Active participation in the course is essential. There will be two short papers, a midterm and a final exam. Readings will include excerpts from a number of disciplines, as well as two or three books on specific topics. Conflict forms a part of everyday life. It arises with siblings, parents, friends, spouses, children, landlords, teachers, employers, co-workers, merchants, and many others.
Conflict is neither good nor bad in itself.
It's how we handle it that matters. We often enter into negotiations in an attempt to resolve conflict. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't. While we negotiate often, many people know very little about how to do it well. In this course, we will explore techniques to help you negotiate successfully, including active listening and communication skills, principled negotiation, and mediation.