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Human Resources Development (MA)


2024-2025 GRADUATE STUDIES CATALOG

Effective 1 June 2024 through 31 May 2025

Please see the Graduate Catalog Archives for PDF versions of past catalogs.


This program is offered by the George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology. It is available online, at the St. Louis main campus and at select U.S. campuses. Please see the Campus Locations and Offerings section of this catalog for a list of campuses where this program is offered.

Program Description

The main objective of the human resources development program is to develop professionals in human resources development who have both a broad conceptual understanding of human resources development and a "working knowledge" of a wide range of individual, group and organization development strategies and tactics. This combination will enhance the careers of students already in human resources development, and increase the likelihood that students wanting to enter the field will be productive in their new careers by leveraging this knowledge base. Another objective of the program is to develop knowledge, skills and abilities that are relevant in a wide variety of different human resources development settings and roles. For example, the program should prepare students to work in corporate offices, boutique training firms, or human resources development consulting firms.

acbsp logoThe MA in human resources development is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to explain the important terminology, facts, concepts, principles, analytic techniques and theories used in the field of human resources development.
  • Students will be able to effectively apply important terminology, facts, concepts, principles, analytic techniques and theories in the field of human resources development when analyzing complex factual situations.
  • Students will be able to effectively integrate (or synthesize) important facts, concepts, principles and theories in the field of human resources development when developing solutions to multifaceted human resources development problems in complex factual situations.

Program Curriculum

The 36 credit hours required for the master of arts (MA) in human resources development must include the following courses:

  • HRDV 5000 Introduction to Human Resources Development (Requisite Course) (3 hours)
  • MNGT 5590 Organizational Behavior (3 hours)
  • HRDV 5610 Training and Development (3 hours)
  • HRDV 5560 Group Development and Change (3 hours)
  • HRDV 5630 Organization Development and Change (3 hours)
  • HRDV 5700 Career Management (3 hours)
  • HRDV 5750 Research and Assessment Methods in Human Resources Development (3 hours)
  • HRDV 6000 Integrated Studies in Human Resources Development (3 hours)

In addition, the student chooses elective courses offered in this major and/or from the program curricula of other George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology majors.

If the requisite course is waived, the student must choose an elective course from this major or from the program curriculum of another George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology major. Students pursuing dual majors who have the requisite course(s) waived will complete only the remaining required courses for the dual majors.

Dual Degree Option: MBA/MA in Human Resources Development

51 to 54 Credit Hours

Requirements for a dual degree with the MBA program generally include the required MBA courses (33 hours) and the required coursework in the additional degree program, except where noted below. If BUSN 5000 has been waived, the required hours are reduced by 3 credits and the BUSN 5000 course does not require a substitution.

Upon completion of all required credit hours, two separate diplomas are issued at the same time. The two degrees cannot be awarded separately or sequentially under this arrangement.

  • BUSN 5000 Business (3 hours)
  • MBA 5010 Value Creation (3 hours)
  • MBA 5020 Quantitative Methods for the MBA (3 hours)
  • MBA 5030 Market Analysis and Business Planning (3 hours)
  • MBA 5200 The Financial Value of Capital Projects (3 hours)
  • MBA 5300 Providing Value to Customers (3 Horus)
  • MBA 5400 The Supply Chain and Business Processes (3 hours)
  • MBA 5500 Information Support for Decision Making (3 hours)
  • MBA 5910 Cases in Value Creation (3 hours)
  • MBA 5920 Walker Consulting Project: Adding Value to Organizations (3 hours)
  • HRDV 5000 Introduction to Human Resources Development (3 hours)
  • MNGT 5590 Organizational Behavior* (3 hours)
  • HRDV 5610 Training and Development (3 hours)
  • HRDV 5560 Group Development and Change (3 hours)
  • HRDV 5630 Organization Development and Change (3 hours)
  • HRDV 5700 Career Management (3 hours)
  • HRDV 5750 Research and Assessment Methods in Human Resources Development (3 hours)
  • HRDV 6000 Integrated Studies in Human Resources Development (3 hours)

*MNGT 5590 may substitute for MBA 5100.

Admission

See the Admission section of this catalog for general admission requirements. Students interested in applying must submit their application online at www.webster.edu/apply. Transcripts should be sent from your institution electronically to transcripts@webster.edu. If this service is not available, send transcripts to:

Office of Admission
Webster University
470 E. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119 

Additional Requirements

Applicants to the human resources development (MA) must have completed a business or business-related undergraduate degree meeting the following criteria:

  • University/college is regionally accredited
  • The business school must have a business-related accreditation (e.g. AACSB, ACBSP, IACBE, etc.)

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications must do one of the following:

  • Successfully complete BUSN 5000.
    • Note: BUSN 5000 will count as an elective in the program. This option is only available for students who are required to take BUSN 5000.
  • Complete all of the following undergraduate courses (or their equivalents) with a grade of C- or better (17 credit hours total, not including individual course prerequisites:
    • MNGT 2100 Management Theory and Practices
    • ACCT 2010 Financial Accounting
    • BUSN 2750 Introduction to Statistics
    • ECON 2000 Survey of Economics
    • MNGT 2500 Marketing
    • BUSN 3500 Business and Global Issues
    • BUSN 4500 Ethical Issues in Business

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are admitted to their graduate program upon completion of all admission requirements. Students are advanced to candidacy status after successfully completing 12 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. In specialized programs, courses required as prerequisites to the program do not count toward the 12 credit hours required for advancement.