Human Resource Management, M.S.

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The College of Business offers a graduate major in Human Resource Management leading to the degree of Master of Science in Human Resource Management (MS in HRM) This degree program prepares students for positions of middle and top-level leadership.  It is a specialized program of study designed for students with preparation in a variety of fields such as business, psychology, sociology and communications. A broad core of courses provides an in-depth understanding of human resource management operations and management. In addition, selective courses provide a working understanding of the major business functions.

The MS in HRM at GSU is offered as both a face-to-face or a fully online and highly interactive specialized master’s degree in business program. All courses are taught by accessible and dedicated full-time faculty members who are experts in their fields.

Special Admission Requirements

In addition to university admission requirements, applicants must submit the following documents as part of their application package:

1. Two confidential letters of recommendation from professional references (e.g., current or former college faculty member, current or former work supervisor, community leader);
2. Current resume;
3. A two-page, double-spaced statement of intent. The statement of intent offers applicants an additional opportunity to demonstrate writing and communication skills and supports candidacy for the MS in HRM degree.
   1. Please address the following questions within your letter of intent:
      1. What are your personal short- and long-term career goals?
      2. What are your reasons for pursuing an MS in HRM degree at this time?
      3. How do you plan to commit to starting and completing an MS in HRM program? In this response indicate your preference for the online or face-to-face program. If online is selected, also address your feelings and experience in working with others in an online setting.
      4. Discuss your level of self-discipline, planning, and organizational skills and impact on family, work, or finances.
      5. Give specific personal examples of leadership and provide other pertinent information to help the committee select candidates who can benefit from and contribute to the program.
4. GPA Requirements - Applicants shall meet one of the following:
   1. A cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.
   2. A cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 and a G.P.A. of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of course work from a regionally accredited college or university.
   3. A cumulative G.P.A. of 2.75 from a regionally accredited college or university and at least 5 years HR experience in a complex organization.
5. GMAT/GRE not required for this program.

Master’s Final Project

MGMT - 8910 Integrative Human Resource Management Strategies (3) is the capstone course of the MS in HRM program. It is designed, through intensive case analysis and study, to integrate the various human resource management functions and to demonstrate the student’s overall knowledge and skills. Application for enrollment in MGMT-8910 is required and available in the College of Business Academic Advising Office,.

Candidacy Requirement

After admission as a degree-seeking student, a student also must apply for candidacy. Application forms are available in the Academic Advising Office. To qualify for candidacy, a student must:

1. satisfy all conditions of admission;
2. maintain an overall G.P.A. of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for all course work completed at Governors State University as a graduate student with no more than two grades of “C” in all required course work;
3. complete prerequisite competencies with a grade of “C” or higher and overall G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher;
4. apply for candidacy after earning a minimum of nine and a maximum of 15 graduate credit-hours (beyond prerequisite coursework). Students who complete more than 15 hours of degree requirements before attaining candidacy status may still be required to complete up to 18 additional hours, approved by the Dean, as a candidate before being approved for graduation by the college.

Degree Requirements

Students must meet all university requirements for a master’s degree.

Students must meet the collegial graduation requirements listed above.

Prerequisite Competencies

Written communications (English Composition and Speech Communication) or the equivalent of BUS - 3200 Business Communications (3).

Some of the required coursework listed under “Required Courses” and “Business Courses” have graduate level prerequisite coursework. Generally, students with an undergraduate degree in business, completed within five years prior to application from a nationally or regionally accredited school, with a grade of “B” or higher, have satisfied most of the prerequisite requirements. Below are the graduate level prerequisite courses and their undergraduate equivalent courses which may be used to satisfy the prerequisite requirements as stated in the course descriptions:

• ACCT - 6100 Foundations of Accounting (3) (Undergraduate equivalent courses include ACCT-2110 and ACCT-2111 )
• ECON - 6100 Foundations of Economics (3) (Undergraduate equivalent courses include ECON-2301 and ECON-2302 )
• MGMT - 6700 Foundations of Managerial Statistics (3) (Undergraduate equivalent courses include MATH-2100 and BUS-3700 )

Required Courses (24 Hours)

• MGMT - 7300 Human Resource Management Strategies (3)
• MGMT - 7310 Strategic Organizational Staffing (3)
• MGMT - 7320 Strategic Human Resource Development Systems (3)
• MGMT - 7330 Human Resources Analytics And Performance Management (3)
• MGMT - 7340 Strategic Human Resource Compensation (3)
• MGMT - 7500 Organization Behavior in the Global Context (3)
• MGMT - 8300 Labor Management Relations (3)
• MGMT - 8500 Leadership Dynamics (3)

Final Project (3 Hours)

• MGMT - 8910 Integrative Human Resource Management Strategies (3)

Business Courses (9 Hours)

Students are required to select nine hours (3 courses) from the list below. Business selectives prepare students to work with functional managers to meet their people management and related advisory needs. Select three of the following courses:

• MGMT - 7200 Problems in Business Ethics (3)
• MGMT - 7400 Operations Management: Strategies and Techniques (3)
• MGMT - 7600 International Business (3)
• MGMT - 7601 International Human Resource Management (3)
• MGMT - 8880 Internship (3)
• FIN - 7101 Financial Management (3)
• MKTG - 7100 Strategic Marketing (3)
• MIS - 7101 Information Systems and Technology (3)

Total Credit Hours: 36 Hours