Staff Development, Master of Arts

These are the requirements for the Master's in Personnel Development

With your Master's in Personnel Development, you can work, for example, as a personnel developer, as a consultant in personnel development, or as an organizational developer.

The IU International University offers the Master's in Personnel Development in 2 variants: the 60-ECTS variant lasts 2 semesters in full-time study, and the 120-ECTS variant lasts 4 semesters in full-time study.

For both variants, a first degree from a state-recognized or public university is required, such as a bachelor's or master's degree. The final grade of your degree should be at least 'Satisfactory'.

For the 60-ECTS variant, the following is also required:

• If your first degree is 240 ECTS and you can demonstrate at least 1 year of qualified work experience, you can enroll directly in the Master's program.
• If your first degree is 210 ECTS and you can demonstrate at least 1 year of qualified work experience, you can enroll directly in the Personnel Development Master's program.
• If your first degree is 180 ECTS, you take courses totaling at least 30 ECTS and demonstrate additional work experience of at least 1 year. Alternatively, you demonstrate at least 2 years of qualified work experience.

For the 120-ECTS variant, the following is also required:

• Your first degree should focus on business administration, psychology, or education (with a focus on adult education, business education, or counseling).
• If your first degree does not have a relevant focus, you must pass a master's admission exam. If you pass this exam, you will be enrolled in the Master's in Personnel Development.

Furthermore, you can have prior achievements recognized to shorten your study time in distance learning and save on tuition fees. Recognized achievements may include coursework completed in previous master's programs. The university may also recognize extensive work experience in the field of personnel development. It is best to submit your recognition request along with your application.

These are the study contents in the online study program Personal Development

This Master's program at IU includes approximately 8-16 modules that you will take and complete over 2-4 semesters of regular study time. Each module is worth 5-10 credits (ECTS) and concludes with an examination such as a term paper or an exam. In total, you will earn 60-120 credits from module to module and from semester to semester.

In the 60-ECTS version, the full-time study program is structured as follows:

• Semester 1: Talent Management and Personnel Development, Learning and Development Theories, Competence and Performance Management, Project: Development of Teams, Research Methodology, Seminar: Labor Law in Personnel Development
• Semester 2: Seminar: Personnel and Leadership Development in the Digital Transformation, Elective Module A, Master's Thesis

You have the choice of these exciting modules as specializations: Analysis and Development of Organizations, Work, Organizational and Economic Psychology, Artificial Intelligence, Operational Health Management, Digitalization in Business and Society, Diversity Management, Communication Skills, HR Controlling, Human Performance, Leadership and Personnel Development, Management Consulting, New Work and Learning Design, Staff Recruitment and Selection, Project Management, Personality Psychology, Labor Law.

In the 120-ECTS version, the full-time study program is structured as follows:

• Semester 3: Talent Management and Personnel Development, Agility and Creative Work Methods, Research Methodology, Seminar: Labor Law in Personnel Development, Learning and Development Theories, Learning Design and Experience
• Semester 4: Competence and Performance Management, Introduction to Coaching, Project: Personnel and Leadership Development, New Work, Change Management and Organizational Development, Project: Development of Teams
• Semester 5: Ethics and Value Management, Seminar: Personnel and Leadership Development in the Digital Transformation, Elective Module A, Elective Module B
• Semester 6: Master's Thesis

What sets the IU Master's program in Personal Development apart are the numerous opportunities to specialize in topic areas according to your interests and professional fields.

For your first specialization, choose one of these study modules: Analysis and Development of Organizations, Work, Organizational and Economic Psychology, Operational Health Management, Diversity Management, Communication Skills, Human Performance, Staff Recruitment and Selection, Personality Psychology, Labor Law.

For your second specialization, choose one of these modules: Analysis and Development of Organizations, Work, Organizational and Economic Psychology, Artificial Intelligence, Operational Health Management, Digitalization in Business and Society, Diversity Management, Communication Skills, HR Controlling, Human Performance, Management Consulting, Staff Recruitment and Selection, Project Management, Personality Psychology, Labor Law.

How flexible is the standard study time in distance learning Personal Development?

At IU International University, in the part-time distance learning, you choose one of the 3 study models:

• In full-time study, the standard study time is 2 semesters for the 60-ECTS version and 4 semesters for the 120-ECTS version. You can extend the standard study time by up to 2 semesters at no additional cost. Full-time study in Personal Development is particularly suitable for those who are not employed or work only a few hours per week.
• In part-time study I, the standard study time is 3 semesters for the 60-ECTS version and 6 semesters for the 120-ECTS version. You can extend the standard study time by up to 2 semesters at no additional cost. Part-time study I is suitable, for example, if you work part-time alongside your studies.
• In part-time study II, the standard study time is 4 semesters for the 60-ECTS version and 8 semesters for the 120-ECTS version. You can extend the standard study time by up to 2 semesters at no additional cost. Part-time study II is especially useful if you are heavily involved in your professional career alongside your distance learning.

By the way, you can also take a semester off during your studies at no additional cost.

How does online study work at IU?

A study program that adapts to your life: In online studies at IU, you learn flexibly and digitally when and where you want to learn.

In the Master's distance learning program in Personal Development at IU, there is no attendance requirement - you will learn continuously from home, in the library of your choice, or wherever you can learn best.

You can take your modules and courses whenever you want. Therefore, you can usually flexibly create your study plan and semester schedule.

Central to IU distance learning are your interactive study scripts. You will receive the scripts in printed form as well as digitally as PDF and for tablets. Through the smart app IU Learn, you will have access to both your study scripts in Personal Development and scripts from all other distance learning programs at IU.

Through myCampus, the online campus of IU, you also have access to additional materials, such as videos. You interact with your lecturers and fellow students, for example, through virtual live formats, such as interactive courses.

And exams? You can choose to take online exams. You can take an online exam anytime once you feel adequately prepared for the study material. Alternatively, you can take the exam at one of the numerous exam centers of IU throughout Germany.