School of Professional Studies

Master's of Professional Studies | Training & Development
Course Requirements & Descriptions

Training & Development Degree 30 Hours

12 Hours Core Courses:  

• PRST 6100 - Professional Environment Issues and Ethics (3)
  Overview of ethics in general, with practical tools for assessing ethical dimensions of professional life, diagnosing or identifying the moral issues at hand, and then developing reasonable options to address particular moral and ethical issues.
• PRST 6110 - Leadership and Communication (3)
  This course focuses on leadership as a function of communication behavior. Through discussion, cases and exercises, participants will explore effective communication strategies within an organizational setting. The course will cover team leadership skills, rhetorical sensitivity, charisma and practical suggestions for improving leadership effectiveness. 
• PRST 6300 - Research Methods (3)
  The student and application of research methods appropriate to professional studies. The course will provide a general introduction to research methods, as well as providing practical exposure to Problem Statements, Literature Reviews, Writing the Research Proposal, and Organization of the Research Report. Quantitative and Qualitative Research methodologies will be covered.
• PRST 6998 - Professional Project (3)
  Taken during the final semester of the program. Students should begin planning the project when they enter the program. Please consult with your advisor about appropriate topics and submit your proposal for approval prior to entering the final project course.
  The Professional Project is the last requirement for the MPS Degree, serving as the integrative culmination of the program of study. It should be a substantial piece of independent research or a significant professional project that is logically consistent with the theme and content of the program of study. Student’s work should demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of a body of professional literature related to a specific topic. The Project should grow out of the program of study and should demonstrate the student’s ability to use the knowledge gained from this program of study.
   

  Choose 15 Concentration/Certificate Hours:

• PRST 6040 - Human Resources Management (3) 
  This course emphasizes the development of skills for dealing with selected aspects of human resource management. It aims to enhance the students’ ability to apply theoretical concepts and alternative approaches for dealing with common issues concerning the human side of the enterprise. The course is geared to serve the needs of line and staff administrators in supervisory positions. Thus, it strives to train students and facilitate the development of better understanding of human resources issues as they relate to other managerial functions, organizational behavior, and the ability of managers and the organization to achieve prescribed goals. 
  
  
• PRST 6105 - Project Planning and Scheduling (3) 
  Contemporary methods used in project planning and scheduling; emphasis on critical path method (CPM) with computer application; solution of actual problems stressed.
  
  
• PRST 6200 - Globalization and the Professions (3)
  The purpose of this course is to assess the impact of globalization on professional life. The course examines globalization as it relates to commerce, information flow, mass media, government, health care and education.
  
  
• PRST 6400 - Instructional Design for Training and Development (3)
  This course will provide a broad introduction to training and development as a field of study and practice. It is designed for training and development specialists as well as organizational leaders who are focused on continually improving human and organizational performance.
  
  
• PRST 6410 - Evaluation of Learning (3)
  This course covers the concepts and skills used in evaluation models, theories, and best practices for both profit and nonprofit organizations. The major components of the course cover two fundamental tasks of a training and development program. First, what happened in the training classroom with the instructors, learners and the course content?  Second, what is the effect of the overall training and development program as it connects with and supports the corporate initiatives, strategies, goals and objectives?
  
  
• PRST 6420 - Organizational Needs Analysis (3)
  The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the processes and techniques used to conduct an organizational analysis and then identify training needs in private and public organizations. This course is designed to build theoretical as well as practical knowledge and skills for employees who are not necessarily human resource professionals.
  
  
• PRST 6421 - Strategic Organizational Program (3) 
  Developing a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of strategic organizational program planning and evaluation with a focus on relevance of strategic planning, effective and efficient program delivery plans with formative and summative evaluations for intentional learning and practical application in the workplace. 
  
  
• PRST 6430 - Instructional Design for Electronic Training (3)
  This course will provide an overview of instructional design principles and best practices for implementing online training and professional development. The course will focus on using technology to facilitate development and delivery of training and professional development activities in a synchronous and asynchronous environment. It is designed for training and development specialist involved in support of the organizational mission.
  
  
• PRST 6440 - Engaging the Adult Online Learner (3)
  This course specifically addresses web-based learning environments with a particular focus on student engagement and interaction. Developing alternative means of training employees has become of greater interest to employers recently. E-training can give employers a mechanism for cutting costs, an alternative method for delivering training at any time and any place, a means for remediation of employee training, and an opportunity for employees to develop learning communities.
  
  
• PRST 6450 - Computer-Based Technologies for E-Training (PRST 6400 is a prerequisite) (3)
  This course teaches students the concepts for developing and maintaining just-in-time computer-based training materials and courses using various multimedia and authoring tools.
  
  
• PRST 6470 - Facilitation of Learning (3)
  This course is designed to prepare trainers to design and facilitate training programs that will work effectively and efficiently with adult learners. It will provide the necessary theory and experience to insure competent facilitation of learning. Students will plan and conduct training sessions and receive feedback on their style of facilitation.
  
  
• PRST 6800 - Organizational Skills and Development (3)
  Analysis of theory, practice and skills involved in leading organizational change, including: aligning change with the organizational strategy, understanding changes as part of a system, understanding the dynamics of and managing resistance to change, creating a vision to inspire others to become a part of the change process, the use of goal setting, feedback and incentives to promote change, and aligning individual’s roles to support change. The course will blend learning from the texts and skill building.
  
  
• PRST 6810 - Internship (3)
  Internships offer the student an opportunity to observe and work in a professional setting while gaining valuable “on the job training”. Internships for the Master of Professional Studies program should fit within the framework of the intern’s concentration area (Strategic Leadership, Human Resource Leadership, Training & Development or Healthcare Administration). The intern must complete ten hours of work per week for 15 weeks (one semester) to receive three hours of credit. Course objectives will be established by the instructor in collaboration with the intern and field supervisor for the internship. The field supervisor will coordinate the work of the intern and provide an evaluation at the conclusion of the internship while the instructor for the course will be responsible for assigning the final grade.
  
  
• PRST 6910 - Employer and Human Resources Law (3)
  This course provides an overview of legal issues affecting the administration of employment issues, human resource management and leadership. The course focuses on policies and laws that impact human resource decisions in organizations. The course content includes laws, regulations, and court decisions covering labor-management relations and other human resource issues. The course’s main purpose is to instruct the human resources manager as well as the pre-service student about the field and practice of employment and human resource law. Employment contracts, how the law defines an employee and the significance of the distinction between employee, worker and self-employed individual will be covered. Particular attention will be paid to the substance and significance of the employment contract as well as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act as it applies to employment. This course will emphasize the application of theoretical knowledge discussed in class lectures to “real world” situations and events through the use of news accounts, case study analyses or other activities. The student will be expected to demonstrate her/his knowledge of human resources and employment law through various readings and written exercises.
  
  
• PRST 6920 - Diversity in the Workplace (3)
  This course examines the impact of diversity, culture, and ethnic origin on the work experience and is designed to better prepare individuals to meet the challenge of cultural diversity in organizations. Attention is given to how language, gender, race, tradition, education, economic structure, and organizational philosophy interact to create a set of rules for acceptable behaviors in complex organizations. Course activities include group discussion of the text, essays, online presentations and exams.
  
  

  Elective (3):

  Choose any PRST 6000 course or course approved by advisor.