Human Resources & Industrial Relations Requirements & Deadlines

Apply early and give yourself the best chance to join the Carlson School's MHRIR program. Note: The full-time program does not offer spring admission. International students who need a visa can only be considered for the full-time program.

Application Checklist

Your application process is complete when you have uploaded and submitted the following items through the University Online Application System. 

All MHRIR applicants must complete the University Online Application. For full-time program: select "Human Resources and Industrial Relations M.HRIR" as your proposed major in the application. For part-time program: select "Human Resources and Industrial Relations M.HRIR - Part-time." The University's application can be saved and continued later.

 

Before enrolling, all students must complete an undergraduate course in Microeconomics. It is not necessary to have taken the course before applying. We consider, and conditionally admit applicants before they have taken Microeconomics. However, we will require that admitted students complete Microeconomics with a grade of C or better before they begin our program.  The course must be taken for credit at an accredited institution.

We also recommend but do not require introductory courses in macroeconomics, general psychology, and statistics.

Please upload your resume in the University application. Your formatting should be the same as if you are applying for a job.

Please provide a statement outlining your immediate educational and long-range career objectives in relation to your chosen field. You may also wish to include other information, such as any undergraduate research experience, internships, or other experiences you may have had to document your preparation for advanced study in your chosen field.

Generally 1-2 pages in length

Enrolling and graduating a diverse student body is central to the University of Minnesota's mission. Please write a statement that identifies the distinctive qualities, characteristics, and life experiences you would contribute to your graduate program and to the education of fellow students at the University of Minnesota. You may wish to include examples that address your contribution to the diversity of the student body and illustrate your motivation to succeed by setting high standards for accomplishing intellectual and other goals, overcoming obstacles to achievement, and/or helping others to gain access to the resources necessary for success.

Please do not exceed one page in length

Unofficial transcripts or academic records should be uploaded directly to the online application. International students should also upload an English translation if the transcript is not in English. Please do not mail in paper copies of your transcripts. There is no need for official transcripts or academic records for initial review.

If you are admitted, the University will then request official copies of this material.

Minimum academic requirements for international applicants are a 4-year bachelor's degree or a master's degree (2 years after your bachelor's degree).

Click here for important information about uploading your transcripts and credentials.

Standardized tests (the GRE or GMAT) are part of how we review your application for admission. These tests can help to show your ability and potential in our program. However, you may opt out of submitting these scores and still be considered for admission. 

Some applicants may feel that test scores do not fully reflect their academic potential. If this is the case for you, you may choose not to supply the GRE or GMAT scores with your application. Applicants who are not submitting GRE or GMAT scores will need to include an additional essay demonstrating their academic readiness for our program. Key elements to highlight include coursework in a relevant field (e.g., performance in microeconomics, business administration, law, public policy, sociology, or industrial/organizational psychology courses); a summary of experience with industry research; structured professional development activities; and/or quantitative work relevant for the field of HRIR.

The GRE or GMAT continues to be a part of our holistic admissions process and we encourage you to submit your scores if you feel that they are reflective of your academic ability and potential. We know that you may be taking one of these tests for other schools and would encourage you to submit your scores here as well if you wish. Although there are no absolute qualifications for admission to the MHRIR program, most admitted students score at the 40th percentile or better on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE or GMAT. 

For those students submitting GRE or GMAT scores, those scores must be from within the past five years. And you should send your official scores to us by using the following codes:

  • GRE: (institution) 6874, (department) 4204 - If this department code is not listed, please choose undecided. As long as the institution code is correct, it will be sent to the Grad School.
  • GMAT: D2N-VJ-64 - Please self-report your scores on your application as well as sending them to us. We will use self-reported scores for the admission decision and if you are admitted, we will then add your official score report and verify that it matches your self-reported scores.

GRE (Graduate Record Examination) >

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) >

Take a Sample GMAT Test here >

We require three letters of recommendation.  A combination of work-related and academic letters are preferred, but for recent graduates of academic programs, we prefer at least two letters from former professors. Not-so-recent graduates are expected to have professional recommendations, but should still try to obtain at least one letter of recommendation from a former professor if possible. Once their email address is entered into the application, your letter writer will receive a system generated email detailing how to upload their letter.

In a document, please list all relevant courses you have taken in each of the following five subject areas under the appropriate subject name. Please do not list courses more than once under different headings. Then upload the document below.

  1. Human Resources and Industrial Relations
     
  2. Business/Management
     
  3. Economics
     
  4. Psychology
     
  5. Statistics/Math

Please list any honors or scholastic awards you have received and extra-curricular activities in which you have participated. Be sure to include any national or international fellowships for which you are currently applying or have received. Give titles of publications and of any research, inventions, or other creative work you have done.

Please limit your response to one uploaded page

The TOEFL, MELAB, IELTS or Duolingo within the last 2 years is generally required of all applicants whose native language is not English, regardless of U.S. citizenship status. 

The minimum score requirements for admission are:

TOEFL iBT: 79 (with section scores of 21 on writing and 19 on reading)

TOEFL Paper-based: 550

IELTS: 6.5 (with section scores of 6.5 in both reading and writing)

MELAB: 80

Duolingo: 120 (110-119 - Minimum Score range required for admission, additional assessment will be required during orientation)

 

You satisfy the English proficiency requirement if you completed post-secondary coursework in the U.S. or a country on this list, and:

  1. the coursework consisted of  least 16 semester credits, or 24 quarter credits, and
  2. ESL coursework was not part of the qualifying number of credits, and
  3. the coursework was completed within the past 2 years

Click U of M English Language Proficiency web page for more information on how to submit test scores.

International students may find more general information on the International Applicants web page.

A separate application fee must accompany the application for admission and be paid by using a valid credit card. The application fee cannot be waived nor deferred, and is non-refundable. 

U.S. Citizen/Permanent Residents: $75

International Applicants: $95

Make sure you don't miss a step in your application process. 

Additional Information and Requirements for International Applicants

Application Deadlines

  • Full-Time Program
    • Round 1: December 1
    • Round 2: February 1
    • Round 3: April 1*
    • Round 4: June 1
    • Round 5: July 15**
  • Part-Time Program (Spring Intake)
    • Round 1: October 15
    • Round 2: November 15
    • Round 3: December 15**
  • Part-Time Program (Fall Intake)
    • Round 1: May 15
    • Round 2: June 15
    • Round 3: July 15**

*After the April 1 deadline, applications from international applicants in the U.S. will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

**After the final deadline, applications are accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Eric Shaughnessy headshot
"The MA-HRIR program provided the necessary foundation for a career in HR, and I felt a very natural transition into practicing what I learned in a professional setting."
– Eric Shaughnessy, '02 MA-HRIR, Shutterfly, Inc.

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