Certificate Program FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions for the Certificate of AttendanceWhat is the Certificate of Attendance in Conflict Resolution?
The Certificate of Attendance is a document provided to students who have successfully completed five required courses and one semester of internship. Students may take the courses for credit or non-credit and may pursue the sequence of courses at their own pace.
Is the certificate a license?
No, the Certificate of Attendance is not a license. There is no licensing program anywhere in the United States for mediators or conflict resolution specialists. The Certificate is a formal acknowledgement given by Teachers College, Columbia University that the student has gone through a rigorous and thorough program of studies in the field of conflict resolution.
Are there any requirements for admission to the certificate program?
The only requirement for the Certificate of Attendance is that prospective students have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, a college or university if the certificate courses will be taken "for credit ". Students who have a bachelor's degree but not a master's might want to think of using the credits earned in the Certificate towards a master's degree.
I'm not currently registered in graduate school. Do I have the option of taking courses for credit or non-credit?
Teachers College will allow any student with an accredited bachelor's degree to take up to 16 credits of coursework on a non-degree basis.
Can all of these courses be applied to a degree program, such as a master's or a doctoral, at a later date?Yes, with certain conditions. Please consult the Admissions Office regarding formal admission into a degree program. Also note that certain degree programs have their own course requirements.
Can I take just one course without applying to the certificate program?
Yes, you may take just one course. We recommend taking the Basic Practicum or the Fundamentals either on a credit or non-credit basis. If you later decide to pursue the Certificate of Attendance, you can apply this as one of the requirements. If you also wish to take any course for credit, the Admissions Office requires a copy of your transcript or diploma. You also have to pay the application fee.
Is there financial aid/scholarships available?
Financial aid is available only for registered full-time graduate students. Please consult the Admissions Office for more information.
I'm considering a career change, what can studies in the area of conflict resolution do for me?
There are several responses to this question. The first is on the level of personal understanding and skill development. Many students, some with a law degree or an MBA or even a PhD, pursue the Certificate because of the need for developing conflict resolution skills in their personal and professional lives. Other pursue the Certificate because of wanting to change their career paths. They wish to become mediators or conflict resolution trainers or consultants. In time and with further professional development in the field both in theory and practice, students acquire sufficient academic background and experience to operate as practitioners in the field. In addition, a number of our graduates have used their conflict resolution skills to assist them in their careers as Human Resource Professionals, Consultants or Administrators.
I understand the one semester of an internship is required. How can I complete this while working full time?
While we offer several possible areas for internships, the most popular internship is in community mediation. Students may arrange with the Community Mediation Center, at their leisure, when they would want to do actual mediations. Furthermore, students from various programs find that the skills they learn from this internship easily transfer into their professional lives.
Can I switch from non-credit to credit for a particular course?
Students are not allowed to switch from credit to non-credit or vice-versa in the middle of the semester. They have to declare when they register for a class with the ICCCR whether they are taking the class for credit or not.