Human resources and organizational development are similar but have different functions and focus related to the overall goal of human and organizational development.
The function of human resources professionals is to handle employee processes, including employee engagement, training and separation. Hiring, onboarding, firing, recruitment and employment-related governmental compliance are key elements of this role.
The function of organizational development professionals is to foster organizational change, growth and development initiatives, ensuring that an organization progresses. Change management and leadership, professional development, team development and talent management and development are key elements of this role.
Boise State University’s online Master of Science in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL) prepares you to engineer inclusive learning experiences and performance solutions informed by evidence so organizations can best address the individual, team and organizational challenges of human and organizational development.
The OPWL program provides human resources and talent development professionals with specific knowledge and skills for facilitating employee growth through instructional interventions, like training and e-learning, as well as non-instructional interventions, like mentoring, communication, facilitation and informal learning, along with overall performance improvement.
Focusing on the talent development portion of human resources functions, the OPWL program prepares you to thrive in a human and organizational development role.
As a student in the program, you will have portfolio-worthy assignments in each course, allowing you to use your portfolio as you grow in your career or as part of your application materials when changing roles.
Tailor your learning
There are four OPWL certificates to help you customize your learning experience. You can complete any certificate as part of your master’s degree or as stand-alone certificates. They are:
- Graduate Certificate in Organizational Development: Provides you with the insight to enhance organizational learning and performance, understand leadership’s impact on workplace culture and systems and facilitate effective change management for greater human and organizational development.
- Graduate Certificate in Workplace Instructional Design: Equips you with the knowledge and skills to create instructional programs. You will be able to design, develop and deliver learning programs for business and industry, government agencies, the military and nonprofit organizations.
- Graduate Certificate in Workplace E-Learning Design and Development: Learn to design, develop and manage e-learning in the workplace to provide more effective human and organizational development.
- Graduate Certificate in Workplace Performance Improvement: Develop the skills needed to diagnose and solve performance problems in the workplace, with an emphasis on the practical application of process models, tools and techniques to workplace performance improvement scenarios.
With fully-online coursework, industry-reflective curriculum and a caring and passionate faculty and staff, the OPWL is dedicated to helping you succeed and pursue a meaningful career.
As a graduate, you will have a high-quality master’s degree, a robust portfolio, research and development experience, a broad professional network and on-the-job experience from internships to springboard you to success in human and organizational development.
The OPWL program believes in the power of collaborating with others through trust, empathy and partnership to achieve shared goals. Although human resources and organizational development differ, the program gives you the tools to meet their common goals of employee engagement, workforce development and business development.
Learn more about the OPWL program
Earning an online Master of Science in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning from Boise State University can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online degree is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.
Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.