focus on the many applications of arbitration, including its use in labor, medical malpractice, construction, securities, and commercial matters. Students will participate in simulated exercises in the role of advocates and arbitrators. Discussion topics will include judicial review, enforcement of arbitration awards and the application of the arbitration process to the public and private sectors.
Cross-Cultural Negotiations and Conflict Management (2)
This course surveys the impact cultural differences have on conflict management processes. It integrates theories of conflict management with an analysis of cultural differences in language, customs, values and world views. The course surveys the impact culture has on a variety of conflict management processes including negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation. Particular focus is placed on cross-cultural negotiations and mediations. The course will equip students with an analytical framework with which they may evaluate and use conflict management processes involving individuals from different cultures.
Theory Courses:
BA 366 Organizational Behavior (3)
An integrated and interdisciplinary study of behavioral science for management. The course attempts to integrate the psychological and sociological aspects of human behavior as they relate to management. Focus is on individual, group, and organizational behavior. Topics include communication, motivation, group dynamics, leadership, power, reward systems, organizational structure, and managing conflict and change.
COM 519 Communication and Conflict (3)
Designed to explore problems involving intrapersonal and interpersonal communication. Emphasis will be placed on social, cultural, psychological and political conflicts and breakdowns; organizational barriers to communication; and conflict resolution.
POSC 526 Jurisprudence and the Judicial Process (4)
Principles of legal decisions and opinions, with study of selected cases in American and English law. Analysis of judicial decision making and development of public policy through the judicial process.
Transfer of Credit
Seaver Students earn full Pepperdine University credit for completed coursework. The theory courses are regular Seaver offerings and they will fulfill the same requirements as if they were taken outside this program. The conflict management courses are upper-division elective credit.
Non-Seaver students earn full Pepperdine University credit for completed coursework. These are accredited units and can be transferred to your home institution. Evaluation of transfer credit is always at the discretion of the receiving institution.
Student Status for Non-Seaver Students
Non-Seaver students will have non-degree status status and will enjoy all the privileges of regularly admitted students.
Libraries
Students have access to the Payson Library, as well as the Harnish Law Library. The hub of learning for Pepperdine University is the University Library System. Payson Library, on the Malibu campus; libraries at the Culver City, Irvine, Long Beach, Encino, and Westlake Village centers; and the Harnish Law Library, also on the Malibu campus, contain a combined collection of 925,400 volumes of library resources in all formats, including 3,200 periodical subscriptions. Supplementary to this material is a networked database system providing access to 7,000 periodical titles, with full-text delivery of 2,500 of those titles in electronic format. A staff of highly committed librarians is available to assist students in the use of these resources and to help students develop strong analytical and information-seeking skills.
Residential Technology and Computer Labs
Pepperdine residence halls are equipped with ethernet connections called ResNet. ResNet provides a free, direct, high speed ethernet connection to the internet and the Pepperdine network for students who live on campus (Residence Halls, Seaver Apts., Towers, and Page Apts.). The ResNet connection is faster than a modem and doesn't tie up your phone lines. Pepperdine provides ResNet for the purpose of helping students achieve their academic goals, gain marketable knowledge of technology, and to enhance their on-campus living. There is no fee to connect to ResNet and technology assistance is available; however computers are not provided. Students are welcome to bring their own computer and may need to purchase and/or bring an ethernet card and cable.
In addition to ResNet, there are several computer labs around campus including the Howard A. White Center, the Payson Library, and the Sand Bar student center. Summer College students have access to all Seaver College computing services.
Disability Services
The Disability Services Office is dedicated to maintaining an environment that guarantees all students with disabilities at Pepperdine University full access to its educational programs, activities, and facilities. The DSO is responsible for providing services and determining reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, based on supporting documentation.
We ask that any student requiring disability services contact the Disability Services Office at least four weeks prior to the start of the program to make arrangements for accommodations.
