Online Master's Degree
in Human Resource Development
A Concentration within the Adult and Continuing Education Program

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Human Resource Development may be completed at a distance through our online degree program. This program is designed for the part-time student taking two classes per semester and may generally be completed in two years' time. All courses are delivered over the Internet and require regular access to a computer, preferably via some form of high-speed connection.

Our program is competency-based and designed to prepare those seeking advanced knowledge and skills for leadership and managerial roles in training and human resource development within business, public agencies and nonprofit organizations. Applicants from both public and private sectors will find that this program offers an excellent combination of convenience and high quality.

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Benefits of the FSU Online Graduate Degree

Most adult learners are consumed by some combination of family, work, and community responsibilities. Traditional face-to-face degree options do not fit the life styles of these adults. Many, though, are self-directed learners, who know how to manage their time effectively, and are strongly mativated to seek higher-level skills.

The distance education option at FSU is a good choice for several reasons.

• Enrolled students learn while they earn! No need to interrupt work and family to move to a college or university campus. No losses of pay and benefits while you earn graduate credits.

• FSU is a nationally-renowned higher education institution, fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and all distance learning degree programs are similarly accredited. No distinction is made on the diploma, the transcript or anywhere else between degrees received on campus and those received through our quality distance education.

• Each course has a fully qualified and experienced instructor who has earned their doctoral degree in a related discipline. Most courses also have at least one Course Mentor with Master's degree or Ph.D. who is very familiar with the technology of Blackboard, the learning management system used by FSU and ready to help students with any problem they may have.

• Class members control the time commitments needed to meet course requirements. There are no classes to attend on a structured schedule. Study is self-paced within a learning module format. Yet all classes include exchange and collaboration with other students and the instructor on a flexible timetable.

• Class members therefore learn how to collaborate in an online learning community, much as they might in a true "learning organization".

• Courses are designed with a theory-to-practice emphasis; degree-seeking students strive to become true "scholar-doers."

The program includes a high level of interactivity and collaboration. You can preview a List of Courses that may be taken online review the syllabus and view what an online HRD course looks like by visiting our Course Demonstration Website [LINKS?]. Students may also earn the Graduate Certificate in HRD as part of the degree, or separately as a stand-alone certificate.

Masters-degree candidates are required to complete a competency-based portfolio toward the end of their course of study. Students work on the portfolio during portions of all their classes and defend the portfolio as part of the ADE 6920r Capstone Colloquium.

Costs for the degree program are very competitive and far below what most students would spend in moving to the Tallahassee area. Non-Florida students may enroll through a credit institute within the University's Academic and Professional Program Services (APPS) unit in order to qualify for fees similar to in-state rates and equivalent to a "partial waiver." Out-of-state applicants should contact the Program Coordinator or the HRD Program Office for further details.

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How does online learning at FSU fit your needs?

From course descriptions to requirements for admission and from a discussion of necessary technology and computer skills to cameo portraits of our student body and faculty, the Online Learning @ FSU website provides the information you need to make an informed decision about the kind of online program that's right for you. The University guarantees online learning students the academic and technology required to perform well in their academic programs. As an enrolled student, you will:

• Get help choosing your courses and attending to University business.
• Receive semester-long support with course content and course procedures.
• Access all the University's library resources from a distance.
• Get help resolving your computer problems.
• Learn to navigate your course websites with easy-to-use instructions.
• Be offered a variety of free computer training that you can access online.

The Online Learning Experience @ FSU page provides general information about how you will "attend" classes via FSU's electronic campus, as well as a general overview of the value of online learning.

The Guide to FSU Academic and Technology Resources includes specific information about minimum computer requirements, appropriate internet service providers, and computer access in general.

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Program Costs

Tuition costs for the graduate HRD program are fully detailed on the APPS application information page..

Non-Florida residents may benefit from rates nearly equivalent to those for in-state applicants through the APPS credit institute. Please contact the Program Coordinator or "the HRD Office for further information. Note that tuition and fees may increase by some percentage each Academic Year. Official rates for the upcoming academic year are generally available and posted in July. As increases rarely exceed 5%, the prior year's academic tuition and fees remain roughly indicative of rates for the subsequent year.

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Financial Aid

Distance learning students have access to many of the same types of financial aid as residential students. To qualify students need to be enrolled for at least 6 hours per semester.

Qualifying for financial aid is sometimes a lengthy process and should be started well in advance of the term for which you expect to need this kind of support. Florida State University's Office of Financial Aid is available to assist you in determining your eligibility for financial aid. Visit their website for information needed to initiate the financial aid process.

For additional information on applying for and receiving financial aid, please contact:

Florida State University
Office of Financial Aid
Suite A4400 University Center
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-2430
Phone: (850) 644-0539
Fax: (850) 644-6404

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Admission Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
• Valid scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Either -
  • A minimum score of 1000 (verbal plus quantitative portions only) on the GRE; or
  • A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 based on a 4.0 scale, for the last complete cycle of study; either the last 60 hours of undergraduate work (generally the Junior and Senior years) or a previous graduate degree.
• For international applicants a minimum TOEFL (Test of English as A Foreign Language) score of 550, or a master's degree from an accredited English-language institution of higher education.

A complete set of application material (see below).

Once all application materials hav e been received and evaluated, the Department Admissions Committee will notify the applicant of the admissions decision.

Prospective students are encouraged to commence their degree in the Fall of the year in order to take the required coursework in the recommended sequence, but applicants may be admitted in other semesters of the year upon approval of the Program Coordinator and/or may commence their program of study by taking courses in "special student" status before their actual admission.

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Application Process

The process of applying to the online HRD program can be completed in a few simple steps. Everything can be done online - from completing the application to learning about the online instructional process at Florida State University and actually beginning classes!.

• Step 1 - Submit University and Program Applications
  U.S. degree-seeking applicants
  University Application for Graduate Admission
  Supplemental Admissions Application for Distance Learning Programs
  International applicants. Go to the Office of Admissions International Applicant. General admission information and downloadable "pdf" documents (requiring free Adobe Acrobat Reader software), including all international application materials is available.
  Application Deadline. The application deadline to begin the Human Resource Development Program for the Fall 2006 semester is August 1, 2006. Students wishing to apply after this date should contact the HRD Program Coordinator directly.

• Step 2 - Submit application fee and all supporting materials

  • The materials listed below should be mailed to:
    Florida State University
    Office of Graduate Admissions
    A2500 University Center
    Tallahassee, Florida 32306-2400
  • $30 non-refundable Application Fee
    (by check or money order made payable to Florida State University)
  • Test Scores
    • GRE Score Report (degree-seeking MS applicants only)
    • TOEFL Score Report (international applicants only)
  • Official Transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended
  • Florida residency form
  • Resume of professional experiences and purpose statement.
  • Three letters of reference attesting to the applicants ability to complete graduate level coursework.

  NOTE: All records submitted to the Office of Admissions become part of your official file and cannot be returned or duplicated for any purpose.

• Step 3 - Check your Status

  Status of your application and receipt of transcripts
  Once your file is complete, it will be reviewed to determine if you are admissible to FSU and your chosen major. This can take time. To help ease the wait, you can verify by phone or online the status of your application and check whether FSU has received your transcripts.

  • Phone
    Call the 24-hour touchtone response line at: 850-644-6200. As soon as the recorded voice answers, press "126." You will then be asked to enter your Social Security Number and birth month, day, and year.
  • Online
    Go to the Online Status Check page. You will then be asked to provide your Social Security Number and birth month, day, and year.
  • If you encounter problems, and/or for additional information, you may also phone the HRD Program office at (850) 644-2791.

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Program Requirements

The Master of Science degree in Adult Education with a concentration in Human Resource Development requires 32 semester hours of coursework plus defense of a competency-based portfolio. Degree candidates must take seventeen (17) hours of required online credit (detail below) and at least fifteen (15) hours of additional approved coursework. A new cohort of distance learners begins coursework every fall semester, though applicants may be accepted to begin in other semesters upon approval of the Program Coordinator. Courses in the following list may be added, modified or deleted over time.

Required Core Courses

• ADE 5080 Foundations Adult Education & HRD (3)
• ADE 5083 Human Resource Development (3)
• ADE 5084 Analytical Applications Human Resource Management, Training, and Development (3)
• ADE 5186 Program Leadership Development (3)
• ADE 5385 Adult Learning and Development (3)
• ADE 6920r Capstone Colloquium (2)

Elective Courseswork

• ADE 5189 Staff Training and Development (3)
• ADE 5380 Processes of Human Resource and Organization Development (3)
• ADE 5280 Problems in the Organization and Administration of Adult Education Agencies (3)
• ADE 5932 e-Learning for Managers
• ADE 5906r Directed Individual Study (1-3)
• ADE 5942 Internship (1-3)
• EDF 5461 Introduction to Program Evaluation (3)

Up to six hours of approved electives from many of FSU's Online Degree Programs may also be taken to meet degree requirements. Students are encouraged to work with the HRD Program Coordinator for assistance in registering for these elective classes, as enrollment for most is on a space-available basis only. In addition, up to six semester hours of graduate coursework may be transferred into a candidate's program of study from an accredited college or university with the approval of the Program Coordinator.

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The Portfolio

As a condition of graduation, each student must submit for evaluation and defend a Portfolio that documents, analyzes and describes the HRD-relevant competencies that he or she has acquired or enhanced in the course of their degree program. The 2003 Training Manager Competencies from the International Board of Standards for Training, Performance and Instruction (ibstpi) serve as the framework for our graduate degree program and provide a template for assessing the knowledge, skills and abilities that students should perfect.

The portfolio minimally consists of (1) a pre- and post competency assessment, (2) submission of an extensive competency based resume, (3) a narrative history that describes the experiences of the student as a life-long learner, (4) submission of available work products and student papers and projects that evidence competency, and (5) a statement of future professional goals.

Students are encouraged to develop their portfolio throughout their program of studies. The portfolio is finalized as part of the final online course of each students's degree program --- ADE6920, the Capstone Colloquium.

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Program of Study Form

Each student must submit a Degree Program of Study form to the HRD Program Coordinator prior to the completion of the required coursework.

Program of Study forms are available in ".doc" format and should be downloaded, completed and returned to:

Dr. Peter B. Easton, HRD Program Coordinator
Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Florida State University
College of Education
114-H Stone Building
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4452

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Schedule of Class Offerings 2006-2008

The development cycle for HRD classes has been extensive, including a Beta test of each course with a select group of students prior to inclusion in the curriculum and at least two further iterations since the official inception of our program in 2004. Each course is taught by an experienced faculty member with an earned doctorate in a related area. Classes with over twenty participants benefit from the services of a Course Mentor, who assists with student support and online forum oversight. Course with other 3o participants have two mentors.

All courses listed below have thus been developed for delivery in an online distance learning mode, beta-tested and implemented full-scale on at-least two occassions. Feedback from students as well as critical assessment by faculty has been used to improve and upgrade each of the offerings. The course sequence listed below is nonetheless subject to change based on faculty availability, numbers of student enrolled, and the addition or deletion of courses.

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Recommended Course Sequence

*) Required couse
**) Elective couse

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Course Descriptions

ADE 5080 Foundations of Adult Education & HRD Policy (3 semester hours)
Exploration of the social, historical, and philosophical foundations underpinning of adult education and human resource development as a field of study and a field of professional practice.

ADE 5083 Human Resource Development (HRD) (3 semester hours)
Comprehensive survey of the structure and function of human resource development in business, public agencies and nonprofit organizations. Focus is on alternative perspectives, professional roles and competencies and organizational features affecting Human Resource Development operations and programs.

ADE 5186 Program Leadership and Development (3 semester hours)
Principles and theory of program development and evaluation applied to selected adult education and human resource development enterprises and their consequences for the function of leadership.

ADE 5189 Staff Training and Development (3 semester hours)
Theory and practice of staff development and development in organizational environments. Students develop and administer their own needs assessments, workshops and e-Learning instructional modules.

ADE 5380 Processes of HRD and Organization Development (OD) (3 semester hours)
Focus is on processes of planned change through formal and informal means in a variety of organizational contexts. Includes topics such as the learning organization, practice- and problem-based learning, methods of organization development and change management, and promotion of continuing professional education.

ADE 5385 Adult Learning (3 semester hours)
A critical examination of major problems in adult human development and learning. Emphasis given to psychological and sociocultural factors affecting learning ability, achievement, and motivation throughout the adult life-cycle.

ADE 5932r e-Learning (3 semester hours)
This course is designed to prepare managers in all types of organizations for directing e-Learning programs be reviewing the essential principles and practices of the e-Learning revolution in business and government. Students will explore the convergence of e-Learning with knowledge management and learning systems as well as the nature of related learning content management and performance support systems.

ADE 5932 Analytical Applications Human Resource Management, Training, and Development (3 semester hours)
Focus is on acquiring the analytical skills necessary to evaluate the need for and effectiveness of adult learning and education interventions in business and industry, public and community agencies, and not-for profit organizations. Students should have a basic a understanding statistics and will practice calculating efficiency, effectiveness and return on investment formulas and applying them to case studies.

ADE 6676 HRD Policy (3 semester hours)
Examines the policy implications of HRD practice and the kinds of reforms in corporate, community and public life that are required in order to make lifelong learning a reality. Develops the skills of participants in diagnosing social and economic trends, analyzing learning environments in social institutions, and devising new HRD-supportive policy.

EDF 5461 Program Evaluation (3 semester hours)
Overview of current evaluation theory and models. Emphasis is placed on the role that evaluation plays in organizational needs assessment and in the planning phase of program development as well as in the identification of program results and impacts.

ADE 6920 Capstone Colloquium (2 semester hours)
This course should be taken near the end of a student's degree program. It focuses on reviewing and integrating the material studied during the MS program of studies, identifying competencies acquired or improved and preparing a professional portfolio to represent and demonstrate the student's new capabilities.

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Adult Education and Human Resource Development Program
Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
114 Stone Building - Tallahassee, FL 32306-4452
Phone: (850) 644-8165 ♦ Fax: (850) 644-6401
Email: hrd@coe.fsu.edu