Preparing The Next Generation of HR Leaders
Human Resources is the backbone of every company.
Responsible for recruitment and staffing, employment law, and benefits, effective HR professionals are key to an organization’s ability to function on a day-to-day basis.
However with changes in technology and global competition, management teams are increasingly looking to HR as a strategic partner to attract top talent, develop A players, and help employees perform at their peak.
This has evolved the skills required to be a successful HR professional.
Human Resource Managers are now expected to be equipped with creative problem solving skills, data-driven decision making, and strategic management skills. Many professionals have considered getting their Master’s degree to help deepen their HR expertise and professional skills.
With a wide variety of Human Resource Management degree programs to choose from, Better Buys has built a one-stop resource to help compare and evaluate the options. In partnership with each university, we’ve profiled the leading HR masters programs in the country.
To be considered for inclusion, schools needed to demonstrate:
- A track record of success
- Relevant classes that matches the needs of today’s HR professionals
- Practical coursework and skill development
- An expert faculty
- Networking opportunities
Universities interested in having their program considered should contact us.
HR Masters Degree Programs
Eastern Michigan University
Florida International University
Georgetown University
Long Island University
Loyola University Chicago
School: Monte Ahuja College of Business
Example Courses: Quantitative Methods in Human Resources Management, Advanced Wage and Employment Theory, Collective Bargaining, Employment Practices Law, Labor Law, Employment Planning, Personnel Selection, and Training
Completion Length: 3-4 semesters
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: No
Program Details
The principal objective of the Master of Labor Relations and Human Resources (MLRHR) degree program is to help graduates begin careers, or advance their careers, in human resources and labor relations. Additional objectives of the program provide education in the fundamental principles of human resources and labor relations, understanding human resources data and its use in such areas as testing, program evaluation, selection and survey research, and providing an awareness of the political and legal environments in which human resources and labor relations function. The program has been revised for Fall 2016 to more closely match the SHRM curriculum guidelines.
What’s Unique
“The Monte Ahuja MLRHR Program provides an interdisciplinary perspective of the field. Students in the MLRHR Program are required to take the PHR practice assessment exam in their last semester of study. This requirement can be waived for students documenting current certification or those taking the actual certification exam. The purpose of this requirement is to help get students ready to take the actual professional designation test to help further their careers.”
-Timothy DeGroot, Ph.D.
Chair & Associate Professor
Department of Management
Monte Ahuja College of Business
Cleveland State University
School: College of Business
Example Courses: Staffing, Comp, Benefits, HRD, HR and Technology, International HRM, Labor Relations, Employment Law, OD, Leading Innovation, Communication and OE, Org Design and Strategy, Teams, Leadership
Completion Length: 18 months
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: Some courses
Program Details
EMU COB is AACSB accredited. MSHROD is 10 graduate courses in HR and OD. Courses are available hybrid, online, weekends, and evenings. HR curriculum approved by SHRM. Grad Certificates are five graduate courses that are subsets of MSHROD. Award winning EMU SHRM student chapter and large alumni base. Program is more than 30 years old.
What’s Unique
“The MSHROD is unique in that it combines HR and Organizational Development. Courses are offered in multiple formats such as online, hybrid, weekend, and evenings. Capstone course requires independent consulting project. Curriculum is applied and includes hands-on projects with outside clients. EMU MSHROD was in top 10 for Masters in HR FOR 2016 Lead Awards.”
-Dr. Fraya Wagner-Marsh,SPHR,GPHR,SHRM-SCP
Department Head, Management Department
Director, MSHROD and Grad Certificates in HR and OD
Eastern Michigan University
School: Chapman Graduate School of Business
Example Courses: HR Management Metrics, HR Strategy, Staffing Organizations, Rewards Systems Management, Labor and Conflict Management, Employment Law, Wellness Management, Performance Management
Completion Length: 12 months
Part-Time Option: No
Online Option: Yes
Program Details
This program delivers a comprehensive curriculum to help students become the strategic link between their organization’s workforce and its future success. As such, this one-year, accelerated program focuses on the crucial skills students need to manage within an increasingly diverse and international workplace. It prepares students for exciting HR positions such as HR manager, international human resources consultant, organizational development and change strategist, employee development professional, compensation and benefits specialist, and staffing director.
What’s Unique
“The MSHRM program at FIU developed an up-to-date curriculum that continually adjust to reflect changes in the HR field. Our program offers experienced faculty including well-known scholars and prominent, multinational HR executives to fully prepare students for making an impact on their organization. Students in this program receive a well-rounded education on all HR related topics. ”
-Paula Alger, M.S.
Senior Program Manager, MSHRM Programs
Chapman Graduate School of Business
Florida International University
School: School of Continuing Studies
Example Courses: Consulting Skills in Human Capital, Theories of Diversity and Inclusion, Strategic Thinking in HR, Issues in Staffing the Organizations, and HR in the International Context.
Completion Length: 18-36 months
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: No
Program Details
The master’s in Human Resources Management at Georgetown University is a flexible, part-time program that prepares professionals with the advanced knowledge and hands-on experience needed for career success. Students learn from a faculty of expert practitioners while sharpening their strategic thinking, analytical thinking, and decision-making strategies. Graduates of the program emerge as leaders in the field, positioned to excel as human resources professionals in an increasingly global and interconnected world.
What’s Unique
“Our program emphasizes the industry knowledge, global perspective, and real-world skills that students can apply to make an immediate impact in the workplace. Students leave the program with the tools they need to become effective and strategic HR business partners.”
-Kelly Otter, PhD
Dean
School of Continuing Studies
Georgetown University
School: Long Island University Brooklyn
Example Courses: Recruitment and Selection, Benefits and Compensation, Training and Development, Performance Evaluation and Labor Relations
Completion Length: 3-4 semesters
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: No
Program Details
All of the programs are designed to prepare students to enter the profession at the generalist level by providing a broad overview of the functional areas of human resources. Throughout the each program, students are engaged in coursework covering topics in organizational behavior, management leadership, managerial communication, management information systems, industrial relations, compensation and benefits, workplace safety, diversity in the workplace, and employee training development.
What’s Unique
“All programs are aligned with the HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and prepare students to pass SHRM’s varying certification examinations. The programs are taught predominantly by practitioners in the field and focus on bridging HRM theory to HRM practice and are taught in small classroom settings (typically 15-20 students).”
-Herbert Sherman, Ph.D.
Professor
Long Island University – Brooklyn
School: Quinlan School of Business
Example Courses: Compensation, Staffing, Employment Relations, Human Resource Development, Global HRM, Performance Management, and Ethics
Completion Length: 12 months
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: Some courses
Program Details
The MSHR program provides the students with the expertise, skills and networks to advance their human resource careers. This program is certified by the Society of Human Resource Management and it is the premier human resource program in Chicago. Although some classes utilize blend learning and on-line capabilities to improve the quality of our program, we are committed to the classroom experience to drive a better educational experience and employment opportunities for our students.
What’s Unique
“Our full-time faculty members are educated at premier universities has substantial professional experience that provides a superior education and employment opportunities for students. Committed alumni enhance the learning and networking experience through mentoring students, offering job opportunities and presenting in classes and on panels. The international orientation of the program supports employers drive to compete in very competitive global markets.”
-Dow Scott, Ph.D.
Professor of Human Resources
Institute of Human Resources and Employment Relations
Quinlan School of Business
Loyola University Chicago
School: Marygrove College
Example Courses: Compensation Management, Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining, Ethics, Recruiting, Change Management, HR simulation capstone class
Completion Length: 24 months
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: Yes
Program Details
The Master of Arts in HRM is designed for working adults who are either working in Human Resources or looking for a career change. The course is aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and is taught by academics who have worked in the field and by adjuncts who are HR professionals.
What’s Unique
“Our program has aligned with SHRM standards for graduate HR education since 2010. Our graduates have gone on to be senior managers, directors and Vice Presidents of HR departments in major corporations and civic organizations. The courses are integrated with each other in order to provide students with a complete understanding of Human Resources. Students can opt for a full degree (36 credit hours or 12 courses) or a graduate certificate (18 credit hours or 6 classes).”
-Jerry van Rossum M.A., M.B.A.
Program Coordinator, Human Resource Management
Marygrove College
School: Graziado School of Business & Management
Example Courses: Human Behavior in Organizations, Leadership Development Workshop, Global HR & Inclusion, Organizational Dynamics & Managing Change, Total Rewards, Financial Accounting, Economic Concepts, Human Resources Law, Talent Management, HR Analytics and Insights
Completion Length: 12-19 months
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: No
Program Details
The 39-unit Master of Science in Human Resources program provides a graduate academic learning experience designed to prepare and advance students toward professional careers in Human Resource Management. The degree program combines the theoretical foundations of human behavior with the key technical aspects of human talent management deployment. The curriculum places special emphasis on core business principles in order to position graduates to serve as a strategic business leader with the rest of your organization.
What’s Unique
“Small class sizes and one-on-one access to world-renowned faculty are at the foundation of what makes the Pepperdine Graziadio Master of Science in Human Resources program truly exceptional. There are no back row seats at Pepperdine and through collaboration and hands-on learning students are able to bridge the gap between academia and real-life business challenges. With an unbeatable location and one of the largest alumni networks on the west coast, our Master of Science in Human Resources is a top program for talent management professionals.”
-Mark Allen, Ph. D.
Academic Director
Master of Science in Human Resources Program
Graziado School of Business & Management
Pepperdine University
School: Krannert School of Management
Example Courses: Negotiations in Organizations, Managing Human Capital Globally, Managing Behavior in Organizations, Management Analytics
Completion Length: 18 months
Part-Time Option: No
Online Option: No
Program Details
Our program prepares students to be corporate leaders in organizations that create and maintain a competitive advantage through their people, their culture, and their Human Capital processes. Our graduates have a unique combination of expertise in Human Resource Management/ Human Capital aligned with keen business insights. Our program’s core competency for nearly six decades is our unique combination of HR thinking coupled with business/ analytical thinking and skills.
What’s Unique
“HR focused, business savvy leaders, for today’s global organizations.”
-Jill Lynn
Program Manager, MS Human Resource Management
Krannert School of Management
Purdue University
School: Angell Snyder School of Business
Example Courses: Organizational Behavior and Theory; Human Resources Planning and Administration; Value Systems and Professional Ethics, Recruitment Selection and Placement, Managing Human Resources Costs, Employment Law, Trends, Issues, and Perspectives in Human Resources, Wage, Salary and Benefit Administration, Training and Development
Completion Length: 18 months
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: Yes
Program Details
The Human Resources major prepares students to develop, support and administrate personnel in business organizations. Students will understand the challenges of employment and staffing; the complexities of compensation and benefits; the policies and programs that promote employee responsibility, production and satisfaction; and the methods to hire, retain and terminate employees based on legal policies and ethical parameters that protect both the rights of workers and the interests of the company.
What’s Unique
“Our online Master’s degree program in Human Resources is designed for busy working adults who have limited time for school. We also offer this program on-campus in Arizona, Indiana, Kansas and Wisconsin. Ottawa University offers concentrations in Health Care Management and Leadership and Management for those working on the MHR degree. Individuals can also earn a MBA-MHR Dual Degree to expand their knowledge base and career opportunities.”
-Dr. Orville G. Blackman
Dean
Angell Snyder School of Business
Ottawa University
School: Haub School of Business
Example Courses: Strategic Human Capital & Talent Management, Employment Law, Human Resource Technology, Human Capital Metrics, Finance & Accounting for Managers
Completion Length: 24 months
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: Yes
Program Details
The Master of Science in Managing Human Capital Program at Saint Joseph’s University supports professionals in their aspirations to differentiate themselves from their peers with a degree that delivers crucial skills across all areas: from human resources to operations, sales and marketing to finance; and production to customer service. Delivered within an AACSB-accredited business school and recognized by industry leaders, this online program delivers strategic expertise in order to leverage the “people assets” of any functional area and any industry.
What’s Unique
“The M.S. in Managing Human Capital Program is designed to transform students into strategic partners within their profession. For over a decade, this program has delivered a personalized, student-centric approach, which provides the best outcome for each student. While graduate business students share a general profile, every student has unique personal and professional reasons for earning a graduate degree. From early careerists to experienced professionals, the M.S. in Managing Human Capital Program views each student as an individual striving to build crucial skills with a program that can be applied in real-time.”
-Patricia D. Rafferty, Ed.D.
Director, M.S. in Managing Human Capital Program
Erivan K. Haub School of Businesses
Saint Joseph’s University
School: School of Business
Example Courses: Business Employment Law, Managing Human Resource Projects, Human Resource Information Systems, Developing Human Capital, Ethics and Advocacy for Human Resource Professionals
Completion Length: 36 months
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: Yes
Program Details
Strayer University’s master of science in human resource management degree equips students with advanced human resource management skills to develop effective talent management programs, negotiate wisely and bring increased value to a variety of businesses and companies. Students can select from two unique concentrations: Human Resource Generalist, and Human Resource and Organizational Development, each with its own focus. The program culminates with a valuable capstone project that gives students the opportunity to evaluate real business cases in order to develop strategic solutions. The Society of Human Resource Managers, the largest and most widely recognized human resource professional organization in the world, officially recognizes Strayer’s program as “[aligning] with their curriculum guidelines for human resource degrees.”
What’s Unique
“Strayer University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Since its founding in 1892, the University has had a legacy of serving working adult students via relevant and rigorous academic programs, innovative learning solutions, and has graduated more than 100,000 students around the world. Over the last several years, Strayer University has introduced ground-breaking initiatives to help solve today’s most perplexing higher education challenges, including college affordability, bridging to employers, and innovative ed-tech solutions, among others.”
-Matthew Miko
Dean
School of Business
Strayer University
School: Mays Business School
Example Courses: HR Analytics, Employment Regulation, Organizational Change and Development, Finance for HR Professionals, Global HRM, Training and Developing Leaders
Completion Length: 3 semesters
Part-Time Option: No
Online Option: No
Program Details
The MS-HRM Program provides fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to be an effective HR professional. We not only equip students with expertise in HR processes, such as recruitment, labor relations, employment law, and compensation, but we also prepare them to be business partner, capable of driving talent management and organizational effectiveness strategies.
What’s Unique
“Business leaders increasingly recognize the importance of individual talent, organizational capabilities, culture and leadership as a key to the success of their organizations. Our graduates are thought leaders and advisors on these issues, helping deliver value to customers, employees, investors and communities. The MS-HRM Program has a specific focus on understanding the business, which can be seen through the curriculum and strong partnerships with Fortune 500 companies.”
-Kaitlyn Newman
Director, MS Human Resource Management Program
Mays Business School
Texas A&M University
School: School of Business and Management
Example Courses: Human Resources as a Strategic Partner; Strategic Recruiting, Retention and Succession Planning; Managing the Human Resources Enterprise; The Legal and Ethical Environment of Human Resources
Completion Length: 12-18 months
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: Yes
Program Details
This is a 36-credit master’s degree program that is offered completely online and designed for working HR professionals interested in professional advancement. The program is grounded in current best practices and is fully aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates.
What’s Unique
“The TESU MSHRM program is built around the needs of working adults and can be delivered to students wherever they live or work, or are deployed. Drawing on extensive research about what makes effective human resources practitioners, the University has identified the human resources competencies that can make a difference in HR careers. The program features 8-week courses that prepare students to become a strategic partner within their organizations.”
-Dean Michael Williams, PhD
School of Business and Management
Thomas Edison State University
School: Towson University
Example Courses: Training & Development, Organizational Change, Organizational Behavior, Leadership Theory and Practice, Compensation and Benefits
Completion Length: 36 credit hours
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: No
Program Details
The HRD program focuses on the professional practice of human resource management, development, leadership, and organizational change and effectiveness. The program is ideal if you are looking to enter the human resources profession, seeking to expand your knowledge and expertise, or wanting to improve your practice and advancement opportunities.
What’s Unique
“Take courses to focus your degree in: General HRM, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Employee Training & Development, or Leadership and Organizational Development. Learn from experienced professional. ”
-Abby L. Mello, Ph.D.
Human Resource Development Program
Psychology Department
Towson University
School: Shidler College of Business
Example Courses: Training and Development, Advanced Organizational Behavior, Finance for Human Resource Management, Compensation, The Staffing Process, Negotiations and Labor Relations, International Human Resources, HRIS
Completion Length: 16 months
Part-Time Option: No
Online Option: No
Program Details
The Shidler College of Business, Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) program is offered in an accelerated executive format for working professionals and is specifically customized to equip human resource managers with the tools necessary to effectively meet the challenges of an ever-changing business climate. In the past, the MHRM program has been offered via polycom from Oahu to neighbor island locations including Maui, Moloka‘i, Kaua‘i, Lana‘i, and the Big Island.
What’s Unique
“Rigorous and challenging, the MHRM program curriculum is designed to sharpen tools, refine skills, and put global and local human resource challenges in perspective. The program begins with an intensive weekend residential session. Classes are conveniently offered on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. and on alternating Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.”
-Toni Kruse Mingo
Director, Executive Degree Programs
University of Hawaii at Manoa
School: College of Business
Example Courses: Staffing and Performance Management, Compensation and Benefits, Human Resource Law, Organizational Consulting, Training and Development
Completion Length: 24 months
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: No
Program Details
The MSHRM degree provides both the breadth of an advanced business education and the depth of specialized human resource management training. The program’s curriculum is structured to converge theory, research and practical application of numerous content areas in the human resource field. The MSHRM degree is tailored to working practitioners and future professionals alike.
What’s Unique
“The MSHRM program at UTA is the only master’s degree program of its kind in the North Texas region, the program prepares students for advanced careers in human resource management. Students have the opportunity to interact and network with many active alumni and with the program’s advisory board of prominent HR professionals. Our HR faculty are experienced and highly regarded scholars and practitioners in the human resource management discipline.”
-Jan Piveral, Ph.D.
Associate Director, MS HRM Program
University of Texas at Arlington
School: Jon M. Huntsman School of Business
Example Courses: Talent Acquisition and Retention, Training and Organization Development, Total Rewards and Employee Performance, Employee Relations and Labor Movement, Employment Law, Leadership and Organizational Excellence in a Global Context
Completion Length: 18 months
Part-Time Option: Yes
Online Option: Yes
Program Details
In this unique skill-based program, our world-class faculty will prepare current and aspiring HR professionals to navigate the global economy, become strategic ethical leaders and impact corporate performance. Students will gain management skills in attracting and developing a productive work force in today’s competitive business environment. Graduates and students at the Huntsman School at Utah State University are recruited by local, national, and international companies for summer internships and full-time positions.
What’s Unique
“The Master of Human Resources Program at Utah State University offers a state of the art curriculum with a strong strategic orientation to human resources. Our faculty are highly engaged and student-focused. The program has excellent placement.”
-Steven H Hanks, Ph.D.
Director, Graduate Studies in Human Resources
Jon M Huntsman School of Business
Utah State University