Students in the best online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Negotiation & Conflict Management graduate degree programs gain both an excellent business education and specialist knowledge and skills in conflict analysis, conflict management, and negotiation strategies in diverse settings. These web-based programs are just as rigorous as their on-campus counterparts, too, from their admission criteria to their graduation requirements, and students must be prepared to spend at least 15 hours per week on their studies.

Professionals with an online MBA in Negotiation and Conflict Management degree are well-qualified for leadership positions in the business, government and nonprofit industries. Their wide range of career advancement opportunities can be attributed to the combination of their business acumen and negotiation and conflict management skill sets. Their education opportunities don’t stop with the online master’s degree either – continuing professional development is a must!

At a Glance

Prospective students of online MBA with a concentration in Negotiation and Conflict Management – or other similar titles – must possess a passion for business administration and conflict resolution in business and non-business settings. This is in addition to the typical admission requirements for master’s degree programs, such as a bachelor’s degree, GRE/GMAT scores, and work experience.

Once admitted, students learn the basics of negotiation and conflict management including conflict-sensitive development, inclusive conflict engagement, and conflict analysis. Of course, core courses in business administration comprise the majority of the coursework while electives enable students to tailor their master’s degree to their interests.

5 Best Online MBA in Negotiation and Conflict Management

Every master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in negotiation and conflict management program featured here is offered by a college or university with regional accreditation. The regional accreditation agencies include:

SACSCOC-Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
MSCHE-Middle States Commission on Higher Education
HLC-Higher Learning Commission

These online programs are also offered by business schools with the prestigious (i.e., gold standard) Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business approval.

Florida International University

College of Business

Online Professional MBA in Strategic Negotiations Program

Tuition per credit: $1,000
Units Required: 42 credit hours
Program Length: 18-33 months
Financial Assistance Options: Federal aid, scholarships and assistantships

FIU, a public research university, offers its online Professional MBA in Strategic Negotiations program for working professionals with career advancement ambitions. Students develop broad knowledge and skills in business administration as well as negotiation skills suitable for diverse environments, from business corporations to government agencies.

The coursework includes 12 core courses and two concentration courses on negotiation and conflict management. Students gain an advanced understanding of strategic management and other aspects of business operations, develop leadership skills that allow for effective team collaborations, and acquire strategic negotiation skills in local and international contexts.

There are five start dates offered in the strategic negotiation and conflict management degree program that allows working professionals to start at their own convenience. Yet another feature that makes FIU’s program unique among the online MBA in negotiation and conflict management programs is the choice of tracks.

Students can choose from three tracks depending on their preferred time-to-completion for their master’s degree, namely, 33 months (self-paced), 21 months (more work-life balance), and 18 months (faster time-to-degree). The course load differs between tracks, too, from one to two courses every eight-week quarter.

While it has a flexible distance learning format, the program offers online students with plenty of in-person and virtual networking opportunities. There are industry nights and professional development seminars, and other on-campus events (i.e., optional attendance) as well as virtual meetings.

Admission into the negotiation and conflict management degree program requires a bachelor’s degree with at least 3.0 GPA, a professional resume, and a statement of purpose.

Courses:

Business Analysis for Decision Making
Financial Reporting and Analysis
Strategic Negotiations
Sales Management
Negotiations

Attendance in the three professional development seminars is a compulsory requirement. Students develop their presentation and collaboration skills, as well as their knowledge of Lean Six Sigma, personal branding and career readiness, or data visualization. Indeed, this is among the best online MBA in negotiation and conflict management programs because of the well-rounded business education that students receive from credentialed professors!

Penn State World Campus

Smeal College of Business

Online MBA in Negotiation and Influence Program

Tuition per credit: $1,236
Units Required: 48 credit hours
Program Length: 2-3 years with a course load of three courses per semester
Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, limited scholarships, military benefits including military grant-in-aid, employer tuition subsidies, and flexible payment options

Penn State, a land-grant research university, offers an online MBA in Negotiation and Influence program through its World Campus. Students learn strategic management skills vital in the leadership of teams in diverse settings, particularly in finding effective and efficient solutions to current business issues. Their world-class business education enables them to understand the numerous aspects of business operations, from human resource management to intercultural conflict resolution, and contribute to organizational growth.

The MBA program with a concentration related to negotiation and conflict management features asynchronous online classes that accommodate the busy schedules of working professionals. Students, however, can attend synchronous online classes for more personal engagement with their peers and professors. In both cases, students can access recorded lectures for future reference.

This is among the most flexible negotiation and conflict management degree programs, too, because students can either slow down or speed up their pace. Prospective students can also choose from three start dates – fall, spring and summer – aside from benefiting from the generous financial aid packages.

While this is a fully online program, students can choose from either an online residency (fall and spring terms) or an on-campus residency (summer term). The residency is a compulsory requirement designed as networking opportunity for students and for students to start on the same footing before diving into the intensive coursework of the negotiation and conflict management program. And it is intensive, too, with online students guaranteed the same academic rigor as their on-campus counterparts!

Courses:

Financial Accounting and Financial Management
Data Analysis for Decision Making
Negotiation Theory and Skills
Power and Influence
Complex Negotiations

Students then gain fundamental knowledge about conflict theory, principles and practices in the 21st century. Student support services including specialized career coaching and personal advising contribute to their academic and professional success, too.

Brenau University

College of Business and Communication

Online MBA in Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Program

Tuition per credit: $785
Units Required: 36 credit hours
Program Length: 1.5 years
Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, Sallie Mae loan, and military education benefits

Brenau University, a private university, offers an online MBA in Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Resolution program with the promise of a standout business education. Students work with credentialed faculty members with extensive experience in the business sector and in negotiation and conflict resolution management. By sharing their professional knowledge and useful insights, the professors ensure that only the best graduates earn master’s degrees.

This is among the fastest master’s degrees in negotiation, mediation and conflict management programs with a time-to-completion of less than two years. Students spend five semesters in their core courses followed by concentration and elective courses that result in a well-rounded MBA education.

Applicants can choose from three start dates – fall, spring and summer semesters – and must pass the selective admissions criteria to be admitted into the master’s degree in conflict management online program. These include a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3.0 GPA, official transcripts, and a professional resume. There are no application fees.

Courses:

Marketing Strategy
Business Law and Ethics
Budgeting for Managers
Financial Management

Students in the MBA with a negotiation and conflict management focus learn better with small class sizes. Their professors are better able to provide personalized attention including mentorship in their areas of expertise. Students thrive thanks to the excellent student support services, too, many of which are available on a 24/7 basis, as is access to most of the learning materials.

The negotiation and conflict management program allows students to transfer credits from either credit earned from an unfinished master’s degree (up to six semester hours) or from a completed master’s degree (up to nine semester hours) granted by another accredited school.

Creighton University

Heider College of Business

Online MBA with Graduate Certificate in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Tuition per credit: $982
Units Required: 33 credits for MBA and 15 credits for the graduate certificate
Program Length: 2 years-plus for MBA and 1 year for the graduate certificate
Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, employer tuition benefits, graduate assistantships, graduate scholarships, alumni scholarship, and employer tuition schemes

Creighton University, a private Jesuit research university, takes pride in its online MBA program with the option of earning a Graduate Certificate in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution program. Prospective students must be prepared for intensive business education followed by rigorous training in negotiation and conflict resolution. The three-year program is known for producing graduates with exceptional knowledge and skills in these areas, thus, their excellent career advancement opportunities.

Students in the negotiation and conflict management program can customize their degrees and, thus, their knowledge and skills through electives. Their professors work with them in identifying their strengths based on their academic background, business experiences, and career goals. From the information gathered, a personalized degree plan can be created, which can include advanced business courses led by experienced business practitioners/professors.

Students gain knowledge and skills in negotiation and conflict resolution management through the Graduate Certificate in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution program. The one-year program’s philosophy is strongly influenced by the Jesuit values including service underlined by justice and love. Students and graduates are known for their passion for service in building a just, inclusive and diverse society.

With brilliant negotiation and conflict resolution skills combined with business acumen, graduates find career advancement opportunities in diverse areas. These include the legal system, human resource management, and business operations in the public and private sectors.

Courses:

Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Managerial Finance
Introduction to Negotiation and Conflict Engagement
Dynamics of Conflict Resolution and Engagement
Negotiation

With the certification program, students learn inclusive conflict engagement that can be used in whatever social justice advocacy they want to be engaged in.

Admission into the negotiation and conflict management online master’s program is highly selective. Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree with at least 3.0 GPA, as well as submit a personal statement, professional resume, and two letters of recommendation. Applicants with 1-3 years of professional work experience have a competitive edge.

Pepperdine University

Graziadio Business School

On-campus MBA in Dispute Resolution Program

Tuition per credit: $1,950
Units Required: 55 units
Program Length: 15-24 months
Financial Assistance Options: Federal financial aid, merit scholarships and private loans

In addition to the online MBA in negotiation and conflict management programs featured, we also wanted to highlight the on-campus MBA in Dispute Resolution program offered by Pepperdine University. Interested individuals will then have more options in their pursuit of the graduate degree.

Students in the MBA program can choose from two tracks to earning the master’s degree in dispute resolution:

Take individual courses in negotiation, conflict management and dispute resolution OR complete the 14-unit curriculum; the result is an MBA with a dispute resolution concentration from the Graziadio School
Complete the dispute resolution certificate program from the Caruso School of Law

With either track, students gain advanced dispute resolution, negotiation and mediation skills training! Students study the theories, principles and practices through a combination of didactic courses and experiential exercises including simulations. These learning experiences enable students to develop their professional competence in dispute resolution, negotiation and mediation, oftentimes with immediate workplace applications.

The MBA degree with a negotiation and conflict management focus is available to students in the full-time, two-year program as well as students in the 15-month and 20-month accelerated programs. The two-year, full-time MBA program consists of didactic courses plus a business internship and co-curricular experiences, and students don’t possess extensive professional work experience. Students in the accelerated programs have relevant work experiences, thus, their intensive, fast-paced coursework.

Courses:

Mediation Theory and Practice
Arbitration Practice and Advocacy
International Commercial Arbitration Theory and Doctrine
International Commercial Arbitration Procedure and Practice

Students are encouraged to take on a social justice advocacy that will enable them to put their advocacy and counseling skills to good use. Their conflict resolution management skills have diverse applications, too, from family to organizational conflict.

Admission into the conflict resolution degree master’s program is selective. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and submit official transcripts, letters of recommendation, resume and statement of purpose.

Admission to Graduation: Important Things You Must Know About Online MBA in Negotiation and Conflict Management Programs

Every online Master in Business Administration with a Conflict Resolution Management concentration has its specific program requirements. The following discussion, nonetheless, highlights the similarities between these programs and, thus, acts as a general guide for interested individuals.

Admission Requirements

The best online MBA with a concentration in negotiation and conflict management programs have selective admissions criteria that ensure high student learning and graduate outcomes. The minimum admission requirements include:

A bachelor’s degree in business administration or business management, in related fields, or even in non-related disciplines
Official transcripts from all schools attended and with minimum GPA
Letters of recommendation
Professional resume or curriculum vitae
Personal statement
GMAT/GRE scores, if required

Interviews may or may not be conducted.

Curriculum and Courses

Students tackle core business administration courses at the start of the MBA program. In fact, the majority of the courses are in business administration including:

Financial accounting
Managerial accounting
Corporate finance
Business analysis for decision making
Marketing management
Financial reporting and analysis
Management information systems
Organizational behavior
Human resources management
Business law and ethics
Strategic management

Then, the concentration courses in negotiation and conflict management and elective courses come next including:

Mediation Theory and Practice is a course where students explore the principles and practices underlying the contemporary practice of mediation.
Arbitration practice and advocacy, an exploration into the arbitration principles and practices in the 21st century.
International commercial arbitration theory, procedures and practices

In the case of MBA programs with the option of earning a graduate certificate in negotiation and conflict management, the number of courses and the corresponding credits tend to be higher than the typical nine-credit concentration coursework.

Capstone and/or Dissertation Requirements

Most, if not all, MBA in negotiation and conflict management programs require students to complete a capstone project that demonstrates their mastery of specific subjects. In many programs, the capstone project is the culminating requirement of a capstone course, such as in strategic management. In these cases, students must demonstrate their knowledge and skills in finding solutions for real-world business administration and negotiation and conflict management issues.

Note that many MBA with a concentration in negotiation and conflict management programs also require the completion of a comprehensive exam before formal admission to candidacy. As for the dissertation requirement, not all MBA programs require it, too; the completion of a dissertation can also extend the time to the degree.

Typical Time-to-degree

Full-time students in online MBA in negotiation and conflict management programs can earn a graduate degree in two years or less. Part-time students will obviously take a longer time to do so, between three and four years depending on their course load. Take note of the maximum time-to-completion for these online master’s degree programs.

Online Learning Experiences

Both online and on-campus MBA with negotiation and conflict management concentration programs featured here features rigorous coursework and learning experiences. Students in negotiation and conflict resolution online programs, however, enjoy the benefits of asynchronous learning (e.g., 24/7 access to the learning management system) and enjoy synchronous classes anywhere with a fast and steady Internet connection.

Online students in these negotiation and conflict programs also benefit from student support services including admissions support, academic mentorship and advising services, financial aid services, and career services. Many programs also offer mental health counseling and writing services through an online platform.

Residency Requirements

Negotiation and conflict management majors in online MBA programs may or may not have residency requirements, such as on-campus orientation weekends, professional development seminars, and in-person internships. If you’re looking for in-person engagements, then look for hybrid programs that offer internship opportunities in business settings, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or alternative dispute resolution centers.

Hard and Soft Skills Developed

Students in these online degree programs develop technical and transferable skills in preparation for their leadership roles, sometimes in C-suite positions with extensive work experience. Aside from business administration skills, students also develop conflict management skills that allow them to use individual and organizational conflict in a more productive manner. Their technical skills include conflict analysis, cross-cultural conflict resolution, and conflict-sensitive development as well as facilitation skills.

As for their transferable skills, the crucial skills include:

Communication skills including active listening
Empathy that enables individuals to understand other peoples’ goals, motivations and needs
Problem-solving skills for the positive resolution of conflicts and disputes
Positive attitude for a level-headed approach in conflict and dispute resolution

Indeed, the best business professionals with a specialized focus on negotiation and conflict management are the total package!

Tuition and Financial Aid

According to Data Data Initiative, the average cost for an MBA degree is $61,800 but it can be as high as $112,760 (Harvard University) or as low as $34,940 (Binghamton University) for a full two-year program. The total cost of attendance varies, too, depending on the number of transferred credits as well as the degree requirements, technology fees, and incidental expenses.

For this reason, online students must look into the financial aid options offered by their colleges and universities. Due to the huge popularity of online MBA programs, there’s stiff competition for financial aid.

Popular Career Paths

Every MBA program with a concentration in negotiation and conflict management prepares graduates for business and financial occupations, as well as for negotiation, mediation and conflict management careers. Labor Statistics data show the overall employment growth rate within 2021 and 2031 in business and financial occupations is 7%.

Plus, these occupations are among the highest-paid with a $76,570 median annual wage (May 2021), higher than the $45,760 median yearly wage for all other occupations.

Here are a few of the best occupations that graduates can pursue.

Labor Relations Specialists

These professionals create proposals and policies that facilitate the collective bargaining process (i.e., the employer-employee negotiations). With an increasingly global workplace, their skills in intercultural conflict resolution are top-notch.

Corporate Negotiation Specialists

As part of a business organization, corporate negotiation specialists are responsible for negotiations with customers, vendors and suppliers, and other third parties. Their main goal is to achieve mutually beneficial agreements, manage contractual obligations and relationships, and resolve disputes between the organization and third parties.

Mediation and Dispute Resolution Consultants

These professionals are adept at advanced business mediation, alternative dispute resolution methods, and other forms of negotiation and conflict resolution. Their services are sought after by individuals, groups and organizations, thus, their wide employment opportunities.

Family Mediators

With the family considered the basic unit of society, family mediators perform crucial roles in society and among families. Their skill sets include advanced family mediation, family conflict resolution, and analysis of family conflict dynamics, among others. Many work as part of the separation, divorce and custody process.

Legal Negotiators

These professionals usually work in legal settings including labor disputes, commercial transactions, and civil litigation.

Online MBA in Negotiation & Conflict Management - fact

Frequently Asked Questions

What professional certifications in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution can graduates earn?

Check out the Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE), Certified Mediator (CM), and Certified Conflict Resolution Professional (CCRP) credentials. You may also join professional organizations, such as Association for Conflict Resolution, for networking and continuing education opportunities.

How does an MBA in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution degree differ from a Master’s in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution degree?

In an MBA with a negotiation and conflict resolution concentration, the skills related to the latter are incorporated into the skills related to business administration. With Master’s in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, there’s a narrower focus on the theory, principles, and practices of the discipline.

How will an MBA in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution degree benefit professionals in leadership positions?

Professionals with an MBA degree are more adept at strategic negotiations, conflict management, and inclusive collaborations.

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