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Graduate Student Guidebook Department of Management

2019/2020

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Welcome to the TSU Department of Management! We welcome you to Tarleton State University, the Department of Management, and the Master of Science in Human Resource Management Program! We are proud of our school history and the accomplishments of our students, faculty, and alumni. Please use this Guidebook as your source for program information but remember that it is not intended to replace the personal feedback and guidance we hope you will solicit from our faculty and staff. We are glad to welcome you as a member of the Tarleton State University community and look forward to your development as a successful graduate student and productive member of the HR profession! The provisions of this Guidebook have been adopted by the Tarleton HR Faculty as the official procedures for students in the program. This Guidebook supersedes any previous guidelines, handouts, and/or brochures. Students are responsible for adherence to the policies in the Guidebook. Any questions pertaining to this information can be directed to the Department Head, Program Coordinator, or Program Manager. Dr. Reggie Hall Dr. Randy McCamey Head, Department of Management MS HRM Program Coordinator 254.968.9654 254.968.9311 RHall@Tarleton.edu RMcCamey@Tarleton.edu Ms. Jodie Dearing COBA Graduate Program Manager 254.968.9055 JDearing@Tarleton.edu

Effective Date: Aug. 26, 2019

The information presented in this Guidebook summarizes the current departmental procedures and regulations governing graduate work in the Department of Management’s MS HRM program. This Guidebook is broad in scope and is intended to supplement and extend the more general University-level requirements. Although this Guidebook is designed to serve as a resource, it does not replace or supersede higher level programs, policies, and procedures of Tarleton State University. Students are required to become familiar with this material, as well as the Tarleton State University’s Catalog and Student Handbook, throughout their graduate program.

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Contents Welcome to the TSU Department of Management! ............................................................................. 1

Introduction : .......................................................................................................................................... 3

COBA Mission Statement ...................................................................................................................... 3

Admissions ............................................................................................................................................... 5

Course Delivery ....................................................................................................................................... 6

Program Courses and Course Rotation ................................................................................................ 7

Transfer Hours ........................................................................................................................................ 8

Class Registration ................................................................................................................................... 8

Continuation of Enrollment ................................................................................................................... 9

Degree Plan .............................................................................................................................................. 9

Ethical Standards .................................................................................................................................. 12

Student’s Responsibility ....................................................................................................................... 12

Graduate Student Performance ........................................................................................................... 14

APA Writing Format ............................................................................................................................ 15

Monitoring Student Performance ........................................................................................................ 15

Graduation............................................................................................................................................. 15

Comprehensive Examination ............................................................................................................... 16

Studying for the Comprehensive Exam .............................................................................................. 18

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Introduction Greetings from the Department of Management at Tarleton State University! Our Department is comprised of a community of scholars with expertise in both business and academics. Please visit our websites for more information: https://www.tarleton.edu/mgmt/index.html https://www.tarleton.edu/degrees/masters/ms-human-resources-management/ COBA Mission Statement

The College of Business Administration creates a dynamic learning environment for a diverse student population with a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experience, to develop the knowledge and skills needed to become productive contributors to the global business environment.

COBA Vision

The College of Business Administration at Tarleton State University will be a regional leader in business education. MS HRM Mission Statement The mission of the Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management program is to provide a relevant, high-quality, specialized education in Human Resources that develops students’ critical thinking and decision making skills and connects them with business leaders thereby preparing them for successful business careers in a global business environment and enhances life-long learning. MS HRM Program Goal The Goal of the MS HRM program is to equip students with the skills and knowledge to be effective as HR generalists capable of effectively managing the day to day operations of an HR department. The program courses are designed to develop competencies required of today’s HR professions in the areas of compensation and benefits administration, recruiting, selection and placement, training and development, strategic planning, performance management, risk management, and labor relations. As part of this objective, the program is designed to provide the educational background necessary to obtain a professional certification in the field.

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MS HRM Learning Objectives and Outcomes A graduate of the MS HRM Program will be able to:

• Master the body of knowledge required in the discipline by o Identifying the appropriate laws, regulations, standards and other such resources

for solving issues, o Evaluating product, project, unit, or organizational performance using appropriate

HR measures and metrics, o Obtaining a professional certification or passing a certification preparation course.

• Identify business problems and use information to solve those problems by o Analyzing business problems using relevant data sources and analytical methods

to develop appropriate solutions, o Integrating knowledge of the HR disciplines to make effective business decisions,

• Communicate effectively and with purpose by o Producing effective written reports, o Delivering effective oral presentations, o Demonstrating effective interpersonal skills in a team environment.

• Behave ethically in their professional lives by o Summarizing the code of conduct or code of ethics of one or more professional

organizations in the field of HR, o Identifying activities and issues that may present ethical challenges, o Articulating a plan for addressing an ethical dilemma.

• Demonstrate an international business perspective by o Identifying activities and issues that may present challenges when conducting

business outside the U.S. and proposing appropriate resolutions to such challenges.

Link between the Program and the Industry The MS HRM program is unique among other academic programs due to the fact that the HR competencies (called the Body of Knowledge) used to drive the program curriculum are developed with direct input from subject matter experts – expert practitioners in the field both inside and outside academics – and HR professionals working in business and industry.

The Body of Knowledge, which outlines the responsibilities of and knowledge needed by today’s HR professional, is created by HR subject matter experts through a rigorous practice analysis study and validated by HR professionals working in the field through an extensive survey instrument. The Body of Knowledge is updated every 5 years to ensure it is consistent with current practices in the HR field.

PHR and SPHR Bodies of Knowledge (2014), HR Certification Institute, HRCI.org

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Because the program curriculum is driven by the industry it serves, and because the competencies required by the industry are updated periodically to ensure they are consistent with current practices and changes to laws and other regulatory requirements, the program itself is situated to respond to those changes and thus to provide graduates with knowledge and skills that are more current with and more consistent with industry requirements. Admissions New Students are accepted to the Department of Management in all regular semesters. Apply to the College of Graduate Studies (Admission to the College of Graduate Studies does not automatically admit a student to a graduate degree program.) Follow the directions of the COGS: http://www.tarleton.edu/graduate/future/admissions.html Complete and submit the Apply Texas Online Application: https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/gen/c_start.WBX First Steps Following Admission For applicants with a GPA of 2.5 to 3.0, the GMAT (preferred) or the GRE must be completed before they can be accepted into the program. Applicants who have a 3.0 or above GPA do not have to take an admissions exam.

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Leveling To be admitted to the MS HRM program, students are required to have successfully completed (with a C or better grade) six undergraduate classes: Management (any business MGMT course) Marketing (any business MKTG course) Financial Accounting (ACCT 2301) Statistics (any statistics class equivalent to BUSI 3311) Principles of Finance (FINC 3301) Macro Economics (ECON 2301) To get credit for these courses, students may:

1. Successfully complete the undergraduate course with a C or better grade, or 2. Test out via the CLEP test (Note: CLEP exams are only available for the Management

and Marketing course. Information can be found at https://clep.collegeboard.org/exam, or 3. Test out via COBA Mastery exams [currently under development], or 4. Successfully complete the graduate Leveling course(s) with a C or better grade in each

course (Note: Each of these is a 1.5 credit hour course): a. COBA 5100: Foundations of Management b. COBA 5101: Foundations of Accounting c. COBA 5102: Foundations of Finance d. COBA 5103: Foundations of Statistics e. COBA 5104: Foundations of Economics f. COBA 5105: Foundations of Marketing.

Note: Leveling courses DO NOT count toward the degree, thus the student may be required to complete 39 semester credit hours to complete the degree requirements.

Course Delivery The Department of Management offers program courses online and in Stephenville, Fort Worth, and Waco during the regular academic year with a limited number offered as hybrid, evening, or weekend courses. The MS HRM is offered primarily as on online program.

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Program Courses and Course Rotation The MS HRM Program is a 30 hour program at a minimum. The actual credit hours taken may be adjusted based on the students’ academic preparation at the undergraduate level, career goals, and the expectations of the MS HRM Program Coordinator or the student’s Advisory Committee (AC) for students completing the Thesis option. Students who choose to pursue a doctoral degree are encouraged to take the Thesis option which will require additional courses (graduate Statistics and at least 2 Thesis courses). Prefix Number Title Rotation

BUSI 5397 Data Informed Decision Making (SME: Dr. Tom Bradley) Fall/Spring/Summer

HRMT 5301 Law and Regulation in HR (SME: Mr. Kyle Post) Fall/Spring

HRMT 5303 Managing Human Resource Development (SME: Dr. Randy McCamey) Fall/Summer

HRMT 5314 Workforce Planning and Employment (SME: Dr. Joanna Shaw) Spring

HRMT 5316 Compensation Management (SME: Dr. Brian Martinson) Fall

HRMT 5324 Employment and Labor Relations (SME: Dr. Brian Martinson) Fall/Spring

MGMT HRMT

5354 OR 5389

International Management OR Global HR Practices – Study Abroad (SME: Dr. Miguel Baeza)

Spring/Summer (5389 As Needed)

HRMT 5380 Strategic Human Resources (Capstone) (SME: Dr. Randy McCamey) Fall/Spring

MGMT 5301 Organizational Behavior (SME: Dr. Sue Joiner) Fall/Spring/Summer

MGMT 5368 Organizational Development & Change (SME: Dr. David Deviney) Fall/Spring/Summer

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Time Limit All requirements for the MS HRM degree must be completed within a period of six (6) consecutive calendar years from the time the student first enrolls in program courses for the degree to be granted. Courses shall be less than 6 years old at the time of graduation with exceptions being granted to members of the Armed Forces.

(Students serving on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces between the dates of their matriculation and graduation, the six year limit will be extended one year for each year of active duty served, up to a maximum of four years.)

A student will not be granted a degree based upon completion of requirements set forth in a catalog more than six years old. Transfer Hours

A maximum of 12 hours of graduate work completed at another regionally-accredited institution, and that may have been counted toward a completed graduate degree, may be transferred into the MS HRM program under the following conditions:

1. The student must submit a transcript and syllabus to the MS HRM Program Coordinator when making the request. The course(s) must be equivalent to the MS HRM program courses. The Department has the final say if the course is acceptable.

2. Under no circumstance shall HRMT 5380 Strategic HR (including the Comprehensive exams), or equivalent, be permitted for transfer.

3. Credit for course work submitted for transfer must be shown in semester credit hours or equated to semester credit hours.

4. Courses shall be less than 6 years old at the time of graduation. 5. Student must have earned an A or B in all courses transferred.

Class Registration The following link is for registration: https://www.tarleton.edu/registrar/registration/index.html

• It is important to remember that the availability of classes cannot be guaranteed and overrides into closed sections are not always permitted. Students will need to access DuckTrax for an accurate source of current class offerings.

• Advance registration for the spring semester is held the preceding fall semester and advance registration for the summer and fall semesters is held the preceding spring semester. Only students who are enrolled in the semester in which advance registration is held are eligible to register early. All others must participate in the regular registration process.

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• The MS HRM program follows a specific course rotation. Classes fill up quickly and students are encouraged to register in a timely manner. Students can locate classes and view current course availability on DuckTrax.

• On occasion, students may need to travel to various campuses to take a class in order to graduate on their timetable.

• Note: If payment is not made on time, the university will drop a student's registration. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that payment is made on time. The academic calendar on the Tarleton State University homepage includes payment deadlines: http://www.tarleton.edu/calendar/

Full-time status. The University defines full-time status as being registered for a minimum of nine (9) semester credit hours during a fall and spring semester and six (6) semester credit hours during a summer semester. International students should contact the College of Graduate Studies to determine the minimum number of credit hours required, and the mode of delivery of those classes, depending on the type of visa held.

Maximum hours. Graduate students must get approval from the MS HRM Program Coordinator prior to enrolling in more than 12 (twelve) credit hours during the regular semester or 9 (nine) credit hours in a summer semester. Graduate students are limited to a maximum of 16 (sixteen) credit hours during a regular semester and twelve (12) credit hours in a summer semester. Continuation of Enrollment Students who have been granted admission must register in the term for which admission is granted. Any student who fails to register during any long semester prior to graduation will be required to apply for re-admission to the College of Graduate Studies and the Department of Management according to the procedures and standards in effect at the time of reconsideration. Degree Plan All students are required to have a degree plan on file with the College of Graduate Studies. A student will not be permitted to make application for graduation without a degree plan. A student will receive a degree plan upon full admission to the Department. The Department highly recommends a student check in Degree Works or with the College of Graduate Studies prior to attempting to register for graduation to assure his or her degree plan is on file.

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Thesis Option The Thesis involves an original research project under the direction of a graduate faculty member and the preparation of a Thesis in addition to prescribed course work. Minimum requirements for the Thesis track are 36 hours above the Baccalaureate. Students will follow the courses listed for their respective degree programs with the addition of at least two Thesis courses (6 hours) and possibly a graduate level statistics course. Because of the research emphasis in the thesis track, additional background courses or additional undergraduate leveling work may also be required. In some cases, additional Thesis courses may be required to complete the program but will not be counted toward the program credit hours. Intent to pursue a Thesis: Upon acceptance for graduate study in the College of Business Administration, students must declare their intent to pursue the Thesis option with the MS HRM Program Coordinator. The Program Coordinator and the Management Department Head will determine the suitability for a student to pursue a Thesis based primarily on their undergraduate preparation, undergraduate GPA, and the level of success in courses at the graduate level early in their program. The student will then work with the MS HRM Program Coordinator to determine, in very broad or general terms, a focus area or topic of study. Based on the student’s area of interest or topic, the MS HRM Program Coordinator will recommend graduate faculty who have experience or interest in that area to act as the Thesis Advisor (Chair). It should be noted, however, that accepting the role as a Thesis Advisor is at the discretion of each faculty member based on their workload, interest in the topic area, and interest in acting as a Thesis Advisor. Due to these constraints, not every student who expresses an interest pursuing a Thesis will be allowed to do so. Residency: Due to the fact that a significant amount of personal interaction, mentoring, and guidance is required between the student and faculty members for the successful completion of a Thesis, students who pursue a Thesis must commit to substantial on-campus interaction with his or her Advisor and Committee members. As such, it is required that at least 12 credit hours of coursework be taken on campus. Because the MS HRM program is predominantly conducted in an online format, Advisors and Committee members will work with students to determine the specific on-campus requirements during their residency period. Thesis Advisor (Chair) and Thesis Advisory Committee: Faculty members who elect to act as Thesis Advisors (i.e., major professor or Thesis committee chair) must be a member of the graduate faculty and must be approved for such assignments by the Management Department Head. The Thesis Advisor will work with the student in the development of the specialized area for research and the composition and appointment of a Thesis Advisory Committee. The Thesis Advisor, along with the Thesis Advisory Committee, will guide the student in completion of the Thesis during their program. The Thesis Advisory Committee usually consists of the Advisor and two or three other faculty members with interests or backgrounds that will complement the student’s Thesis topic.

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Thesis Proposal: Upon completion of sufficient coursework and under the direction of the Thesis Advisor, students will develop their Thesis Proposal per the College of Graduate Studies Thesis Manual. The “Proposal” is generally considered to be the Introduction, Literature Review, and Methodology sections of the Thesis. With approval by the members of the Thesis Advisory Committee, each student will make a formal presentation of their research topic to their Advisory Committee and other invited guests, “proposing” their research study. If the Thesis Proposal is accepted and approved by their Committee, the candidate may continue with their Thesis. If the Proposal is not accepted, the student will be given feedback on how to improve their Proposal. Students may attempt the Proposal once per long semester (fall, spring). Thesis Defense: Upon completion of the Thesis and preparation of the final document per the College of Graduate Studies Thesis Manual, and with approval by the members of the Thesis Advisory Committee, each student (called candidates) will make a formal presentation to “defend” their research and findings in an open, public forum per the College of Graduate Studies requirements. If the defense is not successfully completed on first attempt, the specific area(s) of weakness will be identified to the candidate so that corrective action may be taken before the next attempt. Candidates may attempt their Thesis defense once per long semester (fall, spring). If a second attempt is unsuccessful, the candidate will be required to complete additional course work with a B average before scheduling a third attempt. Candidates who attempt the Thesis defense three times and are not successful will be dropped from the program. Comprehensive Examinations as part of the Thesis: As part of the Thesis Defense, a final oral, comprehensive examination will be administered by the Thesis Advisory Committee and other invited guests. Major emphasis will be directed toward defense of the Thesis, although the examination may also include any materials covered in the student’s program. If the oral examination is not successfully completed on first attempt, the specific area(s) of weakness will be identified to the candidate so that corrective action may be taken before the next attempt. Candidates may attempt the oral comprehensive exam once per long semester (fall, spring). If a second attempt is unsuccessful, the candidate will be required to complete additional course work with a B average before scheduling a third attempt. Candidates who attempt the oral comprehensive exam three times and are not successful will be dropped from the program. The Thesis Advisory Committee will determine whether the candidate is required to take the Quantitative portion of the Comprehensive Exam.

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Ethical Standards Students are expected to maintain professional demeanor and protocol such as:

• Personal integrity • Responsibility for one's own behavior, tasks, assignments and life lessons • Consideration, caring and sensitivity to peers • Maturity, including the capacity to accept "no" • Evidence of a continuous process of self-exploration, resulting in enhanced self-

awareness • Practice of ethical and moral professional behavior • Maintaining confidentiality • Openness to constructive feedback and willingness to make suggested changes

Further, all students are expected to understand and practice the ethical codes and standards of conduct of the following:

• Policies and Procedures of the Department of Management • TSU Student Rules https://www.tarleton.edu/studentrules/index.html and • TSU Rules: http://www.tarleton.edu/policy/

Violations of any of these policies, ethics, or rules could deem a student unfit to continue studies in the Department of Management. Faculty of the Department of Management are the gatekeepers to the HR profession and, thus, have an obligation to respond when students are in violation of any of these rules. Further, it is the student’s responsibility to read and refer to these rules and policies if a situation should arise. Student’s Responsibility

Students are responsible for their learning. Other responsibilities include:

• Knowing the contents of the Department of Management MS HRM Student Guidebook. • Regularly checking the Department’s website, Go Tarleton email accounts, and

Blackboard for deadlines and information. • Reading the TSU Catalog each year to determine if changes impact them. • Reading and adhering to the Department and University policies, rules, and professional

ethical standards. • Meeting registration and payment deadlines. • Participating in activities and projects, internal or external to the University, which will

enhance their learning experience. • Participating in academic research beyond the classroom. • Filing and maintaining a current degree plan. • Being aware of and adhering to all course prerequisites.

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• Preparing for courses by making arrangements to attend regularly scheduled classes, allowing for adequate study time, completing assignments on a timely basis, and taking the exams as scheduled.

• Becoming identified with the professional community by joining a professional organization or association (SHRM, World at Work, ASTD, etc.)

• Working toward or attaining professional certification (PHR, SHRM-CP, CCP, CBP, etc.)

• Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.

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Graduate Student Performance Students enrolled in the College of Graduate Studies are required to maintain a high level of performance and comply fully with the policies of the institution. The College reserves the right to suspend any graduate student who does not maintain satisfactory academic standing or fails to conform to University policies, rules, and regulations. The College also reserves the right to impose sanctions beyond those imposed by the University for violating College or University policies, rules, and regulations (See Student Code of Conduct Section on Student Conduct Outcomes). Students who have achieved admission are expected to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA on graduate work completed at Tarleton.

Note: A student's cumulative GPA is calculated based on coursework attempted at Tarleton State University and a student's overall GPA is calculated based on coursework attempted at Tarleton State University plus any applicable transfer coursework. Undergraduate courses taken for leveling or as undesignated electives are used in the calculation of the semester and cumulative grade point averages and thus determine one's academic standing.

If, in a particular semester, a student's cumulative GPA or overall GPA falls below the 3.0 GPA minimum, he/she will be given notice of unsatisfactory academic performance. To correct this unsatisfactory condition:

The student must attain a 3.0 cumulative GPA during her or his next period of enrollment.

If, for a second semester during the student’s program, a student’s cumulative GPA or overall GPA falls below the 3.0 GPA minimum, he/she will be given notice of unsatisfactory academic performance and he/she will be automatically suspended for one semester (fall, spring, or summer). To correct this unsatisfactory condition:

The student must attain a 3.0 cumulative GPA during her or his next period of enrollment.

If, for a third semester during the student’s program, his or her cumulative GPA or overall GPA falls below the 3.0 GPA minimum, he/she will be given notice of unsatisfactory academic performance, will be suspended indefinitely, and will be dropped from the program.

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A graduate student is allowed one suspension. If poor academic performance results in a second suspension, the student will be dropped from the program and may be permanently dismissed from the university.

Note: Graduate students who are on suspension must reapply (including the application fee) to the College of Graduate Studies for reinstatement.

At the end of any grading period, if a student's overall GPA falls below 2.0 he/she will be automatically suspended and dropped from the program. Monitoring Student Performance Members of the Department of Management faculty, using their professional judgment, continually evaluate student performance (academic and professional responsibility). Some, but not all, criteria used by the faculty to evaluate students include:

• Adherence to college, department, and program policies and procedures; • Receiving a grade of C or below; • A cumulative GPA below 3.0; • Faculty’s observations of performance (academic or professional responsibility); • Tarleton State University’s Rules; and • Professional Codes of Ethics (including those required of members of SHRM).

APA Writing Format The Management Department and the MS HRM program adhere to writing standards according to American Psychological Association, Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (most current edition.). Unless otherwise directed by the course instructor, all documents in program courses shall be written in APA format. Students are expected to proof read their papers carefully prior to submission for a grade. As needed, students may consult with the Writing Center (http://www.tarleton.edu/writingcenter/) for assistance. Graduation It is the student’s responsibility to make sure all university requirements regarding final procedures related to their degree are followed and completed. Please be aware that the deadline for registering for graduation is early. The following link contains graduation information: http://www.tarleton.edu/graduation/index.html

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Comprehensive Examination

General Information

Candidates for the MS HRM degree must apply for and satisfactorily pass a comprehensive examination over materials covered in the required program courses. The exam will cover theory and concepts and the application of theory and concepts in business situations. The exam may be in one or two parts (determined each semester by the MS HRM Program Coordinator), usually consisting of a quantitative portion and a written portion. Students must pass all parts of the comprehensive exam in order to graduate. One or both parts of the Comprehensive Exam may be proctored with an associated cost to the student. Students are responsible for registration deadlines and making arrangements with the instructor and proctors, as required, to take the exam as scheduled.

Students take the Comprehensive Exam as part of the MS HRM Capstone course (HRMT 5380 Strategic HR) in their last semester.

Cheating, plagiarism, collaboration or any sort of violation of the Student Code of Conduct will result in automatic failure of the course, the comprehensive exam, and may result in the student being removed from candidacy for the degree.

The Quantitative Examination

The quantitative portion of the exam is designed a) to measure the level of student learning of the content and theories in the HR field and b) to prepare students to take the certification exams common in the profession. As such, the quantitative portion is a timed exam using an array of questions to cover all aspects of the many topic areas within the field of human resources.

The Written (Qualitative) Examination

The written portion of the exam is designed to assess how effectively the student can communicate HR content and theories and their application in the workplace in written form. The written portion is usually a timed exam and may be a report or article summary, a discussion or summary of a given theory, topic, or current event related to the field, or a case study analysis or other similar assignment requiring a written response.

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Grading of the Exam

The quantitative portion of the exam will be scored as typical for professional certification exams. The minimum passing score is 70%. Scaled scores may also be used to set or establish minimum passing scores on the quantitative portion.

The written portion of the exam will be graded by one or more graduate HR faculty. Students will receive a pass or fail grade although, as part of the HRMT 5380 course, specific numeric grading criterial may also be used. Students receiving a passing grade on the written portion will meet the following grading rubric criteria:

• Student demonstrates good writing skills including correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting per the American Psychological Association (APA) style criteria.

• Student’s written responses are comprehensive and completely addresses all parts of the question.

• Student’s response demonstrates a highly developed knowledge of management and theories and concepts in the field of Human Resources and demonstrates how to apply them to situations encountered in organizations.

• Student’s explanations and discussions are specific, complete, and in depth. • Student’s work is his or her own, except where other authoritative sources are cited.

Note: Students who do not pass the HRMT 5380 course, even if they pass the comprehensive exam, are required to retake the course and the comprehensive exam.

1. Students who do not pass either part of the comprehensive exam are allowed a second attempt at that portion during the same semester.

2. Students who do not pass the second attempt will be given an Incomplete letter grade for the HRMT 5380 course and will be given a third attempt on that portion of the exam the following semester.

3. Students who do not pass the third attempt are required to retake the Capstone course and both parts of the comprehensive exam (attempt 4) the next semester the course is offered.

4. Students who do not pass either part of the comprehensive exam on the fourth attempt are allowed a fifth and final attempt of that portion during the same semester.

5. Students who do not pass one or both parts of the Comp exam on their fifth attempt during the re-take of the Capstone course will fail the course and will be dropped from the program.

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Appeal Process for the Comprehensive Exam

Each student encountering a grievance related to outcome of the Comprehensive Exam shall first attempt to resolve the problem with the appropriate Instructor and the Program Coordinator(s) per the COBA Academic Appeal policy: Procedures for filing an Academic Grade Appeal: https://www.tarleton.edu/coba/documents/coba-grade-appeal-process-and-form-rev1.pdf COBA Student Resources Page: https://www.tarleton.edu/coba/current-students.html Studying for the Comprehensive Exam The best way to study for the Comprehensive Exam is to review any and all textbooks, notes, papers, reports, and presentations gathered and prepared as part of all the program courses. Study materials by various HR certification entities (HRCI, SHRM) may also be helpful. Another area of study is to review current academic and popular literature in the field of Human Resources to focus on current areas of research, changes to federal and state law, and current issues in the field. HR Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and other major business related publications should also be reviewed for recent, relevant information about the status of the field. Other study guides or information may be provided by the HRMT 5380 course instructor.