Human Resource Management (MSM)

Human Resource Management has become more visible within organizations due to the growing realization that the management of an organization’s human resources is not just a transactional function, but also has significant strategic implications.

Managing a multicultural, diverse, global workforce is just one of the challenges facing organizations. The proliferation of the Web as a means for information exchange, the integration of enterprise technologies into business processes, and the need for compliance and controls in complex organizational procedures, provide the backdrop for today's competitive operational landscape. Today, a successful HR manager must be able to integrate multiple perspectives in tactical and strategic decision making.

The goal of the MSM degree at The University of Akron is to provide students with an education appropriate for management professionals. The MSM-HRM program is based upon the belief that human resource professionals are management professionals who possess specific knowledge of the HR domain. Thus, the objective of the program is to prepare students for human resource leadership roles in all types of organizations.

The MSM-HR degree offers courses which will prepare students for a variety of roles in an organization, including:

strategic partnering

monitoring and maintenance of shared HR services

employee champion

HR consultant to other management professionals

change agent

The program consists of 30 hours of graduate course work beyond the foundations courses. With proper planning, full-time students with undergraduate business degrees can complete their degree requirements in one year. Students with undergraduate psychology or other non-business degrees, who are interested in the MSM-HRM, should contact the graduate advising office for information on waiving foundation requirements.

The MSM-HR degree is also offered as a joint degree program with the School of Law School providing HR students with the option to take law classes as elective courses or as substitutes for required courses.

Admission Requirements

You need to have a completed application to be considered for admission. That means that you have to have a GMAT score (at least 500), a TOEFL score if you are an international student, hold an undergraduate degree, have your statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, resume, transcripts (at least a 2.75 GPA) and all the other material in to us so that our graduate admissions committee can evaluate your application. Students may waive the GMAT if they have an acceptable GRE score and have two years of documented experience.

Akron Advantage

For five consecutive years, the Princeton Review has rated the College of Business Administration at The University of Akron as one of the best business schools in the nation. Regardless of the field you choose, at Akron you have the opportunity to learn from business faculty with a deep involvement in business and who are dedicated to sharing their knowledge with you.

In recent studies by AACSB International, The University of Akron CBA was rated at the top in its Carnegie Class in terms of faculty accessibility and willingness to help our students. This is an attribute that we hold in high regard and one that we are proud to offer to our students.

Current students and alums of our graduate programs attest to our strengths and our dedication to meeting the needs of our students by providing an excellent education and solid support service to help students succeed. We believe in fitting the product to the consumer, not the consumer to the product.

All the graduate business programs can be pursued on a full or part time basis and course loads can vary each semester. A student pursuing an accounting degree may wish to take a heavier load in the summer and fall and less of a load in the busy season of spring. Others may wish to take summers off or accelerate their studies to accommodate their future plans.

Your degree, your way. That is clearly an advantage of Akron.

Additional Information

 

Required - 15 credits
6500:650	Human Resource Systems for Managers	3
6500:658	Strategic and Global Human Resources Management	3
6500:660	Staffing and Employment Regulation	3
6500:651	Management of Organizational Transformation	3
6500:654	Management of Organizational Conflict	3
Electives - choose 3 credits
Any non-foundation 6500:6xx course.

Faculty

Steve Ash, Ph.D., New Mexico State University
Robert Figler, Ph.D., West Virginia University
Susan Hanlon, Ph.D., University of Memphis
Roger Mayer, Ph.D., Purdue University.

Additional Information

Human Resource Management

Department of Management