Conflict Resolution Major - Bachelor of Arts

Study conflict resolution and learn to identify causes of conflict, and develop practical negotiation, mediation and facilitation skills.

Conflict resolution is an essential skill for many fields. Wherever there are people, companies or states, there are differences. Conflict resolution explores how to overcome these differences and reach a peaceful settlement at an interpersonal, community, organisational and international level.

You learn through case studies, role play scenarios and visits from guest speakers who share their views on current issues and approaches. Our passionate lecturers draw from international experiences and include best practice models.


This is part of the Bachelor of Arts.

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Papers cover multidisciplinary perspectives on conflict resolution and a wide range of examples including the Treaty of Waitangi. This major draws on the disciplines of psychology, political studies and sociology.

You identify causes of conflict (systemic, structural, inter-personal), explore different approaches to conflict resolution, develop a basic understanding of human rights, and gain practical skills of conflict negotiation, mediation and facilitation.

Core papers

All students in the Bachelor of Arts complete core papers. In this major, you study:

COMM570 Academic Communication
CLSY504 Knowledge and Inquiry
CLSY500 Culture and Society

Conflict Resolution papers

Papers you could take over your three years of study include:

PSYC580 Introduction to Psychology A
SOSC582 Social Thinking
SOSC583 Social Institutions
PHIL680 Ethics and Society
CONF681 Conflict Resolution and Human Rights
HIST690 Te Tiriti O Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi
CONF680 Principles of Conflict Resolution
POLS681 War and Peace
SOSC780 Multicultural Communities
SOSC787 Diversity, Power and Discrimination
CRIM782 Understanding Restorative Justice
POLS781 International Relations
CONF780 Negotiation and Mediation

Workplace experience

Workplace experience (Work Integrated Learning) is the final part of your degree and takes a full semester. This is a supervised work placement related to your major(s), for an organisation of your choice.

Recent placements included:

  • Auckland Council
  • Aotearoa NZ Peace and Conflict Studies Centre Trust
  • Community Organisations
  • Human Rights Foundation
  • Family Focus Rotorua
  • National Foundation for the Deaf
  • Paul Diver Associates
  • Safer Aotearoa Family Violence Prevention Network
  • The Fono
  • The Peace Foundation
  • Child, Youth and Family
  • Global Peace and Justice
  • International peace, justice organisations and bodies dedicated to conflict resolution
  • Lobby groups
  • Local councils
  • Ministry of Social Development
  • New Zealand Peace Foundation
  • New Zealand Police
  • Peace Movement Aotearoa
  • Political parties
  • Unions
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Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.

Conflict Resolution Careers

Key features
  • A unique, integrated approach to solving conflict
  • Wide-ranging conflict resolution skills, including negotiation, mediation and facilitation
  • Workplace experience in your final semester
See yourself as
  • A mediator and negotiator
  • A problem-solver
  • A communicator
  • Empathetic and calm
  • A team player
Mohamud Mohamed
Sarah Bowyer
Thu Nguyen
Mohamud Mohamed
Great graduatesMohamud MohamedDiversity and Engagement Advisor, Office of Ethnic Communities, Department of Internal AffairsMaster of Arts
Bachelor of ArtsHe enjoys enabling New Zealand’s diverse ethnic communities to prosper and thrive, says Mohamud Mohamed who now works in the Office of Ethnic Communities.He enjoys enabling New Zealand’s diverse ethnic communities to prosper and thrive, says AUT social sciences alumnus Mohamud Mohamed who now works in the Office of Ethnic Communities at the Department of Internal Affairs. Mohamud’s hard work for New Zealand’s ethnic communities has certainly been recognised and in 2018 he was a finalist in the 2018 New Zealander of the Year Awards: Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero Award category.
Sarah Bowyer
Great graduatesSarah BowyerCourt Registry Officer, Ministry of Justice, ChristchurchBachelor of ArtsShe has always been fascinated by crime and justice, says AUT alumna Sarah Bowyer who completed a Bachelor of Arts in Conflict Resolution and Criminology.She has always been fascinated by crime and justice, says AUT alumna Sarah Bowyer who completed a Bachelor of Arts in Conflict Resolution and Criminology. Now working as a court registry officer in Christchurch, she loves being able to interact with legal professionals and customers from a range of departments on a daily basis.
Thu Nguyen
Great graduatesThu NguyenBachelor of ArtsDeciding what to study was easy, says Thu Nguyen who is in her final year of a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Conflict Resolution.Deciding what to study was easy, says Thu Nguyen who is currently in her final year of a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Conflict Resolution. Once she graduates, she would like to work for the New Zealand Police as an ethnic liaison officer with the purpose of building a strong partnership between the Vietnamese community in New Zealand and the police.

The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.

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