Sullivan University

Master of Science in Dispute Resolution

Louisville, Kentucky

DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM

The methods and skills earned in the Master of Science in Dispute Resolution (M.S.D.R.) degree curriculum are of special usefulness for controlling lost capital due to grievances, complaints, and litigation in the workplace as well as for redirecting human and financial resources toward prevention of disputes, improvement of communication, and development of organizational mission. While the M.S.D.R. provides a strong career building block for students holding undergraduate degrees, it also expands employment applications for students holding professional credentials such as the CPA and the M.B.A., M.P.A., M.P.H., M.P.S.Y., M.S.W., and J.D. degrees. Executives, middle managers, and labor leaders apply knowledge and skills learned in the M.S.D.R. program to maintain and promote healthy workforce environments.

The Program Chair seeks to combine the following goals in all courses: predominance of classical bibliographic mastery in the subject areas—to provide students with long-term, firm theoretical foundations; mainstream workplace applications of theories taught—to enable students to graduate with real-world experiences useful to prospective employers or clients; rigorous academic and professional standards to ensure high-quality learning—to test students' readiness for graduation and employment; superior "best practices" in distance learning instructional design—to maximize the potential of the media and minimize inconvenience or frustration for students or their employment supervisors; and creative yet controlled uses of technology media—to enhance and accommodate learning for the majority of students in the U.S. and around the world, preventing encumbrances created by hardware or software requirements that would pose an unreasonable burden for most students.

Part of the M.S.D.R. program is the Mediation Practicums Module© (MPM). The MPM was created to enable students to transfer online learning into controlled, graduated, real-world dispute resolution experiences in their own workplaces. Certain specific practical interaction and professional skills must be demonstrated, critiqued, and developed in each M.S.D.R. student through professional evaluations in real time or personal observation. Sullivan employs a full-time MPM Director of Mediation Practicums who guides students and their evaluators to ensure the integrity of the student's experiential portfolio. When employers are too busy or unable to participate in the MPM, a network of practitioners in good standing with national dispute resolution organizations are recruited to assist in comediations, mentoring, and other educational experiences, either pro bono or for modest fees. In addition, unemployed students are placed in internships to fulfill the requirements of this portion of the program.

DELIVERY MEDIA

Sullivan uses state-of-the-art technologies that include all standard distance learning methods and systems such as CD assist, video streaming, and Web conferencing. Connected Learning. Network, a national leader in learning platforms for institutions of higher education, business, and industry, provides a premier media experience for students worldwide. All courses are asynchronous, permitting greater latitude for students in different time zones or continents to study together through common assignments. A 24/7, 365-day help-desk staff answers questions and resolves problems for students or faculty members.

Sullivan University's educational mission has remained constant from its founding until the present: "the highest ideals and standards in preparing people for successful careers." Sullivan's commitment to career education has been sustained by the employment record of its graduates: 99.7 percent in 2002, 99.3 percent in 2001, 99.2 percent in 2000, and its lowest percentage, 97.8 percent in 1992.

Sullivan has unusual commitment to all graduates of its official degree, diploma, and certificate programs—graduates are allowed two free lifetime privileges: Graduate Employment Services (GES) and Lifetime Curricular Review (LCR). The GES staff members assist graduates in finding new employment, developing resumes, and participating in job fairs. The LCR allows graduates to reenroll in any class completed in their program to refresh their learning, although no grades are given nor attendance required or recorded.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

The M.S.D.R. degree is 100 percent online, is asynchronous, and exhibits complete continuity with Sullivan University's career education emphasis as reflected by its pedagogical structure. Five courses are core requirements and build a firm, centrist framework of theoretical understanding: Mediator Diagnostics and Skills© Conflict Theories, Dispute Resolution Methods, Organizational Conflict Management, and Family Conflict Mediation. Four courses are elective and may be drawn from major subject areas, each related to mainstream applications in U.S. and international settings: management, labor, EEO, law, education, health care, construction, legislative/public service, international, and religious. Three additional courses, the MPM courses, are nonelective and move theoretical learning into actual employment or organizational applications.

In addition to the M.S.D.R., Sullivan University also offers a Certificate in Dispute Resolution. The certificate program requires six courses for completion, half of the course load of the M.S.D.R. The certificate program is designed for students with specialized needs whose career applications do not require the broad career base offered by the M.S.D.R.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

The Chair of the M.S.D.R. degree program actively seeks partnerships, alliances, and collaborations with governmental, public, and private sector organizations. These alliances enhance the quality of Sullivan's educational program and its outreach in the U.S. and world, provide value-added experiences for M.S.D.R. students, and, when possible, provide service to M.S.D.R. students' local employers, organizations, and communities.

Sullivan University is one of six academic partners with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) in Washington, D.C. (http://www.fmcs.gov). The FMCS has a revered reputation as a federal agency that functions superbly as a trusted neutral party to resolve major U.S. and international disputes. The M.S.D.R. degree program has been designed in consultation with FMCS staff members to ensure that M.S.D.R. graduates enter the workplace with methods and skills meeting or exceeding employment standards for federal and state agencies.

STUDENT SERVICES

The Sullivan University Library and Resource Center offers 43 searchable databases and portals accessible through the Internet that are available only to registered students. The entire card catalog is online, containing discipline-specific resources and monographs. Staff members are available via telephone at 800-844-1354 Ext. 308 (toll-free) Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., Friday to Saturday 8 to 4, and Sunday noon to 5, EST, U.S. holidays excepted. The Ask-A-Librarian e-mail reference service provides a 24-hour (or less) turnaround to questions on how to use resources, on the APA style, and on search strategies. Full interlibrary loan services are available to all students.

CREDIT OPTIONS

For information about credit options, students should contact the Financial Planning Office by telephone at 800-844-1354 Ext. 311 (toll-free) or by e-mail at [email protected].

FACULTY

The Chair of the M.S.D.R. degree program has a policy of employing only practitioner-experts as faculty members—those with terminal degrees and years of proven successful experience in the field being taught. Faculty profiles often include an array of publications, presentations at professional societies, training sessions offered around the U.S. and the world, and faculty member-owned corporations or sole proprietorships.

ADMISSION

Students must meet criteria established by the Graduate School of Sullivan University. For current admission criteria, students should visit the Web site at http://www.sullivan.edu/louisville/admissions/index.htm or contact the Graduate Admissions Officer by e-mail at [email protected].

TUITION AND FEES

All current tuition and fees information is available from the Graduate Admissions Officer by e-mail at the address listed above and is also listed on the Web site at http://www.sullivan.edu/louisville/admissions/tuition.htm.

FINANCIAL AID

Students in the M.S.D.R. degree program are eligible for two federal loan programs—Stafford Student Loans and Perkins Loans. In 2002–03, Sullivan awarded an estimated $37,048,460 in all forms of financial assistance to about 74 percent of students on all campuses. For more information about financial aid, students should contact the Financial Aid Office at [email protected].

CONTACT

John D. Willis, Ph.D.
Chair, M.S.D.R. Degree Program
The Graduate School
Sullivan University
3101 Bardstown Road
Louisville, Kentucky 40205
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.sullivan.edu

APPLYING

Students may complete an application online at http://www.sullivan.edu/louisville/admissions/application.htm. For further information, students can contact the University by e-mail at [email protected].