CAS 404 – Conflict Resolution and Negotiation

Conflict and its management are critical issues that pervade the fabric of our society. This class is designed as an opportunity to explore the complexities of conflict, to understand the forces that make conflict challenging, and to develop a repertoire of skills for thinking about and managing conflict more effectively. In this pursuit, we first examine the features that define and set the stage for conflicts. We then turn to the communication behaviors that people use to manage conflicts. Finally, we consider some of the dynamics that make constructive conflict management a challenge. The objective of this course is to expose students to the scholarly study of interpersonal communication in a way that both captures the vitality of the discipline and enhances interpersonal communication skills. As a General Education course contributing to the social and behavioral science requirement, this class is also expected to (a) survey existing knowledge in the subject domain, (b) promote an understanding of social scientific methods, (c) clarify the multiple nature of causality in social settings, (d) demonstrate the relationships between the study of interpersonal communication and other disciplines, and (e) encourage students to integrate empirical knowledge and theoretical views of the social world. The course content, assignments, and exams were developed to attend to these concerns. Recommended Preparation CAS 100