Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations
University of Minnesota
Key Information
Campus location
Minneapolis, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 semesters
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
USD 1,066 / per credit *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* part time
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
The Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations Program is widely considered to be one of the top HR master’s programs in the nation and is available through a full-time or part-time option. The curriculum gives students a thorough understanding of contemporary HR practices and the underlying theories that are necessary for successful careers in the field.
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Ideal Students
Explore the important demographic information and admission statistics below to help you determine if the Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations program could be the right fit for you.
Admissions
Curriculum
A Dynamic Field of Study
The field of human resources and industrial relations encompasses all aspects of the employment relationship, from human resource management to labor relations and beyond. By blending theory and practice, our degree programs provide our full-time and part-time students with a multi-disciplinary foundation in economics, psychology, business, ethics, culture, and law.
Current research and practice issues include:
- How organizations empower employees and unleash intellectual capital to succeed in the global economy.
- How HR professionals move beyond administration to become strategic business partners.
- How the field of HRIR provides leadership as organizations reinvent themselves to focus on core competencies?
- How employment is becoming more family-friendly, flexible, and responsive.
- How to create public policies and grow institutions that balance the interests of workers and employers in a global economy.
The Master of HRIR provides students with a thorough understanding of contemporary practices, underlying theories, and the major areas of human resources and industrial relations, giving them the conceptual basis and analytical framework for successful careers with corporations and public sector organizations.
To provide a rigorous education across the entire field of human resources and industrial relations, the curriculum is structured around 3 core areas and rooted in 3 key concepts from social science, behavioral science, and business. Students take core courses in all 6 of these areas of HRIR.
Core areas
- Staffing, training, and development
- Compensation and benefits
- Labor relations and collective bargaining
Key concepts
- Organizational behavior and theory
- Managerial economics and labor market analysis
- Data analysis
Full-time sequence
A sample full-time course sequence for fall semester entry is given below.
Term | Courses |
First Semester | HRIR 6001 Business Principles for the HRIR Professional HRIR 6111 Using Data and Metrics in HRIR HRIR 6301 Staffing, Training, and Development |
Second Semester | HRIR 6401 Organizational Theory Foundations of High-Impact HRIR HRIR 6441 Organizational Behavior Foundations of High-Impact HRIR HRIR 6501 Compensation and Benefits HRIR 6701 Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining |
Summer Internship | Full-time students usually complete a summer internship between first and second years |
Third Semester | 12 credits of HRIR electives and related field courses |
Fourth Semester | 10 credits of HRIR electives and related field courses and HRIR 6101 HRIR in Practice: Strategy, Execution, and Ethics |
Part-time sequence
The curriculum is the same for the part-time option as for the full-time option, but part-time students go at their own pace and typically take 4-8 credits per semester and complete the program in 3-4 years. Taking the required core courses as early as possible in the program is recommended.
Course Syllabi
The Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations degree program requires completion of 48-49 semester credits. Students take 40 credits in Human Resources and Industrial Relations and 8 credits in related fields, such as management courses.
Full-time students typically enroll in 12-14 credits per semester and complete the degree in two academic years. Working professional part-time students typically take 4-8 credits each semester and complete the program in 3-4 years.
To help you get a feel for the topics covered in each class, below are samples of recent syllabi. If you are a current MHRIR student and you are interested in seeing a full description of the courses below, visit OneStop.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Employment by Geographic Location
Geographic Region | % Accepting New Jobs |
Midwest | 42% |
Northeast | 7% |
South | 5% |
Southwest | 7% |
West | 16% |
International | 21% |
Recruiting Companies
There are a variety of companies ranging from small to large and local to national that recruit our HRIR students. Below is a sample of the recent organizations that recruited students from our program.
English Language Requirements
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