Now Accepting Dispute Resolution Specialization Applications
We are excited to announce that the School of Public Policy is now accepting applications for the Dispute Resolution (DR) specialization track for the MPP class of 2023 candidates!
Dispute Resolution Specialization Application.
In short, it requires the completion of 10 units at the Pepperdine Rick J. Caruso School of Law Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution during your second year of studies plus a 3-unit seminar at SPP next Spring (Spring 2022 Term) led by Dr. Kaufman.
You must fully complete and submit your application by 11:59 PM PDT on December 3, 2021, to be considered for the Dispute Resolution specialization as part of your master of public policy program. As a reminder, the DR Committee will review your Fall 2021 grades before any decision is made regarding approval to specialize in Dispute Resolution. So, study hard and keep those grades up!
When registration opens for the Spring 2022 term, in addition to your "Core" requirements (MPP 600 Roots and MPP 605 Macroeconomics) and mindful of your other specialization requirements (if applicable), please also register for MPP 618 – Seminar In Dispute Resolution in Public Policy. If you are not approved for the DR track, you can drop this course before the ADD/DROP deadline in January 2022 or keep it as a "free" elective.
More information about SPP's specializations can be found here and a DR specialization synopsis is also below.
Dispute Resolution
The dispute resolution specialization focuses on solving public challenges in collaborative ways, preparing leaders with policy expertise and the skills to work across differences in an era of polarization.
Career Paths
- International NGO Negotiation Positions
- State/Local Government Advisory Positions
- Government Relations Positions (Private Sector)
Additional Information
Students will complete a Cross-Registration form with all courses for a given term requested and will submit to the director of program services and admissions at the School of Public Policy. Once signed, the form will be sent to the admission and student services program administrator at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution for final approval and registration. Students should consult School of Law (Straus) class schedules for updated course information and be mindful of prerequisites when selecting courses.
School of Law (Straus) Course Schedules:
Students who desire to add, drop, or withdraw from a course in a given term are responsible for reviewing academic calendars for both schools and should plan on consulting with their School of Public Policy academic advisor since additional financial obligations may result.
With the completion of an additional 2 MDR courses (4 units), a student may be eligible to receive an academic certificate in dispute resolution from the Straus Institute. The total units for the certificate in dispute resolution is 14 units.
Note: scholarship is not provided for this additional coursework toward the certificate. Please consult with the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution for details. Units taken to satisfy the certificate requirement will not be eligible for transfer credit toward the MPP.
Courses taken outside of the School of Public Policy are not eligible for scholarship and any provided scholarships will be prorated based on the number of units a student is enrolled in the MPP program.
Law (Straus) courses taken in a Winter or Summer Intensive or during the summer term at the Straus Institute will be charged School of Law tuition and will not be eligible for School of Public Policy scholarship.
We look forward to receiving your completed applications soon! Contact CJ Jones for any assistance or questions.