Application Process

Prospective students will submit their application materials to Bisk Education/University Alliance. Once all required documentation has been received, Bisk will forward the complete application package to Villanova’s Program Administrator, who will submit the application to the Academic Advisory Committee for review. Refer to the Admissions Requirements page for additional information.

Graduation Requirements

MS in Human Resource Development

  • Students must complete eight graduate-level human resource courses and two graduate-level organizational psychology courses, for a total of 30 credit hours
  • Graduate students may enroll in no more than two courses (6 credit hours) per term
  • Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher to be approved for graduation
  • All degree candidates must successfully complete either a comprehensive exam or the PHR® or SPHR® certification exam to graduate

Students who expect to graduate at the end of their next term must submit an application for graduation to the Program Administrator before the beginning of that term. All academic requirements must be completed and processed before the date of graduation.

Upon completion of Villanova’s academic and graduation requirements, online students will earn their HR master’s degree and receive the same diploma as the university’s campus-based graduates. Villanova awards diplomas in May, September and December of each year.

Graduates of the online program are welcome to participate in the commencement ceremony, which is held on the Villanova University campus in May of each year.

Transfer Credits

Students who have completed graduate-level coursework at another accredited university may submit up to two courses (6 credit hours) for transfer credit consideration. Any course submitted for transfer credit must be equivalent to one of the required courses in Villanova’s master’s degree program, and the student must have earned a grade of “B” or higher. Transfer credit requests must be submitted at the same time as the student’s application to the graduate degree program. Students who do not qualify for matriculated status at the time of admission cannot be approved for transfer credits at that time.

Academic Requirements, Grades and Grading Policies

Students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA for all graduate-level courses. Grades are recorded at the end of each term as soon as they are posted by faculty. Students who require a printed grade report should contact the Office of the Registrar. Any inaccuracies should immediately be reported to the Registrar in writing.

Equivalent GPA ratings for each letter grade are as follows:

Grade GPA
A 4.00
A- 3.67
B+ 3.33
B 3.00
B- 2.67
C+ 2.33
C 2.00
C- 1.67
D+ 1.33
D 1.00
D- 0.67
F 0.00

Students are required to repeat any courses in which a grade of “F” has been issued.

Students with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 (or a letter grade below “B”) will not be approved for the final comprehensive exam or graduation. Those whose cumulative GPA falls below the required minimum may take up to 6 additional credit hours to try to raise their overall GPA to 3.0. If they are not successful in achieving a 3.0 cumulative GPA after completing the additional 6 credits, they will be dismissed from the graduate program. They may not appeal for reinstatement or re-apply to the program.

The Program Administrator will contact students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 and alert them to the conditions that must be met for them to remain in the program.

A grade of “N” represents “incomplete” and indicates the instructor has agreed to give the student an extension for completion of any remaining assignments. If the student does not complete and submit the remaining coursework within one month after the term has ended, the “N” grade will automatically convert to an “F” (failing) grade

A grade of “WX” signifies that the student was permitted to withdraw from the course without academic penalty. An approved withdrawal may be granted in cases such as a prolonged serious illness or significant employment difficulties, and requires official documentation.

Academic Integrity

Graduate students are expected to adhere to Villanova University’s policies and regulations. Please refer to the Villanova student handbook section on Academic Integrity for complete details. Students who exhibit dishonesty in any exam or assignment may receive a failing grade (“F”) for either the exam/assignment or for the entire course. Punishment for egregious cases may include suspension or dismissal from the graduate program.

Code of Conduct

In addition to maintaining a 3.0 GPA, Villanova graduate students must exhibit a consistently high level of professional behavior at all times. They must adhere to the values and principles of their chosen career field and treat all faculty, staff and fellow students with respect. Repeated or severe violations of reasonable performance expectations may result in dismissal from the university.

Course Materials

Students can order all required textbooks, study guides and other course materials through University Alliance and have them shipped directly to their address of record. Each student is assigned a program representative, who is available to assist with the enrollment and ordering processes and answer any questions the student may have.

Library Resources

Students enrolled in the online graduate program will have access to online library materials and services through Villanova’s Falvey Memorial Library. Available materials and services include electronic books, online reference sources, interlibrary loan services, electronic document delivery services, assistance from reference and research librarians, and more.

Full-Time and Part-Time Status

Graduate students enrolled in 6 credits per term are considered full-time, while those taking 3 credits per term are considered part-time.

Crossover Requests for Campus-Based and Online Degree Programs

Villanova University does not permit crossover program enrollments. Students accepted to the online graduate program will not receive credit for courses taken on campus, and students accepted to the ground-based program will not receive credit for courses taken online.

Transient/Visiting Students

Transient/visiting students are defined as those who wish to enroll in graduate-level courses but do not intend to pursue a degree from Villanova. The university does not permit transient or visiting students to enroll in online graduate classes.

Waiver Exams

Waiver exams are not administered for any course in Villanova’s online graduate program.

Adding or Withdrawing From a Course

Students are not permitted to add a course after the registration deadline has passed.

Students who wish to withdraw from a course may do so within the first seven days of class without penalty. After that date, students must submit a written petition to the Dean to request a withdrawal without academic penalty, which will result in a grade of “WX” (see Grading Policies). Only officially documented, substantive, non-academic reasons (such as a prolonged serious illness or significant employment difficulties) will be considered sufficient cause for a withdrawal without penalty. Any student who withdraws from a course without permission will receive a “W” grade (withdrawal with academic penalty), which is calculated as an “F” when computing the student’s cumulative GPA.

Withdrawing From the University

Students who wish to withdraw from Villanova University’s online graduate program must submit a written request to the Dean of Graduate Studies. Those who completely withdraw from the university may not resume their studies unless and until they have formally been readmitted to the program. Students who withdraw without approval will receive an “F” grade for any courses not completed at the time of withdrawal.

Procedures for Student Complaints and Appeals

Grade or Faculty Performance Complaints and Appeals: Complaints regarding a course grade or faculty performance (including an instructor’s classroom presentation, professional demeanor or course policies) should be addressed to the Program Administrator, who will submit the complaint to the Faculty Advisory Committee for review. Any student or faculty member unwilling to accept the decision of the Faculty Advisory Committee may appeal the decision by submitting a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate Studies within seven days of the decision. However, appeals will only be considered for material procedural defects on the part of the committee, or if new material evidence is found. In all cases, the decision of the Dean is final.

Admissions Decision Appeals: Any applicant wishing to appeal an admission decision by the Faculty Advisory Committee must send a written appeal, along with any additional relevant application materials, to the Program Administrator.

Academic Integrity Violation Appeals: Students who receive an academic integrity penalty but believe they have committed no such violation may submit their case to the Board of Academic Integrity.

Academic Dismissal Appeals: Any student who is dismissed from the graduate program for failing to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 may not appeal for reinstatement.

Note: University policies are subject to change. Please consult the official Villanova University student handbook for the most up-to-date information. Due to the online nature of this program, some of the policies outlined here may vary from the published policies for Villanova’s campus-based graduate program.