Program Structure/Curriculum
The Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) program continues to make exciting curriculum enhancements. Explore all the ways you'll benefit from these changes below.
An innovative MHRM curriculum:
At Fisher, we're continuously innovating and updating our graduate programs to ensure they're preparing you for the future of business with a best-in-class curriculum. These changes and an openness to incorporating feedback from students and employers ensure that Fisher graduates have the current skills and knowledge required to propel organizations forward. Here are some of the key MHRM program format updates for our full-time and part-time students:
- Recently refreshed curriculum to reflect changes in human resources
- Streamlined degree requirements to 39 credit hours
- 18-month, three-semester program full-time program (part-time option available for busy working professionals)
- Elective offerings vary from semester to semester, but some options may include a Coaching Series, Negotiations, Diversity and Inclusion, and Leadership Effectiveness through Applied Projects (LEAP).
View the Curriculum Sheets
Cross-functional and integrated
As technology continually changes the HR landscape, the need to think cross-functionally is a requirement of all business leaders. You'll take Contemporary Topics in HR and Professional Development, a one-credit-hour course each semester that meets once a week. This offering integrates with core coursework and connects your Practicum (Internship/Tutorial) or Thesis selection, which remains a key requirement of the program. We've also incorporated a Human Capital Strategy Capstone (three credit hours) to integrate your experience further and provide even more hands-on learning.
Stand out to employers around the world
The MHRM curriculum is embedded with the skills and knowledge that top employers value, among them:
- Labor and employee relations
- Current trends and HR technology
- International HR
- Communication skills
- Leadership implications
- Learning and development
- Business savvy
- Diversity and inclusion
- Ethics
- Excel
Individualized student support
- Career management consultation (with impressive outcomes)
- Support from Fisher's Office of Diversity and Inclusion Student Services and Corporate and Community Outreach
- Academic advising to help you personalize your program to your career goals
- Flexibility to take the program on a full-time or part-time basis
Elective Flexibility
In addition to required coursework, MHRM students are required to take a minimum of 9 elective credit hours, to be completed at any point in the program.
Electives may be graduate-level BUSMHR courses, independent study, or Ohio State electives outside the Fisher College of Business that are related to human resources*.
*Approval by academic advisor required. For non-business courses to meet the elective requirement, the courses must be offered at the graduate level and relate to the human resources field.
View some popular elective offerings
Ohio State Fisher College of Business HR Majors ONLY: The MHRM program makes it easy to continue your education by allowing Fisher undergraduates with a major in human resources to waive out of three courses (9 credit hours) in the curriculum and replace them with electives. Here are the courses that get replaced:
- MHR7311 Staffing & Talent (3)
- MHR 7303 People Analytics for Human Resource Management (3)
- MHR 7313 Total Rewards (3)
Program Structure
Domestic students enrolling in Fisher's MHRM program can pursue their degree on a full-time or part-time basis. International students entering the program on an F-1 Status Visa* are not eligible to pursue the MHRM degree on a part-time basis, and must maintain full-time coursework status. The program is offered fully in-person and on-campus. View the full-time/part-time curriculum sheets here.
Fisher offers domestic students the convenience of completing the MHRM program on a full-time or part-time basis, which gives students the flexibility to choose an option that fits their schedule at any time.
- A comprehensive HR curriculum (39 credit hours) with individualized attention (small class sizes)
- Switch between full-time and part-time as needed for domestic students
- Action-based learning (example: annual competition hosted by a corporate sponsor)
- Core classes are offered Monday through Thursday from 6:15 pm –9:30 pm
*Learn more about the F-1 visa, and applying as an international student.
- Part-time MHRM students select a sequenced course load of 1-3 nights of class per week (between Mon-Thurs, 6:15-9:30 PM)
- Part-time students complete 39 required credit hours for the degree typically within 3 years but can take up to 6. This is the same program, degree, and the total number of credit hours as the full-time program. It is simply spread out more to accommodate the busy schedule of working professionals.
- Thanks to the new MHRM curriculum enhancement our part-time students can complete the program faster than ever!
- Start in either the autumn or spring semester as a part-time student.
- Pursuing a summer internship is often not feasible or recommended for working professional students. Part-time students can instead pursue the tutorial option to complete the Practicum requirement.
Part-time students can begin with a part-time course load, or can switch from full-time to part-time status later in the MHRM program. Part-time students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with their academic advisor to ensure all curriculum requirements are met by the desired graduation date.
If a students’ course load falls below 8 credit hours, they are considered “part-time” by The Ohio State University Graduate School and will be assessed tuition & fees accordingly.
Tuition is determined by how many credits you are enrolled in each semester. Click here to see the University Registrar’s complete tuition and fee schedule.
Which Path is Right for You?
Practicum (Internship or Tutorial)
The HR Practicum is for students interested in transitioning their skills and degree into a work related setting after they graduate. Students who choose to do the Practicum option complete 39 credit hours of coursework. The focus of this plan is to allow students to practically apply knowledge and skills acquired through MHRM coursework in a real business setting. The Practicum option can be completed through one of two tracks.
- Internship option: Students pursuing an internship gain practical experience in an HR role. The internship is to be a full-time 40/hr. a week working commitment, typically completed during the summer between years 1 and 2 of the MHRM program. This is the most common option for our full-time MHRM students. Visit the careers page to learn more about internships.
- Tutorial: Working professionals or part-time students are usually unable to pursue an internship and they typically choose to complete the Practicum option in their current role, through volunteer project(s) or through small-scale research projects. They will develop a project with their faculty advisor that allows them to practically apply coursework in their job.
Thesis
Students looking to gain research experience, or ultimately pursue a PHD, can select the Thesis option. Students work with a thesis advisor who has specific expertise in the area of research.
Contemporary Topics in HR & Professional Development: This new course in the curriculum (1 credit hour each semester) meets one day a week before evening classes during the 5 –6 p.m. timeframe. The coursework is tailored to your practicum or thesis choice.
Part-time students may substitute this class with an elective by working with their advisor.
Internal MHRM Case Competition
The Fisher MHRM program hosts a case competition each year, in which students compete in teams against peers to solve an HR-related business problem.
The competition is facilitated by a corporate sponsor and students present their ideas in front of a panel of judges from partnering companies. Winners may be invited to the annual external case competition, where Fisher MHRM students compete against HR Masters Students from other top-ranked peer schools.
Each student is required to participate in one annual case competition, and many choose to participate both years for the experience and networking opportunities. Students then write a reflection paper on their learning.
Questions? E-mail the MHRM team in the Graduate Programs Office at fisher_mhrm@fisher.osu.edu.
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