Human Resources: Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (M.S.O.L.)

Program Description

The Human Resources track of the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership program will prepare professionals to develop and implement HR planning, recruiting, training, compensation, benefits, performance management and disciplinary systems in a legal and ethical fashion. The track will academically prepare students to pass the Professional and Senior Professional in Human Resources (PHR & SPHR) exams. The MSOL Human Resources track is aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management's HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates.

The MSOL is a 36-hour program, requiring a student to complete 12 graduate courses. Full-time students can complete the program in four semesters. All MSOL classes are taught in the evening. The program can be adapted for students who wish to attend part-time and complete the program within 18-24 months.

You can view the MSOL degree sheet here.

Admission Requirements

Beyond the general graduate program requirements, the MSOL degree program also has the following additional requirements:

• Students must have a minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA.
• Both GMAT and GRE tests are accepted. For consideration, students must obtain a minimum 450 on the GMAT or 960 on the GRE. A small number of students who do not meet the minimum requirements may be considered for provisional admission to the program.
• Students must submit a current resume.
• Students must submit at least two, with no more than three letters of recommendation from professional sources such as current for former employers, faculty, or business associates. Please use the recommendation form (DOC) provided.

Online Options

Career Opportunities

For the HR track, career options include, but are not limited to: HR manager, Recruiter, Interviewer, Benefits Specialist, Trainer, Compensation, Employee Development, Diversity management, EEO compliance, OSHA compliance, Industrial Relations specialist/manager, career development, Selection specialist/manager, Job Analysis specialist, Work/Life managers and much more.

Faculty

Requirements for Graduation

This degree is subjected to the following requirements and conditions:

• Up to six hours of transfer credit may be accepted from an AACSB accredited institution.
• All students must complete the common core for the degree.
• A minimum B average in core courses, with no more than two C's, is required for degree completion.
• Students have a maximum of six years from the first term of enrollment to complete all MSOL degree requirements.

Program Requirements

MSOL 6000.  MSOL Professional Exit Requirement (0-0-0) This course requires graduating MSOL students to take the MSOL Exit Exam in their last semester. Open only to MSOL students. Requires approval of the Dean.

MSOL 6115.  Organizational Behavior and Leadership (3-0-3) Leadership and organizational behavior theories and applications will be examined. Included are both the classical and contemporary theories of leadership, as well as coverage of organizational behavior topics including motivation, stress, groups, among others.

MSOL 6125.  Negotiations and Conflict Resolution (3-0-3) This is an applied knowledge course in which participants learn basic and advanced techniques of negotiations, and conflict management. Active learning activities such as role play and mock negotiations are used.

MSOL 6135.  Contemporary Economics and Finance for Leaders (3-0-3) This course covers the application of select topics in micro economics, macro economics, labor economics and basic finance. The focus is on the application of these concepts to business and community leadership roles.

MSOL 6145.  Global Management (3-0-3) An examination of international leadership topics including cultural differences at both the micro and macro levels, and the impact that global cultural differences have on the practice of leading and managing.

MSOL 6155.  Strategic Leadership and Change Management (3-0-3) This course focuses on issues such as strategic vision, the development of mission and mission statements, organizational theory, organizational learning, planning strategically envisioning and realizing possibility, policy and strategy formulation, corporate social responsibility, organizational change, resistance to change and succession planning.

Human Resources Track

MSHR 6698.  Graduate Internship in Human Resource Management (0-0-{1-3}) This course is an internship in the HRM field. Field experiences will be augmented by an end of semester project that ties the experiences to academic HR concepts. Candidate must present a minimum 1500-word written proposal through the instructor and the Department Chair to the office of the Dean for approval. (Course Fee Required)

MSHR 6116.  Human Resource Management (3-0-3) An examination of topics in human resource management, to encompass the broad scope of HR planning, staffing, training, HR law, EEO issues and other topics in human resource management.

MSHR 6126.  Recruiting and Selection (3-0-3) A focused topic course that provides detailed instruction and application of tools used for the recruiting, hiring and deployment of employees. Includes an examination of issues related to validity and reliability of screening tools.

MSHR 6136.  Employee Development (3-0-3) A focused topic course that that provides detailed instruction and application of tools used for the needs assessment, design and implementation of training and development programs. Includes an examination of outcomes assessment.

MSHR 6146.  Performance Management and Compensation (3-0-3) A focused topic course that that provides detailed instruction and application of tools used for the design and implementation of performance evaluation systems. Also focuses on the various issues related to pay and benefits packages and the strategic use of them to build competitive advantage.

MSHR 6156.  Labor Relations (3-0-3) An examination of the process of negotiations between employees and management. The majority of the course will look at the laws, practices and policies within the unionized sector of the economy. However, topics in non-union employee relations will also be covered, including workplace justice, alternative dispute resolution and grievance procedures.

The basic undergraduate core classes and the MSOL degree requirements are located in the academic catalog.

Accreditation

The Turner College of Business and Computer Science is professionally accredited through The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. As an accredited member of the AACSB international, our college offers programs that achieve their distinction for high quality through an interdisciplinary curriculum providing students with a broad understanding of business and its role in society.

Additional Information

For additional information about the program and admission at CSU, contact:

Sonya Boadu, Director of Student Services & Coordinator of Graduate Programs: (706) 507-8079 or boadu_sonya@columbusstate.edu

Bethany Yandell, Recruitment Coordinator: (706) 507-8186 or yandell_bethany@columbusstate.edu

Dr. Neal  Thomson, Director of MSOL program: (706) 507-8156 or thomson_neal@columbusstate.edu

Graduate Academic Regulations
Registration Graduate Assistantships Study Loads Class Attendance and Withdrawal Grades and Grade Point Averages	Course Eligibility Repetition of Courses Academic Misconduct Academic Standing Residence and Time Limits Graduation
Graduate Admission
General Requirements Classification of Students Transfer Credit	Readmission Requirements International Students Residency Requirements