The Department of Leadership, Foundations & Human Resource Education offers a Bachelor of Science in Workforce Leadership that is designed for working professionals who have at least five years of experience in working or teaching in various career fields.

This program is a great alternative for adults seeking that extra edge in today's job market. It could open the door for new opportunities in your current field - or even a new career. Classes are offered online or in the classroom in the evenings in Louisville and on base at Fort Knox. In addition to being accessible, we value your learning from professional development (corporate training), military training, licenses, certifications, etc. With this learning, you have the opportunity to be awarded college credit. If you have existing college credits, or a two-year degree and documented work and/or military training, you could well be on your way to completing a bachelor's degree.

This program can lead to career opportunities in areas of training and development, human resources, and workforce development roles. To learn more, contact Susan Hildebrand at s.hildebrand @ louisville.edu or 502-852-0568.

A Student's Perspective

Joe Jacoby, December 2011 graduate of the Workforce Leadership program. Joe played UofL football 34 years ago and joined the Washington Redskins before completing his degree program. Despite his great career in football and building a successful business after retiring from the NFL, Joe always wanted to get his degree. He will finally realize that dream in December when he participates in commencement. Read more on Hogs Haven. Watch Joe Jacoby accept the Workforce Leadership Legends Award.

James Wellman, Dec. 2010 graduate of the B.S. in Workforce Leadership and CIO at McKesson Technology, Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton, Oklahoma, was asked if he would recommend the program to others.
"Yes, I would recommend the program and I already have. It has been very rewarding for me and ...I was able to apply the lessons learned in class to my professional life. The program enabled me to apply for a job I could not have pursued without the degree."

Deenie Espinoza, Malcolm S. Knowles Award winner and fall 2010 graduate of the Workforce Leadership program. Deenie is a program assistant at the National Center on Literacy.
"The Workforce Leadership program created learning experiences that really helped me reflect on my knowledge as a stepping stone to reach to educational goals. Instructors provided lessons and activities that connected me to current research so that I am more effective in my current job and a better qualified applicant for future career opportunities."

Read about Carol Wesley's experience and perspective on returning to college.

Important Documents and Links

• Directions to Off-Campus Locations [PDF]
• Fort Knox
• Practicum Application [PDF]
• Specialization Application

Other Resources

• Schedule of Classes

BSWL Student Testimonial 2012

All classes in the major concentrations are offered online through Blackboard. Blackboard is the course management system used by U of L to facilitate online learning. Among other things, students use Blackboard to...

• Read the course syllabus or handouts
• Submit papers and assignments
• Take tests
• View grades
• Send email to other students or the instructor
• Participate in an online chat
• Discuss case studies with classmates on a discussion board

The biggest benefit of online learning is that you can work to earn your degree from your own home while raising your family, working full time, or experiencing particular life circumstances that make commuting to campus difficult or impossible. At U of L, you are taught by the same world class faculty as our on campus students. You read the same textbooks, do many of the same assignments and earn the same degrees. The biggest difference is that you are able to do it in a way that best fits your lifestyle.

Be prepared for online learning. Online learning is learning that is facilitated in an online environment. Rather than attend class in a traditional classroom setting, online learning allows you to "go to class" when it's convenient for you whether that's 5am or 11pm.

Will you be a successful online learner?

Online learning is not for everyone. Successful online students...

• Have a desire to learn online
• Are motivated
• Have strong time management and organizational skills
• Can work independently
• Have college level reading and writing skills
• Are not afraid to speak up when problems arise

For more information, view http://louisville.edu/online. Have questions or want more information? Send us your contact information.

View the courses offered in the Undergraduate Catalog.

• BSWL Student Course Planner [PDF]
• Program Map: LOD & TD concentrations [PDF]
• BSWL Program Competencies [PDF], [XLS]

Workforce Leadership Degree Program Concentrations

Career & Technical Education Concentration

This major concentration is designed for CTE instructors in secondary programs.

Students in this concentration prepare to become state-certified in order to maintain their teaching position in a career or technical education school. Applicants must be already employed in the school.

Courses focus on teaching, evaluation and classroom management skills. To qualify, an individual must document 2000 hours of prior work experience in an approved occupation. Three of the qualifying years of work experience must have occurred in the last five years of their work history.

The 64-hour Rank Change program requires 21 hours in the industrial education concentration, 24 hours in the Occupation/Specialization, and 20 hours in general education.

Graduates of this program receive Rank II from the Department of Education by completing the TC-1 form.

Leadership and Organizational Development Concentration

download course curriculum [PDF]

This concentration is designed for professionals seeking to develop skills in leadership and knowledge for improving organizational and employee effectiveness related to productivity, work satisfaction, morale and/or quality of work life.

Students are required to complete a field project at the end of the program. The project may be conducted in the student's place of employment, with an approved on-site supervisor.

All courses are available online worldwide, as well as face-to-face in the evenings in Louisville and on the base at Fort Knox.

Training and Development Concentration

download course curriculum [PDF]

This concentration is designed for professionals who work with clients and/or various stakeholders to enhance workplace learning and improve organizational performance.

The purpose of this concentration is to develop knowledge and skill in the design, development, delivery and evaluation of job-related training and performance improvement.

Students are required to complete a field project at the end of the program. The project may be conducted in the student's place of employment, with an approved on-site supervisor.

All courses are available online worldwide, as well as face-to-face in the evenings in Louisville and on the base at Fort Knox.

Practicum Application

The Practicum Application [PDF] must be completed and submitted mid-term the semester before ELFH 540 Program Exit is to be completed. The purpose of this planning document is to determine the location of the student's program exit experience. See your academic or faculty advisor for more information about this process.

Degree Exit Requirements

• A minimum of 123 credit hours with an overall grade point average of 2.25 is required, including a minimum of 34 credit hours of general education requirements.
• All courses within the major must be completed with a grade point average of 2.5 and all major course grades must be a C or better.
• A minimum of 50 credit hours at the 300-level or above is required.
• Satisfactory completion of Program Portfolio.

LiveText... What is It?

LiveText is a web-based software application designed to aid in the development of portfolios, course assignments, and standards or outcomes based projects. LiveText will allow you, your instructors and peers to collaborate on classroom assignments as well as track your progress on meeting program outcomes.

LiveText is accessed online at livetext.com and a membership is required for all students enrolled in College of Education and Human Development programs (see your course syllabi for program technology requirements). See information below about setting up a LiveText account.

What are some of the Benefits of LiveText?

• Your LiveText account is your online space to develop and share your academic achievements both within and outside of your institutional community.
• LiveText provides unlimited storage of your academic materials in an online environment that can be accessed anywhere there is an internet connection.
• The assessment features of LiveText can allow your instructors to provide you specific feedback on your work through comments embedded in your work or standards/outcomes based rubrics that clearly define the expectations for your work.
• LiveText portfolios can be customized to document your own professional and academic achievements to share with potential employers.

Admission Requirements

In order to gain admission to the B.S. Workforce Leadership program, students must have prior college experience or an associates degree, a cumulative GPA of 2.25 and a minimum of five (5) years extensive workplace experience and/or military or industry training. Please visit the Undergraduate Admissions website for details: http://louisville.edu/admissions/apply/requirements.

Deadline for Applications

New students can begin courses at multiple points in the year. All application materials should be submitted by the following dates:

• Begin courses in August, complete application by July 1.
• Begin courses in January, complete application by November 1.
• Begin courses in May or June, complete application by April 1.

Project Graduate

Do you have 90 credit hours or more? If so, you qualify for Project Graduate. Visit the Project Graduate website to learn more.

Contact

Program Coordinator
Louisville

Susan Hildebrand
502-852-0568

Academic Counselor
Louisville:

Matt Bergman
502-852-5597

Ft. Knox Coordinator:

Mark Casey
502-942-8060 or 502-852-6444

WHRE Faculty & Staff Listing

Career Opportunities

The Workforce Leadership Program can lead to career opportunities in areas of training development, human resource and workforce development roles. The program prepares you to lead training in your specialization area, develop performance improvement interventions, and manage and evaluate human resource projects.

The B.S. Workforce Leadership degree program opens doors for new opportunities for students in their current careers and/or prepares graduates to pursue careers in many areas including:

Human Resources: HR Specialist, HR Manager, HR Director

Training and Development: Corporate Training, Training Specialist, Training Coordinator, Instructional Design

Job Outlook: The following information was obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Employment is expected to grow much faster than the average for all human resources, training, and labor relations managers and specialists occupations. College graduates and those who have earned certification should have the best job opportunities.

Overall employment is projected to grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Legislation and court rulings revising standards in various areas—occupational safety and health, equal employment opportunity, wages, health care, retirement plans, and family leave, among others—will increase demand for human resources, training, and labor relations experts. Rising health care costs and a growing number of health care coverage options should continue to spur demand for specialists to develop creative compensation and benefits packages that companies can offer prospective employees.

Review the following links for additional career and certification opportunities:

• UL Career Center - Find free career resources and services
• UL Alumni Association - Network with other UL graduates

Organizations which support these careers and offer certification opportunities:

1. SHRM - Society for Human Resource Management
   The Society for Human Resource Management is the world's largest association devoted to human resource management. Representing more than 250,000 members in over 140 countries, the Society serves the needs of HR professionals and advances the interests of the HR profession. Founded in 1948, SHRM has more than 575 affiliated chapters within the United States and subsidiary offices in China and India
   Learn more about membership, certification workshops (PHR, SPRH and GPHR), and HR careers at http://www.shrm.org
2. ASTD - American Society for Training and Development
   ASTD is the world's largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals. ASTD's members come from more than 100 countries and connect locally in more than 130 U.S. chapters and with more than 30 international partners. Members work in thousands of organizations of all sizes, in government, as independent consultants, and suppliers. Started in 1943, in recent years ASTD has widened the profession’s focus to link learning and performance to individual and organizational results, and is a sought-after voice on critical public policy issues.
   Learn more about membership, certifications (CPLP), and careers at http://www.astd.org
3. PMI - Project Management Institute
   Founded in 1969, PMI advances the practice, science and profession of project management. Learn more about membership, certifications (CAPM, PMP) and careers at http://www.pmi.org

Financial Aid

College is one of the biggest expenses you'll have in your lifetime, but it is an investment that will pay off in higher income, expanded career opportunities, and greater personal satisfaction throughout your life. Numerous sources of financial aid can help you pay for college.

The process of locating aid and applying for it can be intimidating. Take it step-by-step and don't hesitate to ask for assistance from the knowledgeable financial aid counselors in UofL's financial aid office.

In addition to the financial aid opportunities offered by the University, the College of Education & Human Development also has information about financial aid.

What is the curriculum emphasis/focus of each concentration?

The Leadership and Organizational Development concentration focuses on developing skills in leadership, organizational development as well as organizational effectiveness. Students in this concentration are currently employed in a leadership position within their organization and/or within the Armed Forces.

The Training and Development concentration focuses on enhancing professional/workplace learning and improving organizational performance. Students in this concentration are currently in the field as corporate trainers, instructional designers, etc. or seeking to move into this area of HR. Students/employees in this field help their companies effectively utilize workforce skills, provide training and development, and seek opportunities to improve those skills as well as improve employee satisfaction.

The Career and Technical Education concentration is designed for industrial instructors in secondary schools and prepares them to become state certified in order to maintain their teaching positions.

Can I enroll in the program if I still have General Education courses to complete?

Yes, as long as you have been admitted to the College of Education & Human Development and the Workforce Leadership degree program. The academic counselor will work with you to identify the necessary courses and options.

Will I pay U of L tuition for the credits I am awarded from my work experience and/or military/industry training?

No, you will earn those credits free of charge! In other words, by completing the ELFH 300 Prior Learning Assessment course (which is a 3-credit hour class at normal tuition cost), and submitting a completed portfolio in which you will document and validate your work experience (i.e., on-the-job training, professional development, etc.) and/or military and /or industry training; you will be credited (based upon Committee decision), at NO cost, up to 48 credit hours.

What is the cost for a part-time/resident student?

For undergraduate students through summer 2012, classroom instructed courses cost $373.00 per credit hour. Tuition is subject to change each fall. For more information, please visit the Bursar's Office Tuition page.

What is the cost for online Courses?

For undergraduate students through summer 2012, online instructed courses cost $460.00 per credit hour. Tuition is subject to change each fall. For more information, please visit the Bursar's Office Tuition page.

How can I learn more about Financial Aid, Grants and Scholarships?

Please visit the Financial Aid website or contact the University of Louisville Financial Aid office at 502-852-5511. There are currently 21 outside "degree specific" scholarships and website links for additional scholarship information.

Does the University of Louisville offer payment plans?

Yes. Please visit the Bursar's Office website on tuition for details.

What is the Transfer/Adult Orientation and how do I complete it?

The orientation will help you to understand the academic culture and expectations for each academic unit and the resources available to you. You will complete this step online or on campus. Learn more by going to the online orientation website.

What educational requirements are needed in order to enroll in this program?

You must have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours with a GPA of 2.25. If you do not meet this requirement, the University has "online" and campus based options to help you get that done.

How do I obtain my college transcripts if a Kentucky college has closed?

Please contact the Kentucky State Board of Proprietary Education at 502-564-3296 ext. 227.

Who do I contact regarding translation of my college level course work completed in a foreign country?

You can find information about translation on the World Education Services website.

Is the 35 credit hour major concentration mandatory?

Yes. One of the requirements for graduation is satisfactory completion of the courses within the major concentration. Students admitted into this program, will receive a Program Sheet with the academic and exit requirements.

Upon completion of the Workforce Leadership degree, can I pursue my Masters in another field?

Yes. For example, some students will go on to a Master of Science in English, Human Resource Education, etc. The graduate program you are seeking will be the determining factor. For more information on Graduate Programs offered, visit the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies website.