3 Things You'll Learn in the Minnesota Carlson's Human Resources Master's Program
Monday, August 7, 2023
Last updated November 17, 2025
With several years of professional experience now behind them, we reconnected with three Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations (MHRIR) alumni to discuss the program's long-term impact. We asked them to identify the specific skills and insights they gained at Carlson that would have otherwise taken years to acquire through on-the-job experience. Here is what they shared:
How Will the Program Build Broad HR Expertise?
Jake Peggar (‘18), Senior HRBP Program Manager, Autodesk
Jake highlights how the MHRIR provided a "shortcut" to executive-level understanding by bridging the gap between HR theory and business strategy. He credits these three program elements with accelerating his ability to make an impact:
- The program's curriculum gives you exposure to all critical areas of the HR function. Whether you decide to pursue a career in compensation, talent, or business partnering, having a well-rounded understanding of the core theories across the function is invaluable and accelerates impact in any role. This broad knowledge base would take many years to acquire outside academia.
- Business and financial acumen continue to be an area of opportunity for HR professionals. Through coursework with a business focus, such as Business Principles, Personnel Economics, Data/Metrics, and access to courses in the MBA program, I have the knowledge base and tools to better understand the "business" side of my organization.
- The program gives you unprecedented access to a high-quality network, whether it's fellow HR professionals, MBA students, professors, or a vast alumni network. Building and having access to this network across industries, professions, and specialties would be virtually impossible to replicate through "real-world" connections alone.
Explore the MHRIR curriculum to see how it can shape your HR career.
How Will You Apply HR Knowledge Immediately?
Jess Zamora-Weiss (‘18), HR Manager, Owens Corning
For Jess, the program wasn't just theoretical; it provided practical tools and connections she relies on daily. She breaks down the three major advantages that helped her land high-impact roles and succeed from day one:
- This program offers a world-class education in HR compensation, labor relations, and leadership development (to name just a few subjects) with highly esteemed professors and subject matter experts. Everything that I learned was immediately applicable in my day-to-day life in my roles at PepsiCo and Owens Corning.
- I gained a very strong network of HR professionals across multiple industries who I still call upon when I need to benchmark various HR practices. I built these relationships through in-class group work, case competitions, and social time facilitated by our student group, the Graduate Society of Human Resources Leaders.
- The Carlson Business Career Center (CBCC) was by far the most value-added part of going to Minnesota Carlson over other programs. The CBCC staff is very committed to equipping students with the professional skills to land high-impact and high-paying jobs within the HR industry. The fact that they can attract so many Fortune 500 companies to recruit students was a key factor in why I chose Carlson for my graduate education in HR.
How Will the Program Help You Discover Your HR Career Path?
Alexus Hudson (‘19), HR Generalist, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
For Alexus, the program served as a career compass, allowing her to explore different specialties before committing to a specific role. She outlines the three experiences that helped her define her path:
- I learned what areas of HR I wanted to pursue, which helped guide my job search. The program provides a wide variety of courses and I learned a lot about what I liked and what I didn't like. The internship I had between the two years also helped me determine my interests. For instance, after taking HRIR 6301 Staffing, Training, and Development I realized that recruiting wasn't for me. I didn't have an interest in it. After my internship and taking HRIR 6501 Compensation and Benefits, I learned that I really liked compensation and that I potentially wanted a role that included that function.
- The Carlson Graduate Business Career Center helped prepare me to interview for the higher caliber organizations I may not have considered applying for if I hadn't joined the program.
- The program also expanded my HR network more in the two years I was there. I don't know if I would have the variety of people around the country in my network if I hadn't attended Minnesota Carlson.
Connect with Carlson admissions to learn how the program can align with your career goals.
Hear from more alumni about their careers!
Learn from three other alumni about how the Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations program launched and accelerated their careers.
Ready to Advance Your HR Career?
From mastering technical HR knowledge to expanding your network and career opportunities, the MHRIR program provides the foundation to grow as a leader in human resources.
Start your application now and take the next step in your HR career.
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