Masters of Arts in Public Service
Dispute Resolution Specialization

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Who is it for?

This specialization trains professionals who want to practice as third-party neutrals in dispute resolution or be knowledgeable participants in the dispute resolution process.

The Center for Dispute Resolution is celebrating its No. 11 rank by U.S. News & World Report. Marquette also has a graduate certificate program in dispute resolution.

Careers

The dispute resolution specialization is ideal for:

• Law
• Human resources
• Business
• Communication
• Law enforcement
• Health care
• Education

Curriculum

To earn a master's degree in public service, students must complete 36 credit hours of course work.

Core courses

Required (12 credits)

PUBS 6000	History and Theory of Leadership and Ethics	3 credit hours
PUBS 6205	Urban Policy and Public Service Administration	3 credit hours
PUBS 6210	Ethics in Public Service	3 credit hours
PUBS 6025	Research Methods	3 credit hours

 

Constrained electives (3 credits)

PUBS 6051	Contemporary Leadership	3 credit hours
PUBS 6215	Nature of Cities	3 credit hours
PUBS 6220	Organizational Behavior in Public Service	3 credit hours
PUBS 6230	Legal Issues in Public Service	3 credit hours
PUBS 6235	Communication and the Management Process in Urban Service	3 credit hours
PUBS 6240	Urban Public Sector Economics	3 credit hours
PUBS 6995	Independent Study	1-3 credit hours
PUBS 6931	Topics in Public Service	1-3 credit hours

 

Specialization courses

Specialization courses (15 credits)

DIRS 6600	Mediation	3 credit hours
DIRS 6605	Advanced Mediation	3 credit hours
DIRS 6610	Dispute Resolution Theory	3 credit hours
DIRS 6615	Advanced Issues in Dispute Resolution	3 credit hours
DIRS 6964	Practicum in Dispute Resolution	1-3 credit hours
DIRS 6995	Independent Study (must be approved)	3 credit hours

 

Integrative Learning Options

Integrative Learning Options (choose one)

Professional Project

• Six (6) credits of a professional project. This course is taken three credits at a time, preferably in two consecutive semesters. The professional project courses are generally not offered during summer.

There are basically two (2) options for a professional project.

1. Work independently with a faculty advisor and possibly an organization to produce a research based service or product.
2. Submit for publication to a peer reviewed journal the findings from a research study, which has been supervised by a faculty member.

Comprehensive Exams*

• Thirty-six (36) credits of course work followed by a comprehensive examination. Students will take: 12 required credits, 3 credits from constrained core electives, 15 credits from specialization courses, and the final 6 credits should be approved by the program advisor.