Master of Science in Human Resource Management

The ability to effectively manage human resources is critical to the success of any organization. HR professionals must possess the broad-based knowledge and specific competencies necessary to align human resource functions with organizational goals. The Master of Science in Human Resource Management is designed to provide the academic preparation required for professionals to enter the field or advance their careers.

The program integrates theory and practice within the dynamic context of human resource administration. The curriculum includes required foundational courses in business, HR management, and employee relations. Students may choose from a wide selection of courses — in subjects such as training and development, organizational change management, compensation, and employment law — to meet their specific professional goals.

Career Prospects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for human resources personnel has not been dimmed by the shrinking economy. Jobs for human resource specialists are expected to grow 21 percent through 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. HR managers who possess certification and a master’s degree in human resource management should have the best prospects in the job market.

The MS in HRM program curriculum is designed to provide the educational foundation for the following positions in public, private, government and not-for-profit organizations:

• HR Managers
• HR Generalists
• Staffing Specialists
• Benefits Analysts
• Trainers

Flexible Scheduling: On-campus and Online
To meet the demands of working professionals, courses are scheduled on-campus during the evening or online. Students may choose to combine face-to-face and online courses in our traditional program, or they may apply to the MS in HRM Online program and take all of their courses via the Internet.
» Learn more about online learning at the School of Professional Development.

Academic Excellence
Stony Brook University, a member of the Association of American Universities, has ranked in the top 100 public universities by U.S. News and World Report and the top 100 best values in public colleges by Kiplinger. The University is accredited through the Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools. The MS in HRM has been approved by the New York State Education Department for both in-person and online delivery.

The degree is offered by the School of Professional Development (SPD) in collaboration with the University's College of Business and meets the educational prerequisite for admission into the SPD's Post-Master's Advanced Graduate Certificate in School District Business Leadership.

Course of Study

This degree program consists of 30 credits, distributed among the three areas listed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is three credits. There are no transfer credits or substitutions allowed for Areas 1 and 3, or for the required courses listed under Area 2. All degree requirements must be completed within five (5) years from the semester date of admission as a matriculated student. Students are advised to print and keep this advisement worksheet (PDF) for reference.

1. Management CORE Courses - 9 credits

Select three of the following management courses:

CEI 505 Research Methods in the Social Sciences (formerly: Foundations of Social Science Methodology)
CEX 515/MBA 515 Managing in a Global Economy
CEX 520 Ethics in Management
And/or one of the following courses (only one of the below may be taken):

CEI 596 Seminar in Leadership in Organizations or
MBA 592 Organizational Behavior* or
CER 506/MBA 506 Leadership, Team Effectiveness and Communications*

2. HRM & EMPLOYEE RELATIONS Courses - 18 credits

Required Courses (6 credits)

CES 515/MBA 532 Foundations of Human Resource Management**
CES 516/MBA 533 Survey of Employee Relations

Students select four of the following courses (12 credits). Only one elective course may be used to satisfy this requirement. Online students please note that courses marked by * are only available on campus at this time.

Human Resource Administration (Students must complete at least one course in HRA)
CES 510/MBA 510 Employee Benefits (prerequisite: CES 515)
CES 511/MBA 513 Human Relations in the Workplace
CES 523/MBA 523 Human Resource Management Workshop**
CES 526/MBA 526 Job Evaluation and Compensation Systems (prerequisite: CES 515)
CEX 537/MBA 537 Training and Development
CEX 538/MBA 538 Organizational Change Management (prerequisite: CES 515)

Employee Relations (Students must complete at least one course in ER)
CES 514/MBA 514 Collective Bargaining in Public Sector (prerequisite: CES 515)*
CES 518/MBA 534 Contemporary Issues in Employee Relations
CES 519/MBA 519 Grievance Handling and Arbitration (prerequisite: CES 516)*
CES 524/MBA 524 Employee Negotiations Workshop*
CES 525/MBA 525 Employment Law (prerequisite: CES 516)
CEX 547/MBA 530 Employee Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management*

Electives
CEI 585 Principles of Adult Learning
CES 513/MBA 531 New Developments in HR Management (prerequisite CES 515)
CES 517/MBA 527 Women in the Workplace (formerly Women, Work and Dollars)
CES 521/MBA 520 History of Labor Relations*

* Indicates a course that has not yet been developed for online delivery and is therefore only available on campus.

**Up until and including the Fall 2012 term, students may substitute CES 523 for CES 515.

3. Master's Project Seminar (CED 595) - 3 credits

INTERNSHIP
Although not required, students may choose to gain field experience by completing a one-credit internship practicum over and above the requirements for the Master of Science degree. The internship course (CES 599/MBA 599) requires a minimum of 45 hours of work in a setting that is outside of the student's current area of employment. Students must obtain approval from the program director to enroll in this S/U graded course. At the conclusion of the term, an Internship Project Requirement (Work Report) must be submitted to and approved by the faculty advisor who is mentoring and supervising the student's experience. 

Advanced Graduate Certificate in HRM Option

Stony Brook University also offers an 18-credit Advanced Graduate Certificate (AGC) in Human Resource Management as a separate credential. Students in the MS program may apply six HRM & Employee Relations Concentration courses (18 credits) toward the AGC. Program requirements would be completed concurrently, but prospective students must apply to the AGC program separately from the MS in HRM before they have completed six credits of course work. Visit the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management for admissions and program requirements.

Tuition and Fee Information

Tuition rates are available on the Bursar's webpage.

Application Information

Students are admitted into this program three times per year. View admission requirements, application instructions and deadlines.

Contact Information

For application, advisement, and enrollment questions:

Admissions and Academic Services
School of Professional Development
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-4310
Telephone: 631-632-7050, option 1
Fax: 631-632-4992
Email: spd@stonybrook.edu

Program Director

Dr. Manuel London
Dean, College of Business
Director, Center for Human Resource Studies

Statement of Student Responsibility
Students themselves—whether new, returning, or continuing—are responsible for reviewing, understanding, and adhering to their degree and/or certificate program requirements. (SPD’s non-matriculating [non-degree] graduate students [GSP] are responsible for adhering to the guidelines related to non-matriculated status.) All SPD students are responsible for reviewing, understanding, and complying with University and SPD regulations, policies, and procedures, as described in all official publications, the University website, and the SPD website, including, but not limited to, SPD’s online references, the SPD Bulletin and SPD Academic Calendar.

Current MPS in HRM Students may be eligible to switch into this new program
» Get the details

Related Training:

The SHRM® Professional Human Resource Management Certificate Programs

In partnership with Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), SPD offers courses to help HR professionals obtain Professional Human Resources (PHR®) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR®) designations.

For detailed information on all programs, go the SHRM Professional Human Resource Management Certificate Programs site.