April 11, 2018
K-State to offer Summer Institute in Conflict Resolution on campus and online
A certificate-earning institute is once again being offered at Kansas State University this summer with the aim of meeting a growing need in the workplace for individuals with conflict resolution abilities.
The program offers students and professionals the chance to complete an entire 12-month certificate in conflict resolution over the course of a single summer. The Summer Institute in Conflict Resolution will be offered June 4-July 27 on the Manhattan campus and online through the School of Family Studies and Human Services in the College of Human Ecology.
According to an analysis of job listings in the U.S., more than 320,000 jobs specifically sought conflict resolution as a skill in 2017, while employment in fields relating to conflict resolution is expected to grow 10 percent over the next eight years. With a growing need for conflict resolution abilities in the workplace, K-State's nationally award-winning conflict resolution certificate program provides valuable skills that can be applied to any profession.
"The skills and knowledge gained in the conflict resolution program add value to almost any degree, career field, or profession," said David Thompson, associate professor in the school of family studies and human services. "They enable current and future professionals to deal more effectively with the inevitable conflicts that will arise in the workplace as well as in interpersonal relationships. Business administrators, elementary and secondary educators, social workers, human resource professionals, pre-medical students and individuals in a host of other career fields have found these courses to be of immense value. Conflict at some level is a part of life, and employers are increasingly seeking employees with 'soft skills,' such as communication and conflict resolution, to deal effectively with those challenges."
By offering this condensed program in the summer, students have the opportunity to add a certificate to their degree without having to push back their graduation date. The summer session also is suitable for professionals who may work only nine or 10 months of the year or who have relaxed summer schedules.
This certificate spans two summer intersessions, with two courses per four-week term. Classes will be Monday through Thursday, beginning at 8 a.m. and ending in the early afternoon. It is also available as a fully online option.
The certificate can contribute to the completion of several other programs at K-State, including the leadership studies minor in the College of Education and the nonviolence certificate in the College of Arts and Sciences. Two courses in the program can even count toward the training required to become a state-approved conflict resolution mediator. It's also a way to start earning a minor in the School of Family Studies and Human Services.
Enrollment for the Summer Institute in Conflict Resolution is open now. Talk to your advisor about adding the conflict resolution certificate to your degree. To enroll in the summer institute, contact Jo Maseberg-Tomlinson, summer school coordinator, at 785-532-2570 or jam4545@k-state.edu. More information also is available at k-state.edu/summer/institutes/conflict-resolution/.