Human Resource Development

Preparing professional educators for leadership, development, and performance improvement in organizations.
Become a leader or manager of an agency, business, or, industry, and other organizational contexts. The fully online M.S. in Human Resource Development (HRD) prepares organizational learning and performance professionals with high-demand management expertise in the human resource development discipline principles and practices of learning and development, performance improvement, strategic planning, and leadership.
- Fully online master's degree
- Curriculum contains 30-credits
- Can be completed in 18-24 months
- Options to start in the fall, spring, or summer semester
- Can be enrolled part-time or full-time
The project-based coursework and research component address workplace problems with innovative, evidence-based HRD solutions.
For people teaching in Career and Technical Education fields, the M.S. HRD-CTE emphasis supports educators teaching industry trades and professions.
The M.S. HRD is a Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) eligible for in-state tuition for member states. Are you eligible for WRGP reduced tuition?
Graduate School Application Process & Requirements:
The Idaho State Graduate School admission process is initiated as follows:
- The application for admissions is available online.
- Applicants applying as degree-seeking students must request that each institution at which they have taken any post-secondary work submit one official transcript directly to the Graduate School. Idaho State University undergraduate transcripts are available to the Graduate School and need not be forwarded by the applicant. Non-degree seeking applicants must provide a transcript (official or copy) showing proof of degree.
- Applicants must include a $60 nonrefundable processing fee with each application form. The files of students who do not pay the required application fee will not be processed for admission.
- Some programs require additional information (e.g., letters of recommendation); please contact the specific department and review individual departmental sections of this catalog for additional requirements.
- Applicants must clearly indicate the desired graduate program on the application form, or if a non-degree-seeking student, the college and department in which the student intends to take courses.
- GRE/GMAT/MAT may be required for degree-seeking applicants at the discretion of the department.
- Additional requirements for degree-seeking last semester seniors, and international students are described under those headings on the following pages.
The method of calculating an Admission GPA is based on the last 60+/- semester undergraduate credits (90+/- quarter credits), using complete semesters (quarters). The M.S. HRD Program will waive the GRE for admissions with students meeting the 3.0 GPA.
Additional Application Requirements to the M.S. HRD Program include:
- Students must submit an M.S. HRD Statement of Interest (PDF) form
- Students must submit a current resume or vita with their application
Students may include up to 3 recommenders on their application, but this is not required.
Graduation Requirements:
- Human Resource Development Core (12 credits)
- OLP 6601 - HRD Literature for the Practitioner-Scholar (3)
- OLP 6602 - Principles of HRD (3)
- OLP 6621 - Theories of Adult Learning (3)
- OLP 6661 - Performance Improvement (3)
- HRD Electives (12 credits)
- Advisor Approved Electives (12)
- HRD-CTE Electives, for CTE Emphasis (12 credits)
- CTE 5501 - Foundations of CTE (3)
- CTE 5502 - Analysis and Course Construction in CTE (3)
- CTE 5503 - Methods of Teaching in CTE (3)
- CTE 5504 - Evaluation in CTE (3)
- Research Studies (6-12 credits)
- Option 1: Thesis (9-12 credits; total degree 33 credit minimum)
- Option 2: Field Research Project (6 credits; total degree 30 credit minimum)
- Option 3: Capstone (7 credits; total degree 31 credit minimum)
Career Opportunities in HRD:
Training & Development Specialist/Director
Supervisor/Manager
Organizational Leader/Executive
Trainer/Learning Specialist
Consultant
Organizational Development professional
Facility Manager
Community Relations Coordinator/Manager
Organizational Effectiveness professional
Retail Management