Conflict Studies

Master Requirements

The MA program provides two options, one with Thesis and one with Research Paper:

Thesis option (27 credits)

• Six compulsory courses (18 cr.)
• Three optional courses (9 cr.)
• Thesis (ECS6999)

Research Paper option (36 credits)

• Seven compulsory courses, including the research paper (21 cr.)
• Five optional courses (15 cr.)

For admission to the thesis option, a student admitted to the MA in Conflict Studies program must first obtain 9 credits (through courses or through advanced standing), and then apply to the Admissions Committee for permission to enroll in the thesis option. To do so, the student must find a suitable supervisor and submit a detailed topic and plan of research. The Committee will examine the application and inform the student of its decision.

If a student chooses the thesis option and the thesis uses a quantitative methodology, a course in quantitative methodology is required. If the thesis uses a qualitative methodology, one of the following is required: a course in qualitative methodology, participant observation, content analysis, or evaluation research.

Compulsory Courses (18 credits)

• ECS5101 IDENTITY-BASED CONFLICT (3cr.)
• ECS5103 RESEARCH METHODS (3cr.)
• ECS5110 HISTORY OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION (3cr.)
• ECS5131 DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION INTERVENTIONS (3cr.)
• ECS5302 THEORIES OF CONFLICT (3cr.)
• ECS5304 ETHICAL DIMENSIONS OF CONFLICT (3cr.)

Research (3 credits) (option with research paper)

• ECS6140 RESEARCH SEMINAR (3cr.)

Research (option with thesis)

• ECS6999 THÈSE DE M.A. / MA THESIS

Optional Courses (15 credits for research paper option; 9 credits for thesis option)

Students select five courses (three if the thesis option is chosen) from the list of optional courses.

A maximum of two graduate courses (6 credits) may be taken from other programs and universities with prior authorization from the Director of the program.