Master of Arts in Conflict Facilitation and Organizational Change

Program Catalogue

The Masters of Arts program in Conflict Facilitation and Organizational Change (MACF) is a blended distance and residential degree program, and offers an independent learning approach to graduate education. Understanding that emotions and personal experience are intrinsic to conflict and change, the program blends academic study and research with experiential skills, personal growth and awareness. It is designed to increase the facilitator's awareness of his or her cultural attitudes, communication style, relationship skills, and the effects these have on group life and conflict situations.

MACF Program Goal
The MACF program trains students to use the theory, methods and attitudes of process work to engage effectively with groups and organizations, building on a foundation of personal growth. The program prepares professionals to attain competency in conflict resolution, community building, group facilitation, and organizational change across national, disciplinary and cultural boundaries.

This program is comprised of 7 residential periods over a period of 3 years, all held in Portland, Oregon. The course material covered during the residential periods will be applied in students' home communities through work in supervised internships. The program is built on the following interconnected and overlapping basic elements:

Online Learning
Online courses include theoretical and experiential classes on all aspects of process facilitation with groups and organizations. Class time consists of theory and discussion, experiential learning, group projects, exercises and case studies. Technical requirements and support for the distance component of the course can be found in the course syllabus, course handouts and Technology User Guide.

Residential study
Each semester includes a two-week residential period of study in Oregon. During the residency, students attend courses, meet with their study committee members, work with peers in study groups, present research and cases together with faculty and peers and have an opportunity to exchange learning and ideas through structured and informal meetings.

Concentration Areas
1. Introduction to the Process-oriented programs
2. Process Approach to Groups, Conflict and Change
3. Facilitating Change in Groups, Organizations and Communities
4. Lab: Skill Building and Self-Development
5. Case Studies and Application of the Process-oriented Approach to Conflict work, Organizational Change and Leadership
6. Group Facilitation Supervision: Interventions
7. Facilitating Conflict: Interventions
8. Facilitating Extreme Conflict Situations
9. Research Methods

Advisor
Each student will have an advisor chosen from among the faculty. Students are required to meet with their advisors at least once a month. In addition, advisors assist students in their studies, internship and final project exploration. Advisors provide students with clear learning feedback and also serve an evaluative role. As a member of the student's study committee, the advisor will review reports from faculty and supervisors regarding academic progress and development.

Study Committee
Students choose a study committee to help guide their studies and provide support and feedback. The study committee is made up of three people: the student's advisor and two other faculty members. The student meets with the study committee during the residencies.

Journal
The student is required to keep a journal to track the issues, ideas and challenges that arise in course work, in internships, from supervision, readings, inner work and group experiences.

Peer Groups
Students will form learning triads at the beginning residency and stay together throughout the three years of the program. They will meet regularly during the residential courses, with exercises and assignments from the classes, and will also meet twice monthly over the course of the year, face-to-face or via telephone or on-line conferencing to study together, work on projects and assignments, and to give support and feedback.

Electives
In addition to residencies, candidates are expected to attend elective courses related to their studies, totaling a minimum of ten days over the course of three years. It is suggested that one of these electives be a worldwork seminar.

Internship
During the program, students will work on a minimum of two projects in their home communities. These projects will serve as arenas in which students can apply their recently acquired knowledge and broaden their experiences. In order to experience a diversity of cultures, each project should encompass different populations and/or organizational styles.

Final Project
A final project, in the form of a research thesis, presentation, or project which contributes new learning to the field, is to be completed at the end of the program. The final project is meant to represent a synthesis of the student's learning, practice and research.

MACF Faculty

Final Exams and Final Project
The final residency in Year 3 is devoted to presentation of the final project and final exams.