Department website: https://business.wvu.edu/academics/management-department/ms-industrial-relations
Degree Offered
- Master of Science in Human Resource Management
Nature of the Program
The Department of Management offers the Master of Science in Human Resource Management (MSHRM). This AACSB-accredited program of study prepares students for professional positions in human resource management and labor relations. The curriculum is aligned with the standards set forth by the Society for Human Resource Management (http://www.shrm.org).
Professional opportunities for MSHRM graduates include such positions as human resource business partner, human resource manager, labor relations specialist, training coordinator, talent acquisition specialist, compensation analyst, and benefits administrator. Many graduates find employment with Fortune 500 companies. Other positions include opportunities in government such as National Labor Relations Board Field Examiner, positions with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, state and local Human Rights Commission representatives, and Department of Labor compliance officers. Some find positions with organized labor, all levels of government, and advocacy organizations. The Management Department, in conjunction with the John Chambers College of Business and Economics Center for Career Development, makes a concerted effort to place graduates in positions that fulfill students' career objectives.
The MSHRM program is a full-time program of instruction designed to be completed in three semesters. Accepted students will begin in the fall semester, with a planned graduation after completing program requirements at the end of the following fall semester (fall, spring, fall). The program requires students to complete an applied, non-credit internship experience (or equivalent) designed to occur during the summer between the second and third semesters.
Experiential learning opportunities are embedded into many courses in the curriculum, enabling students to work on meaningful, applied projects while learning core content. Additionally, all students complete an applied internship experience. Many organizations return to WVU each year seeking MSHRM students as summer interns, and many of those lead to full time employment offers upon degree completion. Other co-curricular learning opportunities include the General Electric Interview Competition (GEIC), PepsiCo Case Study Competition, WVU Talent & Culture Fellowship opportunity, collective bargaining simulations, site visits with HR professionals, and the opportunity to develop international HR skills while traveling abroad.
Another program highlight is the Practicum series. Through a series of required practicum courses, students engage in a variety of professional development activities including resume building, mock interviews, and engaging in formal and informal networking opportunities. The Practicum series brings HR practitioners to the classroom to share knowledge, insights, and best practices with students on a variety of topics. These topics complement their in-class studies by presenting diverse perspectives that cut across the academic/practitioner landscape.
One-Year Option
Incoming students who already possess a master's degree in a complementary discipline may be eligible for the condensed, one-year version of the MSHRM program. Completed applications will undergo a transcript review to ensure equivalency of prior coursework and will be admitted to the one-year program upon approval of the Program Coordinator. One-year students will be required to complete an applied, non-credit internship experience (or equivalent) prior to graduation.
Tuition Loyalty Program
Students completing an undergraduate degree at any West Virginia college or university, are eligible for current, in-state (resident) tuition rates while enrolled in the MSHRM program.
Student Organizations
Students are encouraged to participate in academic-related extracurricular activities. Many are co-sponsored by the Human Resource Management Student Association including: the IRSA Newsletter, the mentorship program, company site visits, guest speakers, community service efforts, social events, and honors banquets. Outstanding academic achievement is recognized by membership in the Human Resource Management Honor Society. A student SHRM chapter is operational within the John Chambers College of Business and Economics and is an additional student-centered organization that emphasizes the career specialties of the MSHRM degree.
Academic Standards
In addition to the University’s academic and professional standards, students enrolled in a John Chambers College of Business and Economics master’s degree program must also abide by the following standards:
- Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to earn a degree from their graduate program, without exception.
- A student who cannot mathematically meet the 3.0 GPA requirement to successfully complete the degree, within a reasonable period of time (as defined by the Program Coordinator or designee), will be dismissed from their academic program. Visit the Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal section of the University’s Graduate Catalog for more information about this topic.
- Students must follow the professional standards established by the college, their degree program and/or department. A student who violates the established professional standards may be placed on probation, suspended, or dismissed from their program.
- A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.75 will automatically be placed on academic probation.
- A student will be suspended from their program, for up to one year, if their GPA is not raised to 2.75 by the end of their subsequent semester of enrollment. The program will reevaluate the student after the term of suspension to determine whether they may return to the program or be dismissed.
- A student will be suspended from their program if they earn a letter grade below C- in more than one required course.
- A student who earns a letter grade of D or F in any required course must repeat the course and earn a minimum letter grade of C-.
- Any grade earned in a repeated course at the graduate level is included in the calculation of a student’s overall and major GPA, along with the original grade earned in the course. Additionally, the original grade earned in the course will remain on the student’s academic transcript/permanent record. Visit the Grades section of the University Graduate Catalog for more information about this topic.
Any exceptions to the above standards must be approved in writing by the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and the Program Coordinator.
Administration
Chair, Department of Management
- Abhishek Srivastava - Ph.D. (University of Maryland)
Program Coordinator
- Jeff Houghton - Ph.D. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University)
Faculty
Professors
- Jeff Houghton - Ph.D. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University)
Workgroup Dynamics & Leadership - Edward Tomlinson - Ph.D. (Ohio State University)
Compensation Issues
Associate Professors
- James Field - Ph.D. (Virginia Commonwealth University)
HR Data Analytics - Kayla Follmer - Ph.D. (Penn State University)
Diversity Management, Performance Management
Assistant Professor
- Lily Morse - Ph.D. (Carnegie Mellon University)
Conflict Management Processes
Teaching Associate Professor
- Thomas A. Zeni - Ph.D. (University of Oklahoma)
Talent Acquisition; Organizational Change
Teaching Assistant Professors
- Brant Hammer - M.S. (West Virginia University)
- Rebecca Thacker - Ph.D. (Texas A&M University)
Performance Management, Strategy for HR
Lecturers
- Emily Dennis - Ph.D. (Robert Morris University)
Training & Development - Tina Parton - MSIR (West Virginia University)
Benefits Management
Professors Emeriti
- Neil Bucklew - Ph.D.
- Randyl Elkins - Ph.D.
Admissions
The MSHRM degree is interdisciplinary in nature and no specific undergraduate major is required. Coursework in psychology, labor economics, statistics, and business disciplines is helpful. To gain admission into the MSHRM program, an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Overall grade point average is considered with additional attention given to the grade point average achieved in the last sixty hours of coursework, and/or major-specific coursework. Additionally, several other criteria are evaluated as requested in the Application Requirements below. Only completed applications will be considered.
Admission to the MSHRM is determined by the Program Coordinator at the recommendation of the MSHRM Admissions Committee. This is a multiple-hurdle process where completed applications are reviewed by the MSHRM Admissions Committee, and those selected to move forward in the process are then interviewed either face-to-face or via telephone/video-conference. The MSHRM Admissions Committee then makes an admittance recommendation to the Program Coordinator. Completed applications are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in January for the following Fall semester. The priority deadline for MSHRM applications is March 1st, although applications may continue to be reviewed and accepted later based on available space in the cohort. Admission to the program is highly competitive and total enrollment is limited to approximately 35 students per year.
Application Requirements
A completed electronic application will consist of:
- Official copy of undergraduate transcripts. Applicants must have had an undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 to be considered for admission.
- Up-to-date resume including all prior professional experiences and affiliations
- 1 letter of recommendation from individuals who are not friends or family and that can directly speak to the applicant's fit and ability to complete the MSHRM program, and their desire to be an HR professional.
- Statement of Purpose (not to exceed one page): The statement of purpose should describe your interest in the MSHRM program at WVU, your interest in an HR career and career aspirations, how you believe the MSHRM program will help you meet those aspirations, and any other relevant information you would like to share with the MSHRM Admissions Committee and Program Coordinator that will help us to better understand your candidacy.
- International Students (only) are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Applicants must have a TOEFL-ibt score of 79. If you have taken the IELTS instead of the TOEFL, the minimum score must be 6.5. English language exam scores should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment, West Virginia University, PO Box 6009, Morgantown, WV 26506-6009.
Application Deadline
Please visit the MSHRM program's webpage for specific application deadlines and other important information. Students may also contact the John Chambers College of Business and Economics Graduate Programs Office for assistance at (304) 293-5505.
Admission Requirements 2024-2025
Major Code: 2168
All graduate programs in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics require that enrolled students maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in coursework applied toward their degree program, as outlined in the specific academic program of study. Students must also have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to earn a graduate degree from their respective program.
Human Resource Management Master of Science Degree Program Requirements
Regular Standing Curriculum Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required in all courses * | ||
A grade of C or higher must be earned in all required courses | ||
HRMG 505 | Employment Law | 3 |
HRMG 509 | Talent Acquisition | 3 |
HRMG 515 | Business and Human Resource Integration | 3 |
HRMG 525 | HR Analytics | 3 |
HRMG 530 | Compensation Issues | 3 |
HRMG 534 | Work Group Dynamics and Leadership | 3 |
HRMG 545 | Diversity and Inclusion Management | 3 |
HRMG 546 | Training and Development | 3 |
HRMG 562 | Labor Relations | 3 |
HRMG 571 | Human Resource/Industrial Relations Practicum 1 | 1 |
HRMG 572 | Human Resource/Industrial Relations Practicum 2 | 1 |
Elective *** | 3 | |
Conflict Management Processes | ||
International Industrial Relations | ||
Collective Bargaining Practice | ||
Independent Study | ||
HRMG 506 | Performance Management | 3 |
HRMG 508 | Organizational Change and Renewal | 3 |
HRMG 544 | Benefits Management | 3 |
HRMG 548 | Strategic Management for Human Resources | 3 |
HRMG 573 | Human Resource/Industrial Relations Practicum 3 | 1 |
Internship Requirement ** | ||
Total Hours | 45 |
- *
Grade Point Average: The MSHRM program requires that the student maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 on all work taken as a graduate student while enrolled in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics. In addition, the student must maintain a 3.0 average in all work counting toward the graduate degree. A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.75 will be placed on probation. If the student’s average is not brought up to 2.75 by the end of the following semester, the student will be suspended from the program. A grade below C in more than one course taken while enrolled as a graduate student will result in suspension from the program.
- **
Successful completion of the degree program requires participating in a supervised, non-credit internship experience. Internships are typically completed in the summer between semester two and three. Students will not be able to graduate without an internship.
- ***
Other elective options may be approved by Program Coordinator.
Suggested Plan of Study
Three semester course of study with a fall start: (forty-five credit hours including thirteen core courses and *one elective)
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
HRMG 505 | 3 | HRMG 506 | 3 |
HRMG 509 | 3 | HRMG 515 | 3 |
HRMG 525 | 3 | HRMG 530 | 3 |
HRMG 534 | 3 | HRMG 545 | 3 |
HRMG 562 | 3 | HRMG 546 | 3 |
HRMG 571 | 1 | HRMG 572 | 1 |
16 | 16 | ||
Second Year | |||
Fall | Hours | ||
HRMG 508 | 3 | ||
HRMG 544 | 3 | ||
HRMG 548 | 3 | ||
HRMG 573 | 1 | ||
Elective | 3 | ||
13 | |||
Total credit hours: 45 |
One-Year Program Curriculum Requirements
Admission to the One-Year Program:
Students entering the program with a Master’s degree in an associated discipline may be considered for the one-year option. During the application process, the program coordinator will determine if the applicant qualifies for the one-year program.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required in all courses * | ||
A grade of C or higher must be earned in all required courses | ||
HRMG 505 | Employment Law | 3 |
HRMG 506 | Performance Management | 3 |
HRMG 509 | Talent Acquisition | 3 |
HRMG 515 | Business and Human Resource Integration | 3 |
HRMG 530 | Compensation Issues | 3 |
HRMG 544 | Benefits Management | 3 |
HRMG 545 | Diversity and Inclusion Management | 3 |
HRMG 546 | Training and Development | 3 |
HRMG 562 | Labor Relations | 3 |
HRMG 571 | Human Resource/Industrial Relations Practicum 1 | 1 |
HRMG 572 | Human Resource/Industrial Relations Practicum 2 | 1 |
Elective | 3 | |
Conflict Management Processes | ||
International Industrial Relations | ||
Collective Bargaining Practice | ||
Independent Study | ||
Internship Requirement * | ||
Total Hours | 32 |
- *
Successful completion of the degree program requires participating in a supervised, non-credit internship experience.
Suggested Plan of Study
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
HRMG 505 | 3 | HRMG 515 | 3 |
HRMG 506 | 3 | HRMG 530 | 3 |
HRMG 509 | 3 | HRMG 545 | 3 |
HRMG 544 | 3 | HRMG 546 | 3 |
HRMG 562 | 3 | HRMG 572 | 1 |
HRMG 571 | 1 | Elective | 3 |
16 | 16 | ||
Total credit hours: 32 |
Major Learning Outcomes
Human Resource Management
Student Learning Goals
Goal 1: The HR Functional Environment
Graduates acquire knowledge and skills in basic HR functional areas that prepare them for their future careers in human resources management and industrial relations and related fields
1.1 Selection, Performance Management, and Training and Development. Graduates are able to participate and lead in the selection processes in their organizations as well as in the measurement of performance of the human asset and the identification of training and development activities either to enhance performance or correct deficiencies in the output of human assets.
1.2 Compensation and Benefits. Graduates are able to establish and maintain equitable compensation programs and associated benefits and insurance in their organizations. Graduates are familiar with and able to impact organizational economics through the development, modification, and implementation of compensation systems and benefit plan design and administration.
Goal 2: The Current Global Environment
Graduates have capabilities and knowledge relating to current HR/IR trends, both domestically and internationally, that prepare them for their future careers in human resources management and related fields.
2.1 International HR/IR and Understanding Cultural Differences. Graduates are able to apply human resource and industrial relations functional tools in an international context based on a detailed comprehension of the economic, social and moral ramifications of globalization and cultural differences.
2.2 Management of Change, Current Trends, and Technologies. Graduates are able to participate in managing change processes within their organizations and to apply knowledge of current events, trends and developments in the human resources profession and in the overall business environment, including contemporary information systems and associated technologies, in order to solve problems and perform functions commonly encountered in human resource management.
Goal 3: The Employee and Labor Relations Environment
Graduates acquire knowledge and skills in employee and labor relations that prepare them for their careers in human resources management and industrial relations and related fields.
3.1 Management of Conflict. Graduates are able to use foundational knowledge of individual behavior and interpersonal relations in order to successfully manage and resolve conflict through processes such as mediation and facilitation.
3.2 Negotiation. Graduates are able to demonstrate effective negotiating capacities and competencies in win-win and position bargaining in general and specifically in labor relations. Students are effective advocates in labor relations, mediation, alternate dispute resolution, employee/management concerns and disputes.
Goal 4: The Legal and Ethical Environment
Graduates develop comprehensive knowledge and skill in the areas of employment law and ethical decision making.
4.1 Legal and Ethical Decision Making. Graduates are able to successfully implement the procedural and substantive aspects of labor and employment law in making ethical decisions and taking ethical actions that reflect a standard of professional behavior and values within their organizations. Employment law principles are embedded in each of the major course offerings to insure a solid fact-based application of legal practices, precedents, and contemporary interpretations.
Goal 5: The Strategic Environment
Graduates develop knowledge and skills in strategic decision making, leadership, teamwork and communications
5.1 Strategic Decision Making. Graduates are able to participate in and support strategic decision-making in human resources, industrial relations and beyond. Students are knowledgeable in the use and application of strategic planning tools and techniques and are aware of the economic and social impact of strategic business decisions.
5.2 Leadership, Teamwork and Communication. Graduates possess leadership and teamwork skills and abilities and are able to effectively communicate recommendations to management and other constituencies, orally and in writing.