What is a master's degree in management with a specialization in human resource management?

A master's degree in management with a specialization in human resource management is a graduate program designed to give you the knowledge and skills you need to advance in the HR field. UMGC's Master of Science in management with a specialization in human resource management covers topics like employee and labor relations, recruitment and selection, organizational development and change, managing virtual and global teams, and more.

Is it worth pursuing an online master's degree in management with a specialization in human resource management?

At UMGC, we want you to be happy with the investment you make in your education, and we work hard to keep our programs affordable. When you choose to pursue your master's in management with a specialization in human resource management at UMGC, you can rest assured that the quality of our curriculum is backed by the reputation of an accredited state university and a member institution of the University System of Maryland. Deciding whether an online master's degree in management with a specialization in human resource management is worth it for you ultimately depends on your individual needs and goals. If you're not sure whether this is the right program for you or need help figuring out how to fit the program into your life, don't hesitate to reach out to us—our advisors and success coaches are happy to help.

How long does it take to get a master’s in management with a specialization in human resource management?

UMGC's online master's degree in management with a specialization in human resource management is a 36-credit program with courses offered year-round. If you successfully complete six credits each fall, spring, and summer, you can expect to graduate in as little as two years. If you recently completed a related undergraduate degree at UMGC that included coursework in human resource management, you may be able to apply 6 credits toward your graduate degree and shorten your time to completion by one term.

How much does a master’s in human resource management cost?

UMGC is committed to keeping our tuition and fees as affordable as possible. The master's degree in management with a specialization in human resource management follows the standard graduate program tuition rates, which appear at the top of this webpage. We also offer scholarships, an interest-free monthly payment plan, and no-cost digital materials in place of most textbooks to help make your education more affordable.

What background do I need to get a master’s in accounting and financial management?

You don't need to have majored in any specific area to be successful in the master's in management with a specialization in human resource management at UMGC. However, we do recommend you have a recent background in finance or accounting. If you need to improve your finance or accounting skills, you should take <button class='course-link' data-course-id='UCSP 620' data-course-name='Introduction to Accounting & Financial Management' data-course-credits='0 Credits' data-course-description='(Recommended as preparation for MGMT 640 or ACCT 610 for students with little or no background in accounting and finance.) A basic study of accounting and financial management concepts and their application in analyzing financial statements and estimating the value of long-lived capital projects and investments. The financial statements of actual companies are analyzed using financial ratios. Future and present value of financial and real assets/investments are calculated based on the time value of money. Emphasis is on gaining an appreciation for how financial management and accounting information can be used to support financial analysis, valuation, and decision making in various contexts.'> Introduction to Accounting & Financial Management (0 Credits, UCSP 620) before taking <button class='course-link' data-course-id='MGMT 640' data-course-name='Financial Decision Making for Managers' data-course-credits='3 Credits' data-course-description='An exploration of contemporary managerial practices related to financial decision making in business, government, and not-for-profit organizations. Emphasis is on fundamental concepts of financial accounting and economics, including opportunity cost, the time value of money, and financial analysis. The objective is to apply financial and nonfinancial information to a wide range of management decisions, from product pricing and budgeting to project analysis and performance measurement. Topics include decision-making tools such as break-even analysis, activity-based costing procedures, and discounted cash flow techniques. Activities require extensive use of Microsoft Excel.'> Financial Decision Making for Managers (3 Credits, MGMT 640). We also recommend a recent background in statistics. If you need to brush up on your statistics knowledge, we recommend taking <button class='course-link' data-course-id='UCSP 630' data-course-name='Introduction to Research Methods' data-course-credits='0 Credits' data-course-description='(Recommended as preparation for MGMT 650 or HAIN 650 for students who lack a background in statistics.) A presentation of basic research techniques and methodologies used in organizational research and evaluation studies to make business decisions. Focus is on applying basic research techniques to assess the performance of individuals, work groups, and organizations. Topics include principles of good data collection, presentation of data in tables and charts, summary and description of numerical data, basic probability and discrete estimation, the fundamentals of hypothesis testing, and the use of existing research-based materials to solve business problems. Discussion emphasizes basic approaches and beginning skills necessary to evaluate research materials and their use in decision making.'> Introduction to Research Methods (0 Credits, UCSP 630) before taking <button class='course-link' data-course-id='MGMT 650' data-course-name='Statistics for Managerial Decision Making' data-course-credits='3 Credits' data-course-description='Prerequisite: Knowledge of the fundamentals of statistical methods, techniques, and tools. An examination of how managers organize, analyze, and interpret data for decision making. Focus is on developing skills in using statistical tools to make effective business decisions in all areas of public and private-sector decision making, including accounting, finance, marketing, production management, and human resource management. Topics include collecting data; describing, sampling, and presenting data; probability; statistical inference; regression analysis; forecasting; and risk analysis. Microsoft Excel is used extensively for organizing, analyzing, and presenting data.'> Statistics for Managerial Decision Making (3 Credits, MGMT 650). Finally, for those who want to improve their writing in preparation for graduate study, we offer <button class='course-link' data-course-id='UCSP 605' data-course-name='Effective Graduate Writing' data-course-credits='0 Credits' data-course-description='(Recommended preparation for students who want to improve their writing skills.) An introduction to the writing skills needed for effective academic writing. Skills addressed include accurate grammar and punctuation, summarizing and synthesizing texts, developing well-organized and well-supported essays, integrating sources into writing, formatting academic papers using APA guidelines, and revising writing to produce clear, concise documents.'> Effective Graduate Writing (0 Credits, UCSP 605).

Online Human Resource Management Master's Degree

AT A GLANCE

36 credits
Transfer up to 6 credits
All courses available online

TUITION

$514 per credit (in-state)
$659 per credit (out-of-state)
$480 per credit (military)
Other fees may apply

Apply Now

Master management skills and the latest best practices with this master's specialization in HR.

The online master’s in management specialization in human resource management at University of Maryland Global Campus will give you the knowledge and skills you need to advance in the HR field. The program is aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management’s guidelines for graduate education. Gain practical, management-level experience in the latest best practices in the field and develop a skillset you can take anywhere.

Courses
Requirements
Sequence
More Info

Total Credits Required: 36

Initial Requirement

(0 Credits, UCSP 615)
(to be taken within the first 6 credits of study)

The UCSP 615 requirement may be waived if you previously earned a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution. For more information, contact your academic advisor.

Core Courses

(6 Credits, MGMT 630)
(3 Credits, MGMT 640)
(3 Credits, MGMT 650)

Specialization Courses

(3 Credits, HRMD 610)
(3 Credits, HRMD 620)
(3 Credits, HRMD 630)
(3 Credits, HRMD 640)
(3 Credits, HRMD 650)
(3 Credits, HRMD 651)
(3 Credits, HRMD 665)

Capstone Course

(3 Credits, MGMT 670)

(6 Credits, MGMT 630) (or (3 Credits, MGMT 610)) must be taken within the first 6 credits.
(3 Credits, MGMT 610) and (3 Credits, MGMT 615) may be taken instead of (6 Credits, MGMT 630).
(3 Credits, MGMT 640) should not be attempted simultaneously with (3 Credits, MGMT 650).
You must complete 24 credits of program coursework, including all core courses, before enrolling in (3 Credits, MGMT 670).
Courses should be taken in the order listed

General Master's Degree 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 the overall master’s degree requirements for additional considerations.

This is our recommended course sequence to progress through this program. This sequence incorporates course prerequisites and program requirements but does not list course alternatives that may be available. We recommend you take a maximum of 6 credits per term. You cannot take a prerequisite with its subsequent course during the same session. Your plan will be unique and dependent on multiple factors, including the number of credits you transfer to this program.

Contact an advisor if you any questions about this plan, course alternatives, or your course load limit.

Sequence	Course
1	(0 Credits, UCSP 615)
2	(6 Credits, MGMT 630)
3	(3 Credits, HRMD 610)
4	(3 Credits, MGMT 640)
5	(3 Credits, HRMD 620)
6	(3 Credits, MGMT 650)
7	(3 Credits, HRMD 630)
8	(3 Credits, HRMD 640)
9	(3 Credits, HRMD 650)
10	(3 Credits, HRMD 651)
11	(3 Credits, HRMD 665)
12	(3 Credits, MGMT 670)

Earn UMGC Credit for SHRM-CP & SHRM-SCP

If you earned the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification on Jan. 1, 2017 or later, you may be able to earn up to 6 credits for courses that are required as part of UMGC’s curriculum for graduate human resource management programs. The certifications articulate to UMGC courses as follows:

SHRM-CP:

(3 Credits, HRMD 610)

SHRM-SCP:

(3 Credits, HRMD 610)
(3 Credits, HRMD 620)

These equivalencies are subject to change without notice. Contact a UMGC academic advisor at studentsfirst@umgc.edu or call (800) 888-8682 to confirm equivalency.

Search Course Catalog

These requirements are for students who enroll in the 2022–2023 academic year. For prior year requirements, visit our catalog archive.

Read the Catalog

Master’s Degree Requirements

In addition to the specific course requirements outlined on each master's degree webpage, UMGC maintains certain requirements for all master’s degrees.

See Requirements

Program Highlights

Develop skills and gain knowledge through coursework that draws from the expertise and experience of our respected faculty.

Design HR Policies

Create policies and processes to support changing environmental factors.

Evaluate Relations

Analyze employee relations in union and non-union organizations.

Drive Recruitment

Design efficient and effective recruitment and selection methods.

Implement Strategies

Prescribe appropriate organizational development strategies and techniques.

Manage Global Teams

Formulate solutions for managing virtual and global teams.

Analyze Company Policies

Evaluate the strategies, procedures, and techniques of a company.

Industry Snapshot

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

Julieta R. (second from left), Miami, FL

Management: Human Resource Management

Master's Specialization

Business Administration

Master of Business Administration

Strategic Human Resource Management

Graduate Certificate

Industry Certification Exams

This program is designed to help prepare you for the following certification exams:

Additional Program Information

Experience Recommended for Success
Student Organizations

If you lack a recent background in finance or accounting, you should take (0 Credits, UCSP 620) before (3 Credits, MGMT 640).
If you lack a recent background in statistics, you should take (0 Credits, UCSP 630) before (3 Credits, MGMT 650).
(0 Credits, UCSP 605) is recommended to improve writing skills.

Society for Human Resource Management, UMGC Chapter

The UMGC Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management provides opportunities to network with other students, staff, and faculty who are currently working in or are interested in entering the human resource field. It is available to undergraduate and graduate students. To join, please fill out the UMGC SHRM Chapter form. Students may also join SHRM nationally at the student rate via the SHRM website (the UMGC SHRM Chapter number is 5578). UMGC students and alumni are also welcome to join the UMGC SHRM Chapter Facebook group. For more information, please email umgcshrm@umgc.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

Online Management Master's Degree

Human Resource
Management

Management: Human Resource Management

AT A GLANCE

TUITION

Next Session Starts

Master management skills and the latest best practices with this master's specialization in HR.

Total Credits Required: 36

Initial Requirement

Core Courses

Specialization Courses

Capstone Course

General Master's Degree Requirements

Earn UMGC Credit for SHRM-CP & SHRM-SCP

Total Credits Required: 36

Initial Requirement

Core Courses

Specialization Courses

Capstone Course

General Master's Degree Requirements

Earn UMGC Credit for SHRM-CP & SHRM-SCP

Search Course Catalog

Master’s Degree Requirements

Program Highlights

Industry Snapshot

You might be interested in similar programs

Industry Certification Exams

Additional Program Information

Society for Human Resource Management, UMGC Chapter

Society for Human Resource Management, UMGC Chapter

FAQs

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Personal Information

Contact Information

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