North Central College - Naperville, IL

Conflict Resolution

Why choose conflict resolution at North Central College?

North Central is one of the first schools in the country to offer a minor in conflict resolution. This minor is part of the College’s one-of-a-kind Leadership, Ethics and Values (LEV) program and will make your résumé, grad program or law school application stand out from the pack. In class and out, you’ll master negotiation and interpersonal communication skills, explore the emerging field of alternative dispute, and much more. What you learn here will be immeasurably valuable regardless of your major or career path.

You can also:

  • Complete a concentration in leadership or ethics if you can’t accommodate the requirements necessary to complete a minor.
  • Gain valuable experience by interning in North Central’s Dispute Resolution Center, which provides mediation and consulting services to students and the community through its Peer Mediation Program.
  • Apply for membership to the national Blue Key Honor Society, which recognizes exemplary leadership.
  • Develop your personal and professional leadership skills through LEV’s iLead program.
  • Apply for a Richter Independent Study Fellowship grant to fund original research anywhere in the world, or a Mironda K. Heston Scholarship to fund human rights and service projects.
  • Present the findings of your research at the College's Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research.
  • Take advantage of numerous leadership opportunities through student government and other campus organizations, or as a student mentor with Leadership Jump Start.
  • After graduation, consider the College’s Master of Leadership Studies degree or pursue a five-year bachelor's/master's program in Leadership Studies.

News

Alexandra Cook
Alexandra Cook of Palatine was awarded the 2012 Outstanding Major in Spanish Award during Honors Day May 15 at North Central College.
North Central College faculty Robert Moussetis, Tom Cavenagh and Brian Hanlon presented paper that won Leadership and Leading Track Award at conference.
Aaron Williams, director of the Peace Corps, will deliver the address June 9 at the 147th Commencement ceremony of North Central College.

News

Internships

  • Intern, Dispute Resolution Center, North Central College
  • Intern, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Geneva, IL
  • Intern, law offices of Jeffrey Knuckles, Naperville
  • Intern, Sears Roebuck Office of Professional Ethics, Hoffman Estates, IL

Graduate Schools

Recent graduates of conflict resolution have been accepted at:

  • Pepperdine University
  • Hamline University
  • University of Missouri
  • DePaul University College of Law

Careers

Recent graduates of conflict resolution include:

  • Professional mediator
  • Human resources professional
  • Private attorney
  • Corporate or higher education
  • Family counselor
  • School social worker

Feature

Joan Kramer-Tanck

Conflict Resolution

A transfer student and seasoned professional with 18 years’ experience in the travel industry, Joan knew she was good at problem-solving and wanted to capitalize on that strength as part of her studies.

“I decided to incorporate two areas I enjoy—helping people in their work environment and problem solving. I like to be challenged to come up with solutions that aren’t obvious, so I thought classes in conflict resolution would complement my human resource management major.” Her career goal is to work in a corporate environment implementing change and solving issues.

Conflict resolution, she says, is a good focus for anyone who expects to face conflict in their lives, jobs or communities. “Everyone should study conflict resolution! The classes teach you to not be afraid of a difference of opinion. They give you a framework to move through a conflict to workable resolutions and consider what others involved would want.”

Feature

Madeline Moton

Philosophy major, conflict resolution minor

Madeline knows she wants to become a lawyer so she decided to seek out the ideal combination for her undergraduate academic work. Along with her major in philosophy, she chose to minor in conflict resolution, which will give her experience in negotiation, mediation and facilitation. “It gives me an opportunity to specialize in an important field as an undergraduate,” Madeline says. “As a lawyer, being able to mediate and resolve problems is important.”

One of the high points of her time at North Central was traveling to Washington, D.C., to conduct research with a team of peers on how oral arguments are presented before the U.S. Supreme Court. While there she met Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Justice Sonia M. Sotomayor. “It was an amazing experience and I recommend it to anyone,” Madeline adds.