Accelerated Online Master’s in Human Resource Management

Essential Skills & Insights

Coursework in this online master’s in human resource management program prepares you to lead with confidence, align people strategies with organizational goals, and drive workplace innovation. You’ll gain advanced expertise in problem-solving, communication, and strategy, all while learning from SHRM-aligned coursework that reflects the highest standards in the HR profession.

• Talent Recruitment & Workforce Staffing: Source, screen, and hire with data-driven pipelines and inclusive practices.
• Employee Development & Retention: Grow careers through targeted learning, coaching, and engagement programs.
• Compensation & Total Rewards: Design market-competitive, equitable pay and benefits tied to outcomes.
• HR Analytics & Data-Driven Decision-Making: Turn workforce data into predictive insights and action-ready dashboards.

AI-Powered Learning, Real-World Impact

Our accelerated online programs integrate opportunities to engage with Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a powerful tool for learning and career preparation. Students apply AI in ways that build authentic skills and mirror how businesses are leveraging it across industries. We emphasize ethical and responsible use, ensuring that students develop the judgment to apply AI appropriately. This approach helps graduates enter the workforce with both technical knowledge and a clear understanding of AI’s role in their discipline.

Careers in Human Resource Management

Human resource professionals are at the center of shaping workplace culture, driving employee engagement, and aligning talent with organizational goals. A Master’s in Human Resource Management equips graduates with the leadership, strategy, and communication skills to step into high-demand roles across industries.

• Human Resources Specialist — Median salary: $72,910
  Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and employee relations with a focus on aligning talent to organizational objectives. Specialists ensure that HR practices contribute directly to business success.
• Human Resources Manager — Median salary: $140,030
  Lead HR teams, oversee benefits and compensation, manage compliance, and guide workforce planning. Managers play a key role in balancing employee needs with strategic organizational goals.
• Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) — $159,000+
  Shape organizational culture and long-term people strategy at the executive level. CHROs direct policies, drive talent development, and lead initiatives that impact the entire workforce.

AI & Workforce Innovation

Graduates will also be prepared to leverage artificial intelligence and workforce analytics to enhance recruitment, optimize employee engagement, and guide data-driven HR strategies—ensuring they stay ahead in a rapidly evolving workplace.

Admissions Requirements

For admission to your accelerated online MS Human Resource Management degree, simply complete the 2 step application process.

1. Complete the Graduate Admissions Online Application by visiting apply.lindenwood.edu  
2. Request official transcripts from your undergraduate institution(s) showing a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
   
   Only transcripts with the final degree posted are required if you attended multiple institutions.
   
   Transcripts may be submitted:
   • Electronically to: [email protected]
   • By Mail to:
     Office of Admissions
     Lindenwood University
     8205 S Priest Dr #11480 Tempe, AZ 85284

Curriculum Overview

Lindenwood University’s accelerated online Master of Arts in Human Resource Management (HRM) program at Lindenwood University provides a comprehensive curriculum designed to develop strategic HR leadership skills. Through this comprehensive curriculum, you can gain expertise in areas such as talent recruitment, workforce staffing, employee development, workforce management and labor law, employee retention, and organizational behavior and change management.  Graduates are prepared for advanced roles in human resources and organizational management. Courses are taught by expert faculty with professional experience in a variety of human resource management roles.

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Aligned Degree

Lindenwood University’s accelerated online HR master’s degree (in addition to our BA HRM degree) is aligned with the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (BASK), which are recommended for HR professionals. Lindenwood encourages you to seek HR trade certifications and join HR trade organizations, like SHRM & the National HR Association (NHRA), with student memberships.

HR students and graduates can leverage their Lindenwood education to seek certification through exams offered by those external organizations to improve their career outlook. For example, students without any HR work experience can seek the SHRM Certified Professional certification just by being enrolled in our HR degree program.

Major Coursework – 30 Credit Hours

Strategic Human Resource Management

This course is an overview of human resource management and will include exploration of such topics as staffing, training and development, performance management, compensation, labor relations, and employment law, with a primary focus on strategic execution, which integrates HR programs and policies within the framework of an organization’s strategic direction.

Workforce Talent Development

This course introduces students to methods of employee training and to the role that employee training plays in organizational planning. Particular emphasis will be given to needs analysis, program design and delivery, training methods, learning theory, learning styles, and evaluation and testing.

Employment and Labor Law

This course examines basic law as applied to employment issues. Topics include equal employment, affirmative action, employment-at-will, constructive and unlawful discharge, wage and hours issues, mandatory benefits, safety and workers compensation, protected classes, disability issues, workplace accommodation, labor relations, and record keeping requirements.

Workforce Total Rewards

This course is an overview of compensation and benefits covering pay structures, pay systems, comparable worth, relationship between pay and performance, performance evaluation, internal and external equity, and legal issues. Prerequisite: HRM 56510.

Workforce Staffing

This course covers phases of the selection and placement process and includes the interview as a multistage process, cognitive structures brought to the selection task by applicants and interviewers, and means of improving the interview as an effective selection and recruiting technique. The course will also deal with concerns of designing and conduct of employee reviews. Prerequisite: HRM 56510.

Human Resource Management Analytics

This course sets out new approaches, formulas, and software needed to enable any Human Resource (HR) function or organization to forecast trends and to use existing data to their organization’s advantage in order to maximize efficiency and productivity. Students will review software to help them conduct forecasts with certainty to right size any organization. It will emphasize how HR can become a true business partner by rethinking HR’s contribution to the organization in the future. Topics include a specific HR strategic model, reshaping of HR to align itself better with the business, and a number of new tools and techniques to aid in creating real financial value to the organization. Prerequisite: HRM 56510; MGMT 56070, MTH 14100, or MTH 24100.

Human Resource Management Integration

Human Resource Management Integration is the final core requirement and offers an intensive exploration of the applied aspect of human resource strategy, concepts, and methodologies. Working as a team with other students, individuals will apply human resources management solutions to management simulations based upon a real-world organizational setting. Students will apply what they have learned from classes through lecture, discussion, case studies, and examples that emphasize the strategic role that human resource management plays in an organization. Students will experience the role of the HR leader as a change agent including the organizational development tools of action research, strategic leadership, consensus building, and core competencies needed to lead effectively in diverse organizations. This course is to be taken during the student’s last term of the MA HRM program. Prerequisite: HRM 56510.

Organizational Behavior

This course is an analysis of primary factors affecting individual and group behavior in organizations and examines the structure and behavior within organizations that impact performance, morale, and profitability.

Organizational Change and Development

Organization development (OD) is the process of planning and implementing interventions to create interpersonal, group, intergroup, or organization-wide change. This course presents the theoretical foundations of organization development as an applied behavioral science. Students will also be introduced to many types of interpersonal, intra-group, intergroup, and organizational interventions that are used to effect comprehensive and lasting changes. Prerequisite: MGMT 56030 or MGMT 56035.

Project Management

This MBA elective course develops a foundation of concepts and solutions that supports the planning, scheduling, controlling, resource allocation, and performance measurement activities required for successful completion of a complex project. It examines project management roles and environments, the project life-cycle, and various techniques of work planning, control, and evaluation to achieve project objectives. The tools currently available to project managers are illustrated in this course through the use of Microsoft® Project software. Moreover, the Project Management Body of Knowledge PMBOK® will be used as a basis for content. Prerequisite: HRM 56510 or MGMT 56030.

Financial Management Coursework – 3 Credit Hours

Financial Policy

This course introduces the student to the major techniques of financial management. Topics will include financial markets and sources of financing, financial analysis, forecasting and planning, security valuation, cost of capital, capital budgeting, and capital structure. Prerequisite: ACCT 51010 or FIN 32000.

Program Length Details

Lindenwood University’s (LU) Accelerated Online programs offer you choice and flexibility to support your education journey. Time to complete a master’s degree can vary based on course load, transfer credits, and individual pacing. You will tailor a course schedule that keeps you in the driver’s seat

• Transfer Credit: LU allows 9 transfer credits toward a master’s degree and you can complete your degree in as few as 24 credits.
• Accelerated Courses: LU accelerated online programs offer 10 5-week terms per year.  By enrolling in two courses per term, you can potentially begin and complete your master’s degree in 7 months.
• Frequent Start Dates: LU offers multiple start dates throughout the year so you can begin your studies when you are ready allowing you to graduate sooner.
• Personalized Degree Plan: LU academic advisors will work with you to tailor your degree plan to support your education goals while balancing your personal and professional responsibilities.