The MA is a unique and innovative interdisciplinary programme that provides students with the academic knowledge and practical skills to resolve disputes between parties in a non-adversarial manner. Upon successful completion of the MA, students receive both a QQI Level 9 academic qualification. Dispute resolution is one of the fastest-growing fields and academic disciplines both in Ireland and internationally, offering professional opportunities in the corporate, legal, educational, political, HR, health, and community settings, as well as many others.

The Master of Arts Degree in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes (face-to-face, hybrid, and online formats) offers students an understanding of the role that international law and institutions play in the settlement of international and transnational disputes. This specialization examines the role of national and international courts and tribunals in contributing to the settlement of disputes. As international and transnational adjudication has acquired a more prominent role in international relations, it is essential to understand how these global and regional courts are responding to the challenges of the early 21st Century. Students will examine the role of law in traditional and not-so traditional territorial and boundary disputes, and acquire an overview of the law of the sea. And finally, they will be examine the increasingly important field of dispute settlement in international economic relations, which will include investment arbitration.

We’re well-established in political science, asking difficult questions to find important answers. How do you put an end to armed conflict? What are the benefits and consequences of intervention? What role do non-governmental organisations play in the prevention and resolution of conflict? Is immigration linked to terrorism? Does climate change affect transnational migration patterns?

The top-ranked Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution has led the nation in law-school-based conflict resolution for over a decade and has been ranked # 1 in the U.S. News and World Report law school rankings for 13 of the last 14 years. Offering a Certificate, Masters, and LLM in Dispute Resolution, lawyers and non-law practitioners can all learn the skills to manage conflict in a variety of settings. Hands-on faculty, small class sizes, diverse student body, and flexible schedules make its academic programs ideal for achieving a wide variety of professional goals. Pepperdine's Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR) is available for students looking to work in a variety of law and non-law areas.