PSYC 642 is Liberty's graduate course in human resource training and development, part of the MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Its written work is a series of applied assignments: a case analysis, a training needs memo, an essay with a competency model, a learning strategy project with a real person, a 12 to 15-slide consultant presentation on training methods, a personal development plan, a four-article review and three forums.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as PSYC 642 Human Resource Training and Development, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as PSYC642.
What PSYC 642 covers
The catalog description: Evaluation of techniques for training and motivating personnel. Focus on design, implementation, and evaluation of training, continuing education, and staff development programs, looking to organizational improvement. (Crosslisted with MSPS 650)
The course evaluates techniques for training and motivating personnel, focusing on the design, implementation and evaluation of training, continuing education and staff development programs aimed at organizational improvement. The text is Noe, Employee Training and Development. Cross-listed with MSPS 650.
There are no quizzes or exams. Each week runs Monday to Sunday, and the final week ends Friday.
Textbook named in the published guide: Noe, Employee Training and Development (2017). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
PSYC 642 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discussion Board Forum 1 | 80 | Thread at least 300 words; replies at least 150 words |
| 2 | Case Analysis | 100 | At least 1 page, plus cover and reference pages |
| 2 | Memo | 100 | At least 250 words |
| 3 | Essay | 130 | 2 to 4 pages, plus cover page, reference page and appendix |
| 4 | Discussion Board Forum 2 | 80 | Thread at least 300 words; replies at least 150 words |
| 4 | Learning Strategy Project | 100 | 2 to 4 pages, plus cover and reference pages |
| 5 | Discussion Board Forum 3 | 80 | Thread at least 300 words; replies at least 150 words |
| 6 | PowerPoint Presentation | 130 | 12 to 15 slides with notes |
| 7 | Personal Development Plan | 100 | Not set in the guide; complete the worksheet substantively |
| 8 | Article Review | 100 | At least 150 words for each of 4 articles |
Week 1: Discussion Board Forum 1
A 300-word thread and two 150-word replies, each supported by the textbook, a scholarly source and Scripture. How to write PSYC 642 Week 1 Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 2: Case Analysis
Answer the questions on a textbook case in at least 1 page, including biblical principles, with a journal article, the textbook and Scripture. How to write PSYC 642 Week 2 Case Analysis.
Week 2: Memo
A memo of at least 250 words evaluating performance gaps in a given scenario and the areas training should address. How to write PSYC 642 Week 2 Memo.
Week 3: Essay
A 2 to 4-page research-based essay with a competency model you develop as an appendix, citing a journal article, the textbook and Scripture. How to write PSYC 642 Week 3 Essay.
Week 4: Discussion Board Forum 2
A 300-word thread and two 150-word replies, each supported by the textbook, a scholarly source and Scripture. How to write PSYC 642 Week 4 Discussion Board Forum 2.
Week 4: Learning Strategy Project
Help a friend, coworker or fellow student learn a target behavior they want, then report and evaluate the results in 2 to 4 pages. How to write PSYC 642 Week 4 Learning Strategy Project.
Week 5: Discussion Board Forum 3
A 300-word thread and two 150-word replies, each supported by the textbook, a scholarly source and Scripture. How to write PSYC 642 Week 5 Discussion Board Forum 3.
Week 6: PowerPoint Presentation
A 12 to 15-slide consultant presentation with speaker notes describing 2 traditional and 2 technology-based training methods to a hypothetical client. How to write PSYC 642 Week 6 PowerPoint Presentation.
Week 7: Personal Development Plan
A substantive personal development plan completed from the worksheet in the textbook. How to write PSYC 642 Week 7 Personal Development Plan.
Week 8: Article Review
Summaries of 4 peer-reviewed articles from the last 10 years on provided topics, at least 150 words each, in annotated bibliography format. How to write PSYC 642 Week 8 Article Review.
How PSYC 642 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. The three forums are 80 each (240), the case analysis 100, the memo 100, the essay 130, the learning strategy project 100, the PowerPoint 130, the personal development plan 100, the article review 100 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Discussion Board Forums (3) | 240 |
| Case Analysis | 100 |
| Memo | 100 |
| Essay | 130 |
| Learning Strategy Project | 100 |
| PowerPoint Presentation | 130 |
| Personal Development Plan | 100 |
| Article Review | 100 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course module/week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach PSYC 642
Ask a friend, coworker or fellow student early to work with you on the learning strategy project in Week 4; you will help them learn a behavior they want and report the results.
Most written assignments need the textbook, a scholarly journal article and Scripture, so build a short list of training research articles in Week 1.
Questions students ask
What is the PSYC 642 learning strategy project?
A 2 to 4-page APA paper reporting and evaluating the results of helping a friend, coworker or fellow student learn a target behavior they want but do not yet have, with at least 1 scholarly journal article, the textbook and Scripture.
What is the PSYC 642 PowerPoint presentation?
A 12 to 15-slide presentation with speaker notes, as a training consultant to a hypothetical client, describing 2 traditional and 2 technology-based training methods, using at least 3 sources.
Working through PSYC 642 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.