Human Resource Education & Workforce Development (Graduate Program)

For information regarding the UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM, click here.  

Program Overview

A central theme that stitches the diverse faculty together in the School of Human Resource Education & Workforce Development is a shared, collective ambition to contribute, through our teaching, research and service, to the positive change and development sought by organizations and communities in response to the forces in today’s globalized world. Therefore, the mission of the School is to enhance the development of individuals, organizations and workforce systems through research that advances the creation and application of new knowledge; innovative teaching that prepares scholars, researchers, and professionals to meet the organization development and human capital needs of a dynamic, interconnected, global society; and service and outreach endeavours that connect the School with the local, national, and international community.

Our vision is to be recognized as innovative leaders in human resource and organization development whose teaching, scholarship, research, and outreach create positive change in people, organizations, and communities globally. 

We value:

Student-Centered, Applied Learning

• We provide an applied, student-centered learning experience that builds in our graduates the knowledge, skills, and ways of thinking needed to become global citizens, leaders, and positive change agents.

Diversity and Inclusivity

• We encourage diversity and inclusiveness through civility, the free exchange of ideas, an appreciation of individual distinctiveness, and respect for multiple perspectives. 

Strong Science-Practice Focus

• We believe a strong theory-research-practice linkage is critical in an applied field and realize this through effective collaboration, the provision of evidence-based tools and interventions, and ongoing local and global engagement.

Excellence

• We strive for a global reputation of excellence to be realized through rigorous, cutting-edge research, adherence to the highest ethical standards in teaching, research and practice, ongoing professional development of all members of our learning community, and the creation of an exemplary, dynamic curriculum that meets the needs of our stakeholders.

The graduate programs in our School include a stable of courses that, in very fundamental ways, focus on the development of human capacity in organizations and communities, planned change in organizational systems, and the systemic nature of planned change.  Our courses address the diagnostic, analytical, and evaluative capabilities that are key to initiating and sustaining change in organizational systems; the role of leadership and change agents; and the role of multi-level learning in change.  The school has four primary areas of focus: human resource development, organization development, workforce development, and leadership development.

Our courses and programs are taught by a diverse, multidisciplinary, and award-winning faculty. They bring a breadth of research interests and a wealth of applied experience to the classroom. Their goal is to make the learning experience both challenging and provocative, and to prepare our students to be the leaders of positive change.

The School, recognized as one of the top 20 programs in human resource education in the U.S., maintains membership in the distinguished University Council for Workforce and Human Resource Education. The School has the only comprehensive university human resource and organization development program in Louisiana.

Administration

Admission

Applications and supporting materials for all graduate study must be submitted through the online application site for the LSU Graduate School. Official transcripts, official test scores, and other materials that come from third-party sources must be mailed to: Graduate Student Services, 114 West David Boyd Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. These paper documents are stored electronically and departments have access to all materials submitted by and/or on behalf of a student applying to graduate study.

Students seeking admission to this school must submit satisfactory credentials from previous study, acceptable GRE or GMAT scores, and three letters of recommendation. International students whose native language is not English must also submit an acceptable TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score.

1. A minimum of a 3.0 GPA in their last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.

2. A minimum of a 3.0 GPA on all previous graduate coursework.

3. Three letters of acceptable recommendations.

4. Three years of demonstrated successful full-time professional work experience as evidenced by a resume.

5. Successful completion of a criterion-based essay. For the essay, students are asked to describe, in 1,000 words or less, at least three specific examples from their professional work experience that demonstrate their:

• Motivation to succeed as a professional.
• Ability to persevere in the face of demanding professional challenges.
• Intellectual ability to master challenging and difficult subject matter.

Only applicants that meet admission requirements and provide well-written and acceptable answers to these questions will be allowed to utilize the GRE/GMAT alternative.

Admission to the PhD program requires, in addition to a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework and a minimum of a 3.0 GPA on all previous graduate coursework, acceptable GRE or GMAT scores and successful completion of a master’s degree. Each student must submit at least three letters of reference and evidence of appropriate professional experience. Applicants must also submit a 1,000 word or less “Personal Statement” which provides a brief statement of the applicant’s background and interests, a description of her/his research experience and skill, and his/her longer-term professional and academic goals and how the program aligns with those goals. A well-formed personal statement should also describe the kinds of research topics and/or methods the applicant would like to explore during the Ph.D. program. It is beneficial if applicants can draw a connection between her/his research topics of interest and those of the faculty in SHREWD.

Required Application Materials for the Ph.D. Program

• Resume or C.V.
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE Scores
• Undergraduate transcripts
• Post-baccalaureate transcripts
• Graduate transcripts
• Personal statement expressing your interest in the program

Financial Assistance

Graduate assistantships in the school are awarded on a competitive basis to qualified MS and PhD students. All students on assistantship are responsible for a portion of student health care costs, vehicle registration fee, graduation fees, and other fees.

Students who have graduate assistantships are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA (“A” = 4.0) must register for at least nine semester hours in the fall and spring and six hours in the summer. Most assistantships require the student to be involved in research being conducted in the school; however, some teaching assistantships are available.

Graduate Faculty

(check current listings by department by clicking this link)

Degree Programs

The school offers the MS and PhD degrees. The process leading to the doctoral degree includes completion of all coursework, the general examination, completion of the dissertation, and the final examination.

Programs

• Human Resource Education, Ph.D.

• Human Resource Education, M.S.

• Workforce Development