A generalized macroscopic model is introduced in treating the transient heat conduction problems in finite rigid slabs irradiated by short pulse lasers. The analytical solution is derived by using Green＇s function method and finite integral transform technique. Various behaviors of conduction heat transfer, such as wave, wavelike, and diffusion, are exhibited by adjusting the relaxation parameters. Then detailed discussions have been given on the interrelations between these behaviors. The calculated temperature responses by this model are compared with two literature results measured under extremely low temperature and ultra-high speed heating, respectively. The calculations show good agreement with the experimental data.