The Master of Science in Human Resource Education Program educates professionals who lead workforce performance, development, and learning. Through the program, you can develop skills by exploring cutting-edge concepts and designing hands-on projects related to:

• Human Resource Development
• Training and Development
• Workplace Learning
• Organization Development
• Workforce Development

The HRE Program is...

• Relevant.  The program has a strong emphasis on hands-on, applied projects that provide direct application to the field. Our instructors have practitioner experience in the field and many currently work in HR-related positions in Louisville and around the country.
• Rigorous.  Expect to work hard and complete challenging assignments. Our goal is to help you develop the skills to think unconventionally about conventional problems.
• Research Based.  The program is designed around research-based competencies from the American Society for Training and Development, International Society for Performance Improvement, and the Society for Human Resource Management. Faculty members have strong theoretical and conceptual backgrounds that guide both their teaching and their practical approach to the field.

In this program, you gain skills to facilitate discovery and critical inquiry at the individual, team, and organizational levels. Specifically, you will be able to identify and "bridge the gap" between potential and actual performance in corporations, educational institutions, government agencies, healthcare organizations, the military, non-profit organizations, and community-based groups.

Related

Our Department

• WHRE Programs Overview (B.S., M.S., and Ph.D.)
• Department of Leadership, Foundations & Human Resource Education

Important Forms

• Program Map [PDF]
• Course Schedule Planner [PDF]
• Program Requirement Form [PDF]

Other Resources

• Interested in visiting campus? Find out how!
• Directions to Classes [PDF]
• UofL Schedule of Classes

Distance Learning

The Master of Science in Human Resource Education is one of two graduate level programs from the College of Education and Human Development that can be completed 100 percent online.

All courses may be taken online and can be accessed at home or from anywhere in the world online. You can complete the program entirely or partially online. Students who take all courses online are not required to visit Louisville at any time during the program. Many courses require a time each week when students participate in live synchronous online class sessions. Courses are offered through an online course management system called Blackboard, provided as part of UofL tuition. Our online courses allow students to do the following...

• Read the course materials
• Submit papers and assignments
• View grades
• Participate in live, online class sessions using a headset and/or webcam
• Discuss case studies or course content with classmates on a discussion board
• Watch and listen to short lectures from your instructor
• Participate in case study simulations

The biggest benefit of online learning is that you can earn your degree from home while raising your family, working full time, or while experiencing other life circumstances that make commuting to class difficult or impossible. At UofL, we offer online courses with the same instructors and same requirements as face-to-face courses.

Will you be a successful online learner?

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

• Have a desire to learn online
• Are highly self-motivated
• Have strong time management and organizational skills
• Can work independently
• Are not afraid to speak up when problems arise

For more information, visit the UofL Online Learning website.

Courses/Schedule

All courses are offered online and in the evening. Most full-time students complete the program in a year and a half. Most part-time students complete the program in 2-3 years; however, you can take up to six years.

The Course Schedule Planner [PDF] outlines the semester in which courses will be offered. The program requires 10 courses--30 hours (portfolio/fieldwork option) or 33 hours (thesis option).

We develop practitioners who lead training and workplace performance problem solving efforts. Competencies are developed through five program goals and a final capstone experience:

Investigate Gap

ELFH 600: Introduction to Research Methods and Statistics
ELFH 662: Organizational Analysis

Produce Interventions

ELFH 671: Performance Interventions*
ELFH 672: Instructional Design and Development
ELFH 673: E-Learning Design and Development

Implement and Lead Change

ELFH 605: Leading Training and Performance
ELFH 663: Methods of Facilitation*

Evaluate Outcomes

ELFH 614: Program and Organizational Evaluation

Integrate Foundational Knowledge and Skills

ELFH 611: Human Resource Functions*
ELFH 616: HRE Integrative Capstone
ELFH 641: Workforce Development*
ELFH 661: Adult Learning
ELFH 664: Organizational Change and Consulting

*Elective: Select two of these courses.

The current Program Requirement Form [PDF] outlines specific requirements and the Program Map [PDF] provides a visual presentation of the curriculum.

Admission Requirements

New students can begin courses in the fall, spring, or summer terms. The HRE Admissions Committee has five review cycles each year:

Please note: If you cannot complete the application prior to the final admission cycle deadline, contact the HRE Program Representative to determine whether space remains so that you can be considered for admission.

Admission is competitive. Meeting the GRE and GPA minimums does not guarantee acceptance into the program. The HRE Admissions Committee requires the following materials to make a decision about admission:

• Complete the online application to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
• Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Unconditional admission requires a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 for all coursework taken AND a minimum GPA of 2.75 for coursework at the undergraduate degree-granting institution.
• For GRE scores prior to August 1, 2011, a minimum combined (verbal and quantitative) score of an 800 is required for unconditional admission. For GRE scores taken August 1, 2011 and after, please refer to the concordance table from ETS (Educational Testing Services) [PDF] for revised score equivalencies. Need help preparing for the GRE? Sign up for a GRE Information Session.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score for international students from countries where English is not the native language. Students holding a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. are exempt from this requirement.
• Two letters of recommendation [PDF]. If you have studied at a college or university in the last five years, the admissions committee prefers to see at least one letter from a faculty member. Other references can include work supervisors. Personal references (e.g. family, friends) are not accepted.
• Goal statement and cover sheet [PDF]. The Admissions Committee evaluates applications based on how an applicant's goals, professional experiences, and commitment to education are an appropriate fit with this program.
• Current resume

Contact

Susan Hildebrand
Program Representative
502-852-0568

WHRE Faculty & Staff Listing

Financial Aid

• Graduate Assistantships (full-time Louisville-based students)
• Scholarships (full-time students)
• Employment Opportunities
• Student Loans (available if taking more than 4.5 credit hours per semester, 3 hours in summer). Please visit the Student Financial Aid website for additional information.
• Payment Plans. Click on the "Financial Settlement Options" for your semester to learn more about University of Louisville tuition payment plans.
• Tuition Reimbursement Payment Plan. Click on the "Financial Settlement Options" for your semester to learn more about tuition deferment for students whose employers will reimburse tuition after the semester is over.

For current tuition information, please see the FAQ tab.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have some credit hours from another program/university. Can the credit be transferred?

Once you are admitted to the program, you may request to transfer up to 6 credit hours if the HRE Program Committee approves the request. Courses can be transferred only if they cover the same content as a course in our program. After HRE approval, transfer requests are submitted to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.

What is the cost of the program?

The program requires 10 courses. Tuition amounts are for the 2011-2012 school year, and change each year, as determined by the Board of Trustees. These amounts include all tuition fees, excluding books.

For additional information about tuition/fees, please visit the Bursar's Office website and go to their tuition/fees page.

What types of jobs do graduates from this program attain?

Recent graduates from this program, without previous full-time experience in the field, typically work as Human Resource Specialists, Instructional Designers, E-learning Specialists, and Trainers. Graduates with more previous experience hold roles such as Director of Employee Development, VP of Organization Development, VP of Human Resources, HR Director, HR Manager, and Instructional Design Manager.

We also have students from the workforce development side of HRE who teach in community and technical colleges. Such students can customize their program in order that the curriculum provides them with additional instructional design capabilities and instructional leadership skills.

What's the typical student like?

Our student population is very diverse. Students range from recent college graduates to seasoned HRE professionals with years of experience. Approximately 30 percent of our students currently work in HR-related positions, 30 percent are full-time students, and the remainder work in other full-time positions.

What are the assignments like?

All courses require readings, smaller assignments, and a Hallmark Assessment. The Hallmark Assessment is the culminating large project that requires that you integrate most of the course content into one large task. Most Hallmark Assessments require that you conduct a project in a real organization. For example, rather than learning about how to conduct a needs assessment of an organizational problem, you will actually conduct a real needs assessment in an organization.

How much work does the program require?

This graduate program is intense. The faculty expect that you work hard, think deeply, and apply what you've learned to real-life situations. The courses require that you think seriously and use sound ideas, in order to move beyond fads and temporary trends. You'll find that each course requires you to apply what you've learned to the HRE field. These projects can require more work than you might find in other courses, but our students report that the reward is worth the extra effort.

How long does it take to complete this degree?

Full-time students need at least a year and a half to complete the degree. Most part-time students complete the program in 2-3 years; however, you can take up to six years. Students with full-time jobs cannot take more than two courses per semester.