Graduate

Program Requirements

Program Requirements

A minimum of 39 credits at the 400, 500, 600, or 800 level is required with at least 18 credits in the 500 and 600 series. A minimum of 12 credits in course work (400, 500, and 800 series) must be completed in HRER. If the student chooses to write a thesis, at least 6 credits in thesis research (HRER 600) must be completed. The thesis must be accepted by the advisers and/or committee members, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School, and the student must pass a thesis defense. If the student chooses the capstone track, at least 18 credits must be in 500-level courses.

For the degree, an overall 3.00 (B) grade-point average must be earned in the 400, 500, and 800-level courses, and a grade of B or above must be earned in all 500-level courses. Required courses are offered once per academic year and elective courses at least once every two academic years.

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 599 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate are courses numbered between 400 and 499. They may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up for deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

As of fall 2019, there are three possible routes through the M.S. in HRER program:

  • Base Program

  • Human Resources (HR) Option

  • Employment Relations (ER) Option

Core Courses – all routes (18 credits)

  • HRER 501(3)
  • HRER 502(3)
  • HRER 504(3)
  • HRER 505(3)
  • HRER 512(3)
  • HRER 825(3)

Required courses are offered once per academic year and elective courses at least once every two academic years.

Human Resources and Employment Relations (Base Program)

Core Courses (12 credits)

  • LHR 480(3)
  • LHR 437(3)
  • HRER 536(3)
  • HRER 523(3)

Elective Courses (3-6 credits)

Students who choose the capstone track must select 6 credits from an approved elective list in consultation with their adviser in addition to the capstone course, HRER 588. Students choosing the thesis track must select 3 credits from an approved elective list in consultation with their adviser in addition to the 6 credits of thesis research (HRER 600).

Human Resources and Employment Relations (HR Option)

Core Courses (12 credits)

  • HRER 527(3)
  • HRER 503(3)
  • HRER 526(3)
  • HRER 824(3)

Elective Courses (3-6 credits)

Students who choose the capstone track must select 6 credits from an approved elective list in consultation with their adviser in addition to the capstone course, HRER 588. Students choosing the thesis track must select 3 credits from an approved elective list in consultation with their adviser in addition to the 6 credits of thesis research (HRER 600).

Human Resources and Employment Relations (ER Option)

Core Courses (12 credits)

  • HRER 500(3)

  • LHR 401(3)

Students must choose a further 6 credits from the following list of courses:

  • LHR 468(3)
  • LHR 435(3)
  • LHR 475H(3)
  • LGWR 510(3)
  • LGWR 520(3)

Elective Courses (3-6 credits)

Students who choose the capstone track must select 6 credits from an approved elective list in consultation with their adviser in addition to the capstone course, HRER 588. Students choosing the thesis track must select 3 credits from an approved elective list in consultation with their adviser in addition to the 6 credits of thesis research (HRER 600).

CAPSTONE TRACK

The HRER capstone track is intended for students anticipating professional employment beyond the master’s degree. If the student chooses the capstone track, at least 18 credits must be in 500-level courses.

THESIS TRACK

The HRER thesis track is intended for students anticipating additional graduate education beyond the master’s degree. If the student chooses to write a thesis, at least 6 credits in thesis research (HRER 600) must be completed. The thesis must be accepted by the advisers and/or committee members, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School, and the student must pass a thesis defense.

SARI PROGRAM

The SARI program is designed to offer graduate students comprehensive, multilevel training in the responsible conduct of research, in a way that is tailored to address the issues faced by individual disciplines. The program is implemented by PSU colleges and graduate programs in a way that meets the particular needs of students in each unit. In general, SARI programs have two parts: an online program to be completed in the first year of graduate study, followed by five hours of discussion-based RCR education prior to degree completion.

The Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) program was launched in fall 2009 to provide graduate students with opportunities to identify, examine, and discuss ethical issues relevant to their disciplines. Several thousand students participated the first year, and ultimately every student receiving a master’s or doctoral degree from Penn State will have participated in this training.

The SARI@PSU program at Penn State utilizes online courses offered through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) program. Graduate Students can visit http://citi.psu.edu/ to complete the SARI requirement. This is a requirement when registered for the HRER 512 course.

Students who have successfully completed a CITI course (with a grade of 80% or higher) will receive a certificate at the end of the course. Please print your certificate to give to your Graduate Staff Assistant, Erin Hetzel.