5th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Education,

January 06-09, 2007, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

“A Study of Admission Requirements, Curricula, and Program Requirements of Ph.D. Programs in Human Resource

Development/Similar Fields at U.S. Universities”

by

Vichet Sum, M.M.S, M.T.D, PH.D. (in process)http://www.vichetsum.com

[ Outline ]

Abstract

Introduction

Highlight of Literature Review

Methodology

Findings

Conclusion and Recommendations Questions & Comments

[ Abstract ]

Admission requirements, curricula and program

requirements.

An important reference.

Ph.D. program development assistance.

[ Introduction ]

Strong demand for advanced degrees in HRD. (Gray, 1997)

Ph.D. program development.

HRD is a “bread and butter activity”. (Gray, 1997)

[ Introduction (Cont’d) ]

To collect crucial information regarding admission requirements, curricula, program requirements of Ph.D. programs in HRD/similar fields.

The Purpose of this Study

[ Introduction (Cont’d) ]

An important reference for the creation of the Ph.D. program in HRD/similar fields.

Significance of this Study

[ Introduction (Cont’d) ]

1. What are the current admission requirements for a Ph.D. program in HRD/similar fields?

Research Questions

2. What courses are offered in Ph.D. programs in HRD/similar fields?

3. What are the program requirements of Ph.D. programs in HRD/similar fields?

[ Introduction (Cont’d) ]

Limited to Ph.D. programs in HRD/similar fields from U.S universities that are currently offering a Ph.D. program in this field.

Delimitation

[ Introduction (Cont’d) ]

The universities’ websites may not contain all the information related to admission requirements, courses and program requirements.

Limitation

[ Highlight of Literature Review ]

Development of HRD programs. (Kuchinke, 2001; Gaudet & Vincent, 1993)

Offering of certificates and degrees in HRD. (Chalofsky & Larson-Dougherty, 1996)

Profiling professors of HRD. (Peterson and Provo, 1996)

Recent changes in HRD programs. (Milton, Watkins, Spears & Burch, 2000)

[ Highlight of Literature Review (Cont’d) ]

HRD curriculum development. (Hatcher, 1998; Gay, 1997; Willis & Kahnweiler, 1995; Baylen, Bailey, & Samardzija, 1996; Leach, 1993; Dare & Leach, 1999; Kuchinke, 2002)

HRD Definitions. (McLagan, 1989; Swanson, 1995; Watkins & Marsick, 1993; Kuchinke, 1999; McLean & Mclean, 2001)

History and Institutional Characteristics of HRD programs. (Kuchinke, 2002)

[ Methodology ]

Ph.D. programs in human resource development/workforce development, career development, organizational development, and/or training and development.

Target Population

Doctoral programs in HRD/similar fields in U.S. universities.

Sample

[ Methodology (Cont’d) ]

Purposive sampling is a non-probability method that follows specific criteria to collect information. (Cooper & Schindler, 1998)

Sampling Procedure

Data Collection

- 14 Ph.D. programs were examined and considered.

- University Websites were accessed and scanned.- Selection criteria were degree title and program name.

[ Methodology (Cont’d) ]

http://www.hre.uiuc.edu/ucwhre (The University Council for Workforce and Human Resource Education) andhttp://www.gradschools.com.

Data Source

Data Analysis

- Conceptual content analysis. (Krippendoft, 1980; Palmquist, Carley, & Dale, 1997)

- Summarization of important data in each of the programs examined. (Stewart & Shamdasani, 1990)

[ Findings ]

- Barry University (BU)- Boston University (BOU)- Colorado State University (CSU)- Florida International University (FIU) - George Washington University (GWU)- Georgia State University (GSU)- Ohio State University (OSU)- Pennsylvania State University (PSU)- Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC)- University of Georgia (UG)- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UI)- University of Louisville (UL), - University of Minnesota (UM),- University of North Texas (UNT)

Fourteen Universities:

[ Findings (Cont’d) ]

Admission Requirements (Table 1)

[ Findings (Cont’d) ]

Curricula

Number of Core Courses

Universities Number of Core Courses

PSU 10

BU and UM 9

GSU, SIUC, and UNT 7

FIU and GWU 6

BOU, CSU, OSU, UI, and UL 5

UG 4

[ Findings (Cont’d) ]

Curricula

Number of Research CoursesUniversities Number of Research Courses

GWU and UG 6

BU, CSU, GSU, OSU, UL, UM, and UNT 5

BOU and UI 4

FIU 3

PSU and SIUC 2

[ Findings (Cont’d) ]

Curricula

Number of Elective CoursesUniversities Number of Elective Courses

UI 38UM 28UL and UNT 21GWU 18SIUC 17CSU and GSU 15BU and FIU 12UG 9BOU, OSU and PSU N/A

[Findings (Cont’d) ]

Common Attributes of Required Courses

[ Findings (Cont’d) ]

Program Requirements (Table 4)

[ Conclusion and Recommendations ]

Similar admission requirements among the universities.

An institution can study and assess these criteria to determine admission requirements for its Ph.D. program in HRD.

[ Conclusion and Recommendations (Cont’d) ]

Development of Ph.D. program of study based on the attributes of human resource development/similar category, educational theories/philosophy organizational studies, research methods, and statistics.

Table 4 shows program requirement criteria at the universities.

An institution can adopt these criteria in developing its Ph.D. program requirements.

[ Conclusion and Recommendations (Cont’d) ]

A few directions for future study include:

1. The development of an accrediting agency for the HRD field.

2. The impact of admission requirements on applicants’ success in the Ph.D. program in HRD.

3. The comparison, effectiveness and accountability of programs of study in a Ph.D. program in HRD.

4. The challenges of the development and creation of a Ph.D. program in HRD.

Thank You!Questions