DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE • GRADUATE CERTIFICATE
Graduate Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution
Develop advanced skills in mediation, negotiation, conflict management, communication, and arbitration through a focused 12-credit-hour graduate certificate.
12
Graduate Credit Hours
4
Graduate Courses
MCJ
Degree Pathway
ADR
Professional Skill Focus
Resolve Conflict. Improve Communication. Lead More Effectively.
Alternative dispute resolution provides structured methods for addressing conflict outside traditional adversarial processes. Professionals use mediation, negotiation, arbitration, and related techniques to help individuals and organizations resolve disputes more effectively.
Tarleton’s graduate certificate develops skills in mediation, advanced mediation strategies, professional communication, negotiation, and arbitration.
The curriculum emphasizes both the theory and practical application of dispute resolution. Students examine ethical issues, communication strategies, negotiation dynamics, evidence evaluation, and methods for facilitating constructive agreements.
The certificate may be pursued by students in Tarleton’s Master of Criminal Justice program as part of their degree plan. The certificate is awarded upon completion of the master’s degree. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
⇄
Conflict → Communication → Resolution
Develop skills for managing disagreement while helping parties move toward constructive outcomes.
Why Alternative Dispute Resolution Matters
Conflict occurs in criminal justice, government, business, education, healthcare, families, workplaces, and community organizations. Professionals who understand how to manage conflict can help organizations reduce escalation, improve communication, and reach more sustainable resolutions.
Manage Conflict
Learn structured approaches for identifying issues, interests, and barriers to resolution.
Communicate Effectively
Strengthen verbal, written, listening, and professional communication skills.
Negotiate Solutions
Understand bargaining strategies, interests, ethics, and techniques for reaching workable agreements.
Lead Constructively
Use conflict-management skills to strengthen leadership and organizational decision-making.
Skills You Can Build
Mediation
Facilitate structured conversations and help disputing parties identify possible solutions.
Negotiation
Evaluate interests, bargaining strategies, incentives, and competing priorities.
Communication
Develop communication strategies for mediation, arbitration, reports, and professional interactions.
Arbitration
Evaluate information, evidence, competing claims, and decision-making responsibilities.
Certificate Curriculum
Complete three required courses and select one approved elective for a total of 12 semester credit hours.
Required Courses — 9 Hours
ADRI 5341
Mediation — Methods of Dispute Resolution
Study mediation principles, ethics, processes, and models while developing practical mediation skills.
ADRI 5343
Advanced Mediation Strategies
Advance mediation skills with additional focus on complex disputes, family dynamics, and parent-child relationships.
ADRI 5344
Effective Communication Skills for ADR Specialists
Strengthen written and verbal communication, document preparation, reporting, and professional ADR communication.
Choose One Elective — 3 Hours
ADRI 5345
Arbitration – Methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution
ADRI 5346
Advanced Arbitration Theory and Methods
ADRI 5347
Negotiations and Collective Bargaining
ADRI 5384
Mediation Practicum / Internship
Prerequisites matter: ADRI 5343 requires ADRI 5341; ADRI 5346 requires ADRI 5345; ADRI 5347 requires ADRI 5341; and ADRI 5384 requires ADRI 5341 and ADRI 5343. Students should plan their course sequence with the graduate advisor. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Where ADR Skills Can Be Used
Conflict-management and dispute-resolution skills are transferable across professions where individuals, organizations, and communities must negotiate competing interests.
Criminal Justice
Law enforcement supervision, corrections, court services, victim services, and justice administration.
Government & Public Service
Public administration, employee relations, community engagement, and organizational leadership.
Business & HR
Workplace disputes, employee relations, negotiations, labor relations, and management.
Education & Community
Schools, nonprofit organizations, community mediation, family services, and leadership roles.
How to Get Started
Follow the same graduate certificate process used for Criminal Justice graduate certificates.
1
Complete the Form
Fill out the Graduate Degree Plan / Committee Formation form and identify the Alternative Dispute Resolution certificate.
2
Get Required Signatures
Complete the required approval and signature process for the graduate certificate plan.
4
Meet With the MCJ Advisor
Review course sequencing, prerequisites, and how the certificate fits within your graduate degree plan.
Current MCJ students: The Graduate Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution may be pursued as part of the Master of Criminal Justice degree plan. The certificate is awarded upon completion of the master’s degree. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Explore Your Graduate Options
Build the ADR certificate into your MCJ degree, compare other graduate certificates, or explore the full range of Criminal Justice graduate opportunities.
Masters of Criminal Justice
Build the certificate into a broader graduate program in criminal justice.
Graduate Certificates
Compare ADR with Crime Analysis and Homeland Security certificate pathways.
Criminal Justice Department
Explore graduate study, faculty, research, student opportunities, and professional pathways.
Turn Conflict Into Constructive Resolution
Develop graduate-level skills in mediation, communication, negotiation, and arbitration through Tarleton’s 12-hour Alternative Dispute Resolution certificate.