Human Resource Master's Degree Online

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Curriculum

The Master of Science in Human Resource Development is a unique two-year program, developed by faculty who are leading practitioners in their field. Their experience and knowledge of current trends and practices lends a customized aspect to every area of study, from core courses to the three areas of concentration that are offered with this program. Through a successful blend of experiential-based learning, broad research, and in-depth academics using the latest learning technologies and software, students graduate with several necessary competencies including:

  • Leading strategic initiatives to foster an organizational learning culture.
  • Design and implement performance improvement interventions to achieve organizational goals.
  • Use technology design tools for learning and performance solutions.
  • Develop effective consulting/coaching skills to sustain workplace learning and performance.
  • Evaluate programs and interventions to determine their quality, value, and effectiveness.

The program is 45 credit hours, consisting of 39 credits of coursework (27 core credits; 12 concentration credits) and a capstone course that includes a co-op assignment, resulting in a final online presentation and the submission of a professional portfolio, totaling six credits.

NOTE: For the co-op/capstone course — students who are employed may use their current place of employment to fulfill this requirement, but must go above and beyond their current job function.

The program’s core curriculum, comprising 27 credits, provides a comprehensive understanding of human resource development, from its foundations to the most successful workplace strategies through learning sciences and instructional design.

Core Courses — 27 credits
EDHE 600Human & Org Performance3.00 credits
EDHE 660Principles of Adult Education3.00 credits
EDLT 536Learning Sciences & Instr Design3.00 credits
EDLT 537Technologies for Perf Support3.00 credits
EDUC 532Designing Virtual Communities for Staff Development - Non-Field Experience3.00 credits
EDUC 804Study Edu Orgs & Progrms3.00 credits
EHRD 500Foundations of HRD3.00 credits
EHRD 600Consulting/Leadership Coaching3.00 credits
EHRD 650Learning Leadership in Organizations3.00 credits

Concentration Areas — 12 credits
HRD in Business Settings: The following courses in the graduate Business curriculum are highly recommended. Any substitution must be approved by the faculty advisor:
BUSN 501Measuring & Maximizing Financial Performance3.00 credits
BUSN 502Essentials of Economics3.00 credits
ORGB 625Leadership & Prof Development3.00 credits
ORGB 631Leading Effective Orgs3.00 credits

HRD in Global Settings:
The following courses in the graduate curriculum for Global and International Education are highly recommended. Any substitution must be approved by the faculty advisor:
EDGI 500Introduction to Global, International & Comparative Education3.00 credits
EDGI 510Culture, Society & Education in Comparative Perspective3.00 credits
EDGI 532International Organizations in International Education3.00 credits
EDGI 534Conflict Resolution in an International Context3.00 credits

HRD in Educational Settings: The following courses in the graduate Education curriculum are highly recommended. Any substitution must be approved by the faculty advisor:
EDAM 502Resource Management, Allocation and Entrepreneurship3.00 credits
EDAM 524Mentoring and Collaborative Leadership3.00 credits
EDAM 528Research Methodology for Action Research3.00 credits
EDHE 606Higher Ed Career Development3.00 credits

Co-op Requirement
EHRD 715/716 - Capstone: Co-op with Portfolio The School of Education has partnered with the Steinbright Career Development Center to produce an innovative co-op experience for online students. Several options are available to accommodate the various needs of working students. The co-op can be completed in any of the following settings: An HR-related department An HR-related department in a different division Another institution or organization A current employer, although not in a traditional HR setting Students are required to participate in a part-time co-op that lasts no less than two quarters (20 weeks). The co-op is structured to provide students with real-life, hands on experience in the field of human resource development. At the end of the co-op, students are required to submit a portfolio, including a current resume, samples of projects completed in the co-op position, samples of presentations and studies completed in the HRD program related to the co-op position, etc. This experiential component is especially valuable for HRD practitioners – both those already working in the field and those who want to move into it. NOTE: For co-op/capstone course – Students who are employed may use their current place of employment to fulfill this requirement, but must go above and beyond their current job function.

Course Descriptions

EDHE 600 Human & Org Performance - 3.00 credits

Strategies for attaining continuous success in academic marketplace are examined including concept development activities and role of professional development in attaining faculty and administrative performance to sustain these strategies.

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EDHE 660 Principles of Adult Education - 3.00 credits

This course explores in-depth analysis of relevant theories relating to contemporary application of adult learner materials and methods. Many adult education theories and practices are explored to provide the participants with a broad understanding of andragogy (the art and science of teaching adults) and how it related to their field.

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EDLT 536 Learning Sciences & Instr Design - 3.00 credits

The learning sciences and learning by doing bring about a new instructional design emphasis on how the learning technologies provide scaffolding for collaborative learning and reasoning. Students will learn innovative learning techniques and develop an experiential learning design such as, problem-based learning, goal-based scenarios, role-plays, mini-games and simulations.

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EDLT 537 Technologies for Perf Support - 3.00 credits

This course focuses on online performance support systems, job aids, and assessment tools for e-portfolios, authentic assessments, and data collection to meet performance requirements in education and business. Students will have experience in designing embedded interventions for information help, procedural support, feedback and tracking goals, and develop their own e-portfolio.

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EDUC 532 Designing Virtual Communities for Staff Development - Non-Field Experience - 3.00 credits

Examines the impact of distance learning and multimedia technologies on the educational systems of teachers, administrators, librarians, and other professionals in schools responsible for technology and professional development. Online discussion groups, video conferencing, and web-based instruction will be used to form a virtual learning community. There is no field experience component in this course.

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EDUC 804 Study Edu Orgs & Progrms - 3.00 credits

Covers the differences between evaluation and other disciplines; how to design an evaluation framework to work with; transformations in evaluation; new methodological approaches, including performance measurement; and issues that evaluators must deal with.

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EHRD 500 Foundations of HRD - 3.00 credits

Introduces HRD as a professional field of practice, places HRD within the context of the contemporary workplace, presents theories, paradigms, and issues in the field; introduces the concept of a learning organization and the HRD practitioner as a change agent.

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EHRD 600 Consulting/Leadership Coaching - 3.00 credits

Prepares students to be effective consultants and coaches for management. Covers diagnostic and intervention strategies, interpersonal communications, negotiation/mediation skills, ethics, and measurements.

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EHRD 650 Learning Leadership in Organizations - 3.00 credits

Examinations of cyclical continuum beginning with individual learning, extending through work unit and corporate learning activities, and resulting in organizational success indicators. Students will explore structures for promoting and sharing learning, such as the corporate university, systems theory, career development and other techniques employed by learning leaders. The course will illumine leadership attributes of the chief learning officer and methodologies for inspiring an organizational culture of leadership.

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BUSN 501 Measuring & Maximizing Financial Performance - 3.00 credits

This course is an introduction to the concepts of financial accounting and financial management. The content of this course includes preparation and analysis of financial statements. Also covered are the time value of money, risk and return, and corporate financing choices.

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BUSN 502 Essentials of Economics - 3.00 credits

Topics in macroeconomics and microeconomics, including market equilibrium, monetary and fiscal policy, profit maximization, and market future.

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ORGB 625 Leadership & Prof Development - 3.00 credits

This course helps students develop knowledge and skills to enhance their professional development and to become effective leaders. Students will understand trends in contemporary organizations, enhance their self-awareness, and refine their interpersonal skills, and apply these skills to improve their work effectiveness.

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ORGB 631 Leading Effective Orgs - 3.00 credits

Prepares students to make informed decisions as leaders in common institutional and environmental contexts. The focus of the contingency-based perspective of this course is to help leaders understand how best to motivate and coordinate employees and to control outcomes in a manner that ensures they fulfill strategic objectives.

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EDGI 500 Introduction to Global, International & Comparative Education - 3.00 credits

Exploration and Analysis of international and comparative education. Comparative method serves as the framework to understand comparative analysis. Theories of the state serves as the framework to understand global theories of education across cultures.

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EDGI 510 Culture, Society & Education in Comparative Perspective - 3.00 credits

Exploration of global education through concepts of culture, cultural relativism and ethnocentrism from a comparative perspective.

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EDGI 532 International Organizations in International Education - 3.00 credits

Examine current international organizations, foreign assistance and their influence on educational policy. Both public and private organizations will be explored.

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EDGI 534 Conflict Resolution in an International Context - 3.00 credits

Examination of conceptual underpinnings of peace and conflict resolution and the paradigmatic models of conflict resolution currently practiced, as well as the substantive enquiry into a variety of approaches to building peace at local, national and global levels.

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EDAM 502 Resource Management, Allocation and Entrepreneurship - 3.00 credits

Students learn to find, use and allocate needed resources for their schools, communities, and organizations from experienced business and school leaders. Management and monitoring technology tools for optimum effective use of resources and how to gain entrepreneurship skills for expanding opportunities to gain new resources will be explored.

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EDAM 524 Mentoring and Collaborative Leadership - 3.00 credits

Research and experience on mentoring as a critical need in sustaining new teachers, creating renewal for experienced teachers, and building leadership capacity across the staff will be the focus of this course. Specific skills and concepts for effective mentoring/coaching of others and collaborative leadership will be examined. The importance of establishing learning communities in schools will be emphasized with a student's plan for induction within context of supportive school practices.

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EDAM 528 Research Methodology for Action Research - 3.00 credits

Provides rationale, theoretical constructs and methodology for conducting Action Research within a school and/or classroom setting. Significant practical applications for other school practitioners.

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EDHE 606 Higher Ed Career Development - 3.00 credits

Provides understanding of career patterns of faculty, deans, vice presidents, provosts, and presidents while exploring academic employment markets of these professions. Traditional career paths, diverse points of entry in Higher Education and career development of faculty are explored as well as administrative roles of managing academic units, decision making and change implementation.

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