Accelerated Bachelor Degree Completion Program in Human Resource Development

Updated on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 11:31 AM

Accelerated bachelor's degree completion for working adults

What is Human Resource Development? Improving workforce performance

Online program at $192 per credit hour (2009-10 school year)

Web-based Master of Education also available

The Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.E.) degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville (U of A) with a major in Human Resource Development (HRD) is more affordable than the highly-advertised private or out-of-state Internet-based universities. Tuition for the 2009 school year is $192 per credit hour (resident undergraduate tuition of $167 per hr + $25 per hr off-campus fee). Financial aid is available for those who qualify. A limited number of U of A scholarships and College of Education and Health Professions scholarships are available for students meeting the criteria.

Web-based classes allow academics to be balanced with the demands of family and work life. HRD Professional courses are taken by a fixed group of students called a cohort in a set rotation to facilitate mutual encouragement and support. A student-instructor ratio of about 20-1 creates an environment for interaction and learning. Credit for job knowledge and professional certifications can accelerate completion of a marketable bachelor's degree from the flagship campus of higher education in Arkansas.

HRD curriculum uncovers the “people” skills and effective strategies leaders use to facilitate improvements in workforce performance beneficial to individuals, teams, and organizations. These skills are ideal for many career and leadership positions. Undergraduates also obtain a solid academic base to pursue graduate studies.

Historically, about two out of every three Arkansans who started college didn't finish within five years and went into the work force. The HRD program is specifically designed for these working adults needing to complete a bachelor's degree that opens the doors to opportunity and personal growth. Full-time working adults with as few as 43 hours total of general education requirements and five years of full-time work history can qualify to bid for an available space in the next HRD cohort that starts each fall semester.

Completing the HRD program of study awards the B.S.E. from the U of A, but does NOT lead to traditional licensure for teachers in Arkansas. More information about teacher licensure requirements is available from the teacher licensure checklist or the Arkansas Department of Education at 501-682-4342.

Readiness requirements for HRDV classes:

Be currently working full time
Have at least five years of full-time work experience
Have at least 43 college credits graded "C" or better of General Education requirements in the HRDV program of study

Get the process started...

In addition to meeting d departmental requirements, full admission to the U of A and completion of the online Off-Campus Orientation Course are required to take HRDV classes. Distant students are advised to have their readiness reviewed before applying for admission. Start by submitting an Unofficial Document Review request form (Adobe Acrobat Reader required). An alternative Portable Network Graphics (PNG) version, printable through your Web browser, is also available. Fill out and send in the form as early as possible to get a no-cost, no-obligation review of your readiness to complete your degree. A cover letter, résumé, and readable transcript showing the college courses, credit hours, and grades should be attached. We can reached by phone at (479) 575-4709, by fax at (479) 575-3767, or by e-mail at hrd@uark.edu

Candidates who are ready will be invited to commit to the next available cohort. Those responding will be given due dates to gain admission to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. If no space is available, candidates will be added to a waiting list.

After admission, cohort-ready candidates must then complete the online HRDV Off-Campus Orientation course and obtain textbooks by the start of the semester. Other routine student obligations must be completed by their respective due dates.

Additional facts about the HRD Major:

HRDV classes cost $192 per credit hour (Arkansas resident undergraduate tuition of $167 per hr + $25 per hr off-campus fee) in the 2009 academic year (tuition expected to increase annually).
Financial aid is available to students who qualify. Students admitted by February for the following fall semester might qualify for specific U of A and/or College of Education and Health Professions scholarships
Students completing the HRD program of study have their name added to the historic "Senior Walk" on the Fayetteville campus after graduation
Eight HRD cohort courses are offered in a set rotation spanning two fall and two spring semesters only. New students may enter a cohort only at the beginning in the fall. Starting in fall 2008, HRD Professional courses each semester are Web-based.
One cohort weekend conference each fall and spring semester is expected to involve travel to Fayetteville
All HRDV courses are delivered over the Internet; accessed at the student's convenience by due dates posted across a normal semester schedule. A minimum of five additional online non-cohort HRDV classes complete degree requirements.
All HRD students have an academic advisor to develop an individualized plan of study to complete all degree requirements
Up to 68 hours of lower-division credit can transfer to the U of A. Until senior status is reached, all upper-division (junior or senior) credit that relates to the occupational goal can transfer. Transfer course work must generally be from an accredited institution of higher learning and have a grade of "C" or higher.

Please browse the Frequently-Asked Questions and the HRD Plan of Study for more details.