The Master of Science in management specialization in human resource management is designed to give you the knowledge and skills you need to advance in the HR field and is aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management guidelines for graduate education. In this program, you can gain practical, management-level experience in the theory, research, knowledge, and procedures used by HR executives, generalists, and specialists—and develop a skill set you can take anywhere.

These requirements are for students who enroll in the 2020–2021 academic year. For prior year academic requirements, visit our catalog archive.

About the Management Master's Degree with Human Resource Management Specialization

What You'll Learn

Through your coursework, you will learn how to

  • Design human resources policies and processes to support changing environmental factors and organizational goals
  • Evaluate employee relations in union and nonunion organizations
  • Design efficient and effective recruitment and selection methods
  • Evaluate strategies, procedures, and techniques of job analysis, design, and evaluation; performance appraisal; and compensation management
  • Prescribe appropriate organizational development strategies and techniques
  • Plan a training program
  • Diagnose problems and identify solutions for managing virtual and global teams

Coursework Examples

In past projects, students have had the opportunity to

  • Plan a job analysis and develop a new position description to address an employee's claim of unfair treatment
  • Create a proposal for an onboarding program for new consultants in a company experiencing high turnover
  • Evaluate an organization's labor relations status and report findings in a five-page briefing paper

Industry Certification

This program can help prepare you for the following certification exam(s):

Management Master's Degree with Human Resource Management Specialization Requirements

Our curriculum is designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars. You'll learn theories combined with real-world applications and practical skills you can apply on the job right away.

Master's - specialization Courses

Initial Requirement

  • UCSP 615
    (to be taken within the first 6 credits of study)

Core Courses

  • MGMT 630
  • MGMT 640
  • MGMT 650

Specialization Courses

  • HRMD 610
  • HRMD 620
  • HRMD 630
  • HRMD 640
  • HRMD 650
  • HRMD 651
  • HRMD 665

Capstone Course

  • MGMT 670

Course Rules and Program Progression

  • MGMT 630 (or MGMT 610) must be taken within the first 6 credits.
    • MGMT 610 and MGMT 615 may be taken instead of MGMT 630.
  • MGMT 640 should not be attempted simultaneously with MGMT 650.
  • You must complete 24 credits of program coursework, including all core courses, before enrolling in MGMT 670.
  • Courses should be taken in the order listed.

Other Requirements

  • You must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher at all times.
  • All degree requirements must be fulfilled within five consecutive years.
  • Any transfer credits must have been earned within the five-year time frame to be applied toward a graduate degree.

Please review our overview of overall master's degree requirements for additional considerations.

Career Preparation

This program is designed to help prepare you for a career in human resources management in the private or public sector.

Experience Recommended for Success in the Program

If you lack a recent background in finance or accounting, you should take UCSP 620 before MGMT 640.

If you lack a recent background in statistics, you should take UCSP 630 before MGMT 650. Taking UCSP 605 is recommended to improve writing skills.

Student Clubs and Organizations

  • Society for Human Resource Management, UMGC Chapter

    • Type: Student organization
    Professional Affiliation:

    Society for Human Resource Management


    Available To: Undergraduate and Graduate

    Joining the UMGC Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management allows you to network with other students, staff, and faculty who are currently working in or are interested in entering the human resource field. Members share information, experiences, and knowledge. The chapter hosts monthly events designed to help students meet local professionals and transition into or advance within the field. In addition, the chapter provides leadership and student development opportunities for members.



Finance Your Education

Learn about ways to meet, manage, and lower your education costs.