Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Option in Human Resource Management)

Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Option in Human Resource Management)

Specific requirements for the master's program

Research Project

The Research Project (RP) is a capstone program component that requires students to conduct applied research with a partnering organization or as part of a Telfer faculty member’s on-going research project. Students must show the ability to work independently (analysis and report writing) and apply knowledge gained in the MSc seminars to a well-defined practical problem. It is not required that the RP makes an original contribution to scholarly literature. Students are discouraged from collecting primary (original) data from human participants given the time taken to receive ethics approval and the short time frame given to complete the RP (3-4 months). 

The RP can be theoretical, such as a literature review in which the student demonstrates how the existing academic literature can provide practical insight into a specific problem. It can also be empirical by using primary data (previously collected by a supervising faculty member) or secondary data (e.g., publicly accessible databases; results reported in published or unpublished research papers) to answer relatively simple research questions. Examples could be a replication of previously published research and a focused meta-analysis. Given the program’s focus on facilitating evidence-based practice, the RP’s central aim is giving students the opportunity to use their advanced research skills for informing practice within one organization or several organizations dealing with the same problem. 

RP topics must be approved by the Telfer faculty member(s) responsible for coordinating RPs in the students’ concentration. The completed RPs will be evaluated (pass/fail) by the same faculty member(s). 

Co-op Option

The co-op option is only available to students enrolled in the the research project option.

Co-op students must enroll full-time and complete two work terms:

• ADM 6001
• ADM 6002

Management Research Seminar Series

Students must enroll continuously in Management Research Seminar Series (MGT 6191) from the beginning of their program and must attend at least four seminars in the series if they are in the one-year or CO-OP project-based options, and at least six seminars in the series if they are in the two-year thesis-based option. The notation “CTN” (for continuing activity) will be entered for each term until successful completion of the seminar requirements. The program director will confirm attendance and active participation. 

Duration of Program

The one-year with Research Project option can be completed in three terms or approximately 12 months. The maximum time allowed for completion of this option is two years. 

The CO-OP with Research Project option can be completed in either five or six terms (approximately 20 or 24 months). Students preferring to complete this option in five terms are encouraged to take more than two courses during the first winter term. Also, completion within five terms requires that students get approval for their project’s topic and scope by the end of the second fall term. The maximum time allowed for completion of this option is four years. 

The two-year with thesis option can be completed in six terms or approximately 24 months but can also be more quickly. The maximum time allowed for completion of this option is four years.