Nova Southeastern University
School of Social and Systemic Studies
Department of Dispute Resolution
Overview
Founded in 1964, Nova Southeastern University is an innovative educational institution, emphasizing service to students, teaching excellence, and advanced learning technologies. The University is distinguished by creative offerings, which provide alternative choices in educational programs, and research, which is aimed at finding solutions to problems of immediate concern to humanity. NSU has 15 centers offering programs in undergraduate studies, medicine, dentristry, pharmacy, optometry, allied health, law, psychology, social and systemic studies, education, business, computer science, and oceanography.
Each year, approximately 45 M.S. and Graduate Certificate students and 15 Ph.D. students are accepted into the Dispute Resolution program. Students attend on a full-time basis and work full-time. The students range in age from twenty to eighty, and include many adults returning to school who are employed in a variety of fields.
The Community
The main campus is located in west Fort Lauderdale, approximately ten minutes from the Atlantic Ocean. The School of Social and Systemic Studies is located on the east campus, approximately eight miles from the main campus. The University is surrounded by natural areas for outdoor activities. Fort Lauderdale provides excellent hotels, shopping, dining, and cultural offerings.
Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
The department awards a Ph.D. (82 credit hours), an M.S. (45 credit hours), and a Graduate Certificate (24 credit hours) in dispute resolution. The goal of the department is to explore and promote alternative methods for the resolution of disputes, wherein parties achieve consensual agreements based on the principles of nonviolence, equity, dignity, and the appreciation of human diversity. The academic climate is interdisciplinary and innovative, including education, business, law, and mental health. The program is designed to ensure that the student will learn not only the theoretical basis for practice, but also the practical, specific tools of the trade. The curriculum includes theoretical foundations (M.S., 12 credits; Ph.D., 21 credits); ADR practice and applications (M.S., 18 credits; Ph.D., 21 credits); research (M.S., 3 credits; Ph.D., 13 credits plus dissertation); ethics (M.S. and Ph.D., 3 credits); and supervised clinical practice in a variety of community settings (M.S., 9 credits; Ph.D., 12 credits). Students may pursue the M.S. degree or Graduate Certificate (consisting of the first eight courses of the M.S. program) full-time, by taking nine credit hours per semester, or part-time, by taking six credit hours per semester. The doctoral program is only offered on a full-time basis. All courses are held on the University's campuses and are generally offered evenings. All degree-seeking students are required to successfully complete a comprehensive exam for the M.S. degree or a research dissertation for the Ph.D. degree.
Facilities and Resources
Students have access to numerous research facilities, including: the Electronic Library, which houses ERIC and more than 350 other databases; the MicroLab, which offers hardware/software resources, using a variety of microcomputers and an extensive collection of software; Computer and Information Technology Services, which supports campus users using VAX and a communications network to connect students to a full range of Internet resources; and the Center for Media and Technology, which supplies audiovisual equipment and services. The University also houses four libraries, including the Einstein Library, with major collections in the humanities and sciences, the Law Library, the Health Professions Library, and the Oceanographic Library. In addition, students in the department have access to a database with over 500,000 mediation cases. Research may also be done through the School's Academy of Dispute Resolution, which features live observation rooms and videotaping facilities.
Expenses and Aid
Tuition is $625 per credit hour for the M.S. degree and Graduate Certificate programs, and $695 for the doctoral program. A $25 registration fee (per semester) is also assessed. Book fees average $75 - $100 per course, with most books available at the University bookstore.
Housing
There are five graduate halls, which include the following free services: all furnishings, basic cable TV, local telephone service, telephone answering service, central air conditioning, and a private bathroom. Costs range from $1700 to $2000 per term, depending upon the type of accommodation. Meal plans are available. A number of apartments near the University cater to students, with rents ranging from $650 to $1000 per month.
Financial Aid
Loans (both need- and non-need based) and employment opportunities are available. Financial aid programs administered through the Office of Student Financial Aid, include Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, and Federal Work-Study. Information about financial aid and employment details may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Aid by calling 1-800-522-3243.
How to Apply
The department accepts students for the M.S. and Ph.D. programs for fall enrollment. Applications are considered on a continuous basis with a deadline of March 31. Admission requirements included a completed application form, a master's degree from an accredited college or university (bachelor's degree for the M.S. program) with a minimum 3.0 grade point average (2.5 for the M.S. program), academic transcripts, three letters of reference, an admission essay, a sample of academic/professional work, and an admission interview. A nonrefundable $50 application fee is required. It is recommended that students submit financial aid applications at the same time that they apply for admission, to allow time for processing.
Who to Contact
Department of Dispute Resolution
School of Social and Systemic Studies
Nova Southeastern University
3301 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
(954) 262-3000
(800) 262-7978
E-mail: shss@nova.edu
The Faculty
Ronald J. Chenail, Dean and Associate Professor; Ph.D. (family therapy), Nova. Communications in conflict, qualitative research.
Thomas E. Boudreau, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. (nonviolent conflict and change), Syracuse. Nonviolence, international relations, interpersonal and intercultural communications.
Sean Byrne, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. (international relations), Syracuse. International relations, collaborative problem solving, violence prevention, effects of violence on children.
Nora A. Femenia, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. (social science), Syracuse; M.S. (political science); Flasco (Buenos Aires). Communication, consultation.
Brian D. Polkinghorn, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. (social science), Syracuse; M.A. (sociology), Syracuse; M.S. (conflict resolution), George Mason. Environmental/public policy dispute resolution, multiparty conflict intervention, negotiation theory, ethics of third-party intervention.
Marcia Sweedler, Assistant Professor, Ph.D. (education policy, planning, and administration), Maryland. Community-based mediation, ADR administration, and curriculum development in school settings, youth and gangs.
Cathie J. Witty, Assistant Professor and Chair, Department of Dispute Resolution; Ph.D. (legal anthropology), Berkeley; M.P.A. (public administration), Harvard. Legal anthropology, cross-cultural and comparative dispute resolution, qualitative research, gerontology.
Honggang Yang, Associate Professor and Director of Distance Learning; Ph.D. (anthropology), South Florida. Cross-cultural studies, interdisciplinary analysis, trust building, qualitative research.