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Curriculum
Standalone ADR Certificate - USC Gould School of Law

Requirements and Courses

ADR certificate students must complete 12 units, including the following two mandatory courses:

  • ADR Law and Policy: Arbitration and Mediation
  • ADR Ethics

You must also select at least one of the following mandatory courses:

  • International Arbitration
  • ADR Clause Drafting
  • Cross-Cultural Dispute Resolution

You may select courses from among the available ADR curriculum to complete the 12 units for the certificate.

Course Descriptions

Select a course below to view a more detailed description of the course.

ADR Clause Drafting

ADR Clause Drafting teaches how to identify and draft language recognizing anticipated, and the potential for unanticipated, consequences of a contemplated business transaction or actual dispute as well as the nature of the parties and their relationship. It instills essential ADR skills to identify, negotiate and draft specific to a contemplated business transaction or actual dispute.

ADR Ethics

ADR Ethics provides students, lawyers and professional neutrals with an in-depth examination of the rules guiding behavior in various dispute resolution processes.

ADR Law and Policy: Arbitration and Mediation

This course explores the origin, development and practice of mediation, arbitration and other forms of ADR, emphasizing the policies underlying these increasingly significant and evolving areas.

Arbitration Advocacy

Arbitration Advocacy introduces the basic approaches to preparing and presenting cases in the arbitration context.

Arbitration in the United States

Arbitration in the United States explores the range of issues addressed by the Federal Arbitration Act and state arbitration laws.

Cross-Cultural Dispute Resolution

This course brings an international perspective to understanding the impact of culture in the most commonly used international and domestic dispute resolution practices (negotiation, mediation and arbitration).

Directed Research

Employment Dispute Mediation

Employment Dispute Mediation provides hands-on experience in the mediation of the complex issues of disability, wage and hour, sex and sex harassment, age, race, religion and national origin.

International Arbitration

International Arbitration examines methods of dispute resolution used in other countries and compares them to those employed in the United States.

International Investment Law and Arbitration

This course instills a greater in-depth understanding of the key issues and legal questions that arise in international business dispute resolution.

Introduction to U.S. Legal System (Int'l Students Only)

This course explores the legal system in the United States and the distinctive process and methods of American law. It examines the basic structure and operation of government in the United States, particularly the judicial branch, and focuses on the American method of making, finding and enforcing law. It also provides a basic understanding of the historical context in which the legal system in the United States developed and highlights the foundational values of American law, such as due process and equality.

Labor Arbitration

Labor Arbitration explores the National Labor Relations Act, collective bargaining and the labor arbitration process. Students also prepare labor arbitration briefs.

Mediation Advocacy

Mediation Advocacy examines the process of mediation, explores the philosophical approaches to mediation and different styles of mediating, develops a working knowledge of the stages of mediation, and cultivates skills essential to becoming effective advocates throughout each stage of the process.

Mediation Theory & Practice

Negotiation Skills

Negotiation Theory and Application

Examines origin and types of conflicts that arise within organizations. Includes designing systems to prevent conflict from developing or escalating, as well as developing a culture of collaboration and creativity.

Practical Mediation Skills Clinic


Courses completed as a part of the standalone ADR certificate may be applied to our LLM in Alternative Dispute Resolution or our Master of Dispute Resolution for those who chose to apply, are admitted and enroll in either degree.

However, courses used toward a degree completed at USC Gould or another university may not be applied toward this certificate.

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