Catalog 2024–2025

Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate

Contact: Su-Mi Lee, Ph.D.
Email: sumilee@hawaii.edu

The undergraduate certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is an interdisciplinary program focusing on many aspects of conflict and conflict management. It draws courses from a variety of disciplines including political sciences, communication, management, and sociology. The certificate aims to introduce students to a wide range of theories and practices pertaining to the nature and cause of conflicts, conflict management and resolution, and conflict prevention. By exploring a wide range of interpersonal, inter-group, social, and political issues, students will acquire skills to identify potential conflicts and proactively address such issues, thereby preventing conflict and making and building sustainable peace. The certificate also gives students an opportunity to apply their acquired skills in real life. Ultimately, the ADR certificate prepares students to become effective conflict managers in their personal, professional, societal, and international domains and gives them a competitive edge in any profession they choose.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the certificate, students will be able to

  • Understand the cause and nature of conflict
  • Acquire skills to resolve and manage conflict
  • Design systems/infrastructures that prevent conflict
  • Promote understanding diverse cultures and cooperation across culture and countries

Requirements (21 Credits)

Core (6 Credits)

  • POLS 270 Negotiation (3)
  • POLS 479 ADR in Action (3)

Electives (15 Credits)

Choose 3 credits from the Conflict list, 9 credits from the Conflict management/resolution list, and 3 credits from the conflict prevention list.

1. Conflict (3 credits)
Choose 3 credits from any category below

  • Interpersonal
    • COM 420 Family Communication (3)
    • SOC 300 Family in World Perspective (3)
  • Intergroup
    • MGT 300 Mgt, Orgs & Human Behavior (3)
    • SOC 260 Social Problems (3)
  • Political
    • POLS 328 Visual Politics (3)
    • POLS 348 International Human Rights (3)
    • POLS 442 War and the State (3)

2. Conflict management/resolution (9 credits)
Choose 9 credits from any of the following categories. All credits do not have to come from the same category

  • Interpersonal
    • COM 442 Communication & Conflict (3)
    • POLS 374 Indigenous Dispute Resolution (3)
    • POLS 377 Restorative Justice (3)
  • Intergroup
    • COM 351 Com in Multicultural Workplace (3)
    • MGT 330 Human Resource Mgt (3)
  • Political
    • POLS 342 International Law (3)
    • POLS 443 Int'l Conflict Management (3)
    • SOC 409 Seminar in Social Movements (3)

3. Conflict prevention (3 credits)
Choose 3 credits from any category below

  • Interpersonal
    • COM 200 Interpersonal Comm (3)
    • COM 359 Intercultural Communication (3)
  • Intergroup
    • COM 240 Professional Communication (3)
    • MGT 423 Business Ethics (3)
  • Political
    • POLS 220 Law, Politics, & Society (3)
    • POLS 346 International Organizations (3)
    • SOC 420 Sem in Social Institutions (3)

Notes:

  1. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in all courses required for the Certificate.