Plaster College of Business and Entrepreneurship
Human Resource Management (MA)
Master’s Degree offered in On-campus, Online, and Blended formats.
*On-campus format may require some online classes for degree completion.
Human resources is no longer a back-office function. Today糖心vlog视频檚 HR leaders shape organizational strategy, drive workforce transformation, and translate people data into business outcomes. Lindenwood University糖心vlog视频檚 Master of Arts in Human Resource Management prepares you for exactly that kind of leadership. Housed in the Plaster College of Business and Entrepreneurship, this ACBSP-accredited, -aligned program builds the strategic, analytical, and legal expertise that organizations demand from senior HR professionals.
Whether you are an HR practitioner ready to move into management, a professional pivoting into human resources from another discipline, or a recent graduate looking to accelerate your career, this master糖心vlog视频檚 in human resource management delivers the depth and flexibility to get you there. The program is available in on-campus (HiFlex) and online formats, so you can attend class in person, join virtually via web conference, or participate fully online. You choose, and you can vary your participation at will. View the full .
What distinguishes Lindenwood糖心vlog视频檚 HR master糖心vlog视频檚 from a general MBA? Focus. Every course in this program is purpose-built for human resource leadership. You糖心vlog视频檒l study strategic HR management, workforce staffing, employment and labor law, total rewards and compensation strategy, HR analytics, organizational behavior, and change management. You won糖心vlog视频檛 split your attention across marketing, finance, and operations modules that dilute your HR depth. The result is a graduate who can walk into a VP of HR, HR director, or CHRO conversation and speak the language fluently.
Key Program Facts
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; 33糖心vlog视频�42 credit hours (depending on prior academic background)
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Available in on-campus (HiFlex) and online formats
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; ACBSP accredited and SHRM aligned
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; No GRE or GMAT required
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Designed for working professionals
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Culminates in an HR Management Integration capstone
Why SHRM Alignment Matters
Lindenwood糖心vlog视频檚 HRM curriculum is aligned with competencies, the recognized professional standard in the HR field. This means your coursework maps directly to the knowledge domains and behavioral competencies that SHRM uses to define excellence in HR practice. The program also provides strong academic preparation for professional certifications like SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP after you meet the experience requirements. If you are considering whether a master糖心vlog视频檚 in HR management is worth it, SHRM alignment is a meaningful differentiator that employers recognize.
Curriculum Overview
The MA in Human Resource Management requires 33 credit hours of core coursework, plus 0糖心vlog视频�9 hours of foundation and writing/statistics coursework depending on your undergraduate background.
Major Coursework (33 credit hours):
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; HRM 56510 糖心vlog视频� Strategic Human Resource Management
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; HRM 56530 糖心vlog视频� Workforce Talent Development
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; HRM 56545 糖心vlog视频� Employment and Labor Law
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; HRM 56550 糖心vlog视频� Workforce Total Rewards
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; HRM 56555 糖心vlog视频� Workforce Staffing
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; HRM 56565 糖心vlog视频� Human Resource Management Analytics
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; HRM 56585 糖心vlog视频� Human Resource Management Integration (capstone)
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; MGMT 56035 糖心vlog视频� Organizational Behavior
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; MGMT 56037 糖心vlog视频� Organizational Change and Development
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; MGMT 56065 糖心vlog视频� Project Management
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; FIN 52005 or FIN 52010 糖心vlog视频� Fundamentals of Financial Management or Financial Policy
Foundation Coursework (0糖心vlog视频�9 credit hours): Students without sufficient undergraduate business coursework may need to complete foundation courses in areas like accounting, economics, or management. These can be waived with prior coursework (grade of B or better) or by passing a diagnostic exam.
Writing & Statistics (0糖心vlog视频�9 credit hours): Additional coursework in academic writing or statistics may be required based on your background. International students may complete writing coursework based on placement results.
Essential Skills & Insights
The MA in Human Resource Management develops five critical competency areas that define effective HR leaders:
Strategic HR Leadership 糖心vlog视频� Learn to align people strategy with organizational goals. Develop the ability to advise C-suite leadership on workforce planning, talent acquisition, retention, and succession.
Employment Law & Compliance 糖心vlog视频� Master the legal frameworks governing employment relationships, including federal and state labor law, EEOC compliance, ADA, FMLA, and workplace investigation protocols.
HR Analytics & Data-Driven Decision-Making 糖心vlog视频� Turn workforce data into actionable insights. Learn to build dashboards, measure HR program effectiveness, forecast turnover, and quantify the ROI of people investments.
Total Rewards & Compensation Strategy 糖心vlog视频� Design competitive, equitable compensation and benefits structures that attract and retain talent while supporting organizational financial health.
Organizational Development & Change Management 糖心vlog视频� Lead organizational transformation through structured change management frameworks. Understand group dynamics, culture building, and the behavioral science behind effective teams.
Faculty in the Plaster College of Business and Entrepreneurship bring professional HR backgrounds alongside academic credentials. You糖心vlog视频檒l learn from instructors who have led HR functions, managed organizational change, and navigated the legal and strategic complexities of workforce management firsthand. Coursework also examines how AI is transforming HR practice, preparing you to lead in a tech-driven environment.
Experiential Learning, Real-World Impact
The HRM master糖心vlog视频檚 program emphasizes applied learning throughout the curriculum:
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Analyze real-world HR case studies covering workforce restructuring, compensation disputes, and organizational change
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Build HR analytics dashboards and apply data-driven decision-making to workforce challenges
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Develop strategic HR plans applicable to your current organization or a target employer
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Complete the HRM Integration capstone, synthesizing your learning into a comprehensive applied project
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Network with HR professionals and business leaders through guest speakers and professional events
Career Outlook
Graduates of Lindenwood糖心vlog视频檚 MA in Human Resource Management are prepared for mid-to-senior-level HR leadership roles such as:
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Human Resources Manager / Director
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; HR Business Partner
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Talent Development Manager / Director
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Compensation and Benefits Manager
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Employee Relations Manager
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Workforce Analytics Specialist / People Analytics Manager
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Organizational Development Consultant
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) / VP of HR
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Entrepreneurs and small business owners also benefit from advanced HRM expertise
According to the , human resources managers earned a median annual salary of $140,030 in May 2024, with the top 10% earning more than $239,200. Employment is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034. Compensation and benefits managers earned a median of $156,230. earned a median of $72,910, illustrating the significant salary jump that comes with advancing into management roles through a graduate degree.
The program also provides strong academic preparation for SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certifications, which can further increase earning potential and career advancement. Professionals who don糖心vlog视频檛 need a full master糖心vlog视频檚 degree can explore Lindenwood糖心vlog视频檚 Human Resource Management Graduate Certificate as a focused alternative.
Program Contact
Dr. Mike Marzano
Professor, Management
Phone: (636) 949-4882
Email: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Human Resource Management MA is available in on-campus (HiFlex) and online formats. The HiFlex format lets you attend in person, join via web conference, or participate fully online, and you can vary your participation at will. For a dedicated fully online experience, Lindenwood also offers an Online MA in Human Resource Management.
The program requires 33 credit hours of major coursework, plus 0糖心vlog视频�9 hours of foundation coursework depending on your prior academic background. Total credit hours range from 33 to 42.
No. Students from any undergraduate background are welcome. Those without sufficient prior business coursework may need to complete foundation courses, which can be waived with qualifying grades (B or better) or diagnostic exam scores.
No. Lindenwood does not require GRE or GMAT scores for admission to the HRM MA program.
SHRM alignment means the curriculum reflects the professional HR competencies and behavioral standards defined by the . This ensures your coursework is relevant to current HR practice and recognized by employers. It also provides academic preparation for SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certifications.
Yes. The SHRM-aligned curriculum provides academic preparation for SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certifications. Certification eligibility also depends on professional experience and credentialing requirements set by SHRM.
The MA in Human Resource Management is a dedicated HR degree where every course focuses on HR leadership, analytics, law, and strategy. The MBA with Human Resource Management emphasis is a general business degree with HR electives layered on top. Choose the MA if you want maximum HR depth. Choose the MBA if you want broader business credentials with some HR specialization.
Graduates pursue roles including HR manager, HR director, HR business partner, talent development manager, compensation and benefits manager, employee relations manager, workforce analytics specialist, organizational development consultant, and CHRO/VP of HR.
Begin your application at . For questions about the admissions process, contact graduate admissions.
Related Resources
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Top Benefits of a Master糖心vlog视频檚 in Human Resource Management
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; How AI Can Be Utilized by HR: Exploring AI Trends
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Human Resource Management Minor
糖心vlog视频�&苍产蝉辫; Human Resource Management Graduate Certificate