Bachelor of Science Occupational and Technical Studies with a Major in Training Specialist (BS)

Unlock your potential in the $350 billion global training and development industry with the Training Specialist major! Gain the expertise necessary to become a training and organizational development specialist by creating value-added training solutions that drive talent development and enhance organizational performance. Develop skills in training and development program design, delivery, and evaluation; creative problem-solving, leadership, communications technology, and management. Explore and enhance your career opportunities in business, industry, healthcare, government, the military, and higher education.  A minor in Training and Development and a certificate in Industrial Training are also available.  Join us and launch your career today!

Career Highlights

• 12% projected job growth far exceeds the 5% national average; $65,000 starting; $125,000 with five years of experience (Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook, 2024)

• Careers include corporate trainer, training and development specialists, instructional designer, talent development and recruiter, and human resources specialists, consultant, training and development manager, and chief learning officer.

Major Highlights

• An accelerated plan of study is available.  Complete the Bachelor of Science degree in 1.3 years as a 60+ hour transfer student.
• Complete the major at your own pace, full-time or part-time.
• Self-paced and instructor-led courses
• Built-in OSHA certification
• A.S. and A.A.S community college credits accepted
• Transfer friendly (prior course work likely meets elective requirements)
• Military friendly (JST, CLEP, and DSST credits accepted)
• Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC) partner
• U.S. Armed Forces Military Pathways
• Courses based on cutting-edge research conducted by ATD, SHRM, AHRD
• Developing employ-based educational programs

Graduation Qualifications

To graduate, students need to earn at least a 2.0 GPA overall and in their major. In addition to meeting other requirements of the University, students must earn a minimum of 25 percent of the total number of credits required for the degree (for example, 30 credits in a 120-credit degree program) through on- or off-campus instruction.

Accelerated Plan-of-Study Based on a Transfer of 60+ Hours
Please see the Degree Program Guide area for additional information.

• 60 hours remaining (120 hours total required for degree completion)
• 34 hours STEM/SEPS courses
• 6 hours Upper Division General Education
• 20 hours of a combination of remaining required courses and electives
• 4 semesters to completion (3 academic semesters plus 1 summer term)

Requirements

Lower-Division General Education

Written Communication: Grade of C or better required in both courses

Oral Communication: met in the major by HMSV 339

Information Literacy and Research: STEM 251G required

Human Creativity cannot be met by SEPS 223A

Human Behavior: ECON 200S required; cannot be met by SEPS 203S

Impact of Technology: satisfied by STEM 370T in the major

Upper-Division General Education

• Option A. Approved Disciplinary Minor (a minimum of 12 hours determined by the department) or second degree or second major
• Option B. Interdisciplinary Minor (specifically 12 hours, 3 of which may be in the major)
• Option C. An approved Certification Program such as teaching licensure
• Option D. Two Upper-Division Courses from outside the College of Education and Professional Studies and not required by the major (6 hours)

Requirements for Graduation

Requirements for graduation include the following:

• Minimum of 120 credit hours.
• Minimum of 30 credit hours overall and 12 credit hours of upper-level courses in the major program from Old Dominion University.
• Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken.
• Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward the major.
• Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward a minor.
• Completion of ENGL 110C, ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C, and the writing intensive (W) course in the major with a grade of C or better. The W course must be taken at Old Dominion University.
• Completion of Senior Assessment.

Training Specialist Major

This major is designed to prepare students as training specialists who design, develop, and present training in business and industry. The major is also available through ODUGobal. On approval of the program leader, select business-related technical content areas from the community college can satisfy 30 hours of technical content for this major. Requirements are as follows:

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Grade of C or better required

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Consult the departmental advisor for a list of approved courses used to meet this requirement.

Elective credit may be needed to meet the minimum of 120 credits required for the degree. 

Degree Program Guide

The Degree Program Guide is a suggested curriculum to complete this degree program in four years.  It is just one of several plans that will work and is presented only as broad guidance to students. Each student is strongly encouraged to develop a customized plan in consultation with their academic advisor.  Additional information can also be found in Degree Works. 

Training Specialist Major

Training Specialist Major Accelerated Guide*

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Permission required to take over 18 hours per semester.  This plan assumes at least 60 credits have been transferred in to Old Dominion University.

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SEPS 405 is a 4-hour course that is offered in a 12-week Session 1 format.  Courses taken in Winter Term and Maymester do not count toward Summer hours.