Program Mission
The HRD program aims to prepare graduate students to teach and lead effectively in a way that provides graduates with tools to:
- Assess educational and related needs
- Design, implement, manage, and evaluate programs and services to effectively address those needs
- Structure participatory programs involving collaboration, development, and ownership of educational ends and means by the learners themselves
- Understand, analyze, and relate pertinent theories to practice.
- Design and conduct practical research aimed at enhancing effectiveness of educational programs
- Model excellence in learning and leadership
“Human resource development is any process or activity that, either initially or over the long term, has the potential to develop adults’ work-based knowledge, expertise, productivity, and satisfaction, whether for personal or group/team gain, or for the benefit of an organization, community, nation or, ultimately, the whole of humanity (McLean and McLean, 2001, p. 322).
HRD is most commonly associated with training and development efforts in the for-profit sector, but HRD skills can also be applied in community organizations, government agencies, social services, the military, religious organizations, vocational education, or any setting where adults are engaging with workplace related learning. The traditional knowledge bases of this interdisciplinary field include adult learning and teaching, adult development, program planning and evaluation, organizational development, and diversity equity and inclusion.
Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Development and Learning in Organizations
Program Overview
Discover the B.S. Human Resource Development and Learning in Organizations
From corporations to nonprofits, this versatile B.S. HR Development and Learning in Organizations online program will prepare you to facilitate employee growth in a wide range of organizations. You will gain a strong theoretical and practical understanding of adult learning through career-ready course work covering organization development, career development, adult education, and training strategies.
Ideal for working professionals, this 100% online bachelor’s program is flexible and taught by expert faculty. Our instructors provide individualized attention and support, so you can fully immerse yourself in an interactive HRD curriculum designed to engage you. Plus, you will learn key career development strategies—which you can use to fast-track your own professional journey.
Looking for a flexible, fully online pathway? Explore the Academic Online Programs (AOP) version of the B.S. in Human Resource Development and Learning in Organizations to see course details, admission information, and how the program fits your goals.
Courses
The courses you’ll take in this online B.S. program
To graduate from the B.S. HR Development and Learning in Organizations online program, you must complete a total of 120 credit hours, including 30 credit hours of core courses and 18 credit hours of directed elective courses. Additional required elective credit hours are selected with an advisor as needed to meet university graduation requirements.
You must also select a minor, which will consist of 18 to 24 credit hours. Customize your degree further by choosing a minor from the following list: communication studies, health communication, health informatics, health information management, human resource development and training, international studies, leadership studies, mass communication, psychology, public administration, and public health. Explore our range of industry-specific undergraduate minors.
General Education Courses (42 Credit Hours)
Students must take 42 credit hours of general education courses to meet the degree plan requirements.
| Core Course 10 Courses (30 hours for core) | |
Course Name & Number | Course Description |
| ADED 3305: Career Development | This course introduces students to key concepts from career development and discusses strategies for Human Resource Development Professionals to facilitate employee growth. It also guides students in the application of career development principles to their own personal development plans. |
| ADED 3333: Technology Enhanced Employee Learning | This course covers a broad range of topics related to how technology is used within human resource development contexts. Course readings and projects will help students apply technological skills to the development and implementation of workplace learning. |
| ADED 3344: Multicultural Perspectives in AE & HRD | This course covers a broad range of topics related to multiculturalism within adult education and human resource development. Course readings and projects relate to a wide variety of workplace settings. |
| ADED 4321: Introduction to Adult Learning | This course will cover a range of topics of interest to professionals working with adult learners in a variety of settings, including characteristics and motivations of adult learners, theories of adult learning and intelligence, and modes of adult cognitive and psychosocial development. |
| ADED 4322: Foundations of Human Resource Development | This course examines the primary role of human resources development in the organization to help people and organizations effectively manage change. It focuses on strategies for implementing training and organizational development efforts that positively impact the performance of the individual and the work group. |
| ADED 4325: Methods for Teaching Adults | This course addresses methods and techniques for effective instruction of adults across a variety of settings and content. Emphasis is on concepts, theories, and principles relevant to the selection, use, and evaluation of instructional strategies. Participants will have an opportunity to practice strategies that expand their teaching repertoire. |
| ADED 4330: Adult Ed Program Planning and Management | This course introduces skills and concepts needed to plan, evaluate, and manage adult education programs within various settings. This course addresses principles and procedures, utilization of assessment, goal setting, and other effective strategies for developing learning opportunities and programs responsive to human, professional, and community needs. |
| ADED 4343: Organizational Development | This course addresses a range of topics, including the effects of change, methods of organizational change, and factors influencing organizational development success. Students learn the roles of internal and external organizational development consultants and the tools and processes for helping organizational members identify problems, gather and analyze information, and implement solutions. |
| COMM 4347: Leadership and Communication | An advanced course in communication designed to examine in detail the phenomenon of leadership in groups and organizations. Various theories and approaches to leadership will be surveyed with an emphasis on applying leadership principles. |
| PHIL 3322: Professional Ethics | This course is a study of major topics in business and professional ethics, including what a profession is, whether it differs from business, and what is involved with the moral education, social responsibilities, and ethical standards of professionals and business people. |
Directed Electives 6 Courses (18 Hours for directed electives) | |
| Course Name & Number | Course Description |
| ADED 3382 : Foundations of Adult Education | This course will provide an overview of the field of adult education in its various contexts. Topics include the historical foundations of adult education, social and institutional contexts of adult learning, and philosophical underpinnings of the field. |
| ADED 4345A : Applied Linguistics for ESL/EFL Teachers of Adults | This course will provide an overview of the field of adult education in its various contexts. Topics include the historical foundations of adult education, social and institutional contexts of adult learning, and philosophical underpinnings of the field. |
| ADED 4345B : Adult Literacy | This course provides students with a broad foundation about the literacy needs and language issues related to adults in the United States, including adult English as a second language (ESL) and adult literacy programs. We will examine current pathways for adult literacy and ESL learners to access employment and postsecondary education. This course is project-based and includes hands-on learning activities applying theory into practice through authentic learning experiences. Prerequisite: Instructor approval. |
| ADED 4345C: Internship in Human Resource Development | This course provides students with a broad foundation about the literacy needs and language issues related to adults in the United States, including adult English as a second language (ESL) and adult literacy programs. We will examine current pathways for adult literacy and ESL learners to access employment and postsecondary education. This course is project-based and includes hands-on learning activities applying theory into practice through authentic learning experiences. Prerequisite: Instructor approval. |
| PA 3300: Public Personnel & Human Resource Administration | This course introduces students to the fundamentals of public and nonprofit administration including the context, nature, and structure of public and nonprofit administration in America; management of public organizations; and challenges of the future. |
| PH 4335: Public Health Leadership | This course allows students to develop discipline-specific leadership skills and a personal leadership philosophy which will help in managing public health and health promotion programs. Topics include leadership philosophy, staffing, programming, budgeting, public relations, facilities, and evaluations. |
| Minor |
|---|
| In consultation with an advisor, students must select a minor, which will range between 18-24 credit hours. |
Minor in Human Resource Development and Training
The Minor in Human Resource Development and Training provides students with foundational knowledge and practical skills to support employee learning and performance in organizational settings. The minor complements a wide range of majors and prepares students to assist with training, professional development, and workplace learning initiatives.
Course for Minor
Course Number | Required Course (3 Credits) |
|---|---|
| ADED 4322 | Foundations of Human Resource Development |
Directed Electives Category A (6 Credits) | |
| ADED 4343 | Organization Development |
| ADED 4325 | Methods for Teaching Adults |
| ADED 4321 | Introduction to Adult Learning |
| ADED 4330 | Adult Education Program Planning and Management |
| ADED 3344 | Multicultural Perspectives in Adult Education and HRD |
Course Number | Directed Elective B (6 Credits) |
|---|---|
| ADED 33**/43** | Any ADED prefix course at the 3000/4000 level course not used as a required course or as a "Directed Elective A" |
| ADED 4345 | Topics in Teaching Adults |
| ADED 4384 | Internship in Human Resource Development |
| COMM 4336 | Diversity and Inclusion Training |
| COMM 3319 | Introduction to Organizational Communication |
| MGT 4373 | Human Resource Management |
| MGT 4378 | Training and Development |
| PSY 3333 | Industrial Psychology |
| HA 3341 | Project Management and Professional Development in Healthcare |
| Soci 3358 | Work and Society |
| PA 3330 | Public Personnel and Human Resource Administration |
| CTE 3315 | Leadership and Professional Development |
| CTE 3321 | Work-based Learning |