Human Resource Management, M.S.

(36 credits)

Program Description

Effective human resources management is essential to organizational success. The Human Resources Management degree delivers critical learning and preparation, providing graduates with the skills necessary to recruit, train, and lead the workforce of the future. The MS builds on the foundations of Human Resource Management and provides an experience where students can transfer concepts and practices directly into a human resource management career. Whether you are new to the field, or an experienced Human Resource professional, the curriculum is designed to prepare you to confidently handle common HR tasks, including:

• Administering employee-related services and resolving employee disputes
• Coordinating and supervising the work of support staff
• Overseeing an organization’s recruitment, interview, selection, and hiring processes
• Planning and coordinating workforce needs

Students will analyze the major challenges of recruiting and staffing in today’s labor market to include internal and external recruitment, retention and legal compliance while developing overall leadership and team building skills.

Learning Outcomes: 

• Examine the legal dynamics employers encounter in the areas of workplace inclusion & diversity, discrimination, harassment, privacy, health & safety, and conflict & dispute resolution.
• Analyze employment benefits and compensation systems, the legalities associated with each, and their impact on the employee recruiting, retention, and satisfaction.
• Examine the steps to union organizing, collective bargaining, decertification, grievance and arbitration processes, protected concerted activity, ULPs, vulnerability & climate assessments, and prevention.
• Evaluate the challenges of an emerging international workforce and how to incorporate cultural differences, training, and development in organizations.
• Identify ethical and legal issues relevant to the policies, procedures, practices, and management of human resources in a competitive environment.
• Examine best practices in staffing, sourcing, recruiting, assessing, behavioral interviewing, selecting, hiring, placement, on boarding, orientation, and follow-up. 
• Identify how to achieve positive employee relations, improve employee engagement & involvement, and increase employee satisfaction & retention.
• Evaluate the use of employee surveys, focus groups, and employee action teams.
• Analyze successful communications programs with consistent employee messaging, and effective open door programs & tools, such as skip level meetings, hotlines, and 360s.  
• Identify the value of continuous improvement, using performance management, workforce management, and HR technology & data, to improve the workplace.
• Analyze organizational effectiveness & design, and learn how to conduct effective succession planning, talent development, career pathing, and leadership development.
• Examine how to become an effective and successful Strategic HR Business Partner.