Human Capital Development PhD

Overview

The School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Professional Development offers the Doctor of Philosophy in Human Capital Development. The Human Capital Development doctoral program focuses on human capital development through the transfer of research to practice. By developing critical research competencies, professionals are positioned to ask the right questions and help organization leaders make critical decisions about human capital investments. By applying research in the workplace, professionals improve their capacity for driving an organization’s human capital strategy. The Gulf Coast program draws on real-world experience and encourages professionals to engage in research and practice meaningful to their organization. The executive format combines 3-to-5 day, face-to-face courses with online instruction. Faculty and industry experts facilitate a think-tank learning environment where creativity flourishes and students engage with the best minds in human capital development.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the Admission Requirements and Procedures , the minimum standards for regular admission are as follows:

1. The application must present evidence, by official transcript, of a grade point average of at least 3.5 (calculated on a 4.0 scale) on previous graduate coursework to Southern Miss.
2. The applicant must have competitive official GRE, GMAT, Praxis, MCAT or LSAT scores (all sections) (<10 years old) submitted to Southern Miss. The applicant may be granted a waiver for standardized test scores if he or she can provide evidence of five or more years or relevant and progressive work experience, military experience, or distinguished performance/awards. Students whose native language is not English must meet the university’s minimum requirements of TOEFL or IELTS score.
3. The applicant must submit current resume or curriculum vitae (CV) via the online application.
4. The applicant must have at least three letters of recommendation submitted from persons (e.g. direct supervisors or academic faculty members) who are qualified to assess the applicant’s readiness for graduate work.
5. The applicant must submit a Statement of Qualification (SOQ) specifying areas of interest and career goals. The statement should address the following: reasons this graduate program was chosen, how the applicant plans to relate the specialty area to his or her education and experience, expected career benefits from this program, and any other matters that should be taken into consideration. The SOQ should be 3-5 pages, double-spaced.

Program Requirements and Academic Policies

1. A minimum of fifty-four (54) graduate hours beyond the master’s degree with a 3.0 is required to graduate.
2. Students must meet the general requirements set forth by the Graduate School of The University of Southern Mississippi.
3. Additional requirements include the satisfactory completion of a written comprehensive examination, and the satisfactory completion and oral defense of an original research dissertation.
4. Coursework for the Human Capital Development Ph.D. program includes the completion of a General Core (12 semester hours), Research Core (27 semesters hours), and Electives (15 semester hours).
5. Please refer to the Doctoral Degree Requirements section of the Bulletin.

See General Degree Requirements  and General Academic Information  for other requirements and policies 

Course Requirements (54 hours)