Human Resources Management (MA)

This program is offered by the George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology. It is available online, at the St. Louis main campus and at select U.S. and international campuses. Please see the Campus Locations and Offerings section of this catalog for a list of campuses where this program is offered.

Program Description

The goal of the human resources management degree is to prepare human resource professionals to address the complexities and challenges of managing today's workforce. The program content is designed to provide a comprehensive coverage of the major human resource functions, addressing strategic decisions and operational execution of HR service delivery. The courses involve both practical and theoretical considerations in the development of HR professionals in settings such as business, industry, government and nonprofit organizations and institutions, both nationally and globally.

The MA in human resources management is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to explain the important terminology, facts, concepts, principles, analytic techniques and theories used in human resources management.
• Students will be able to effectively apply important terminology, facts, concepts, principles, analytic techniques and theories used in human resources management when analyzing situations.
• Students will be able to effectively integrate important facts, concepts, principles and theories used in human resources management when developing solutions or analyzing situations.

Program Curriculum

The 36 credit hours required for the master of arts (MA) in human resources management must include the following courses:

• HRMG 5000 Managing Human Resources (Requisite Course) (3 hours)
• MNGT 5590 Organizational Behavior (3 hours)
• BUSN 5200 Basic Finance for Managers (3 hours)
• HRDV 5610 Training and Development (3 hours)
• HRMG 5700 Employment Law (3 hours)
• HRMG 5800 Staffing (3 hours)
• HRMG 5920 Compensation (3 hours)
• HRMG 5930 Labor-Management Relations (3 hours)
• HRMG 6000 Integrated Studies in Human Resources Management (3 hours)

In addition, the student chooses elective courses offered in this major and/or from the program curricula of other George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology majors.

If the requisite course is waived, the student must choose an elective course from this major or from the program curriculum of another George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology major. Students pursuing dual majors who have the requisite course(s) waived will complete only the remaining required courses for the dual majors.

Dual Degree Option: MBA/MA in Human Resources Management

51 to 54 Credit Hours

Requirements for a dual degree with the MBA program generally include the required MBA courses (33 hours) and the required coursework in the additional degree program, except where noted below. If BUSN 5000 has been waived, the required hours are reduced by 3 credits and the BUSN 5000 course does not require a substitution.

Upon completion of all required credit hours, two separate diplomas are issued at the same time. The two degrees cannot be awarded separately or sequentially under this arrangement.

• BUSN 5000 Business (3 hours)
• MBA 5010 Value Creation (3 hours)
• MBA 5020 Quantitative Methods for the MBA (3 hours)
• MBA 5030 Market Analysis and Business Planning (3 hours)
• MBA 5200 The Financial Value of Capital Projects (3 hours)
• MBA 5300 Providing Value to Customers (3 hours)
• MBA 5400 The Supply Chain and Business Processes (3 hours)
• MBA 5500 Information Support for Decision Making (3 hours)
• MBA 5910 Cases in Value Creation (3 hours)
• MBA 5920 Walker Consulting Project: Adding Value to Organizations (3 hours)
• HRMG 5000 Managing Human Resources (3 hours)
• MNGT 5590 Organizational Behavior* (3 hours)
• HRDV 5610 Training and Development (3 hours)
• HRMG 5700 Employment Law (3 hours)
• HRMG 5800 Staffing (3 hours)
• HRMG 5920 Compensation (3 hours)
• HRMG 5930 Labor-Management Relations (3 hours)
• HRMG 6000 Integrated Studies in Human Resources Management (3 hours)

*MNGT 5590 may substitute for MBA 5100.

Admission

See the Admission section of this catalog for general admission requirements. Students interested in applying must submit their application online at www.webster.edu/apply. Transcripts should be sent from your institution electronically to transcripts@webster.edu. If this service is not available, send transcripts to:

Office of Admission
Webster University
470 E. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119 

Additional Requirements

Applicants to the human resources management (MA) must have completed a business or business-related undergraduate degree meeting the following criteria:

• University/college is regionally accredited
• The business school must have a business-related accreditation (e.g. AACSB, ACBSP, IACBE, etc.)

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications must do one of the following:

• Successfully complete BUSN 5000.
  • Note: BUSN 5000 will count as an elective in the program. This option is only available for students who are required to take BUSN 5000.
• Complete all of the following undergraduate courses (or their equivalents) with a grade of C- or better (17 credit hours total, not including individual course prerequisites:
  • MNGT 2100 Management Theory and Practices
  • ACCT 2010 Financial Accounting
  • BUSN 2750 Introduction to Statistics
  • ECON 2000 Survey of Economics
  • MNGT 2500 Marketing
  • BUSN 3500 Business and Global Issues
  • BUSN 4500 Ethical Issues in Business

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are admitted to their graduate program upon completion of all admission requirements. Students are advanced to candidacy status after successfully completing 12 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. In specialized programs, courses required as prerequisites to the program do not count toward the 12 credit hours required for advancement.