I/O-HRM Graduate Program at Appalachian State University
 

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Thesis, Internship, & Comprehensive Exams

 [Thesis]  [Internship]  [Comprehensive Exams]

Thesis

As a condition for earning the master's degree, students are required to complete either a thesis, an internship, or both. The thesis is an in-depth, original research project conducted under the direction of a faculty mentor and evaluated by a faculty committee. Students who anticipate continuing their education at the doctoral level are strongly encouraged to select the thesis option. Policies and procedures for development of the thesis are outlined in the Department of Psychology Graduate Student Handbook .

Where to Start:
•  Research faculty research interests early to discover those with interests similar to yours
•  Be sure to pick up a copy of  the "Handbook for Thesis Prep" which is available in the Psychology Department Office.  This useful resource will serve as a guide for how to complete your thesis

Past and Current Thesis Topics:
•  Predictability of Longitudinal Rater Leniency (Andrew Kavulic; current student)
•  The effect of employment at-will policies on attitudes toward potential employment (Jesse McKinney; current student)
•  Untitled (Josh Livesey; current student)
•  Interviewer Perceptions Mediated by Interviewee’s Regulatory Focus (Jess Doll; current student)
•  The Effects of Employment At-Will Policies on Employer Attractiveness (Jesse McKinney; current student)
 
Thinking of Getting Your Doctorate?
Though most students come to Appalachian with the intention of entering the workforce after they earn their Master's degrees, our students have a strong record of continuing on to top doctoral programs. In recent years, 100% of our students who have chosen to continue at the doctoral level have been able to do so. Doctoral programs accepting our students in recent years have included the University of Akron, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and Auburn University.

Things to Keep in Mind
•  It's important to get involved with research early
•  Contact faculty members early in during your time at ASU and inform them of your desire to attend a doctoral program.  This will help them guide you on your path to a Ph.D. program, as well as provide useful contacts for research help, thesis guidance, and sources for letters of recommendation

 
Internship

As a condition for earning the master's degree, students are required to complete either a thesis, an internship, or both. The internship involves practical work experience in an applied setting performed under the joint supervision of a practicing professional and a faculty internship coordinator. It is normally a full-time work assignment (usually paid) and is completed during the summer between the first and second year of graduate study. Policies and procedures governing internships can be obtained from the I/O-HRM Program Director.

Where to Start:

The ASU I/O-HRM program maintains relationships with several organizations.  Students may choose to complete their internships at these sites, or they may find a novel organization at which to complete their internship.  Many students take their internships at organizations in the state of North Carolina, but a large number go elsewhere to gain experience. A number of students also take internships "back home." Be sure to pick up a copy of  the "Internship Resource Manual" which is available from the I/O-HRM Program Director.

Past Internships:

In the past few years, out students have held internships at a wide variety of sites. A sample of the organizations includes the following: AdvantaClean, Alex Lee, Inc., Aramark/Nabisco,  FirstCharter Bank, K-Mart Corporation, Lowes Foods, Lowe's Hardware, Merchants Distributors, Inc., Wake Forest University-Baptist Medical Center, Russell Reynolds Associates, SAFT America, SciQuest.com, Shurtape Technologies, Sperduto Associates, and Target Corporation.

Recent Highlights:
  • Jennifer Houseworth
    • Internship Role: HR Generalist
    • Duties Performed: Job Analyses, Design and Implement Performance Appraisal program, Update and Create Policies and Procedures (with emphasis on attendance), Design and Conduct Selection Interviews/Procedures, Create Training for Trainers Handbook and Conduct Training, Create Employee Handbook
    • Quotable: This internship allowed me to have considerable autonomy in designing and implementing HR policies and procedures.  Since I currently hold the position of Assistant Director within this organization, I also have the advantage of implementing everything I did during my internship.  I have the opportunity to do follow-up and amend any implementations as well.  My internship supervisors were more than supportive. Overall, this internship allowed me the opportunity to utilize and gain experience in nearly every facet of education received through my graduate courses in our program, thereby making me more marketable.
  • Andrew Kavulic
    • Internship Role: HR Representative
    • Duties Performed: Job Analyses, Implemented a Structured Selection Program, Implemented an Employee Safety Awareness Forum
  • Dru Carpenito
    • Internship Role: Executive Assessment Intern
    • Duties Performed: Reviewed Upper Management Talent, Risk Assessment of an Organization in a Merger/Acquisition Scenario, Upper Management Candidate Assessment, Developed a Benchmark Database for Cross-Industry and Job Function, Developed Interview Questions
  • Jesse McKinney
    • Internship Role: HR Intern
    • Duties Performed: Created an employee handbook, developed organizational charts, composed an instructional manual
  • Libby McHaffie
    • Internship Role: HR Intern
    • Duties Performed: Supervised and Collected Inventory Assessment Data, Developed Training Processes for the Inventory Process
    • Quotable: I really enjoyed my experience.  I learned how to survey and interview people in a mid-large size organization.  I also became more acquainted with conducting time studies.  Overall, this internship was very beneficial to my professional development in the field of HR.
  • Josh Livesey
    • Internship Role: HR Generalist
    • Duties Performed: Created Job Analyses, Developed a Train-the-Trainer Program, Conducted Follow-Up Interviews with Newly Hired Employees, Performed Selection Test Validation, Interviewed Employees to Find Multigenerational Families Within the Organization
    • Quotable: This internship was a very good experience.  I was able to apply much of what I had learned and see it in a more applied setting.  For me, I think those kinds of "hands on" learning experiences teach in a more personal and meaningful way.
 
Comprehensive Examinations

In addition to completing required coursework, there are two examination requirements for graduation.

First, students must pass the GRE Advanced Psychology Subject Test with a score at the 60th percentile or better anytime before graduation (if students submit such a score with their application for admission, they do not have to take the test during their enrollment in the program).

Second, students must pass the PHR Certification Exam of the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). HRCI is affiliated with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). HRCI offers certification as a Professional in Human Resources. The requirements are twofold: (1) a passing score on the exam, and (2) a work experience component. Thus, passing the exam will enable I/O-HRM program graduates to market themselves as well on their way to holding professional certification. Students should register for the certification exam by October of their second year for the December administration of the exam. Preparation materials are available on-line and in the office of the Program Director.


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