In a world filled with conflict, individuals trained in mediation are in demand as a proven, cost-effective way to address disputes. Employment and advancement within this field is growing. According to a Cornell University study, 80 percent of large employers nationwide operate internal alternative dispute resolution programs. All federal departments and Texas state agencies are required to offer ADR options. Increasingly, firms and organizations that use ADR in their internal and external conflicts recognize and value employees with ADR competence.
People who practice ADR come from professions in all types of fields, including banking, construction, counseling, education, emergency administration, government and the ministry. ADR skills can make you more valuable and more marketable to your current employer or potential employers. The skills will also enable you to manage conflict better in your personal life and to mediate professionally.
Job search and career planning information is available to students enrolled at UNT Dallas. You can learn about resume and letter writing, job search strategies and interview preparation, and you can obtain information about jobs and employers.
A practicum provides an opportunity for students to complete their education in dispute resolution through participation in numerous exercises, simulations, actual mediations or other forms of alternative dispute resolution. Students have practicum opportunities with the Dispute Mediation Service of Dallas, Dispute Resolution Service of North Texas (Tarrant County), Pax United and other dispute resolution agencies and services throughout the area. Some students also have the opportunity to become involved in UNT's Denton County Dispute Resolution System that serves area residents.
UNT offers financial aid to help students pay for their education, including loans, internships or co-ops, and part-time employment. Students may call the financial aid adviser at the UNT Dallas Campus at (972) 780-3600 or the financial aid office on the Denton campus at (940) 565-2302 or (800) 655-3537.
A number of libraries and corporations in the Dallas-Fort Worth region offer internship or co-op experiences for students.
Taking courses at the UNT Dallas Campus permits students to work either part or full time while pursuing their degrees.
Through its Institute of Applied Economics, UNT offers a professional certificate in alternative dispute resolution plus basic mediation and family mediation certificates. UNT’s curriculum for an ADR certificate requires three classroom courses and a practicum for a total of 12 credit hours. Students who complete AECO 4000 and a practicum course (a total of 6 credit hours) are eligible to receive UNT’s mediation certificate, and those who follow up with the Family Mediation course also receive the family mediation certificate.
AECO 4000 Mediation
AECO 4020 Dispute Resolution in the Workplace or AECO 4980 Hostage Negotiation and Crisis Intervention
AECO 4120 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
AECO 4980 Family Mediation (Prerequisite: AECO 4000 Mediation)
Other ADR electives currently include Hostage Negotiation and Dynamics of School Conflict.
AECO 4420 Practicum in Mediation and Dispute Resolution (Prerequisite: AECO 4000 Mediation)
In addition to these certificate programs, you may select ADR as a minor within the Legal Information Management undergraduate program offered at UNT Dallas.
Because the ADR program does not lead to a degree, no prerequisites are required to start the course work. Students must complete AECO 4000 Mediation before taking AECO 4420 Mediation Practicum and AECO 4980 Family Mediation. The program builds upon the skills many workers acquire in their professions. Once admitted to the program, advisers will help you put together your plan of study, work with you as you take classes and help you prepare for your practicum.
The virtual library at UNT Dallas provides electronic access to several thousand periodicals, more than 400 electronic databases and a collection of thousands of books in digital format that will continue to grow. A core print collection of frequently used reference books is available on site.
An on-site staff of two professional librarians and several student assistants provides reference service. Additional reference service is available from librarians on the Denton campus. An online virtual reference desk chat room is available to students needing information from the Denton campus library system. The reference desk chat room allows users to interact directly with librarians in real time. Students may also work with Denton campus librarians via e-mail and telephone. Document delivery services from the UNT library system in Denton are provided for non-electronic resources.
UNT Dallas offers junior-, senior- and graduate-level courses leading to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. The Dallas Campus also offers programs leading to certifications and endorsements, and courses for career advancement. Courses and programs offered are of the same high quality as those offered at UNT in Denton and are taught by faculty from the Dallas and Denton campuses. Dallas Campus students earn their degree from the University of North Texas.
UNT Dallas features the region’s first virtual library, state-of-the-art classrooms, computer labs with Internet access and other services to help students achieve success.
The Dallas Campus is conveniently located at 8915 S. Hampton Road, three blocks south of Interstate 20, and is accessible by public transportation.
Since its opening in January 2000, enrollment at UNT Dallas has increased every semester. When enrollment equals 1,000 full-time equivalent students, UNT can begin the process to open UNT Dallas — the first public university within the Dallas city limits. The new campus will be built on 264 acres at Camp Wisdom and Houston School roads, just four miles east of the Dallas Campus’ current location.
The University of North Texas is a student-centered public research university and the flagship of the UNT System. One of Texas' largest universities, UNT offers 96 bachelor's, 111 master's and 50 doctoral degree programs, many nationally and internationally recognized. UNT's 33,500 students Discover the Power of Ideas.
UNT offers private-school quality at an affordable cost. More transfer students enroll at UNT than at any other college or university in Texas.
UNT is repeatedly listed as one of America's top 100 colleges for Hispanic students. UNT has been named one of America's 100 Best College Buys® for 12 consecutive years.
With 5.8 million in cataloged holdings, UNT's library system has been designated a major research library by the U.S. Department of Education.
(800) UNT-8211
www.unt.edu
E-mail: undergrad@unt.edu
Phone: (940) 565-2681
Fax: (940) 565-2408
TTY callers: (940) 369-8652
www.unt.edu/aeco/adrstudies.htm
UNTDC Academic Advising Office
E-mail: dallasadvising@unt.edu
Phone: (972) 780-3645
Fax: (972) 780-3636
7300 Houston School Rd.
Dallas, Texas 75241
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