Undergraduate Program

About the Program

The undergraduate major and minor in Conflict Analysis and Resolution (CAR) is a program of the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) at George Mason University.  This program offers the first major in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at a Virginia public institution, as well as the first in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Conflict occurs in many contexts, from a vehement dispute between two individuals to a cycle of violence between ethnic groups.  Conflict Analysis and Resolution (CAR) offers students a B.A., B.S., or minor in a growing interdisciplinary social science field with practical applications.  The CAR perspective emphasizes analyzing the sources and dynamics of conflict and developing the means for resolution toward lasting peace.

All ICAR students take a series of core courses that provide a background in conflict theory, analysis, and conflict resolution skills.  Required bridge courses cover conflict analysis and resolution at three levels:  interpersonal conflict, community/organizational conflict, and global conflict.  After selecting a level of conflict as a concentration, students choose courses from units throughout the university that relate to the concentration and their areas of interest, such as anthropology, communication, government, philosophy, psychology, management, sociology and New Century College.  The major also requires three credits of field experience in the form of an internship, a service learning opportunity, or study abroad.

Mason’s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) has been a pioneer in the field of conflict studies since its inception in 1981.  The Institute offered the first doctoral program in the field in North America, and its faculty continues to be at the forefront of teaching and research.  ICAR is a diverse, interdisciplinary teaching community, including professors with backgrounds in law, anthropology, psychology, philosophy, sociology, and religion. 

Partnership with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, New Century College, and other units allows this program to draw on the interdisciplinary strengths and focus of George Mason University.  Faculty research and practice specializations include peace processes, globalization, cultural aspects of conflict, mediation and dialogue, terrorism, religion and conflict, identity and other roots of conflict, and various conflicts in the United States and worldwide. 

• by completing one foreign language course at the 202 level or higher; (Students with no prior experience with the language should register for the elementary level. Students continuing a foreign language should take the Foreign Language Placement Test.)
• by achieving a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test;
• by presenting for admission to George Mason University a score of 230 or above on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and a 4.5 on the TOEFL essay for students whose native language is not English.
• For further information, see http://mcl.gmu.edu/placementtesting

4.      A Social Science course in addition to the university requirement (3 credits)

• Any course in  ANTH, CRIM, ECON, GEOG (except 102 and 309), GOVT, LING, PSYC, SOCI
• 3 credits in addition to the university requirement (The two courses used to fulfill the combined university and Institute requirements must be from different disciplines in the social sciences).
• CAR students should be able to fulfill this requirement using their concentration courses

5.     Required ICAR Core Courses (15 credits): CONF 101, 300, 301, 302, 490

6.     Required ICAR Bridge Courses (9 credits): CONF 320, 330, 340

7.     Field Experience (3 credits): This may take the form of an internship, service learning, or study abroad.

8.     Concentration courses (12 credits): Students choose courses from one of three levels of conflict:  

• interpersonal (micro level)
• community and organizational (mezzo level)
• global (macro level)

• STAT 250 
• Additional research methods course chosen from: ANTH 380, 450, CRIM 300 ENGL 327, GOVT 300, 366, 400, HIST 300, PHIL 357/SOCI 599, PSYC 300, 301, SOCI 303, 313, 410, STAT 362/IT362, STAT 474
• Underlined courses may also count for the general education information technology requiremen

3.     Major electives (6 credits): 

• Elective courses can be chosen from the approved concentration course list at any level, but may not count for both concentration and elective credit.

4.     Required ICAR Core Courses (15 credits): CONF 101, 300, 301, 302, 490

5.     Required ICAR Bridge Courses (9 credits): CONF 320, 330, 340

6.     Field Experience (3 credits): This may take the form of an internship, service learning, or study abroad.

7.     Concentration courses (12 credits): Students choose courses from one of three levels of conflict:

• interpersonal (micro level),
• community and organizational (mezzo level),
• global (macro level).