Course Description:

This three-credit course will be the culmination of the student's academic and professional experience in the MPS program. The Capstone is an individual project that is comparable to a Master's thesis at many institutions. The problems will be drawn from the concentrations of International Human Resources Management, Diversity and Inclusion or Strategic Human Capital Management. A typical Capstone deliverable contains a thorough examination of a problem's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. It also includes a competitive analysis and an anticipation of industry trends. Finally, the deliverable will incorporate multiple references from the academic and business press, all of which must be appropriately cited. An example of a report outline and project schedule can be found in the Capstone information packet students receive during their initial Capstone meeting.

The bulk of the written document should focus on specific recommendations for addressing the core strategic issue. Each of these recommendations should be based upon solid justifications grounded in relevant research and the knowledge students gained during the MPS pogram. The final document must be of the highest professional standard.

Students will learn how to design a research proposal, how to define with specificity and particularity, objectives of research, how to conduct literature reviews and how to assess and implement appropriate research methods based on the needs of the project. The course covers both qualitative methods such as case studies, questionnaires, surveys and interview techniques and an introduction to quantitative methods and data analysis. The faculty advisor will work closely with the student and the sponsoring organization to ensure that the project comprehensively addresses the issue and demonstrates the depth of competency the student gained through the MPS program.

A minimum grade of "B" (3.00) or higher is required of students in the MPHR Capstone to graduate regardless of their cumulative GPA.