Human Resource Development (M.S.)

As part of your studies towards the MS in HRD degree, you can select from a broad array of courses directly applicable to the general practice of Human Resource Management. All of the major functional areas of HRM are covered, including recruiting and selection, compensation and benefits, employee relations, talent management. In addition, student may select more advanced electives in international HR, employee wellness, diversity management and risk management. By choosing courses along these lines, you acquire not only knowledge of the concepts and theories most critical to this field but also develop the skills and capabilities for performing at the highest level in general human resource management. 

*Individuals with 3 or more year's experience as an HR manager or director may request that this course be waived. Of course, the student would still need to complete the 36 hour degree requirement by completing an additional elective. 

As part of your studies towards the master's degree, you can combine advanced coursework in research methods and statistics -- and complete a research thesis-- with such traditional I/O subject areas as training, staffing and selection, group dynamics, and leadership. By choosing courses along these lines, you acquire a solid foundation for applying to doctoral programs or for professional work in the I/O field. 

* Students focusing their studies in I/O Psychology are expected to take these courses

The common narrative today is that organizations must become more agile, nimble, adaptive and innovative if they are to survive. To get to this point, strong leadership is needed along with the abilities to facilitate and manage the process of change effectively. But in addition, managing change means being able to understand the broader context of employment relationships and the importance of connecting change efforts to HRM.

If you are looking to focus your career in the areas of change management and facilitation, leadership and organization development, there are a number of elective courses that can help you reach that goal. The framework of courses to emphasize your studies in leadership and organization development is shown below:

Human Resource Development has its origins in the important function of employee training and development. Applying ways to make training most effective, developing and using educational technologies, and promoting learning and employee development are vital to the success of organizations today and into the future. By combining coursework in HRD with more technical courses in Instructional Technology, you can develop the skills needed to support the best in employee training, organizational learning, and career development.