The Human and Organizational Development Major

Vanderbilt's Human and Organizational Development major prepares students to find innovative solutions to human problems in organizations and communities. Our core curriculum in this multidisciplinary program focuses on understanding human development and behavior in organizations and developing the skills to function effectively in group and organizational settings: understanding, helping, motivating, and managing people.

The educational philosophy of the program emphasizes experiential learning and connecting academic knowledge and theories to personal and professional practice. We want students to be able to use classroom learning to solve real-world problems.

The Liberal Arts core is an important part of the curriculum, since it will help students become critical thinkers and more well-rounded people. Using an integrated, building-block approach, the course work each semester builds upon the previous, ultimately culminating in the semester-long internship experience. The internship is a capstone course in the program that integrates everything the students have learned at Vanderbilt and challenges them to apply their knowledge to the real world. Students graduate with skills in the following areas:

• Team Processes
• Critical Thinking & Decision-Making
• Computer Skills
• Conflict Resolution
• Leadership
• Problem-Solving
• Public Speaking & Writing
• Interpersonal Communication
• Project Management

In addition, there are five tracks within this major that provide a more intense focus in a chosen area of interest:

Community Leadership and Development
The Community Leadership and Development Track prepares students for community leadership in a globally changing world. It focuses on developing skills and knowledge for careers in community organizations, profit and nonprofit agencies, government and policy organizations, housing, and community development banking. Students in this area will be prepared to work in staff positions in organizations dealing with social problems or policy development. Students might also go on to graduate school in law, policy, journalism, education, or social science.

Health and Human Services
The Health and Human Services Track focuses on developing knowledge and skills for positions in direct service professions such as counseling, social work, medicine, applied medical sciences, and health promotion. Students in this track either work in these settings or go on to graduate professional schools. Students take courses in health and human services, diversity issues, and counseling.

International Leadership and Development
The International Leadership and Development Track prepares students to address issues of human and organizational development in the international arena. It focuses on the major elements of the globalization process, modern international financial architecture and international trade, global non-government organizations and social movements, cross-cultural immigration, and the emergence of global networks and their significance for human and organizational development at the community level. Students in this track will be prepared for entry-level positions in transnational business settings, relevant government/NGO agencies, foundations, or community development organizations. They may also pursue graduate training in political science, development economics, public administration, anthropology, community research and action, comparative education, or law. Students take courses in international issues, global dimensions of community development, education and economic development, organizational development, social policy, and leadership and change.

Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness
The Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness Track focuses on developing knowledge and skills for leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. Students in this track typically work in financial institutions, businesses, corporations, government, or community service agencies. Career interests might include human resources, public relations, advertising, communications, education, sales, marketing, finance, and hospitality management. Students take courses in leadership theory, organizational development, and human resource development.

Education Policy
The Education Policy Track will provide students with a scholarly and applied understanding of public policy, with an explicit focus on educational policy. This track will provide the content knowledge, methods, and analytical skills to enable students to situate educational policymaking in a broader social, political, and economic context. Graduates will be prepared for a variety of careers in learning organizations and in government; in the nonprofit sector; in advocacy groups; and in research and consulting firms. The Education Policy Track will also provide graduates with excellent training for either professional or graduate study in public policy, in education, or in a related social science field. This track is closely connected to the fifth-year master in Education Policy.