Master’s in HR at UofL goes global! Program now offered in Panama

The Master of Science in Human Resources and Organization Development (MS HROD) at University of Louisville is expanding its reach and answering the demand for high-quality HR education across the United States and abroad.

This strategic development will have a positive impact on the program recognition and will provide more learning opportunities for all graduate students in the program, whether they are in Louisville, Kentucky, US, or in Latin America.

One of the expansion projects is the launch of an HR master’s program in Panama. Graduate students in Panama now have the means to earn a master’s degree in human resources from the University of Louisville without leaving their home country. The program focuses on human resource leadership and has been approved by the Society for Human Resource Management.

The Organizational Leadership and Learning Program at UofL has launched a master’s degree in human resources and organization development for up to 30 Panamanians.  The classes will be offered at Panama City-based Quality Leadership University (QLU).

Rod Githens, who directs the program, said students in Panama won’t be the only ones who benefit from the agreement. “It also opens doors for our Louisville-based and online students,” Githens said. “They will have opportunities to network with piers and apply for internships and scholarships as part of the Panama partnership.”

College of Education and Human Development Dean Blake Haselton signed an agreement in 2012 with QLU President Oscar Leon to offer the program. As part of the agreement, some UofL faculty will teach and conduct research at QLU as faculty residents.

The Latin American country has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, serving as a hub for logistics and for international companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Proctor & Gamble, LG and Caterpillar, Inc. Leon said the UofL degree will be the first human resources master’s program in Panama and will provide much needed specialized education to current and future HR professionals.       

Githens said the degree will be offered in an “executive format,” which means students will do the coursework in intensive face-to-face residencies and complete other coursework online. The online component uses live conferencing sessions for all students and one-on-one mentoring sessions with faculty.

For more information about the MS HROD, visit our program page http://louisville.edu/education/degrees/ms-hrod-hrl or contact Rod Githens at 502-852-0618 or rod.githens@louisville.edu.