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Our online degree programs are designed for busy working adults just like you – intentionally structured to allow you to balance work, life and other commitments. As a student of ACU Online, you are part of a vibrant, virtual, Christ-centered community.
Introducing
Locked-In Tuition.
Our Locked-In Tuition program guarantees you’ll pay the same price for your entire certificate program.
About the Program
Whether you are already in a leadership role (elder, minister, deacon), or looking to influence positive change as a church member, ACU’s graduate Certificate in Conflict Management for Church Leaders will help you gain the ability to leverage conflict for significant breakthroughs.
Program Structure
All the Details on Your Degree
Work toward the graduate certificate will, in most cases, be applicable to the Master of Arts in Conflict Management and Resolution should you decide to pursue a graduate degree.
Required Hours
15 hours
12 month timeframe
Cost: $650/Hour with $400 resource fee per semester
Example Coursework
The Dynamics of Interpersonal Conflict
Negotiation
Mediation
Managing Conflict in Churches
Upcoming Start Dates
January 14, 2025
March 11, 2025
Meet the Program Director
Dr. Kipi Fleming, Certificate in Conflict Management for Church Leaders
Dr. Kipi Fleming received her B.S.Ed in elementary education with an emphasis in reading from Abilene Christian University in 1985. Before the birth of her children, she taught first grade and later substituted in the public schools in Texas and Oklahoma at all levels. Dr. Fleming received her MACRR from ACU in 2010 and went on to complete her doctorate in conflict analysis and resolution from Nova Southeastern University in 2015 where her research concentrated on the biblical interpretation of marital submission and how it affects the Christian marriage relationship.
Dr. Fleming joined the faculty at the Duncum Center in the summer of 2015 as an adjunct professor and was named the conflict management program director at ACU Dallas in July of 2016. Her research interests include family conflict, gender and conflict, conflict in schools, leadership and conflict, church conflict, and conflict in American history. Dr. Fleming is a mediator for the Lubbock County Office of Dispute Resolution where she works primarily with families in divorce mediations.
Spotlight
Why Certificate Programs Have Skyrocketed in Popularity
Recent statistics are showing a shift in higher education, with certificates increasing in popularity. Read on to find out the cause for this shift and which areas of study are in high demand.
The Role of Effective Conflict Resolution in Improving Relationships and Fostering Productivity
Conflict resolution can offer immense benefits to organizations. Learn how you can use mediation skills to build relationships and boost productivity in your work environment.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Kipi Fleming
From a young age, we’re told to get along with others, yet many of us don’t know what that really looks like even in our adulthood. Program Director Dr. Kipi Fleming has a passion for helping others communicate productively. Find out why this student-turned educator calls ACU Online’s Master of Arts in Conflict Management and Resolution “a life-changing educational experience.”
What are the Benefits of Earning a Graduate Certificate?
Graduate certificates are taking off as a great way to accelerate your career. The Washington Post reported that employees who earn a graduate certificate enjoy salary increases that range from 13% to 25%.
Upon completion, graduates will have:
- Increased confidence in working within a church setting to navigate, mediate, and resolve conflict at the interpersonal and organizational level.
- Added value in reconciliation within the church body.
- Better understanding of yourself and how you handle conflict in your personal relationships.
- Increased empathy for others to become a truly effective conflict management specialist.
To be considered for admission, students must:
- Complete the online program application accompanied by a non-refundable processing fee.
- Submit an official transcript of all previous colleges attended. The transcript must indicate an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or equivalent.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above, probationary status may be granted.
- Submit a current resume.
Abilene Christian University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Ga. 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of ACU.
Abilene Christian University enjoys a strong national reputation as one of the leading private Christian universities in the west and southwest, indicated by various ratings (such as U.S. News and World Report and other reports).