University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Human Resources Degree Programs

Human Resources Degree Program at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

The Human Resources & Industrial Relations major at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities focuses on the critical role of HR management in successful organizations. Students learn how HR practices contribute to organizational competitiveness and foster fulfilling employee work lives.

The curriculum covers essential HR functions, including talent acquisition (attracting, recruiting, selecting, retaining), employee development (feedback, coaching, training design), compensation and benefits (designing pay structures), organizational culture (improving engagement), and legal compliance (meeting standards, labor relations). The program prepares students to be strategic partners, providing consultation on employment issues critical to enterprise success.

Graduates are equipped to oversee analysis and design of work, talent acquisition, training and development, compensation packages, and promoting a high-performance culture. They develop analytical skills to collect and analyze complex workplace data for better decision-making and predicting HR program needs. The program also emphasizes overseeing ethical behavior, promoting an inclusive and safe workplace, acting as employee advocates, and resolving workplace conflict.

The undergraduate degree requires completing 120 total credits. The program includes a specific major core curriculum (22 credits for students entering Fall 2020 or later), various HRIR electives, and integrates liberal education requirements and general business courses. A significant component is the required international experience, which can be fulfilled through short-term or semester-length programs. Students work with advisors to plan their progression through the major, which typically follows a structured four-year plan.

Admission information is available for freshman, transfer, international, and returning students, but specific deadlines and detailed requirements are not provided in this text segment. Students declare their major after completing core sophomore courses; information on this process is available via z.umn.edu/CarlsonDeclare.

Career paths for graduates include roles such as Recruiter, Human Resources Specialist, Diversity and Inclusion Partner, Project Management Associate, and Associate Talent Management Specialist. Companies that hire graduates include Ecolab, RSM, Target, and T-Mobile. Information about the international experience requirement can be found at z.umn.edu/CarlIE.

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Human Resources Degree Program Highlights

• Learn how organizations use human resources management to create a competitive organization and help employees achieve fulfilling work lives.
• Gain skills in attracting, recruiting, selecting, rewarding, and retaining talent.
• Develop expertise in designing and evaluating training and development programs.
• Understand fair and equitable pay structures and improving employee engagement/culture.
• Meet legal standards and work with labor unions.
• Opportunities to become a strategic partner with business leaders on a wide range of employment issues.
• Requirement for an international experience as part of the program.

You can view detailed information about the programs or certificates available at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities on the NCES website.