Human Resources & Industrial Relations FAQs

Thinking about the Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations? This page covers the questions we hear most, from program formats and curriculum to admissions requirements and career outcomes.

Have a question not answered here? Feel free to email us anytime at [email protected].

 

Overview

The Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations (MHRIR) is a full-time, 40-credit graduate program at Minnesota Carlson that prepares you to lead where people and business performance intersect. You spend your first two semesters in person with a cohort, building expertise in HR strategy, people analytics, talent, rewards, labor relations, and organizational behavior. Then you choose Carlson business courses to round out your degree, finishing in 16 months.

The program targets recent graduates and early-career professionals seeking strategic careers in Human Resources, employee relations, talent management, labor relations or organizational strategy.

The MHRIR is a full-time program you complete in 16 months, starting in the fall. We don't offer a part-time or fully online option. You take three semesters: fall, spring, and the following fall. Add a semester to finish in 20 months if you study abroad or take additional Carlson coursework.

Your first two semesters are in person with your cohort. Your third semester is more flexible, with many courses offered in evening or online formats. Explore the MHRIR curriculum.

The MHRIR program starts once a year, in the fall. You can apply in one of five rounds: December 1, February 1, April 1, June 1, or July 15.

If you're an international applicant, your final deadline is April 1, or June 1 if you currently live in the United States. See our requirements and deadlines.

The MHRIR program welcomes both recent graduates and candidates with work experience, and you don't need professional experience to apply. Our students are 26 on average and bring zero to five years of work experience. If you do have work experience, we strongly prefer that at least one of your two recommendations come from a supervisor. See our class profile.

No. The program is not STEM-designated. International students must confirm OPT eligibility directly with the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office.

The program targets recent graduates and early-career professionals seeking careers in HR, employee relations, talent management, labor relations or organizational strategy.

The MHRIR provides deeper, specialized training in HR and labor relations, grounded in labor markets, analytics and HR policy. The MBA is a broader degree, covering leadership and general business functions with optional HR coursework.

Although the Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies does not schedule regular tours, we're happy to arrange individual visits and encourage you to see everything we offer. Many prospective students have found it valuable to tour our facilities and speak with faculty, current students and alumni. If you're interested, contact our admissions coordinator at [email protected].

Admissions

Our MHRIR program pairs a cohort-based HR core with the flexibility to build business expertise across Minnesota Carlson. You spend your first fall and spring in person with your cohort, including the Human Capital Lab, our signature experience, where your team partners with an organization on a real HR business opportunity. You learn from faculty who wrote textbooks on labor relations and staffing. Then you shape your final semester around your goals, with an optional People Analytics specialization if you want to go deeper on data.

To be considered for admission, the Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations program requires a first university degree that is equivalent to a 4-year U.S. bachelor's degree. Required application materials include a resume, transcripts, personal statement and letters of recommendation. View requirements & deadlines.

Work experience is not required but is encouraged. The program is structured for individuals with limited or no prior professional experience.

No, GMAT or GRE scores are optional. Applicants may submit an Academic Readiness Statement in place of test scores. For those who do submit scores, the program looks for a 40th percentile or better on both the verbal and quantitative sections.

The MHRIR program has five application rounds, with deadlines on December 1, February 1, April 1, June 1, and July 15. If you're an international applicant, your final deadline is April 1, or June 1 if you currently live in the United States. If you miss the final deadline, email [email protected] to see whether you can still submit a late application. See our requirements and deadlines.

Yes, you can apply to the MHRIR program with a bachelor's degree in any field. Our students come from a range of academic backgrounds, and you don't need prior business or HR coursework. We recommend but do not require introductory courses in macroeconomics, general psychology, and statistics.

Your degree needs to be equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor's. If you hold a three-year degree from India, you can qualify by completing an additional year of accredited post-baccalaureate study. See our requirements and deadlines.

Admission decisions are issued after the review period for each application round is complete.

Deferral policies are not published. Applicants must confirm deferral eligibility and process directly with the program office.

Submit the University’s online application. You must provide a resume, transcripts, GRE/GMAT scores or an Academic Readiness Statement, English language proficiency results (if applicable), and letters of recommendation.

We do not require a specific undergraduate major. Our students come from fields ranging from engineering to the arts. We recommend, but do not require, introductory courses in macroeconomics, general psychology and statistics.

The MHRIR program has five application rounds, with deadlines on December 1, February 1, April 1, June 1, and July 15. If you're an international applicant, your final deadline is April 1, or June 1 if you currently live in the United States. Applying early gives you the best chance of joining the program. If you miss the final deadline, email [email protected] to see whether you can still submit a late application. See our requirements and deadlines.

Test scores are optional. You can choose to submit GRE/GMAT scores or an Academic Readiness Statement.

  • Test Scores: We look for scores in the 40th percentile or higher on verbal and quantitative sections.
  • Academic Readiness Statement: If you opt out of testing, submit a statement highlighting relevant coursework, industry research, professional development or quantitative experience.

No. While we encourage professional experience, we do not require it.

You can complete the MHRIR in 16 months over three semesters: fall, spring, and the following fall. If you study abroad or take additional Carlson coursework, you can add a semester and finish in 20 months.

Tuition & Aid

For 2026-2027, Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations tuition is $37,110 for residents & reciprocity residents of ND, WI and Manitoba, and $62,430 for non-resident and international students. That's tuition only. University fees, books, course materials and living expenses are extra. See our Tuition & Aid page for the full breakdown.

Yes. Minnesota Carlson and the University of Minnesota offer merit-based scholarships to both domestic and international MHRIR students. You don't need a separate application, because we automatically consider every applicant for all the scholarships they're eligible for. Explore MHRIR scholarships.

If your schedule allows, you can apply for graduate assistant positions while in the MHRIR program. Past positions have involved about 10 hours of work per week supporting faculty research or our library, and applications typically open in August before classes start. We don't offer full-ride scholarships. You can browse open graduate assistant roles on the University of Minnesota's jobs site.

Yes. Financial aid options include federal loans, private loans, merit-based scholarships and potential employer tuition benefits.

The Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations is an in-person program, so your cost of living depends on studying in Minneapolis–St. Paul. The University's cost-of-attendance figures estimate housing, food and personal expenses beyond tuition and fees, and your actual costs depend on where and how you live. See One Stop's cost of attendance to estimate yours and to find financial aid and loan information.

Merit-based scholarships are available. Students may also utilize federal loans (if eligible), private loans or employer tuition benefits.

Tuition for the Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations is $12,370 per semester for Minnesota and reciprocity residents (North Dakota, Wisconsin and Manitoba), and $20,810 per semester for non-resident and international students.

Total tuition for all three semesters is $37,110 for Minnesota residents and reciprocity students, or $62,430 for non-resident and international students.

As the program is full-time only, part-time aid is not applicable. Eligibility for employer tuition reimbursement is possible but dependent on individual company policy.

No. Career services are included as a standard benefit of the Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations program. Students pay standard University tuition and fees without additional charges for career support or other benefits.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents can access loans and work-study opportunities. We consider all students for fellowships after admission. Many students also secure paid summer internships to support their studies.

Curriculum

The MHRIR program requires 40 credits: 22 in the HR Pillar and 18 in Business Foundations. You take 10 required HR Pillar courses with your cohort in your first fall and spring, covering HR strategy, people analytics, talent acquisition and development, compensation and total rewards, labor relations, and organizational behavior. Then you choose 18 credits of Carlson graduate courses across financial, business, analytical, and people systems. See our course descriptions.

Yes. The MHRIR program offers an optional People Analytics specialization, and you choose 18 of your 40 credits from Carlson graduate courses. The specialization builds on our strength in business analytics and the growing role of data, technology, and AI in HR. For the 18 credits you choose, you meet minimums in financial, business, analytical, and people systems, then spend the rest where your goals point.

The MHRIR program doesn't have a traditional capstone. Instead, every student completes the Human Capital Lab, our signature experience, where your team partners with an organization on a real HR business opportunity. This four-credit course runs across your full first spring semester with your cohort. Explore experiential learning in our MHRIR program.

Our MHRIR program builds real-world experience into the core curriculum and beyond it. Every student completes the Human Capital Lab, our signature experience, where your team partners with an organization on a real HR business opportunity. You can also compete in case competitions, provide free consulting to Twin Cities nonprofits through Graduate Volunteer Consultants, and take courses abroad. Explore experiential learning in our MHRIR program.

The MHRIR program is in person and structured for your first two semesters, then flexible in your third. During your first fall and spring, you take HR Pillar courses in person with your cohort, in seven-week sessions. Your third semester is all Business Foundations courses, and many are offered in evening or online formats. That lets you extend an internship or start full-time work while you finish the degree.

The MHRIR curriculum has two parts: the HR Pillar, 10 core courses you take with your cohort in your first fall and spring, and Business Foundations, courses you choose from across Carlson to build business expertise. The HR Pillar covers HR strategy, people analytics, talent, rewards, labor relations, and organizational behavior, and includes the Human Capital Lab, our signature experience. You can also add an optional People Analytics specialization or study abroad. See our course descriptions.

MHRIR classes in your first fall and spring are held in person during the day on our Minneapolis campus, where you take HR Pillar courses with your cohort. In your third semester, you choose Business Foundations courses, and many are offered in evening or online formats.

Yes. Through the Carlson Global Institute, MHRIR students can study abroad for a few weeks or a full semester and earn Business Foundations credits toward their degree. Short-term programs run during January and May terms, and semester programs are offered at partner universities around the world. If you spend a semester abroad, you'll finish in 20 months instead of 16. Explore global experiences in our MHRIR program.

An internship isn't required for the MHRIR. Your third semester is built to flex, so you can extend an internship or start full-time work while you finish your degree. Explore MHRIR internship and employment outcomes.

Application review starts soon after the application deadline. Applicants are generally notified of the decision 1-4 weeks from the deadline.

You can work while enrolled in the MHRIR program, but your first two semesters leave limited room for it. HR Pillar courses meet in person with your cohort, and group projects, coursework, and events fill much of your time outside class. To get the most from the program, we recommend limiting outside work to HR-related internships or assistantships during this time.

Your third semester is more flexible. Many Business Foundations courses are offered in evening or online formats, so you can extend an internship or start full-time work while you finish your degree.

Community & Careers

The Carlson Business Career Center provides comprehensive services, including one-on-one coaching, résumé and interview preparation, job search support, employer events and targeted networking opportunities.

Graduates are recruited by major corporations, consulting firms, manufacturing and consumer goods companies, healthcare organizations and technology firms, securing strategic HR roles shortly after graduation.

Career services include one-on-one coaching, résumé and interview preparation, job search support, employer events and targeted networking opportunities facilitated by the career center.

Graduates are recruited by large corporations, consulting firms, manufacturing and consumer goods companies, healthcare organizations, technology firms and HR service firms. View MHRIR employment statistics.

92% of our class of 2025 MHRIR graduates seeking full-time work received job offers within six months of graduation, with a mean base salary of $85,006. Graduates with U.S. work authorization had a 100% offer rate and a mean base salary of $89,750. Graduates without U.S. work authorization had a 71% offer rate and a mean base salary of $63,660.

Recent graduates have joined employers such as PepsiCo, UnitedHealth Group, Honeywell, Intel, and Land O'Lakes, in roles including HR business partner and compensation analyst. Explore MHRIR employment statistics.

Yes. Internships are supported through career coaching, job fairs, employer connections and are formally accommodated by the structure of the 20-month program.

Yes. Students connect with alumni and professionals through networking events, mentorship programs, industry panels and corporate partnerships.

Student Life

The program features a collaborative and close-knit community of students who possess degrees from a variety of fields (e.g., engineering, psychology, business). The cohort includes a mix of recent graduates and early-career professionals. View class profile.

MHRIR students join the Graduate Society of Human Resources Leaders (GSHRL), a student-run professional organization founded in 1956 and open to every student in the program. GSHRL hosts practitioner talks, professional development sessions, and volunteer events, and elects a student board each year. MHRIR students also have access to the CHRLS alumni mentorship program.

Students connect with a strong network of HR alumni and professionals through various networking events, mentorship programs, industry panels and corporate partnerships.

The experience is a close-knit community characterized by strong peer support and direct faculty engagement on the Minneapolis campus. Students maintain busy schedules that include group projects, coursework and professional events.

The MHRIR community is collaborative and close-knit, characterized by strong peer support, direct faculty engagement and access to the broader Carlson graduate community.

Yes. Students can join HR-focused organizations, graduate professional clubs and alumni association groups affiliated with the Center for Human Resources & Labor Studies.

Carlson provides support through orientation, student life resources, career services, alumni connections and comprehensive campus services for students relocating to Minneapolis.

Fellowships are awarded to highly-qualified students. There is no separate application, but interested students must submit a complete admissions application by February 1.  We have limited funds available for fellowships and try to give as many students as possible some funding. There are no full-ride scholarships.

Assistantships are announced in August before classes start and students may apply for them then.  Assistantships usually require 10 hours of work per week during the school year. Participants help with recruiting, faculty research projects and with The Herman Library.

You can work while enrolled in the MHRIR program, but your first two semesters leave limited room for it. HR Pillar courses meet in person with your cohort, and group projects, coursework, and events fill much of your time outside class. To get the most from the program, we recommend limiting outside work to HR-related internships or assistantships during this time.

Your third semester is more flexible. Many Business Foundations courses are offered in evening or online formats, so you can extend an internship or start full-time work while you finish your degree.

To start your housing search, housing.umn.edu.  Many students decide to live in apartments off campus.  The HRIR program office also helps students connect with each other to find roommates. Rent for off-campus housing varies. In general, rooming houses and shared housing are most affordable. Apartments, duplexes, and houses charge higher rents depending on location and other factors. Most students live in the Stadium Village, Dinkytown, Como Corridor, or Uptown areas. Stadium Village and Dinkytown are adjacent to the University's East Bank campus. The Como Corridor is northeast of the East Bank and has excellent bus service to campus. The Uptown neighborhood is centered at Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue, 4 miles southwest of campus, and features a wide range of apartments, restaurants, coffee shops, stores, and nightlife.