Academic Programs Catalog

The Master of Human Resources and Labor Relations is the school’s signature graduate degree, offered on a full-time basis in East Lansing, Michigan.  With a diverse and highly qualified student body, the master’s program is universally regarded as one of the premier professional programs of its kind in the world.  Preparing future leaders for professional careers, students receive a comprehensive, contemporary foundation in human resources and labor relations, gain a broad global perspective, and learn to apply best practices, lead organizational change, and act strategically as business leaders. 
The curriculum offers a wide range of courses across required core knowledge areas including:  human resource management, labor-management relations, organizational change, business acumen, international human resources and employment relations, workplace law, economics of human resources, and quantitative methods for human resource analyses.

In addition to classroom instruction, nearly all students participate in paid summer internships with companies between their first and second year in the program.  Through these summer internships, students receive invaluable mentoring and on-the-job learning, working as members of specific project teams and undertaking individual assignments.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Social Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be considered for admission to the master's degree program, a student must have a bachelor's degree and a cumulative grade–point average of 3.00 or higher in the junior and senior years. Applicants may submit scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test or on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), however the GRE/GMAT scores are optional. Applicants must complete one course in microeconomic principles, one course in statistics, and one course in behavioral sciences at the undergraduate level with a minimum grade of 3.0 in each course. In addition, applicants will be judged on the quality of their statement of objectives and three letters of reference.

Requirements for the Master of Human Resources and Labor Relations Degree in Human Resources and Labor Relations

The program is available under both Plan A (with thesis) and Plan B (without thesis).  The student must complete 36 credits with a grade–point average of at least 3.00.

Human Resources and Labor Relations students who are admitted to the dual MHRL/JD program with the Michigan State University - College of Law may transfer a maximum of 9 credits from the Michigan State University/College of Law program to the MHRL program. These credits may be used only to satisfy elective credits. Only Plan B (without thesis) is available for election under the dual degree program.

The School of Human Resources and Labor Relations offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Human Resources and Labor Relations to prepare students for a career as a scholar in human resources or labor and employment relations in a tenure-track position at a research-oriented university.  Students study employment phenomena from the perspective of multiple actors including employees, employers, unions, the government, and society at-large. The program integrates tools from diverse disciplines including economics, management, and psychology.

Admission

Admission to this doctoral program is based on an evaluation of the student’s academic record, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores, letters of recommendation, written statements, and an application form. For further details, visit our Web site at www.hrlr.msu.edu.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Human Resources and Labor Relations

Students will complete course work and seminars (60 credits) within the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations, and within other departments in the university. Students must: