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M.S. in Human Resource
Management and Development

CURRICULUM

The comprehensive curriculum for the Master of Science in Human Resource Management and Development was designed by senior HR professionals working in tandem with the School’s world-class faculty. The program’s core courses provide you with a solid foundation in the five key areas outlined by the HR Competency Model: strategy contribution, business knowledge, personal credibility, human resource technology, and human resource delivery. Building on your core course work, you select from three concentration areas: human resource management, organizational effectiveness, and human resource development. The M.S. program culminates with the real-world experience of an applied Capstone project.

CORE COURSES
Eight required core courses focus on fundamental competencies and skills that are essential for success in the human resource profession. These courses include Managing in a Global Economy, Financial Management, Process Management and Decision Making, Information Technology, Foundations of Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior, Business Strategy and Ethics, and Research Process and Methodology. To accommodate professional students, all courses are offered in the evening and some are also available online.

CONCENTRATIONS
You select one of three concentrations that build on the foundation of your core course work: Human Resource Management, Organizational Effectiveness, or Human Resource Development. A concentration consists of four courses chosen from one concentration area plus one elective from any of the concentrations or from the Special Topics in Human Resources courses offered on a rotating basis. The special topics courses may also include courses from other degree programs at the School.

ELECTIVE COURSES
You select one additional elective course from any of the concentrations or from the Special Topics in Human Resources classes, which are offered periodically. Special topics courses are designed to supplement the standard array of courses with subjects that are very highly specialized, such as mergers and acquisitions, executive compensation, and incentives. In most cases, they involve more intense exposure to a particular field of study. As an alternative to being taken as an elective, a special topics course, where appropriate, may be substituted for one of the concentration courses with departmental approval.

You may also select an elective course from Human Resource Issues in Specific Industries, which are offered periodically. These courses cover HR issues particular to different industries. In many cases, they are offered in collaboration with other industry-specific graduate programs within the School and, if mutually beneficial, with other graduate programs from other schools in the University. Targeted industries are healthcare, nonprofit organizations, real estate, hotel and tourism, publishing, government agencies, professional services, financial services, and information services.

CAPSTONE PROJECT
The Capstone project is your final advanced project marking the culmination of your master’s degree program. As part of the Capstone, you enroll in Special Project in Applied Human Resource Strategies, which allows you to undertake an intensive exploration of the applied aspect of human resource strategy. Working as a team with other students, you create a human resource management simulation based on a real-world organizational setting. You apply what you’ve learned in class toward this simulation and use case studies, research, and other tools. At the same time, industry leaders from both the public and private sector come to class, examine your work, and offer their perspective. Ultimately, your finished project offers solutions and demonstrates that you’ve learned about the strategic role that human resource management plays in an organization. In certain situations, subject to department approval, you may be permitted to research and write a thesis as your Capstone Project. You select a topic in your concentration area and, with faculty approval and guidance, conduct your research in preparation for a final thesis paper. The finished project demonstrates your ability to conduct comprehensive research and articulate original ideas and thought processes that make a practical contribution to the existing body of knowledge in the field of human resources. All final papers must be of an academic and research standard that is consistent with the requirements of current journals and publications.