Public Affairs 6530: Negotiation

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This is a sample syllabus to provide general information about the course and it's requirements. Course requirements are subject to change. This syllabus does not contain all assignment or course detail and currently enrolled students should reference the syllabus provided by their instructor. For a specific syllabus, please email us a request.

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Course Overview

1 Credit Hour
Modalities Available: Online

Negotiation skills have been identified as critical for effective, successful public management and leadership. This course explores the major concepts and theories of negotiation to improve negotiation skills. Through readings, role play exercises and class discussion, students develop an understanding of individual negotiation styles, core approaches to negotiation and dispute resolution, how to negotiate with multiple parties and to increase confidence in individual negotiation skills.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will develop:

An improved awareness and understanding of her/his individual negotiation style;
An understanding of the core strategic approaches to negotiation and the management of differences;
An understanding of how to negotiate with multiple parties and with the assistance of a third party;
Enhanced self-confidence with respect to individual negotiation skills.

Requirements and Expectations

Self-Assessments (2@5 points), 10 points
Negotiation Prep./Outcome Reflections (6@10), 60points
Class Participation:
Participation in synchronous class session (1@5), 05 points
Negotiation Exercise Partner Evaluations (of you) (5@2), 10 points
Discussion Posts (3@5), 15 points
Total, 100 points

Self-Assessments
A brief pre- and post-course assessment of your negotiation skills. Guidance is posted to Modules 1 and 7.

Negotiation Preparation/Outcome Reflections
All students are required to complete negotiation exercises each week. Partners and/or teams for all exercises will be assigned by the instructor ahead of time.

Each negotiation role play exercise will require individual planning and an outcome statement. Planning and outcome worksheets are posted to the respective module for each week. Planning worksheets and outcome worksheets total 5 points each;10 points total for each of the 6 negotiation exercises to be completed throughout the course (weeks 1-3, 5-7).

Class Participation

Participation in synchronous class session: One synchronous class session will be scheduled mid-way through the course as an opportunity to check comprehension of fundamental course content and to compare/contrast outcomes. This session will be scheduled in advance with respect to student preferences.
Negotiation Exercise Partner Evaluations (of you): Each weekly negotiation outcome worksheet (referenced above) requests an evaluation of your negotiation partner. You will be asked to evaluate your partners’ preparedness and performance for each exercise (and they’ll evaluate you).
Discussion Posts: Heads Up! A brief article or recording will be posted to “Discussions” each week. The material is meant to expand your knowledge and application beyond the text reading. Student are encouraged to review each weeks’ material, however you’re asked to comment on 3 weekly posts. One original post and one additional comment is required to earn credit for the post. Quality of post (original thinking, professional critique) is requested, length doesn’t matter. In other words, please focus on “quality, not quantity”.