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Program Description

The Adult Learning and Organizational Performance (ALOP) graduate degree program is designed for students who wish to advance their education and career in the human resource development and performance sectors of profit and nonprofit organizations. Students can complete a one or two program emphasis within the degree program in Training & Development, Leadership, Human Resource Management, and Higher Education. Drake has also partnered with two universities that offer coursework in Information and Learning Technologies. Up to twelve credit hours can be transferred into this degree program. Our students range from those who are currently working or aspiring to work as trainers, educators, program/project administrators, human resource managers, human performance improvement specialists, higher education student personnel administrators, and other organizational leaders. We invite you to consider this degree program and hope you will contact either Dr. Tom Westbrook via email thomas.westbrook@drake.edu - phone (515-271-3078), or Dr. Robin Lindbeck via email robin.lindbeck@drake.edu - phone (515-271-4701).

•Program Highlights

Weekend classes (Friday 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) with each class meeting one weekend per credit hour with at least two weekends between each class period. So a three credit hour class will meet three weekends with at least two weekends between class periods.

Courses offered on-campus in Des Moines and in Omaha (as cohort).

Faculty are full and part-time professors who are active practitioners in their field.

No thesis or comprehensive examination.

One-third of the total credit hours required for the master's degree or concentration may be transferred from approved graduate credit.
Tuition for the 2007/2008 academic year is $370.00 per credit hour. The Technology Fee is $40.00 per semester and summer session. Check with your employer for tuition assistance. Also check with the Drake financial aid office for other options.

You can "test the waters" by completing coursework before being formally accepted into the program with all credits counting toward the degree or concentration.

Formal acceptance into the program requires completion of graduate application, submission of transcripts, resume, the successful completion of the School of Education writing assessment (or you can submit a standardized exam such as the MAT, GRE, or GMAT) and two letters of recommendation.

•Degree Requirements

Candidates for the Master of Science in Adult Learning and Organizational Performance complete 36 credit hours of coursework. Most students complete the degree program in about two calendar years. To complete the degree program at this pace will require you to complete 6 credit hours for six terms (fall, spring, summer). All coursework can be completed with weekend and on-line classes.

Four program emphases are offered within the degree program with students able to complete one or two program emphases.

The Emphasis in Leadership within the Master of Science in Adult Learning and Organizational Performance is offered for human resource development specialists and other leaders employed in not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. The purpose is to provide a focused area of study to enhance one’s knowledge base and skill level in leadership. This will be accomplished through a curriculum that blends the study of leadership from a theoretical and practical perspective. The overall goal is to develop individuals who have a greater understanding of the responsibility of leadership and who are prepared to lead in the service of their organization and community.

The Emphasis in Training & Development provides a theoretical and application-based focus on how to assess, design, deliver, and evaluate adult education/ organizational learning. The concentration will be valuable to those in or aspiring to gain positions with all learning aspects (training and development) of organizations.

The Emphasis in Human Resources Development is offered for human resource specialists who desire or are employed in not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. The purpose is to provide a focused area of study to enhance one’s knowledge base and skill level of human resources management. This emphasis will aid the current program by adding an HRM component to the adult learning and organization performance focus of the core. The emphasis will be attractive to those in or aspiring to gain positions with HRM in small to large sized profit and not-for-profit companies.

The Emphasis in Higher Education is offered for those students wanting a focused coursework in the student development area of higher education administration. The purpose of the emphasis is to provide both theoretical and practical experiences in student personnel administration.

Click here  for the requirements of the program emphases within the Master of Science in Adult Learning and Organizational Performance.

The Emphasis in Information and Learning Technologies is offered in cooperation with the University of Colorado - Denver or the University of Indiana at Bloomington and provides a focused area of study to enhance one’s knowledge base and skill level of information and learning technologies. This concentration will complement the existing ALOP coursework by adding a strong technology component to the more HRD focus of the ALOP program. This concentration will be attractive to those in or aspiring to gain positions in instructional technology and web-based instructional design positions in corporations and higher education institutions.

Each of these technology concentrations have specific requirements. Follow this link to see required courses.

For more information see: http://thunder1.cudenver.edu/ilt/elearning/programs/dee_certificate.htm/
or http://www.indiana.edu/~istde/

Concentrations in Training & Development and Leadership Beyond the Master’s Degree: Concentrations in Training & Development and in Leadership are available for students who have already earned a master’s degree in another subject and who want to continue their learning. These 15-credit hour, focused study areas are designed to provide a theoretical background and practical experience in the areas of Leadership or in Training & Development. Students who complete the Concentration in Training & Development and Leadership will receive this designation on their official Drake University transcript.

 Students who complete the Concentration in Training & Development and Leadership will receive this designation on their official Drake University transcript.

Click here for the requirements of the requirements for the Concentrations in Training & Development and Leadership.

•Application Process

You may start your program in one of two ways. The first way is to simply enroll in the classes listed. All courses are graduate level and require students to have completed an undergraduate degree. This first option is helpful for those wanting to "test the water" about graduate study or their interest in this degree program. You will be required to apply for admission by the time you have completed 12 credit hours of the master's degree and two classes in the concentration.

The second way to start the program is to apply for admission and be admitted to the degree program or concentration. All students interested in earning the master's degree or concentration must complete all application processes. For detailed application information go to: http://www.drake.edu/admission/graduate/requirements/soe.php

For more information about our graduate degree program, please contact Dr. Thomas Westbrook at thomas.westbrook@drake.edu - phone
(515-271-3078), or Dr. Robin Lindbeck at robin.lindbeck@drake.edu - phone (515-271-4701).