Human Resource Development M.S.

Human Resource Development (HRD) is a process of increasing the capacity of human resources in organizations through learning and development for the purpose of organizational performance. Careers in this field are available in business, nonprofit, educational, the military, and governmental settings. The HRD MS program provides students the opportunity to combine study and related professional experiences to develop, apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate HRD knowledge and address performance needs, issues, and problems of both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Students also learn how to design, deliver, and evaluate effective training and development programs. The HRD MS program is delivered completely online. 

Admission Requirements:

The requirements to be a graduate student in human resource development are the following:

  1. Admission to the degree program is determined primarily on the basis of predictors of success in graduate study:
    1. a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution,
    2. grade point average computed on the last 60 undergraduate hours and
    3. a satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). In rare instances the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) may be accepted in lieu of the GMAT.
  2. Quantitative measures are integrated into an index that multiplies the applicant’s 60-hour GPA times 200 and adds the total GMAT score (60-hour GPA X 200) + GMAT = >1000. An index score of greater that 1000 is typical of a successful candidate. If the student’s 60-hour GPA is above 3.25 the GMAT may be waived.
  3. Additionally, applicants with three or more years of extensive managerial work experience (earned in the U.S. or with a U.S. government entity) may request to have the GMAT requirement waived by the Graduate Coordinator. This decision is made on a case-by-case basis; "extensive managerial experience" will typically mean a full-time supervisory or managerial position held for a significant period of time after completing the bachelor's degree as demonstrated with a resume.
  4. Consideration may also be given to other factors.
  5. No more than nine semester credit hours of graduate credit earned prior to acceptance into the program, including transfer credit, may be applied to the degree. Students seeking admission to the program who have not yet satisfied admission criteria may be admitted as conditional or provisional students and allowed to complete one semester with up to nine hours of coursework.
  6. After reviewing all credentials (official transcripts, GMAT score, other relevant information), the Graduate Programs Advisor and the Soules College of Business Graduate Admissions Committee will determine if the student may be accepted into the program. A degree plan will be prepared by the Graduate Program Advisor with the student. Students will be notified of official acceptance into the program. Full admission must occur prior to enrollment beyond nine semester credit hours including any transfer credit.

Although a student may not have completed all baccalaureate work at the time of application, a one semester, provisional admission decision will be made on the strength of the student’s permanent record before the student can be enrolled as a graduate student in business.

The student must maintain a 3.0 grade point average (4.0 basis) on all graduate work at UT Tyler. No course with a grade below "C" may be applied toward this degree.

Degree Requirements

The online Master of Science in HRD is a 36 hr. program which includes the following requirements:

HRD MS Program Major Courses (30 credit hours)

HRD 5306Quantitative Methods for HRD Professionals

HRD 5307Measurement and Evaluation in Human Resource Development/Technology Education

HRD 5308Needs Assessment in HRD

HRD 5316Career Development in Organizations

HRD 5317Training Design

HRD 5336Adult Learning

HRD 5343Foundations of Human Resource Development

HRD 5347Performance Consulting

HRD 5350Leadership and Ethics in Human Resource Development

HRD 5352Organization Development

Electives (6 hrs.):

Any graduate-level course

 NOTE: Students interested in the Organizational Development and Leadership certificate should consider MANA 5320 and MANA 5350.

4+1 HRD BS/MS Option

Eligible HRD undergraduate students may take 9 semester credit hours of approved graduate-level coursework during their senior year. 4+1 HRD students will be expected to have at least a 3.00 Cumulative GPA, a faculty recommendation, and approvals from the HRD department chair, Soules College of Business dean, and the Graduate School dean. Eligible students will take HRD 5317, HRD 5343, and HRD 5316 in their senior year in lieu of taking HRD 3312, HRD 3301, HRD 3342, respectively and will be provisionally admitted to the HRD MS program. 4+1 HRD students who obtain an average “B” grade in the HRD graduate-level courses taken their senior year will receive full admission to the HRD MS program after they complete all graduation requirements for the HRD BS. 4+1 HRD students will pay the undergraduate tuition rate for the 9 semester credit hours of graduate coursework previously listed and the reduced time to complete a graduate degree will provide additional cost savings.