Human Resources and Organizational Development (MS)
Human Resources and Organizational Development (MS) Application Deadlines
Learn to Lead
The Master's of Science in Human Resources and Organizational Development is officially aligned with SHRM’s HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates, ensuring students study essential HR content. Recognized by SHRM's Academic Initiative, the program prepares students for growing HR roles, with a 116% projected growth in Kentucky by 2024 and 9% nationally. This innovative master's emphasizes leading performance, development, and learning through critical inquiry, equipping students for careers in HR, talent management, and organizational development, with a focus on real-world application.
SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certified students can now receive six (6) credits toward their MS HROD program.
Course Catalog
Master of Science in Human Resources and Organization Development
Unit: College of Education and Human Development (GE)
Department: Educational Leadership, Evaluation, and Organizational Development
Program Website
Academic Plan Code(s): HRODMS, HRODMS_O
Program Description
This program can be completed 100% online.
This program educates professionals who lead workplace performance, development, and learning through discovery and critical inquiry. Students and graduates work in corporations, government agencies, health-care organizations, the military, non-profit organizations, education institutions, and community-based groups.
Admission Requirements
The HROD Admissions Committee requires the following materials to make a decision about admission:
- Graduate School Application: Complete the online application to the Graduate School.
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Unconditional admission requires a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 for all coursework taken. Cumulative undergraduate GPAs ranging from 2.5 to 2.75 will be considered for conditional admission on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants who have attended a college or university outside of the United States are also required to submit an evaluation of their transcript through either WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). Please note that transcript evaluations can sometimes take several weeks.
Please have transcripts sent to:
Graduate School
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
If transcripts are sent electronically,
please have them sent to the following e-mail: gradadm@louisville.edu - All applicants for whom English is a second language must also submit official TOEFL scores of 79 or higher on the internet-based test, 213 or higher on the computer-based test. English proficiency can also be met by submitting official IELTS scores of at least 6.5 overall band score from the academic module exam or official Duolingo overall score of 105. Students holding a bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States may be exempt from this requirement.
- Two letters of recommendation. 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 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
Admission is competitive. Meeting the GPA minimum does not guarantee that prospective students will be accepted into the program.
Program Information
The program requires ten courses consisting of 30 credit hours (including portfolio/fieldwork).
The curriculum is centered around five program goals:
- Investigate Gap
- Produce Interventions
- Implement and Lead Change
- Evaluate Outcomes
- Integrate Foundational Knowledge and Skill
Program Purpose: To prepare professionals who lead people, performance, development, and learning through discovery and critical inquiry.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Coursework | 18 | |
LEAD 605 | Leadership in HROD | |
LEAD 611 | Strategic Human Resources | |
LEAD 617 | Evidence Based Research in HROD | |
LEAD 661 | Adult & Organizational Learning | |
LEAD 662 | Organizational Analysis | |
LEAD 616 | HROD Integrative Capstone | |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Choose 12 credit hours from the following: | ||
LEAD 578 | Workplace and Information Ethics | |
LEAD 614 | Program and Organization Evaluation | |
LEAD 612 | Talent Acquisition and Management | |
LEAD 624 | Global Human Resources Development | |
LEAD 631 | Performance Management and Rewards | |
LEAD 660 | Diversity and Inclusion | |
LEAD 663 | Methods of Facilitation | |
LEAD 664 | Organizational Change and Consulting | |
LEAD 671 | Performance Improvement | |
LEAD 672 | Instructional Design and Development | |
LEAD 674 | Advanced Leadership Theory | |
LEAD 696 | Independent Study: HRE or IT | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 30 | |
Degree Assessment:
- A minimum of 30 credit hours with an overall GPA of 3.0; no more than two grades of C (six (6) credit hours)
- Satisfactory completion of program portfolio
- Successful completion of Capstone project equal to 75 applied hours
100% Online!
The Human Resources and Organizational Development (MS) program can be completed 100% online
More about Human Resources and Organizational Development
Resources and Certification Information for Human Resource Management Professionals
The Master of Science in Human Resources and Organizational Development (MSHROD) is officially aligned with, and recognized by, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the premiere professional home for professionals in the Human Resource field, as being a partner program. Being SHRM aligned ensures prospective students that the MSHROD prepares graduates within SHRM’s recommended guidelines for excellent Human Resource education at the graduate level. Prospective students can be sure that the MSHROD program offers a broad and comprehensive curriculum in Human Resources that reflects industry agreement regarding the standards that constitute a broad and deep education in the field of Human Resources.
The MSHROD at the University of Louisville is the only school based in Kentucky recognized by SHRM as an aligned school. Guidelines for SHRM alignment are revalidated every three to five years.
SHRM-CP Exam and Certification
Starting Fall 2017, students who are in their last semester of the MSHROD will be eligible to sit for the SHRM-CP exam. To qualify for this incredible benefit offered only through SHRM aligned programs, students must be in their final semester of course work from a SHRM aligned program such as the MSHROD, be in good standing for graduation, and have a minimum of 500-direct hours of hands on, real world experience in the areas of human resources (hours can include in-course projects as well as course-related field work and experiences such as those in the MSHROD). The SHRM-CP is the standard in certification for Human Resource professionals across the globe, and according to SHRM is "among the first HR certifications that is focused on teaching and testing the practical, real-life information HR professionals need to excel in their careers today."
More information about the SHRM-CP exam can be found here:
https://www.shrm.org/certification/about/aboutshrmcertification/pages/shrm-cp.aspx
Resources and Certification Information for Learning and Development Professionals
For students in the Leadership, Training and Organization Development (LTOD) track in the undergraduate degree (B.S. Organizational Leadership) and students in the M.S. HR and Organization Development (MS HROD) degree program, the Association for Talent Development (ATD), is the premier national organization for learning and development professionals. ATD is heavily vested in higher education, especially in the areas of talent development, training, and organizational development. ATD offers professional certifications, scholarships, and dissertation awards in addition to many other content-related services.
Curriculum in the LTOD track (BS OLL) and in the MS HROD program at the University of Louisville are aligned with the newest ATD standards and competencies. Each class throughout our undergraduate and graduate program is grounded in real-world practice and designed for the scholar-practitioner. Students who complete their degree at the University of Louisville will be well prepared to sit for either the Certified Professional in Learning Performance Certificate (CPLP) or the Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) certifications. More information about each of those certifications can be found here https://www.td.org/Certification.
Below is a comprehensive list of resources that ATD provides for students enrolled in aligned curriculum:
- Student and New Professional Idea Book
- ATD Dissertation Award
- L&D Degree Directory
- ATD Young Professional Resources
- ATD Online Library
- Higher Education Blog
- Starting a career in training document
- ATD Young Professionals LinkedIn Group
Local ATD Chapters
There is likely a local chapter of ATD in your area that you could join at a reduced cost. These chapters promote student activity through service work, presentation opportunities and above all networking opportunities. The local chapter in the Kentuckiana area is located right here in Louisville (http://atdky.org) with an ATD Geographic Interest Group (GIG) in Lexington, which is part of local Louisville-based chapter. Both of these organizations meet monthly on different dates.
For more information on chapters nation-wide, check out the National Chapter Locator.
Dr. Lynda Byrd-Poller
Clinical Assistant Professor, Human Resources and Organizational Development
Leadership, Evaluation and Development
College of Education and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville | Kentucky | 40292
Office: 502-852-6075 (p)
lynda.byrd-poller@louisville.edu (e)
For more information about the Master's of Science in Human Resource and Organization Development program, please contact us by email at HROD@louisville.edu or by phone at 502-852-6475
FAQ: Human Resources and Organization Development (MS)
Once you are admitted to the program, you may request to transfer up to 6 credit hours if the HROD Program Committee approves the request. Courses can be transferred only if they cover the same content as a course in our program. After HROD approval, transfer requests are submitted to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
Tuition amounts may change each year as determined by the UofL Board of Trustees. For current tuition rates, please visit the Bursar's Office Tuition page.
Students should select the best elective courses which align with their career goals and interests. For example, students who desire a stronger emphasis in Human Resource functions might consider electives such as LEAD 612 and LEAD 631. For students desiring a stronger focus in Workplace Learning might consider electives such as LEAD 663 and LEAD 672.
Our SHRM-aligned curriculum is built by industry experts therefore students acquire the knowledge and abilities needed to efficiently implement human resource leadership including improving workplace learning and performance, talent acquisition, and using evidence-based research for decision-making. This program includes professional portfolio completion to better prepare students for their next career move.
Our student population is very diverse. Students range from recent college graduates to seasoned HROD professionals with years of experience. Approximately 30 percent of our students currently work in HROD-related positions, 30 percent are full-time students, and the remainder work in other full-time positions.
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.
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 HROD 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.
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
You can receive six (6) credits toward your MS-HROD for as a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certified student.