Outside of the Soules College of Business, home of UT Tyler's MS in Human Resource Development program

Master of Science in Human Resource Development

Build a Better and More Effective Workplace

Make vital contributions to corporate success through the process of developing employee expertise and creating a satisfying, productive work environment. The University of Texas at Tyler’s 100% online Master of Science in Human Resource Development provides project-based learning in a flexible environment to prepare you for career success as a human resource manager in a range of fields where you will design, develop, deliver and evaluate effective training and development programs.

Why Earn a Master’s in Human Resource Development From UT Tyler?

Our top-rated MS in human resource development program is housed in The University of Texas at Tyler’s Soules College of Business — one of the country’s few human resource development programs to form part of a business school. Students gain a competitive edge through interdisciplinary knowledge and opportunities for project-based learning, in which they work directly with real clients in preparation for the workforce and to enhance their employability.

Level up your career and become an essential component of any organization. What else sets us apart from comparable programs?

100% Online: Complete your degree entirely online, from any location, in a flexible, student-friendly format that can easily adapt to your schedule.
Flexible: Earn your degree in as fast as a year, learn at your own pace or take as much time as you need. You can begin your studies in whichever semester is most convenient.
Project-Based Learning: Strengthen your team-working skills through interactive group projects that tackle real-world scenarios.
Faculty With Real-World Experience: Professors bring decades of experience, research-based insights and an array of academic backgrounds. Receive one-on-one support in our small class sizes.
Unparalleled Resources: Take advantage of our state-of-the-art facilities and student resources to power the next steps in your professional life. Connect with internship opportunities, network with alumni and reach out to potential employers through our Office of Career Success.
Highly Effective: Prepare for certificates in Organizational Development and Leadership and Talent Development and Workplace Learning. We are also part of the Academy of Human Resource Development’s Program Excellence Network, which promotes high-caliber teaching and learning in the field of HRD.
Affordable: Increase your earning potential through affordable, per-credit tuition rates, and keep education costs low through scholarships and other forms of financial aid.

Curriculum

The MS in HRD consists of 36 credit hours, the majority of which are devoted to program-specific courses. Coursework highlights the skills needed to design, develop and evaluate training and organizational development programs, become a stronger leader and coach employees and new hires.

Our curriculum is based on the Talent Development Capability Model created by the Association for Talent Development (ATD). Through this approach, our students:

Improve organizational performance and productivity through evaluating and analyzing relevant information, designing better workplace practices and implementing them effectively.
Encourage and foster effective individual and interpersonal communication to help find common goals, strengthen decision-making and unite teams.
Use up-to-date qualitative and quantitative research methods and integrate relevant innovations to create effective work processes.
Successfully recruit and develop talent by promoting positive employee relations and actively advocating for all workers.
Facilitate organizational progress by being a mediator between employees, employers and other stakeholders.
Lead a satisfying, welcoming and productive work environment that maximizes human potential and contributes to overall organizational growth.

Review All Course Descriptions for the MS in Human Resource Development

Careers in Human Resource Development

As a recipient of one of the most interdisciplinary and in-demand degrees in the current job market, you can look toward a career in business, nonprofit work, education, the military, government or in higher education. According to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, human resources professionals can expect their employment outlook to grow steadily in the next decade, with many opportunities to apply their skills.

Potential job titles include:

Chief Human Resources Officer
Consultant for Training and Development and/or Organization Development
Director of Talent
HR Analyst
HR Director
HR Manager
Training Designer or Instructional Designer

How to Apply

Admission Requirements

To apply to the MS in HRD program, you must meet the following requirements:

Degree: A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and a satisfactory grade point average computed on the last 60 undergraduate hours.

Test Score Required: A satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The university may accept Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) in lieu of the GMAT.
Quantitative measures are integrated into an index that multiplies the applicant’s 60-hour GPA times 200 and adds the total GMAT score (60-hour GPA X 200) + GMAT = >1000. An index score of greater than 1000 is typical of a successful candidate. UT Tyler may waive the GMAT if the student’s 60-hour GPA is above 3.25.

Applicants with three or more years of extensive managerial work experience (earned in the U.S. or with a U.S. government entity) may request to have the GMAT or GRE requirement waived by the graduate coordinator. This decision is made on a case-by-case basis; "extensive managerial experience" typically means a full-time supervisory or managerial position held for a significant period of time after completing the bachelor's degree, as demonstrated with a résumé.

No more than nine semester credit hours of graduate credit earned prior to acceptance into the program, including transfer credit, may be applied to the degree. The university may admit students seeking admission to the program who have not yet satisfied admission criteria as conditional or provisional students and allow them to complete one semester with up to nine hours of coursework.

GPA: GPA computed on the last 60 undergraduate hours.

Letters of Recommendation: No

Résumé/Curriculum Vitae: No

Additional Requirements

Leveling Courses

There are no leveling courses for admission, and the program is flexible enough to accommodate applicants with a bachelor's degree in any discipline.

Transfer Coursework

Subject to approval by the coordinator of graduate programs and the dean of the Soules College of Business, students may transfer up to nine hours of graduate credit earned at an approved university.

Application Instructions

Apply Online.
Pay the application fee.
Submit official and unofficial transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Admission to the degree program is determined primarily on the basis of predictors of success in graduate study:
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution,
- Grade point average computed on the last 60 undergraduate hours and
- Satisfactory score on the GMAT. The university may accept the GRE in lieu of the GMAT.
Submit official and unofficial GMAT or GRE scores to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

There are additional requirements for students with international coursework, such as a detailed international transcript evaluation that determines an applicant's degree comparability to a U.S. bachelor's degree (UT Tyler does NOT evaluate international transcripts). Review admissions requirements for international students.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The estimated tuition for full-time, in-state, online enrollment is $17,064, though this depends on delivery method and hours taken per semester. Calculate your estimated tuition with the tuition calculator. You can also reduce the cost of your education through financial aid, fellowships, assistantships and other sources of funding. Explore financial aid options for graduate students.

Deadlines

Aug. 15 (Fall)
Dec. 20 (Spring)
April 15 (Summer)

The university makes decisions on a rolling basis and reviews applications when completed, with decisions issued in about seven days.

A UT Tyler faculty member pointing to a computer screen over a student's shoulder

What to Expect

Hear from faculty, students and alumni about how the unique UT Tyler online experience delivers on career preparation and opens the doors to job opportunities.

Alumni Spotlight

Through UT Tyler’s HRD MS program, I connected with faculty who supported and encouraged me. That experience led me to apply for the HRD Ph.D. program and its unique cohort concept. In the cohort concept, you are part of a small group of students that work as a team. This allows you to create a bond with other students and commit to each other's success.

Kelly Moore, MS in Human Resource Development, 2021