New Conflict Resolution MA offered by UMass Boston in Israel
(Original article: UMass Boston. March 2016)
Two-Year Conflict Resolution MA Degree from UMass Boston: Study in Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salaam, Israel
About the Program
This groundbreaking graduate degree is the only one of its kind:
- Located in a successful laboratory of Jews and Palestinians living together in Israel.
- In Israel where students receive their degrees from an American university.
- Featuring a mix of Palestinian and Jewish students and faculty.
Developed and awarded by UMass Boston, this master of arts degree in Conflict Resolution is an experiential program in which students live, work, observe and collaborate with Jewish and Palestinian residents and scholars in the only community around the world where Palestinians and Jews live together in equality and peace, Wahat al-Salaam/Neve Shalom [Oasis of Peace] in Israel. This residential master’s degree provides a strong basis in conflict theory and can be completed in two calendar years. Students will follow the same curriculum offered in the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution, with electives that focus on the rich history of Jews and Palestinians living together in harmony.
Multiple Perspectives
The student body will comprise Palestinians, Jews, Americans and other international students. The faculty will feature leading Palestinian and Jewish scholars from the region, as well as faculty from the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Masters in Conflict Resolution – all internationally recognized authorities on conflict around the world. The curriculum will look at both regional and global conflicts to provide a comparative basis for understanding how they work and what can be done about them.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze and understand practical and theoretical best practices in managing and resolving conflicts with lessons from a world renown living laboratory of peace and from conflicts around the world.
- Gain a unique perspective on the use of negotiation, mediation, cross-cultural conflict, and interethnic dialogue skills.
- Develop skills that are applicable for work in hospitals, government agencies, universities, community groups, public schools, urban planning agencies, international NGOs, courts, and countless other industries.
This master’s degree is ideal for:
- Jews and Palestinians from Israel-Palestine who seek to promote peaceful coexistence through education, awareness and a commitment to respecting the ideal of a multicultural society.
- International and American students who wish to earn a MA in Conflict Resolution from an accredited American university while studying in Israel.
- University of Massachusetts Boston students enrolled in the MA in Conflict Resolution who wish to take a semester of study abroad at the Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salaam campus.
Highlights of Wahat al-Salaam/Neve Shalom
- An intentionally peace-purposed village, 50% Palestinian and 50% Jewish, located midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv-Jaffa.
- The School for Peace: 65,000 Palestinians and Jews have gone through these community workshops
- Bilingual/bi-cultural K-6 primary school – Israel’s first, engages children in the peace process by building community among youths before they can ‘take sides’.
- Awarded the Niwano Peace Prize from Japan
- Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize twice
Student Life
The community has social and political activities open to the public, and students may use the swimming pool, and basketball court. The surrounding region is a magnificent natural setting for hiking and bike riding. Program staff will assist students with locating housing.
Tuition and Fees
- For students living in Israel, tuition will be $5,000 per year.
- For all other students, tuition will be $16,000 per year.
Tuition will cover all instruction, classrooms, library facilities, computer connections, student counseling/support and recreational facilities. The tuition and fees do not cover airfare to Israel or return flights to the United States, ground transportation, housing, meals, books or other school supplies.
For further academic information, please contact:
Within the United States: Professor David Matz davidematz@gmail.com
Within Israel Maram Masarwi, PhD marammas70@gmail.com or Nava Sonnenschein, PhD nava.sfp@nswas.info
For more information about the Village, please visit:
wasns.org and oasisofpeace.org
