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.
Start date: 2022
Courses 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.
Apart from the courses below you also need to complete courses from your second major, your chosen minor(s) or electives.
Core courses
All Bachelor of Arts students need to complete core courses that help you develop transferable skills and support your work in all other courses in the degree.
Academic Communication
Choose one of:
Culture and Society
Complete one course from each of the following clusters. Each cluster aligns with one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Choose one of:
- CHIN501 Introduction to Chinese I
- CHIN502 Introduction to Chinese II
- CHIN504 Write Chinese I
- CHIN511 Speak Chinese I
- CLSY502 Intercultural Competence
- ENGL500 Contemporary Language Studies
- ENGL501 Critical Media Studies
- ENGL502 Reading New Zealand
- ENGL503 A Pacific Reader
- JAPA511 Speak Japanese I
- JAPA512 Write Japanese I
- KORE500 Introduction to Korean Language and Culture I
- KORE501 Introduction to Korean Language and Culture II
- MAOR500 Introduction to Conversational Māori
- MAOR501 Beginners Māori Language I
- MAOR502 Beginners Māori Language II
- NZSL502 Deaf Community and Culture I
- NZSL510 New Zealand Sign Language I
- NZSL520 New Zealand Sign Language II
- SPAN501 Spanish 1A
- SPAN502 Spanish 1B
- TIKA501 Noho Mārae Wānanga Maori Learning Experience A
- TIKA502 Noho Mārae Wānanga Maori Learning Experience B
Choose one of:
- CLSY500 Culture and Society
- CRIM580 Criminology and Criminal Justice
- HIST500 Introduction to New Zealand History
- HIST501 The Holocaust: Its Causes, Character, and Legacy
- HIST503 Ka Whawhai Tonu Mātou: Struggle and Resistance in Aotearoa and South Africa
- PSYC580 Introduction to Psychology A
- SOSC582 Social Thinking
- SOSC583 Social Institutions
Knowledge and Inquiry
Choose one of:
Conflict Resolution courses
Level 5 courses
Choose two from:
- PSYC580 Introduction to Psychology A
- SOSC582 Social Thinking
- SOSC583 Social Institutions
- DIGM550 Making Digital Media I
Level 6 courses
Complete the following courses:
- CONF682 Conflict Resolution: An Introduction
- CONF683 Human Rights and Human Wrongs
And choose one of:
- DIGM650 Making Digital Media II
- HIST690 Te Tiriti O Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi
Level 7 courses
Complete the following courses:
- CONF781 War and Armed Conflict in Global Affairs
- CONF782 Practicing Peace
And choose one of:
- CRIM782 Understanding Restorative Justice
- POLS781 International Relations
- SOSC780 Multicultural Communities (not offered 2022)
- SOSC787 Diversity, Power and Discrimination
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
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Arts
- Chinese Studies
- Creative Writing
- Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Culinary Arts
- Economics
- Education
- English and New Media Studies
- Event Management
- History
- International Studies
- Interpreting
- Japanese Studies
- Māori Development
- Māori Media
- New Zealand Sign Language & Deaf Studies
- New Zealand Sign Language - English Interpreting
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
- A unique, integrated approach to solving conflict
- Wide-ranging conflict resolution skills, including negotiation, mediation and facilitation
- Workplace experience in your final semester
- A mediator and negotiator
- A problem-solver
- A communicator
- Empathetic and calm
- A team player
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.