Master’s Concentration
HR Employment Relations: Master’s Degree
Design and manage organizational programs and systems geared toward making a positive impact on the employee experience. Successful organizations often have a respectful employee-employer relationship, and HR professionals maintain and enhance those relationships. Learn to improve employee retention and high performance through compensation, total benefits, meeting organizational goals, and setting realistic performance expectations.
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Top-ranked, career-focused education in a flexible format.
At a Glance
Classes Begin
January 6
Term Length
10 Weeks
Master's Tuition
$835 per credit hour
Top-Ranked University
U.S. News & World Report Rankings
Talk to an Enrollment Manager
Emma Thibodeau
303-871-4729
Schedule an appointment
Email me
Skills You’ll Learn
Analyze the typical phases of an employee experience
Evaluate the compensation considerations and total benefits for employees
Identify, locate, and interpret laws and regulations relevant to the organization
Curriculum
Master of Science in Strategic Human Resources with a concentration in HR Employment Relations requires completion of 48 credit hours (12 courses).
5
Core Courses
4
Concentration Courses
3
Elective Courses
Featured Instructors
Sample Schedule
Plan out your schedule and determine your preferred timeline for completing your master's degree—finish in as few as 18 months or take up to five years.
Interested in a graduate certificate?
Explore our four and six course graduate certificates in HR Employment Relations.
Take a Course Before You Apply
We know how important it is to get started when you’re ready and that’s why you can enroll in a course before you officially apply.
Career Outcomes
Predicted outcomes for graduates of HR Employment Relations
Job growth for HR specialists will increase 10% throughout the next decade, as projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Developing employees and being involved in shaping an organization’s workforce takes knowledge in relationship building, strategy, budgets, and planning.
The Society of Human Resource Management anticipates an expanded job market for HR professionals, according to their Jobs Outlook Survey. HR jobs that deal directly with employees are expected to rise thanks to a growing U.S. economy.
Job Titles
Employee Relations Manager
Employment Specialist
HR Manager
Consultant
Human Resource Managers Salary: National Average
$110,120
(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Get Ahead with Career Services
One-on-one career coaching and mock interviews
Job database dedicated to DU students and alumni
Résumé and cover letter guidance
Hear from Our Students
Theme: Job Satisfaction
Strategic Human Resources
“I recently passed my SHRM-CP with very little time in the field. I feel like my first instincts are good because the foundation was laid with my education.”
—Shannon Harbison, graduate.
Flexible Online Classes
We understand the demands of balancing work, friends and family, and school can be challenging. That's why at University College, you can complete your program entirely online. Our online learning platform makes it easy to work anywhere at any time.
Accreditation & Associations
Higher Learning Commission
University College programs maintain the highest level of accreditation offered by The Higher Learning Commission, one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the federal government. The University of Denver and all of its academic programs are regionally accredited by this commission, and regional accreditation is the highest standard for universities in the United States.
The MS in Strategic Human Resources offered through University College is formally acknowledged by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as being aligned with its HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates through September 2023. As a university with a master's degree program aligned to SHRM's curriculum guidelines, students are eligible to apply for the SHRM-CP exam provided they meet SHRM's student eligibility requirements.
The University of Denver University College is an Approved Provider with the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). Each course in the Strategic Human Resource curriculum is approved for 48 recertification hours of General, Strategic, or International credit with HRCI. Upon successful completion of the course, human resource professionals may apply the credit earned towards their Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), or Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) certification. Looking for HRCI certification prep for PHR, SPHR, and aPHR? See offerings through the Center for Professional Development.
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