Human Resource Education
Director of Graduate Studies: K. Peter Kuchinke
351 Education Building
1310 South Sixth Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 333-0807
Fax: (217) 244-5632
E-mail: hre@illinois.edu
Major: Human Resource Education
Degrees offered: Ed.M., M.S., C.A.S. Ed.D., Ph.D.
Graduate Concentrations: Human Resource Development (Ed.M., M.S., Ed.D., Ph.D. only)
Online Program: Human Resource Education
Degree offered: Ed.M.
Graduate Concentrations: Human Resource Development; Community College Teaching and Learning; eLearning
Joint Degree Program: Human Resource Education and Business Administration
Degrees Offered: Ed.M. and M.B.A.
Medical Scholars Program: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Human Resource Education and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) through the Medical Scholars Program
Graduate Degree Programs
Degree programs in the Department of Human Resource Education are designed to meet academic and professional interests of individuals preparing for careers as adult educators, college professors, corporate trainers, instructional designers/technologists, and organization development specialists. The department offers master's degrees with concentrations in human resource development (HRD), community college teaching and learning (CCTL) and eLearning. The Master of Education (Ed.M.) degree is designed to meet the academic and professional interests of people working in education-related fields (e.g., instruction, instructional design, learning technologies, evaluation). The Master of Science (M.S.) degree program is for students who have research interests in education and may eventually choose to pursue a doctoral degree. The major difference between this degree and the Ed.M. is the requirement that a master's thesis be completed and defended as part of the degree.
The Certificate of Advanced Study in Education (C.A.S.) is a terminal degree beyond the master's degree for education professionals. Students who plan to pursue a doctorate at some later time should not apply for the C.A.S. degree because credit earned cannot be applied toward a doctoral degree.
At the doctoral level, students can choose to work with faculty who specialize in a variety of areas including training and development, organizational development, and instructional technology. The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is intended to prepare individuals for leadership roles that require the use of tools and concepts of inquiry and analysis in activities such as research, evaluation, and curriculum development. The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree is designed to provide students with advanced professional training and to develop their abilities in the scholarly study of professional issues.
Admission
The Department of Human Resource Education carefully considers all applicants for graduate study. The quality of the applicant's undergraduate and graduate training and grade point average are primary considerations. Other important factors evaluated include the three letters of recommendation and statement of purpose. International applicants must submit a TOEFL score. The minimum department TOEFL requirement is 96 on the Internet-based test. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores obtained in the last four years are required for all doctoral candidates. . For additional admission details refer to the department’s Web site.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Web site, the College of Education Graduate Programs Handbook, and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Education (Ed.M.), Human Resource Education
| Required Courses: | Required Hours-Human Resource Development concentration |
|---|---|
| Psychological Foundation Courses EPSY 400, 401, 402, or 485: 2 hours AND EPSY 404, 405, 406, or 430: 2 hours OR EPSY 407 or 408: 4 hours |
4 |
| Social and Philosophical Foundation Courses EPS 400, 402, 403, 404, 420, 421, 423, 424, or 426: 2 hours AND EPS 401, 410, 411, 412, 413, or 414: 2 hours OR EPS 415: 4 hours |
4 |
| HRE 400, 411, 472, 530, 585 | 20 |
| HRE 412 or HRE 414 | 4 |
| HRE 532 or 535 or 536 | 4 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 36 |
| Other Requirements:*A concentration is required. | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Master of Science (M.S.), Human Resource Education
| Required Courses: | Required Hours-Human Resource Development concentration |
|---|---|
| Psychological Foundation Courses EPSY 400, 401, 402, or 485: 2 hours AND EPSY 404, 405, 406, or 430: 2 hours OR EPSY 407 or 408: 4 hours |
4 |
| Social and Philosophical Foundation Courses EPS 400, 402, 403, 404, 420, 421, 423, 424, or 426: 2 hours AND EPS 401, 410, 411, 412, 413, or 414: 2 hours OR EPS 415: 4 hours |
4 |
| HRE 400, 411, 472, 530, 585 | 20 |
| HRE 412 or HRE 414 | 4 |
| HRE 532 or 535 or 536 | 4 |
| Thesis Hours Required – HRE 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 2-8 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 38 |
| Other Requirements:*A concentration is required. | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S.), Human Resource Education
| Required Courses: | Required Hours-No concentration |
|---|---|
| If the student does not have a Masters degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Foundation Courses must be completed: Psychological Foundation Courses EPSY 400, 401, 402, or 485: 2 hours AND EPSY 404, 405, 406, or 430: 2 hours OR EPSY 407 or 408: 4 hours Social and Philosophical Foundation Courses EPS 400, 402, 403, 404, 420, 421, 423, 424, or 426: 2 hours AND EPS 401, 410, 411, 412, 413, or 414: 2 hours OR EPS 415: 4 hours |
8 |
| Elective Hours: 500-Level Hours Required: 16 hours (Independent Study included) General Coursework Required: 16 hours |
32 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 32-40 |
| Other Requirements:* A concentration is not required. | |
| Enrollment must be preceded by at least two years of acceptable professional work experience. | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Doctor of Philosophy, Human Resource Education
| Required Courses: | Required Hours-Human Resource Development concentration |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites: HRE 400, 411, 530 (do not count toward degree requirements) | 0 |
| Competence in one of four research specialization areas. These courses are required, but hours do not count toward the degree. (The number of hours needed varies.) | |
| Elective Hours: Major Subject Area (including 24 hours from the HRD concentration list) up to 8 hours may be non-HRE courses: 32 hours General Coursework Required: 28 hours |
60 |
| Thesis Hours Required – HRE 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 4-32 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 64 |
| Other Requirements:*A concentration is required | |
| Minimum GPA: Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD Residency: 2 consecutive full-time (12 hours) semesters of study on campus Early Research Requirement Qualifying Exams Required Human Subjects approval Preliminary Exam Required Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required Dissertation Deposit Required |
3.0 |
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Human Resource Education
| Required Courses: | Required Hours-Human Resource Development concentration |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites: HRE 400, 411, 530 (do not count toward degree requirements) | 0 |
| Cognate Requirement (minimum applied toward degree) | 16 |
| Research Methods HRE 580 and EPSY 480 |
8 |
| Elective Hours: Major Subject Area: 24 hours from the HRD concentration list (up to 8 hours may be non-HRE courses) General Coursework Required: 12 hours |
36 |
| Thesis Hours Required– HRE 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 4-16 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 64 |
| Other Requirements:*A concentration is required. | |
| Minimum GPA: Masters Degree Required for Admission to EdD Residency: 16 hours over 4 consecutive semesters of study on campus Qualifying Exam Required Human Subjects approval Preliminary Exams Required Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required Dissertation Deposit Required |
3.0 |
Online Programs
We offer a Master of Education degree and online certificate programs in three different concentrations that enable students to receive a University of Illinois education without ever coming to our campus. As one of the top HRE-related programs in the country, the Department of Human Resource Education is committed to providing a high-quality education to qualified students around the world. Since 1998, dozens of professionals have completed master’s degrees and graduate certificates through our online programs. Our programs in Community College Teaching and Learning (CCTL) and Human Resource Development (HRD) have impacted students’ careers, teaching practice, organizational performance, institutional outcomes. Our latest program, launched in 2008, is the master's degree with a concentration in E-Learning.
Community College Teaching and Learning Program
Our CCTL program is one of the only online or on-campus programs in the country specifically geared to improve the teaching effectiveness of community college faculty. The program provides conceptual foundations and practical, hands-on projects for faculty members at community and technical colleges. Shelly Hokanson (Ed.M., 2005), professor of information technology at Prairie State College explained that she uses skills gained in the program in her classes each semester and that “the CCTL program has made me more productive in curriculum design, and more effective as an instructor." The program is especially beneficial for faculty members who have subject-matter expertise, but no formal training in teaching methods. Our CCTL program succeeds in improving the instructional capacity of faculty who educate a vital aspect of our workforce.
Human Resource Development Program
The HRD online program was one of the first 100% online degree programs in the world. As the field of HRD has grown in importance, so has our program. The program emphasizes a conceptual understanding of adult learning, training, and organization development, while requiring the development of specific skills through hands-on projects. Jean Lowry (Ed.M., 2002), manager of employee development for Energen Corporation, explained that the program gave her the confidence and skills to build new learning initiatives within her organization. The Learning Technologies course enabled her “to develop an e-learning strategy and implement the first e-learning courses” at Energen Corporation. Students, alumni, and employers consistently report that the program has expanded their horizons of HRD and that course projects have directly impacted their organizations.
E-Learning Program
The master's and certificate programs in E-Learning are innovative programs that promise to continue HRE's tradition of offering convenient, relevant, and rigorous degree programs. Through this program, we plan to have a major worldwide impact on e-learning programs offered in workplaces, higher education, and other organizational settings.
Master of Education (Ed.M.), Human Resource Education
| Required Courses: | Required Hours-Human Resource Development concentration | Required Hours-Community College Teaching and Learning concentration | Required Hours-eLearning concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRE 400, 411, 472, 495 I (2 hours), 495 II (2 hours), 530, 532 585 | 28 | ||
| HRE 412, 472 CC, 495 I (2 hours), 495 II (2 hours), 501, 517, 590, 592 | 28 | ||
| HRE 490F, HRE 472, HRE 470, HRE 474, HRE 490M, HRE 590, HRE 495, EPS 415 | 32 | ||
| Psychological Foundation Course EPSY 407 |
4 | 4 | |
| Psychological Foundation Course EPSY 408 |
4 | ||
| Social and Philosophical Foundation Courses EPS 500 |
4 | ||
| Social and Philosophical Foundation Courses EPS 500 CC |
4 | ||
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-8 | 0-8 | 0-8 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Other Requirements:* A concentration is required. | |||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Joint Degree Program
Students can receive an Ed.M. in Human Resource Education with a concentration in Human Resource Development as well as an MBA degree. Joint Degrees allow students to earn two graduate degrees simultaneously. Typically, the period of study is shorter than if each degree was pursued independently.
| Required Courses: | Required Hours-Human Resource Development concentration |
|---|---|
| Psychological Foundation Courses EPSY 400, 401, 402, or 485: 2 hours AND EPSY 404, 405, 406, or 430: 2 hours OR EPSY 407 or 408: 4 hours |
4 |
| Social and Philosophical Foundation Courses EPS 400, 402, 403, 404, 420, 421, 423, 424, or 426: 2 hours AND EPS 401, 410, 411, 412, 413, or 414: 2 hours OR EPS 415: 4 hours |
4 |
| HRE 400, 411, 472, 530, 585 | 20 |
| HRE 412 or HRE 414 | 4 |
| HRE 532 or 535 or 536 | 4 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 36 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| To complete the Illinois MBA degree requirements, joint degree students must complete three semesters enrolled as a full-time MBA student; complete 60 hours which includes one concentration; and maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA while registered in the Human Resource Development concentration. (see www.mba.uiuc.edu/m/curriculum/joint%20degree%20programs) | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Medical Scholars Program
The Medical Scholars Program permits highly qualified students to integrate the study of medicine with study for a graduate degree in a second discipline, including Human Resource Education. Students may apply to the Medical Scholars Program prior to beginning graduate school or while in the graduate program. Applicants to the Medical Scholars Program must meet the admissions standards for and be accepted into both the doctoral graduate program and the College of Medicine. Students in the dual degree program must meet the specific requirements for both the medical and graduate degrees. On average, students take eight years to complete both degrees. Further information on this program is available by contacting the Medical Scholars Program, 125 Medical Sciences Building, (217) 333-8146 or at www.med.illinois.edu/msp.
Facilities and Resources
The College of Education also has many resources to assist graduate students through their academic career. The Bureau of Educational Research works with students to secure research funding and provide human subject reviews. The Chief Information Office provides technical support, equipment checkout, and an Instructional Computing Lab. The Thesis Format Office assists students in the formatting of their thesis or dissertation for degree completion.
Financial Aid
Financial aid in the form of assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and tuition waivers can be found throughout the college and campus. There are opportunities available through the department, the College of Education, and the Bureau of Educational Research. Campus opportunities can be found at the Graduate College and the Office of Student Financial Aid.