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’s HR leaders shape organizational strategy, drive workforce transformation, and translate people data into business outcomes. Lindenwood University’s 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, SHRM-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’s 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 degree requirements in the 2026–27 catalog.
What distinguishes Lindenwood’s HR master’s from a general MBA? Focus. Every course in this program is purpose-built for human resource leadership. You’ll study strategic HR management, workforce staffing, employment and labor law, total rewards and compensation strategy, HR analytics, organizational behavior, and change management. You won’t 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
• 33–42 credit hours (depending on prior academic background)
• Available in on-campus (HiFlex) and online formats
• ACBSP accredited and SHRM aligned
• No GRE or GMAT required
• Designed for working professionals
• Culminates in an HR Management Integration capstone
Why SHRM Alignment Matters
Lindenwood’s HRM curriculum is aligned with Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) 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’s 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 0–9 hours of foundation and writing/statistics coursework depending on your undergraduate background.
Major Coursework (33 credit hours):
• HRM 56510 — Strategic Human Resource Management
• HRM 56530 — Workforce Talent Development
• HRM 56545 — Employment and Labor Law
• HRM 56550 — Workforce Total Rewards
• HRM 56555 — Workforce Staffing
• HRM 56565 — Human Resource Management Analytics
• HRM 56585 — Human Resource Management Integration (capstone)
• MGMT 56035 — Organizational Behavior
• MGMT 56037 — Organizational Change and Development
• MGMT 56065 — Project Management
• FIN 52005 or FIN 52010 — Fundamentals of Financial Management or Financial Policy
Foundation Coursework (0–9 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 (0–9 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 — 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 — 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 — 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 — Design competitive, equitable compensation and benefits structures that attract and retain talent while supporting organizational financial health.
Organizational Development & Change Management — 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’ll 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’s program emphasizes applied learning throughout the curriculum:
• Analyze real-world HR case studies covering workforce restructuring, compensation disputes, and organizational change
• Build HR analytics dashboards and apply data-driven decision-making to workforce challenges
• Develop strategic HR plans applicable to your current organization or a target employer
• Complete the HRM Integration capstone, synthesizing your learning into a comprehensive applied project
• Network with HR professionals and business leaders through guest speakers and professional events
Career Outlook
Graduates of Lindenwood’s MA in Human Resource Management are prepared for mid-to-senior-level HR leadership roles such as:
• Human Resources Manager / Director
• HR Business Partner
• Talent Development Manager / Director
• Compensation and Benefits Manager
• Employee Relations Manager
• Workforce Analytics Specialist / People Analytics Manager
• Organizational Development Consultant
• Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) / VP of HR
• Entrepreneurs and small business owners also benefit from advanced HRM expertise
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 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. Human resources specialists 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’t need a full master’s degree can explore Lindenwood’s 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 0–9 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 Society for Human Resource Management. 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 apply.lindenwood.edu. For questions about the admissions process, contact graduate admissions.
Related Resources
• Top Benefits of a Master’s in Human Resource Management
• How AI Can Be Utilized by HR: Exploring AI Trends