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WILLIAM D. MILHEIM, Coordinator
Penn State Harrisburg
777 West Harrisburg Pike
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6215
M.Ed.
The master of education degree program in Training and Development at Penn State Harrisburg helps students prepare for professional careers in training and development in diverse organizational settings, including business and industry, government, and health care. Graduates of the Training and Development Program frequently assume positions such as trainers, instructional designers, program evaluators, performance analysts, career development specialists, and organization developers.
The overarching goal of the Training and Development Program is to help students develop the ability to assess and improve employee learning and performance. Accordingly, specific goals of the program include developing the ability to: analyze employee performance; design a broad range of performance improvement interventions, with particular emphasis on the design, development, and delivery of training programs; evaluate training and development programs; facilitate work group discussions and group processes; translate training and development theory into practice; and critically evaluate research in training and development.
An applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree in any field from a regionally accredited, college-level institution. Admission decisions are based primarily on an applicant's junior/senior cumulative grade-point average and career-goal statement. Additional information pertaining to any postbaccalaureate course work and professional experience are considered. The best-qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces available for new students.
Applicants with low grade-point averages may be required to take the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or take 9 credits of course work recommended by a program faculty member and maintain a GPA of B or higher in order to be reconsidered.
Students are required to submit the following:
All applicants whose first language is not English or who have not received a baccalaureate degree from an institution in which the language of instruction is English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL; www.toefl.org (Opens New Window)).
The test must be passed with a score of 550 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test) or higher.
All students with international credentials must submit transcripts to Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) for a "Course by Course" academic evaluation of transcripts and degree. An ECE application can be obtained at www.ece.org (Opens New Window).
Candidates may enter the program at the beginning of fall or spring semester, or the summer session. Application deadline dates for U.S. students and international students are posted on the Training and Development program website. (http://www.hbg.psu.edu/hbg/programs/gradprog/trdev.html)
Please note: Each graduate program reserves the right to set earlier deadlines than those noted above.
Students may enter the Training and Development program from a variety of backgrounds and enroll in courses to help them develop competencies in training and development. Coursework includes both required and elective courses in training and development as well as electives from outside the program. Students select one of two areas of professional practice, training or human resource development, as a focus for their electives in the training and development program. Courses are scheduled to accommodate part- and full-time students.
There are two options in the program: the Paper option requires the completion of a master's paper (TRDEV 587) and a total of 36 credits (excluding an internship if one is needed); the Non-Paper option does not require a master's paper, but does require Research Designs Applied to Training (TRDEV 588) and an extra elective in Training and Development for a total of 39 credits (excluding an internship if one is needed). For both the Paper and Non-Paper options, at least half of the total credits must be earned in 500-level courses.
Both options require successful completion of Instructional Methods in Training and Development (TRDEV 418), Foundations in Training and Development (TRDEV 460), Performance Analysis (TRDEV 465), Systematic Instructional Design (TRDEV 518), Technology in Training (TRDEV 531), and Educational Research Design (EDUC 586).
TRDEV 418: Instructional Methods in Training & Development (3 credits)
TRDEV 460: Foundations in Training & Development (3 credits)
TRDEV 465: Performance Analysis (3 credits)
TRDEV 518: Systematic Instructional Design (3 credits)
TRDEV 531: Technology in Training (3 credits)
EDUC 586: Educational Research and Design (3 credits)
A. From Training and Development courses, select three courses for the Paper option or four courses for the Non-Paper option:
TRDEV 421: Presentation Skills for New Trainers (3 credits)
TRDEV 432: Video Production for Training (3 credits)
TRDEV 470: HRD Tools and Techniques (3 credits)
TRDEV 475: Career and Succession Management (3 credits)
TRDEV 505: Project Management (3 credits)
TRDEV 507: Program Evaluation (3 credits)
TRDEV 520: Learning Styles and Theories for Trainers (3 credits)
TRDEV 532: Web-Based Training (3 credits)
TRDEV 533: Distance Learning in Training (3 credits)
TRDEV 565: Implementing Training and HRD Programs ( _ credits)
TRDEV 583: Issues in Training & Development (3 credits)
TRDEV 596: Individual Studies (1-3 credits)
TRDEV 597: Special Topics (3 credits)
B. Select two three-credit courses at the 400/500 level from programs outside Training and Development. The two courses should assist you in preparing for professional roles and responsibilities in training and development. The following courses are highly recommended:
BE SC 408: Group Facilitation and Leadership Skills (3 credits)
BE SC 468: Industrial Psychology (3 credits)
P ADM 510 or MNGMT 510: Organizational Behavior (3 credits)
One of the following:
A. Holds or has held a position in training and development successfully for six months or more. Submit request for waiver for approval.
B.TRDEV 595 Internship (3 credits which are not counted in the 36 credit or 39 credit requirement)
Choose one of the following options:
A. TRDEV 588: Research Designs Applied to Training (3 credits - plus one additional 3-credit elective)
B.TRDEV 587: Master's Paper (3 credits)
A maximum of 10 credits of high-quality graduate work done at a regionally accredited institution may be applied toward the requirements for the master's degree in Training and Development. Approval to apply any transferred credits toward a degree program must be granted by the student's academic adviser and the Graduate School. Transferred academic work must have been completed within five years prior to the date of first degree registration at the Graduate School, must be of at least B quality (grades of B- are not transferable), and must appear on an official graduate transcript. Credits earned toward a previously completed postbaccalaureate professional degree program (law, medicine, etc.) are not transferable. However, up to 10 credits can be transferred from a professional degree program if the degree has not been conferred.
A maximum of 15 credits earned as a special nondegree student at Penn State University may be applied to the Training and Development program, with departmental approval. The credits must have been earned within five years preceding entry into the program.
A 3.00 (out of 4.00) minimum grade-point average is required to graduate from the program. All course work must be completed within eight years.
There are a limited number of scholarships, fellowships, and research grants available, as well as graduate assistantships. Many students work full-time and take classes part-time. In many cases, employers have a tuition-reimbursement plan paying for partial or full tuition. To find other options available to you, contact the Financial Aid Office at 717-948-6307.
Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 599. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not be used to meet graduate degree requirements. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT (TRDEV) course list
Last Revised by the Department: Fall Semester 2005
Blue Sheet Item #: 33-07-121
Review Date: 06/14/05
Faculty updated: 1/3/13