The Department of Dispute Resolution and Counseling comprises programs that share a focus on the resolution of problems. Whether they are personal problems that could benefit from the guidance of professional counselors or interpersonal conflicts that require the intervention of professional mediators, these programs offer the education and tools that allow practitioners to resolve problems.

The Center for Dispute Resolution & Conflict Management is the premier program of its kind in the Southwest. The Center offers a Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution, Graduate Certificate, and non-credit Executive Education Workshops that include comprehensive, interdisciplinary study and classroom instruction. Students benefit from nationally and internationally recognized experts in small interactive classes that emphasize practical skills and techniques. The SMU Mediation Center, as well as other practicum opportunities, also broaden and enhance the learning experience.