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Students taking distance learning classes are required to attend two Residential Institutes (RI)
per academic year. Each RI is 5 days. Currently the RIs are held in the fall and winter, in
February and late September or October. Please visit
for current
information.
Permission to take more than 9 credits:
If a student has a GPA of 3.5 or higher, is in good academic standing, and has no incompletes,
a DCAR student may request to be registered by the department for a fourth course within a
term (Excluding 1 credit Doc Seminar- automatic approval).
Student Advising
A student who wishes to seek advising regarding course selection or degree plan should consult
with the Practicum Coordinator. In addition to coordinating students’ practicum experience, the
Practicum Coordinator maintains and updates degree plans.
Peer Mentors
Each first-year student upon enrollment in the program is assigned a peer mentor. The
purpose of the Peer Mentoring Program at DCAR is to assist the students with their Ph.D.
transition. Peer mentors provide support and guidance to fellow DCAR students in completing
their degree by offering advice about managing coursework and accessing resources that
expand academic and professional development. Peer mentoring sessions occur in group
format at the RIs and one-on-one, either in person, telephonically or by email.
Degree Plans
Students are required to take courses in 3 core competency areas: conflict resolution theory,
research methods, and conflict resolution practice. In the core competency of conflict
resolution theory, students are required to take CARD 5000 The Foundations of Conflict
Resolution, as well as 3 of the following 4 courses: CARD 7040 Theories of Conflict Resolution
I, CARD 7050 Theories of Conflict Resolution II, CARD 6120 Culture and Conflict, and CARD
7250 Public Policy. In the core competency of research methods, students are required to take
CARD 7090 Quantitative Research I and CARD 7110 Qualitative Research I, as well as 1 of the
following 2 courses: CARD 7100 Quantitative Research II or CARD 7120 Qualitative Research
II. In the core competency area of conflict resolution practice, students are required to take
CARD 5040 Human Factors, as well as 3 of the following 4 courses: CARD 5100 Mediation
Theory and Practice, CARD 5140 Negotiation Theory and Practice, CARD 6140 Facilitation
Theory and Practice, and CARD 7020 Systems Design. In addition, students are required to
take 2 of the following practicum courses: CARD 6130 Practicum I, CARD 6160 Practicum II,
CARD 7500 Teaching and Training, and CARD 7510 Teaching and Training Practicum. In
addition, students are required to take 8 elective courses.
Courses are offered according to a set schedule (see below). Students are responsible for
ensuring that they have fulfilled their individualized degree plans, which will be verified by the
department, before they are given the opportunity to take their Qualifying Exam. In their last
term of coursework, students are also required to take CARD 7001 Doctoral Seminar, which
provides preparation for taking the Qualifying Exam. Upon successful completion of the
Qualifying Exam, students will be registered for 3 dissertation credits per term, starting with
CARD 7901, the Dissertation Preparation Course. After 12 credits are completed, students will
be registered for 1 credit of dissertation per term until the student successfully defends the
dissertation.
Below is a sample of a degree plan for a full-time student who begins their studies in fall term.
Degree plans will be modified based on a student’s enrollment date and pace of study.
