Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

What Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution does

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution is an academic school within George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, focused on peacebuilding and conflict resolution education, research, and practice. Originally established in 1972 as the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR) and renamed in 2020 to honor former President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, the school offers a comprehensive portfolio that includes BA and BS undergraduate degrees, an MS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution delivered in person and online, a PhD, dual master's degrees (with the University of Malta in Mediterranean Security and with Social Work), six undergraduate minors, three graduate certificates (Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Contemporary Dispute Resolution, and Mass Atrocity and Genocide Prevention), and professional education including the Political Leadership Academy. Its research infrastructure comprises five specialized Peace Labs (Peace Engineering, PiVoT, Sustainable Peace, Narrative Transformation, and Transitioning Justice) and five research centers (Center for Peace Tech, Center for Peacemaking Practice, Center for World Religions Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation, and Peace and Conflict Studies Center Asia), plus the Point of View International Retreat and Research Center used for experiential learning and external rentals.

The Carter School generates revenue through four streams: tuition and fees for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs; donations and philanthropic support (including named fellowships such as the Charles E. Scheidt Master's Fellowship and the Shinnyo-en Fellowship); professional development and executive education including the Political Leadership Academy and customized training delivered at Point of View; and facility rental of the Point of View retreat center to external organizations. Distribution occurs through the Fairfax campus, the fully online MS, the George Mason Korea campus, the University of Malta dual-degree, study abroad programs (Balkans, Spain, Ireland), and the retreat facility. Pricing is per-credit with geographic discounts (15% per credit for Maryland and DC residents). Go-to-market relies on academic admissions, virtual information sessions, campus visits, high school and community college partnerships, the Conflict Resolution Youth Summit, social media, and earned media around Carter legacy and the January 2025 UN Academic Impact SDG 16 Hub designation.

The school's primary customer segments are undergraduate students, master's and doctoral students, working professionals seeking certificates or executive education, and external organizations renting the retreat facility. Strategic partnerships include Rotary International (global peacebuilding co-development), University of Malta (dual degree), Shinnyo-en Foundation (undergraduate fellowship), U.S. Department of State (conflict research collaboration, including Dean Özerdem's Ukraine reconstruction role), the World Affairs Councils of America, and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency.

Name

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Legal name

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Website

https://carterschool.gmu.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution is an academic unit within George Mason University offering undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, certificate, and professional programs in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, supported by five research centers and five Peace Labs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs including in-person and online master's degrees
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Support from alumni and donors including funding for student scholarships, faculty research, and program development
3. Professional Development and Executive Education: Customized training programs, non-degree studies, and professional education offerings including the Political Leadership Academy
4. Facility Rental: Revenue from renting the Point of View retreat facility to external organizations for events and training

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Carter School offers undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and certificate academic programs in conflict analysis and resolution, plus non-degree executive education (including the Political Leadership Academy) and customized training at the Point of View retreat facility. It conducts peacebuilding research through five specialized Peace Labs and five research centers.

Product overview

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs and research centers focused on peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and global justice. The school provides undergraduate degrees (BA/BS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution), graduate programs including Master's degrees (on-campus and online formats), doctoral research (PhD), graduate certificates, and professional education. Research operations span five specialized Peace Labs (Peace Engineering Lab, PiVoT Peace Lab, Sustainable Peace Lab, Narrative Transformation Lab, and Transitioning Justice Lab) and five research centers (Center for Peace Tech, Center for Peacemaking Practice, Center for World Religions Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation, and Peace and Conflict Studies Center Asia). The school also operates the Point of View International Retreat and Research Center as a facility for training and dialogue programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Resolution

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #1 in Conflict Analysis and Resolution nationally
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rotary InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Carter School partnership with Rotary International focuses on scaling peacebuilding efforts globally. The partnership emphasizes cross-sector engagement to translate ideas into concrete initiatives from dialogue and community projects to broader peacebuilding efforts. Carter School students and faculty work with Rotary clubs on various peace initiatives.
• University of MaltacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual Master's Degrees in Conflict Resolution and Mediterranean Security offered jointly with the University of Malta, providing international academic exposure and Mediterranean-focused peacebuilding training.
• Shinnyo-en FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Shinnyo Fellowship program for Carter School undergraduate students, supported by the Shinnyo-en Foundation. The partnership provides fellowship opportunities for students pursuing peacebuilding education.
• Mary Hoch Center for ReconciliationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal Carter School center focused on reconciliation research and practice. Works with students on reconciliation initiatives including programs like the Tea Talk dialogue series.
• George Mason KoreacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGeorge Mason University's Korea campus providing international study opportunities including study abroad programs in the Balkans, supporting Carter School students' global learning experiences.
• U.S. Department of StatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarter School partners with the U.S. Department of State to provide research on international conflicts. Dean Alpaslan Özerdem has been appointed to the Pritzker Family Foundation's civilianian liaison group for Ukraine reconstruction.
• World Affairs Councils of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarter School students intern with the World Affairs Councils of America, coordinating logistics for events that bring high school students to Washington, D.C. for global engagement and public diplomacy education.
• Defense Counterintelligence and Security AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarter School students intern with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency under the Department of War to explore government approaches to conflict resolution.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• United States Institute of Peace (USIP): Federal institution dedicated to conflict prevention and resolution, offering training, education, and research — comparable to the Carter School in peacebuilding focus and target audience of practitioners and policymakers.
• Uppsala University - Department of Peace and Conflict Research: European leader in peace and conflict research offering master's and PhD programs — directly comparable academic mission with a strong research orientation and global reputation in the field.
• Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies (University of Notre Dame): Notre Dame's premier peace studies institute offering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs in peace and conflict resolution — the closest comparable program in mission, academic portfolio, and Catholic-affiliated university setting.

Broad incumbents

• Johns Hopkins SAIS: Premier international affairs school with concentrations in conflict management — comparable graduate-level training for peacebuilding careers with significantly larger resources and global campus network.
• Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy: Top-ranked international affairs school offering conflict resolution tracks — competes for graduate applicants seeking peace/diplomacy careers with broader curriculum and stronger career services.
• Columbia University - School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA): Top-tier international affairs school offering conflict resolution specializations within broader policy training — competes for the same graduate applicant pool with stronger brand and larger endowment.

Regional players

• Brandeis University - Heller School for Social Policy and Management: Graduate school focused on social policy and conflict resolution at a U.S. research university — comparable in academic structure and target audience of practitioners pursuing policy-oriented conflict careers.
• Swarthmore College - Peace and Conflict Studies Program: Liberal arts college offering a peace and conflict studies major — comparable in academic focus at the undergraduate level but smaller scale and lacking graduate programs.
• George Mason University - Schar School of Policy and Government: Sister school at George Mason University with adjacent policy and security programs — competes for overlapping graduate applicants within the same parent institution and offers a complementary (not duplicate) curriculum.

Emerging players

• Stanford University - Center for Conflict and Negotiation: Stanford-affiliated research and training center focused on negotiation and conflict resolution — comparable in research intensity and professional training but smaller in degree-granting scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GMUCarterSchool
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/CarterSchoolforPeaceandConflictResolution
• Facebookfacebook.com/GMUCarterSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gmucarter
• Instagraminstagram.com/GMUCarterSchool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution