Undergraduate Questions:

1. What classes should I take first?
2. Can I complete the undergraduate program on a part-time basis?
3. Would I have an advisor?
4. What is the internship?
5. What would be some possible minors to combine with a degree in HRD?

Graduate Questions:

1. What kinds of jobs could I get in this field?
2. What is candidacy?
3. What is the Practicum?
4. What is the Comprehensive Exam?
5.  How quickly can I finish the Master's Degree program?

1. What classes should I take first?

The first class to take is HRD 300 (Principles and practices of HRD). If you want to take a second class, you can take HRD 301 (Adult teaching/learning process) at the same time. These two classes are the prerequisites for just about every other class and are required for both HRD majors and minors. In addition, HRD 300 will introduce you to the HRD field and to our program, which can be helpful if you aren't sure that HRD is the major for you.  return to top

Yes. In fact, many of our students are taking classes on a part-time basis. To make it easy for students who are working, all of our classes are offered in the evenings at least once during the year, though not necessarily every semester.   return to top

Yes. Dr. Truty is the advisor for HRD undergraduate students. Anyone who has questions about the HRD undergraduate program should contact her by telephone (773/442-4554), email (d-truty@neiu.edu), or in person (Room 3019 in the Classroom Building). Dr. Truty can explain the requirements for the HRD major, help you complete any needed paperwork, talk with you about what classes to take and when, and help you monitor your progress toward your HRD degree.  return to top 

The internship (HRD 329) is the last class you would take as an HRD major. It's a 9 credit   hour course that is intended to help you make the transition from school to a job by offering you an opportunity to apply what you have learned in your HRD classes to a real project that meets a real need for a real organization. As an intern, you would work on a project for a sponsoring organization, with supervision from an HRD professional at the sponsoring organization and one of our HRD instructors. Students find their own internships, so no two internships are exactly alike. As examples of this variety, recent internships have included:
        · Development of a safety tutorial for a museum .
        · Development of a policies and procedures manual for a travel 
             company 
        · Development of a new hire orientation program for a toy store 
        · Development and evaluation of new customer services for an
             entertainment business.
The details of these internships differ. However, what they have in common is: interns did real work, received a lot of guidance and support, and  produced something they could show others as an example of their HRD skills. return to top 

5. What would be some possible minors to combine with a degree in HRD? 

        The most common minors are communication and psychology. But you can 
        minor in whatever you want. We have had students with minors in, among 
        other things, criminal justice, art, management, computer science, and
        history. The best thing to do is to think about your career goals and minor in 
        something that will help you reach those goals. return to top
 

Graduate Answers: 

1. What kinds of jobs could I get in this field? 

The range of jobs in the field vary from working in or managing a training department(s), to working as an HR generalist on working in management. Industries range from financial and pharmaceutical, academics and government.  return to top 

2. What is candidacy? 

Candidacy is full acceptance into graduate status and should be applied for after completing 12 hours of graduate course work.  Detailed information can be found at www.neiu.edu/~hrd/studagre.htm.    return to top 

The Practicum is an on-site field experience where students demonstrate their knowledge and skills by identifying a project and spending a minumum of 100 hours working on this project.  They may be negotiated at either your own work site or elsewhere.  The Practicum (HRD 416) is taught concurrently with the Seminar in HRD (HRD 415).  Students need to identify a sponsor for the program.  Detailed information can be found at ww.neiu.edu/~hrd/specreq.htm.  Application form can be found at www.neiu.edu/~hrd/practic.htm.  return to top 

The Comprehensive Exam is administered at the end of the HRD Master of Arts program.  All students have to pass the exam in order to graduate.  This exam is given three times a year (September, February, and June).  It consists of both an in-class exam as well as a take-home exam.  Detailed information can be found at www.neiu.edu/~hrd/specreq.htm.  return to top

Students can complete the HRD program in two years if they begin in the Fall semester.  In order to do so, they must take two courses each term specified by their advisor.  Usually students complete the program in two and one-half to three years. Since courses are not offered each term, it is necessary to plan a course of study with your advisor. return to top