PAUL F. CLARK, Head
003 Keller Building
814-865-5425
The master of science degree in Human Resources and Employment Relations (HRER) is a two-year program designed for students anticipating careers in some aspect of labor and human resources or labor-management relations. The program has the following objectives:
Scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) are required. Applicants with a 3.00 junior/senior grade-point average (on a 4.00 scale) will be considered for admission. Applicants must have three letters of recommendation sent from people who can assess adequately their likelihood of completing the graduate program.
Students are expected to have completed successfully an undergraduate statistics course plus a minimum of 12 undergraduate credits in the social sciences as part of their baccalaureate degree.
The HRER thesis option is intended for students anticipating additional graduate education beyond the master's degree. It requires 36 credits, including a minimum of 30 at the 400 and 500 level, and a minimum of 6 600-level thesis credits. For the degree, an overall 3.00 (B) grade-point average must be earned in the 400- and 500-level work and a grade of B or above must be earned in all 500-level courses. At least 6 credits must emphasize a particular aspect of employment relations. A student's thesis should reflect the chose emphasis.
The HRER research paper option is intended for students expecting to enter the labor market upon completion of the master's degree. It requires a minimum of 37 credits at the 400 and 500 level. For the degree, and overall 3.00 (B) grade-point average must be earned in the 400- and 500-level work and a grade of B or above must be earned in all 500-level courses. At least 6 credits must emphasize a particular aspect of employment relations. A student's research paper should reflect the chosen emphasis.
Fellowships, traineeships, graduate assistantships, and other forms of financial aid are described in the STUDENT AID section of the Graduate Bulletin.
HRER 501, HRER 502, HRER 504, HRER 505, HRER 512, HRER 513, HRER 516
Required course are offered once per academic year and elective courses at least once every two academic years.
An emphasis is an area of study related to a particular aspect or domain of industrial relations and human resources. Students select an emphasis in consultation with their master's advisory committee.
With the faculty adviser's approval, a student selects at least 3 or more elective credits, depending on the chosen option. Examples of suitable elective courses are: HRER 500, HRER 535, HRER 536, HRER 594, HRER 595, HRER 596, HRER 597, HRER 599; LER 411, LER 401, LER 444, LER 458Y; ECON 412, ECON 436W, ECON 571; EDLDR 565, EDLDR 574; HIST (LER) 555; MGMT 321, MGMT 523, MGMT 548; PSYCH 484, PSYCH 485, PSY 522; SOC 455, SOC 456, SOC 555.
Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 599 and 800 to 899. 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. 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.
HUMAN RESOURCES AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS (HRER) course list
PAUL F. CLARK, Professor in charge
The MPS in Human Resources and Employment Relations (HRER) is a 33 credit program of study for professionals working in human resources/employment relations or considering a career in some aspect of human resources and employment relations. The program will prepare students to:
Courses include the study of employment law, labor and employment relations, human resources, workplace organization, labor markets, ethics, and the employment relationship, recruiting/selection, compensation and benefits, workforce development, and diversity in the workplace.
The program will highlight the changing nature of the HRER field, including the impact of the globalization of private and public organizations and the growing importance of diversity in the workforce. It will culminate in a capstone class in which students will demonstrate their understanding of the curriculum and apply it to their professional areas of interest. Upon completion of the MPS HRER, students will be equipped to work as professionals in human resource management, employment relations, and general management with private employers, unions, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.
Students pursuing the MPS in HRER would be required to complete a concentration designed to provide the student an opportunity to develop expertise in a specific area of human resources and employment relations. The focused coursework should make the degree more relevant to potential students and add value to the degree from the student's perspective.
Students will choose and complete one concentration which will include six credits beyond the 24 required credits. Double counting six required credits, including the Research Project, the concentration would be 12 credits of coursework in a particular area of HRER. Three additional elective credits chosen from LER, HRER, or WFED courses must also be completed. Students will be required to complete the capstone project in their area of concentration. (For example, students choosing the Benefits and Compensation concentration would be required to complete a capstone project that focused on some aspect of benefits and compensation).
PRESCRIBED COURSES: 24 credits
HUMAN RESOURCES AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS (HRER)
501. Labor and Employment Law (3)
504. Seminar in Industrial Relations (3)
505. Seminar in Human Resources (3)
800. International Context of HRER (3)
802. Organizations in the Workplace (3)
816. Labor Market Analysis (3)
836. Diversity in the Workplace (3)
894. Research Project (3)
AREAS OF CONCENTRATION (student must complete one)
--Benefits and Compensation
LER 424 Employment Compensation (3)
LER 425 Employment Benefits (3)
--Employment and Labor Law
LER 401 Law of Labor-Management Relations (3)
HRER 811 Labor and Employment Law II (3)
--Labor and Collective Bargaining
LER 401 Law of Labor-Management Relations (3)
LER 435 Labor Relations in the Public Sector (3)
--Staffing, Training, and Development
LER 426 Staffing and Training (3) or WF ED 471 Training in Industry and Business (3)
WF ED 573 Needs Assessment for Industrial Trainers (3)
ELECTIVE COURSES: 9 credits
Select 6 credits in area of concentration.
Select an additional 3 credit course from LER, HRER, or WF ED courses listed below.
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS (LER)
401. Law of Labor-Management Relations (3)
424. Employment Compensation (3)
425. Employment Benefits (3)
426. Staffing and Training (3)
435. Labor Relations in the Public Sector (3)
444. Occupational Health: Policy and Practices (3)
445Y. Politics of Affirmative Action(3)
460. Human Resources Ethics (3)
464. Communication Skills for Leaders in Groups and Organizations (3)
472. Work-Life Practices and Policies (3)
HUMAN RESOURCES AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS (HRER)
811. Labor and Employment Law II (3)
WORKFORCE EDUCATION ADN DEVELOPMENT (WF ED)
471. Training in Industry and Business (3)
573. Needs Assessment for Industrial Trainers (3)
3. Admission Requirements
In order to enter the MPS in HRER, applicants must hold either (1) a bachelor's degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or (2) a postsecondary degree that is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree earned from an officially recognized degree-granting international institution prior to starting the graduate program. above. Students who do not have a GPA of 3.0 will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the quality of their overall application. Applicants who are still completing their baccalaureate requirements at the time of application may be admitted to the Graduate School conditional on the awarding of the baccalaureate degree. Students are also expected to have a minimum of two years of full-time work experience prior to admission.
Admissions decisions for the program are based on the quality of the applicant's credentials. The decisions are based on a review of the complete application portfolio. During the admission process, students who are better suited for another graduate level program will be encouraged to apply to the appropriate program. Applicants to the MPS HRER should submit the following materials:
TOEFL score, if applicable. A TOEFL score of 550 on the paper test, a score of 213 on the computer-based test, or 80 points on the new Internet-based test with a minimum of 19 points on the new speaking portion is required for admission.
A minimum composite score of 6.5 on the IELTS test is required for admission.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required.
4. Recommended Sequence of Courses
Most adult students will participate in the online program on a part-time basis because of full-time professional responsibilities. The typical student course load is expected to be one course or two courses each semester (fall, spring, and possibly summer). Below, we illustrate one course per semester program. The sequence of courses may change and additional courses may be scheduled per semester depending on enrollment and demand. Course development will focus on one area of concentration creating one path through the degree. Additional courses for other areas of concentration will be added as enrollments increase to support a broader curriculum.
Year one: 9 Credits
HRER 501(3): Labor and Employment Law (fall)
HRER 504(3): Seminar in Industrial Relations (spring)
HRER 505(3): Seminar in Human Resources (summer)
Year two: 9 Credits
HRER 800(3): International Context of HRER (fall)
HRER 802(3): Organizations in the Workplace (spring)
HRER 836(3): Diversity in the Workplace (summer)
Year three: 9 credits
HRER 816(3): Labor Market Analysis (fall)
Electives (3): (spring)
Electives (3): (summer)
Electives for concentration
Year four: 6 credits
Electives (3): Fall/Spring)
HRER 894 Research Project (Can be offered fall, spring, and summer depending on demand.)
Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 599 and 800 to 899. 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. 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.
PROFESSOR PAUL F. CLARK, Head
The integrated LER B.S. and HRER M.S. is a five-year program designed for academically talented baccalaureate students to obtain both the B.S. and the M.S. degrees in LER and HRER with five years of study. Students will develop expertise in the human resources and labor relations fields beyond the B.S. degree. The undergraduate curriculum educates students about (1) the roles of employers, employees, employee organizations and public policy makers play in the employment relationship, (2) the complex personal and organizational issues inherent in the employment relationship (3) and how to systematically analyze those complex issues and evaluate research relevant to those analyses. The graduate curriculum provides for more individualized, focused learning in a concentrated sub-area of the HRER field. The program culminates with an M.S. research paper. Upon completion of the integrated degree, students will enter the workforce with advanced knowledge and expertise gained from conducting and analyzing empirical work and participating in seminar-style classes.
Scheduling Recommendation by Semester Standing given like (Sem: 1-2)
GENERAL EDUCATION: 45 credits
(10 of these 45 credits are included in the REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR:
(Included in ELECTIVES or GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)
UNITED STATES CULTURES AND INTERNATIONAL CULTURES:
(Included in ELECTIVES or GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)
WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM:
(Included in REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
ELECTIVES: 18 credits
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: 98-99 credits
[12 credits may be double counted, 6 must be at the 500 level]
B.S. REQUIREMENTS: 62-63 credits
(This includes 10 credits of General Education courses)
COMMON REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR (ALL OPTIONS): 36-37 credits
PRESCRIBED COURSES: (16 credits)
(Some courses in this category have prerequisites that are not included in the major)
LER 100 GS(3), LER 312(4) (Sem: 3-8)
ECON 002 GS(3), ECON 315 GS(3), PSYCH 281 GS(3) (Sem: 1-8)
ADDITIONAL COURSES: (13 credits)
(Some courses in this category have prerequisites that are not included in the major)
LER 201 GS(3) or LER 401(3) (Sem: 3-8)
SCM 200(4) or STAT 200 GQ(4) (Sem: 3-8)
LER 136 US(3) or WMNST 136 US(3) or LER 400 IL(3) (Sem: 5-8)
LER 458Y US(3) or HIST 458Y US(3) or LER 414W(3) (Sem: 5-8)
SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS: (33-34 credits)
(LER courses that are used in the Additional Courses category may not be double counted to satisfy this requirement. Some courses in this category have prerequisites that are not included in the major.)
Select 15-21 credits from appropriate LER courses, at least 9 must be at the 400 level (only 3 credits of LER 495 or 3 credits of LER 496 may be used to satisfy this requirement) (Sem: 5-8)
Select 12-19 credits from the department list in consultation with an adviser, at least 6 credits must be at the 400 level, 3 each from 3 categories:
M.S. REQUIREMENTS: 36 credits
[12 credits may be double counted, 6 must be at the 500 level]
PRESCRIBED COURSES: (21 credits)
HRER 501(3), HRER 502(3), HRER 504(3), HRER 505(3), HRER 512(3)*, HRER 513(3)**, HRER 516(3)
*or other statistics course approved in advance by graduate director
**or other methods course approved in advance by graduate director
ADDITIONAL COURSES: (15 credits)
Select 15 credits from the following list in consultation with adviser (only 6 credits may be at the 400 level).
LER 400 IL(3), LER 401(3), LER 414W(3), LER 424(3), LER 434(3), LER 435(3), LER 437(3), LER 444(3), LER 458Y US(3), LER 460(3), LER 465(3), LER 470(3), HRER 500(3), HRER 535(3), HRER 536(3), HRER 594(1-6), HRER 595(1-6), HRER 596(1-6), HRER 597(1-3), HRER 600(3-6)
Emphasis Courses (6 credits)
An emphasis is an area of study related to a particular aspect or domain of industrial relations and human resources. Select 6 credits from the M.S. prescribed or additional courses in consultation with their adviser.
Masters Research Paper or a Masters Thesis (6 credits)
Students must complete either a Masters Research Paper or a Masters Thesis. Students choosing the Thesis option must complete 6 thesis credits (HRER 600). These credits can be counted towards the 15 credits required from the M.S. Additional Courses section above.
HUMAN RESOURCES AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS (HRER) course list
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS (LER) course list
The integrated Spanish B.S. and HRER M.S. is a five-year program designed for highly qualified and motivated students seeking employment within a culturally diverse workplace. Students will develop basic skills in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing Spanish. Students will gain familiarity with Hispanic cultures through literature and the University's international education program, if they choose to have that experience. Students also will learn about (1) the roles that employers, employees, employee organizations, and public policy makers play in the employment relationship, (2) the complex personal and organizational issues inherent in the employment relationship, and (3) how to systematically analyze those complex issues and evaluate research relevant to those analyses.
For the B. S./M. S. degree in Integrated Spanish B.S. and Human Resources and Employment Relations M.S., a minimum of 154 credits is required. Twelve graduate level credits can apply to both undergraduate and graduate degrees; six of these must be at the 500 level. Students can complete the B.S. in Spanish and not advance to the M.S. HRER degree if they desire.
Scheduling Recommendation by Semester Standing given like (Sem: 1–2)
GENERAL EDUCATION: 45 credits
(10 of these 45 credits are included in the REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR:
(Included in ELECTIVES or GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)
UNITED STATES CULTURES AND INTERNATIONAL CULTURES:
(Included in ELECTIVES or GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)
WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM:
(Included in REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
ELECTIVES: 18 credits
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: 101 credits
(This includes 10 credits of General Education courses: 6 credits of GS courses; 4 credits of GQ courses.)
PRESCRIBED COURSES: (27 credits)
[Some courses in this category have prerequisites that are not included in the major]
SPAN 100(3), SPAN 120(3), SPAN 200(3), SPAN 253(3), SPAN 305(3) (Sem: 1–6)
SPAN 300W(3), SPAN 410(3), SPAN 412(3), SPAN 414(3) (Sem: 5–8)
ADDITIONAL COURSES: (12 credits)
SPAN 210(3) or SPAN 220(3), SPAN 353(3) or SPAN 354(3) (Sem: 3–6)
SPAN 472(3) or SPAN 476(3) (Sem: 5–8)
Select 3 credits of SPAN 415(3), SPAN 418(3), SPAN 420(3), SPAN 439(3), SPAN 490(3), SPAN 491(3), or SPAN 497(1–9) (Sem: 5–8)
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS: (32 credits)
[Prescribed undergraduate credits in Labor and Employment Relations option]
ECON 002 GS(3), LER 100 GS(3), LER 201(3), LER 312(4), LER 400 IL(3), LER 414W(3), LER 458Y US(3), STAT 200 GQ(4) (Sem: 1–6)
HRER 501(3), HRER 512(3) (Sem: 7–8)
EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS/HUMAN RESOURCES M.S.: (30 credits)
[HRER credits to be selected from the following in consultation with an HRER adviser]
HRER 500, HRER 502, HRER 504, HRER 505, HRER 513, HRER 516, HRER 535, HRER 536, HRER 595*, HRER 596*, HRER 597, HRER 599
[* Heritage speakers (students with Spanish language in family background but not necessarily a native speaker) should take SPAN 100A and SPAN 301 instead of SPAN 100 and SPAN 300W]
HUMAN RESOURCES AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS (HRER) course list
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS (LER) course list
SPANISH (SPAN) course list
[1] A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.
Last Revised by the Department: Spring Semester 2012
Blue Sheet Item #: 35-06-466 (HRER) 4/10/07; 40-06-254 (M.P.S.) 04/10/2012
UCA Revision #1: 8/8/06
Faculty updated: 9/26/12