COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Human Resources is a 36-credit graduate program designed to prepare students for advanced professional roles in human resource management by combining strategic business knowledge with applied expertise in workforce management. The curriculum is structured around 21 credits of core courses, 12 credits in a specialized Employee Relations concentration, and a 3-credit restricted elective. Core courses provide a strong foundation in essential HR and organizational topics, including business analytics, human resource management, strategic human resource management through a capstone experience, compensation administration, multicultural issues in the workplace, employment law, and organizational behavior. These courses are designed to help students understand how HR functions align with organizational strategy and contribute to effective decision-making in modern business environments. The capstone course integrates learning from across the program and requires students to apply HR concepts to real-world organizational challenges, strengthening analytical and strategic problem-solving skills. The Employee Relations concentration focuses on the behavioral, legal, and relational aspects of managing employees in organizations, with coursework in industrial relations, worker well-being, psychology of conflict resolution, and psychology of negotiation and mediation. This concentration prepares students to manage workplace conflict, improve employee engagement, and navigate labor-management relations in both private and public sector settings. Students also complete a 3-credit restricted elective, which allows flexibility to select a course such as managerial communication, global economics, benefits system design, public sector personnel administration, or an approved course from another HR concentration, enabling interdisciplinary skill development. Overall, the program emphasizes the development of strategic thinking, ethical judgment, communication ability, and leadership skills, ensuring graduates are prepared to function as effective HR professionals and business partners who can manage complex workforce challenges in diverse and evolving organizational environments while supporting long-term organizational success and employee well-being.