People, not policies, are the most valuable assets to organizations, which is why skilled human resources professionals can contribute to business success.
The Mitch Daniels School of Business prepares students to lead organizations in workforce management through its Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) aligned curriculum, designed to provide students with essential skills in HR strategy and functions. Along with a robust offering of electives, the degree is fully customizable so that every student can align their educational path with their career goals.
30 Credit Hours
Online MSHRM students must complete 30 hours of coursework, including foundational HR strategy and operations courses. Additionally, industry-specific electives and general business electives round out your expertise and allow you to fully customize the degree.
4 credits
These foundational courses introduce students to the essential principles and strategic mindset required for success in any HR role. These cornerstone courses give students a dual perspective: the high-level strategic alignment of HR with business goals, and the behavioral insights necessary to manage people effectively within organizations.
6 credits
This set of core courses provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the core HR functions that support the employee lifecycle. Students gain practical knowledge and skills to attract, retain, and develop talent in alignment with organizational goals.
6 credits
Choose at least six credits of electives that supplement your focus in HR. From leadership and change management to data, you can begin to shape your direction with your choices.
14 credits
Complete your plan of study with more electives, designed to align with your interests and career goals. We can help you dial up your expertise in a number of areas, from business acumen to HR analytics and more. See below for a sample list of electives.
We offer six learning tracks within the online MSHRM degree program. These non-transcriptable paths can help you shape your experience at Purdue with a specific end goal in mind. While not required, you can use the tracks to choose your remaining electives intentionally. Use these sample plans to map out your degree with your academic advisor.
In today’s dynamic and diverse work environments, HR professionals must be able to lead change, resolve conflict and foster inclusive cultures. Whether managing teams, leading transformation initiatives or shaping organizational culture, graduates of this track will be prepared to make a meaningful impact across industries.
This track enables graduates to step into HR roles that require adaptability, problem-solving, and a strong understanding of HR principles and operations across the employee life cycle. They will be capable of balancing day-to-day HR responsibilities and contributions to strategic initiatives and organizational effectiveness through HR best practices. This track is especially valuable for those seeking to grow into HR leadership roles over time.
Graduates following this track will be ready to step into roles that require both strategic insight and operational execution backed by strong partnerships with business leaders and cross-functional teams. They will be equipped to influence business outcomes through talent strategies, workforce planning and organizational development. They will be ready to make data-informed decisions, and they will be equipped to lead change management initiatives in support of organizational transformation. This track is ideal for students aiming to become HR leaders who are deeply embedded in their respective businesses.
Graduates of this track will be equipped to collect, analyze and interpret organizational data, using statistical tools and programming languages to uncover trends and patterns. Translating data insights into strategic recommendations, these graduates will learn to communicate findings effectively to a variety of audiences. They will also be ready to support evidence-based decision-making and contribute to organizational performance through advanced analytics.
Graduates following this track will be adept at working across industries and functions, often in fast-paced, client-facing roles. This track also lays the groundwork for those interested in internal consulting roles within large organizations.
Students will gain a deep understanding of how to design and deliver impactful training programs and how to evaluate learning outcomes using data and feedback. With a strong foundation in instructional design and learning technologies, students will be equipped to create scalable and innovative learning experiences. It also offers a pathway to earn a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design or Workplace Learning.
*These courses support the ability to be a leader in a wide variety of functions or positions; the list that appears here serves as a set of example positions.
**This list is not exhaustive of all electives; it includes courses that may help you craft a plan of study that achieves this track's goals. Talk to your academic advisor for further details.
Purdue University’s Human Resource Management programs feature curriculum that aligns with the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates.
Throughout the world, more than 500 programs in approximately 425 educational institutions have been acknowledged by SHRM as being in alignment with its suggested guides and templates. The HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates were developed by SHRM to define the minimum HR content areas that should be studied by HR students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The guidelines — created in 2006 and revalidated in 2010, 2013 and 2017 — are part of SHRM’s Academic Initiative to define HR education standards taught in university business schools and help universities develop degree programs that follow these standards.
SHRM is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management. The Society serves the needs of HR professionals and advances the interests of the HR profession. Founded in 1948, SHRM has more than 300,000 members in over 160 countries and more than 575 affiliated chapters.
If you would like to receive more information about the Online MSHRM program at Purdue, please fill out the form and an enrollment specialist will be in touch.
We are available to meet with you virtually to discuss how your goals align with our curriculum, community, student experiences, and outcomes to determine if Purdue is the right fit for you!
