Courses

Applied Alternative Dispute Resolution

This course presents conflict resolution skills, models, and procedures in a practice-based approach. Students build expertise in mediation, negotiation, and facilitation while also strengthening durable skills such as communication, problem-solving, and ethical decision-making. Completion of the course meets Kansas Office of Dispute Resolutions training requirements for core mediation approval under the Dispute Resolution Act, K.S.A. 5-509 and Rule 911. The learning experience requires approximately 45 hours and emphasizes both technical approaches and transferable skills that support effective conflict management across professional settings. Successful completion of course assignments with an overall score of 80% or higher qualifies learners to earn the microcredential and a verified digital badge.

January 20, 2026 to May 15, 2026

Culture and Conflict

This course is an exercise in critical thinking, cultural exploration, and self-reflection. It explores the cultural dimensions of conflict, including the role of culture in defining conflict for individuals and groups. The dynamics of interpersonal beliefs and socialization, cross cultural conflict theory and issues related to application are also examined. Kansas State University will award 45 continuing education hours for successful completion of course requirements to those participants who paid the optional fee.

Registration is not available at this time.

Family and Domestic Mediation

This microcredential equips learners with an understanding of divorce mediation, a practice that began in the early 1970s. Mediation allows couples to create their divorce settlements through a cooperative, confidential, and private process that prioritizes the current and future needs of parents and children. It recognizes divorce as a family issue rather than a legal one, empowering those involved to take responsibility for solving their problems. The course covers the multidimensional aspects of divorce, including the legal, emotional, personal values, and individual needs and interests. Unlike the adversarial legal approach, which views divorce as a contest focused solely on legal issues, mediation seeks to address the holistic needs of the family. Learners will explore the role of mediation in resolving family conflicts, with specific discussions on elder mediation, parent-adolescent mediation, and the option of conducting mediation online. This microcredential provides a comprehensive overview of mediation as a constructive alternative to traditional divorce proceedings.

January 20, 2026 to May 15, 2026

Foundations of Trauma and Traumatic Stress

This course will introduce and review the theoretical and historical beginnings of the concept of trauma, which includes the inclusion of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a diagnosis in the DSM III. It will highlight the other forms of recognized traumatic events and stressors that have more recently been brought to light. It will discuss various trauma reactions, effects of stressful events, as well as the treatment of trauma. Resilience and transcendence of trauma will be outlined, with an emphasis on the importance of self-care for clinicians and helping professionals working in this area.

Registration is not available at this time.

Interpersonal Conflict Skills and Strategies

This course develops communication theories and interpersonal skills essential for conflict resolution. Students strengthen durable skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence while learning to analyze, manage, and de-escalate interpersonal conflict. Content emphasizes ethical decision-making and the influence of culture, power, and emotion on communication. The learning experience requires approximately 45 hours and prepares learners to apply conflict management strategies across personal and professional settings. Successful completion of course assignments with an overall score of 80% or higher qualifies learners to earn the microcredential and a verified digital badge.

January 20, 2026 to March 13, 2026

Organizational Conflict

This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the theories, methods, research, and practice issues involved in identifying and assessing sources of conflict, and designing and implementing intervention plans in organizations and groups experiencing conflict. The organizations explored will include businesses, non-profit organizations, governmental agencies, municipalities, and community groups. Students will learn about organizations, organizational development, and organizational psychology. Causes and consequences of conflict within organizations, dispute systems assessment and design, and how conflict resolution professionals work as interveners and agents of change will be the primary focus of the course. It is expected that this course will prepare students to: identify their own professional consultation strengths and interests, assess conflict, and build and evaluate dispute resolution systems.

January 20, 2026 to March 13, 2026

Storytelling and Peacebuilding

This course explores the theoretical and practical foundations of storytelling in relation to conflict resolution and peacebuilding. The intersection of theory and practice in storytelling approaches to trauma, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding will be explored in-depth. This course addresses the issues of power, identity, and meaning through the lens of storytelling. The course explores how storytelling can help individuals and groups build meaning and connection, across a range of cultural differences.

Registration is not available at this time.

Violence Prevention and Intervention

This course examines various theories of human aggression and violence, exploring their underlying assumptions about human nature and the causes of violence. Included is an introduction to a range of violence intervention and prevention approaches developed for use at the interpersonal, intergroup and societal level. Kansas State University will award 45 continuing education hours for successful completion of course requirements to those participants who paid the optional fee.

Registration is not available at this time.