Undergraduate Major & Minor - Human Resources & Industrial Relations

Human resource management is critical to the successful functioning of an organization. As an HR major, you will learn how organizations use human resources management to create a competitive organization and to help employees achieve fulfilling work lives. Among many other important topics, you will learn to facilitate human resources practices to: 

  • Attract, recruit, select, reward and retain the best talent for your organization
  • Provide employee feedback, coaching and developmental opportunities for employees
  • Design and evaluate training and development programs
  • Determine fair and equitable pay structures
  • Improve employee engagement and organizational culture
  • Meet legal standards

Four-year Plan

Human Resources & Industrial Relations Major Sample Plan

The APAS is the official method for tracking the completion of your specific degree requirements. Please be aware that there are multiple ways for students to progress through this major. This is just one sample. Students should work with their advisor to develop their individual plan.

Italic: course pre-requisites and co-requisites (designated by &)

Bold: Liberal Ed requirement

Print Plan

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

  • Econ 1165 Business Economics (Soc Sci) (4cr)
  • BA 2551 Business Statistics in R (Math) (4cr)
  • BA 1011 Leading Self & Teams (2cr)
  • BA 1021 Design Your Life (1cr)
  • Writ 1301 First Year Writing (4cr)

15 credits

Spring Semester

  • Acct 2051 Financial Reporting (4cr)
  • BA 2051 Solving Business Scenarios in Excel (2cr)
  • BA 2062 Powerful Problem Solving (2cr)
  • Design Your Career (1cr)
  • BA 2005 Corporate Responsibility & Ethics (Civ) (3cr) 
  • Liberal Ed (3-4cr)

15-16 credits

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

Maroon Block I-Core

  • Mktg 3001 Principles of Marketing (3cr)
  • IDSc 3001 Information Systems & Digital Transformation (3cr)
  • BA 3001 Race, Power, & Justice in Business (RPJ) (3cr)
  • Acct 3001 Strategic Management Accounting (3cr)
  • BA 3051 Data-Driven Business Decisions (BA 2551 & BA 2051) (3cr)

15 credits

Spring Semester

Gold Block I-Core

  • Fina 3001 Finance Fundamentals (Acct 2051 & BA 2551) (3cr)
  • Mgmt 3004 Strategic Management (3cr)
  • SCO 3001 Sustainable Supply Chain Management (3cr)
  • HRIR 3021 Human Capital Management (3cr)
  • BA 3062 Impact Lab Project (BA 2062) (2cr)

14 credits

Declare a major: 
z.umn.edu/CarlsonDeclare

Junior Year

Fall Semester

  • BA 3551 Business Analytics (BA 2551 & BA 2051) (3cr)
  • HRIR 3041 Organizational Behavior (HRIR 3021) (2cr)
  • HRIR elective (2cr)
  • Liberal Ed (4cr) 
  • Liberal Ed (3cr)
  • Elective (2cr)

16 credits

Spring Semester

  • BA 3033W Business Communication (3cr)
  • HRIR 3111 HR Analytics (HRIR 3021 & statistics)(2cr)
  • HRIR 3031 Staffing & Selection (HRIR 3021) (2cr)
  • HRIR 3071 Union Org & Labor Relations (HRIR 3021) (2cr)
  • HRIR elective (2cr)
  • Liberal Ed (4cr)

15 credits

Senior Year

Fall Semester

  • HRIR 3051 Compensation Theory & Practice (HRIR 3021) (2cr)
  • HRIR elective (2cr)
  • HRIR elective (2cr)
  • Liberal Ed (3cr)
  • Liberal Ed (3cr)
  • Elective (3cr)

15 credits

Spring Semester

  • HRIR 4801W Senior Capstone: Personal & Organizational Leadership (3021, senior status & majority of major completed) (4cr)
  • Liberal Ed (3cr)
  • Elective (4cr)
  • Elective (3cr)

14 credits

Total Credits Needed for Degree: 120

Note: Students must complete an international experience as part of the program requirements. Short-term programs or semester-length programs may be used to meet this requirement. Explore your options: z.umn.edu/CarlsonIE

Mia McGraw

I chose to be a Human Resources and Industrial Relations major to break the typical stigma surrounding HR professionals and to be an individual that ensures work environments are safe and inclusive for all. The HRIR major at Carlson is unique because it offers an integrated Master's degree program, which you can start in your undergrad and complete faster than a typical BSB degree and Master's degree track.

Mia McGraw, '26 BSB

Frequently Asked Questions

Human Resources and Industrial Relations (HRIR) is about one simple truth: people are a company’s greatest strength. You’ll learn how to unlock potential, build great workplaces, and create cultures where employees truly want to show up and do their best work every day.
 

The coursework is a blend of analytical, applied, and real world examples. Your classes will be a mix of psychology, law, and strategy. You’ll learn how to recruit the best talent, design fair pay structures, and manage workplace relationships. It’s about using both data and empathy to build teams that win.
 

Many graduates step into corporate human capital tracks as HR generalists, corporate recruiters, talent acquisition specialists, or training coordinators. Those who enjoy data analytics often pursue specialized pathways as compensation and benefits analysts or HR information systems (HRIS) analysts. Additionally, graduates interested in unionized environments or corporate legal compliance secure positions as labor relations specialists. Because Carlson houses one of the nation's premier HR institutes, students are heavily recruited by Twin Cities corporate hubs like Target, Land O'Lakes, 3M, and General Mills.
 

Find More Human Resources & Industrial Relations Key Career Info

Carlson provides a highly active, direct professional pipeline to help HRIR students build peer networks and interface directly with local corporate executives. Students are strongly encouraged to join the student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), which regularly hosts corporate panels, resume critiques, and interview prep workshops.
 

  • The Major Core Curriculum is 22 credits for students entering Fall 2020 and later.
  • HRIR 3021 is a prerequisite for all HRIR courses.

Contact Undergraduate Program