Program in International Conflict Management College of Humanities and Social Sciences Kennesaw State University

National Rankings and Honors

Kennesaw State University (KSU) is well regarded for research and academic excellence. The "US News and World Report" has named KSU one of the top universities in the region. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni has listed KSU among only 19 universities in America that scored an A in their "What Will They Learn?" guide. In addition, the Master of Science in Conflict Management (MSCM) program has been awarded the University System of Georgia Board of Regents' Award for Excellence in Teaching.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Department of Political Science and International Affairs

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) is the largest college at Kennesaw State University, offering 30 undergraduate and graduate programs. Classrooms and laboratories contain state-of-the-art wireless technology, and passionate and experienced faculty members teach interdisciplinary courses.

Located within the College of HSS, the Department of Political Science and International Affairs offers rigorous, focused, and applied programs that help prepare graduates for rewarding careers in government and the private sector. Students emerge with the analytical knowledge, skills, and capabilities necessary to understand political systems, become involved citizens, and succeed as high-performing professionals.

Doctoral Program in International Conflict Management

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is one of the few schools in North America that offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in International Conflict Management. Core competencies of the program include cross-cultural analysis, ethical foundations of global conflict, international negotiations, and international relations. Graduates of the program are prepared for a wide range of operational positions in government, non-governmental agencies, academia, and the private sector.

The 75-credit hour program requires its graduates to complete a set of core seminars and research methods, as well as to obtain significant international experience, teaching experience, and foreign written and oral language competency equivalent to US Foreign Service standards. Curricular electives include "International Project Management," "Post-Agreement Reconstruction," "Foundations and Issues in International Political Economy," and "Peacebuilding, Peacekeeping, and Reconciliation." A three-hour internship with an international organization is also required.

More information on applying and on the graduate programs at KSU is available.

Research Centers for PhD Candidates

PhD candidates benefit from the affiliation of the Department of Political Science and International Affairs and with the Institute for Global Initiatives, which promotes global learning and regional studies through academic services, partnerships, research, and scholarship. Also located within the College of HSS, the Center for Conflict Management uses student research, learning initiatives, professional training, and community engagement to facilitate non-violent approaches to conflict.

Wide-Ranging Research Opportunities

Graduate student research in the International Conflict Management (ICM) covers a wide variety of areas, including cyber terrorism and democracy, ethnicity and economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa, agrarian reform and land rights in Latin America, the effectiveness of the United Nations in managing international conflict after the Cold War, and the use of sport and physical activities as tools for conflict reconciliation.

Experienced and Dedicated Faculty Members Lead the ICM Program

Faculty members involved in the ICM program have professional and active research experience in an extensive array of areas related to the field, including peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction, civil-military relations, intercultural communication, nongovernmental organizations, environmental issues, social movements, and feminist and post-colonial studies.

For instance, Professor Volker Franke has served as Director of Research at the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC), one of Germany's premier peace and conflict research institutes. Dr. Franke has published more than 30 journal articles, research reports, book chapters, and case studies related to his interests, and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Foundation of Peace Research.

Associate Director Darina Lepadatu served as a European integration specialist in the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research before joining KSU. Professor Lepadatu has also participated in international missions and conferences in more than 20 countries. Her research interests include race and ethnicity, sociology of work and organizations, and comparative sociology.

Professor Debarati Sen brings her expertise in cultural anthropology, sociology, and gender studies to the ICM program. Dr. Sen's research has been funded by many prestigious foundations and institutions, including the National Science Foundation, Princeton University, and the Wenner Gren Foundation.

Financial Aid Opportunities at Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw University offers a number of financial resources for graduate students, including loans, work study, and fellowships. Many scholarships are also available for full-time and part-time students from numerous university and outside sources, including the American Association of University Women, Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, and Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Examples of scholarships available to students within the College of HSS include the Buck Craft/East Cobb Citivan Scholarship, George and Rosemary Beggs Scholarship, and Palmer Family Annual Scholarship.

Qualified ICM students may also be eligible for research and teaching assistantships. Assistantships require 20 hours of work per week, and provide full tuition waivers and generous stipends.

Kennesaw State University -- A Large Global University Outside Atlanta

Founded in 1963, Kennesaw State University is today the third largest university in Georgia. KSU has a strong commitment to global learning, scholarly and creative work, continuing education, public service, technical assistance, and economic development activities. The university actively promotes progressive and exemplary education, interdisciplinary research, and excellence in leadership.

KSU is located in Kennesaw, Georgia, near historic Kennesaw Mountain and just 20 minutes north of Atlanta.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees Not reported
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? No
• Evening/weekend programs available? No
• Distance learning programs available? No
• Terminal master's degree available? No

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Not reported
• Doctoral Degrees 1 and Required
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied48
• Accepted16
• Acceptance Rate33%
• Enrolled13
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $60
• Application Fee - International $60
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Not Reported
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline February 1st February 1st Not Reported
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's DegreesNot Reported
• Doctoral's DegreesGRE, portfolio of documents, copy of transcripts from all universities previously attended, resume, statement of goals and objectives, and academic writing sample, three letters of recommendation
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required, TOEFL iBT, IELTS required, IELTS paper based

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *$3,000
• Out-of-state tuition *$10,836
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year feesNot Reported
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitFAFSA
• Application deadlines for financial awardsApril 1
• Types of financial support availableGraduate Assistantships

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students30
• Female Percentage50%
• Male Percentage50%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students30
• Part-time Percentage0%
• Full-time Percentage100%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino0%
• Black / African American19%
• White / Caucasian69%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native0%
• Asian6%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races0%
• Unknown6%