People, not policies, are the most valuable assets to organizations, which is why skilled human resources professionals can contribute to business success.
The Mitch Daniels School of Business prepares students to lead organizations in workforce management through its Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) aligned curriculum, designed to provide students with essential skills in HR strategy and functions. Along with a robust offering of electives, the degree is fully customizable so that every student can align their educational path with their career goals.
Online MSHRM students must complete 30 hours of coursework, including foundational HR strategy and operations courses. Additionally, industry-specific electives and general business electives round out your expertise and allow you to fully customize the degree.
HR Foundations
These foundational courses introduce students to the essential principles and strategic mindset required for success in any HR role. These cornerstone courses give students a dual perspective: the high-level strategic alignment of HR with business goals, and the behavioral insights necessary to manage people effectively within organizations.
HR Fundamentals
This set of core courses provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the core HR functions that support the employee lifecycle. Students gain practical knowledge and skills to attract, retain, and develop talent in alignment with organizational goals.
HR Electives
Choose at least six credits of electives that supplement your focus in HR. From leadership and change management to instructional design, you can begin to shape your direction with your choices.
Some of the EDCI (Instructional Design) certificate* courses may fulfill your elective requirements for the human resource program. You may select up to three of these eight courses (nine credit hours) to fulfill your electives.
Visit the Instructional Design Graduate Certificate Courses page for course descriptions.
Some students may be interested in pursuing an instructional design certificate to add to their MSHRM. If you are interested in earning the certificate, work with your advisor for specifics.
Note: Tuition will be assessed based on your primary program, which is the Online MSHRM program.
Complete your plan of study with more electives, designed to align with your interests and career goals. We can help you dial up your expertise in a number of areas, from business acumen to HR analytics and more. See below for a sample list of electives.
We offer six learning tracks within the online MSHRM degree program. These non-transcriptable paths can help you shape your experience at Purdue with a specific end goal in mind. While not required, you can use the tracks to choose your remaining electives intentionally. Use these sample plans to map out your degree with your academic advisor.
This track equips students with the tools and insights needed to enhance organizational performance through people-centered strategies. In today’s dynamic and diverse work environments, HR professionals must be able to lead change, resolve conflict, and foster inclusive cultures. Whether managing teams, leading transformation initiatives, or shaping organizational culture, graduates of this track will be prepared to make a meaningful impact across industries.
The HR Professional track is ideal for students seeking a broad foundation in human resource management. It enables graduates to step into HR roles that require adaptability, problem-solving, and a strong understanding of HR principles and operations across the employee life cycle. They will be capable of balancing day-to-day HR responsibilities and contributions to strategic initiatives and organizational effectiveness through HR best practices. This track is especially valuable for those seeking to grow into HR leadership roles over time.
The HR Business Partner (HRBP) track is designed to prepare students to operate at the intersection of people and business strategy, serving as strategic liaisons between HR and business units. Graduates will be ready to step into roles that require both strategic insight and operational execution backed by strong partnerships with business leaders and cross-functional teams. They will be equipped to influence business outcomes through talent strategies, workforce planning, and organizational development. They will be ready to make data-informed decisions, and they will be equipped to lead change management initiatives in support of organizational transformation. This track is ideal for students aiming to become HR leaders who are deeply embedded in their respective businesses.
The HR Analytics track allows graduates to lead data-driven HR initiatives, from workforce planning and talent acquisition to employee engagement and retention. They will be equipped to collect, analyze and interpret organizational data, using statistical tools and programming languages to uncover trends and patterns. Translating data insights into strategic recommendations, these graduates will learn to communicate findings effectively to a variety of audiences. They will also be ready to support evidence-based decision-making and contribute to organizational performance through advanced analytics.
The HR Consulting track helps graduates enter the workforce as confident, capable consultants who can assess organizational needs, craft tailored HR solutions, and drive strategic change. They will be adept at working across industries and functions, often in fast-paced, client-facing roles. This track also lays the groundwork for those interested in internal consulting roles within large organizations.
The Training & Development track is designed to prepare students to become architects of learning and performance within organizations. Students will gain a deep understanding of how to design and deliver impactful training programs and how to evaluate learning outcomes using data and feedback. With a strong foundation in instructional design and learning technologies, students will be equipped to create scalable and innovative learning experiences. It also offers a pathway to earn a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design or Workplace Learning.
*These courses support the ability to be a leader in a wide variety of functions or positions; the list that appears here serves as a set of example positions.
**This list is not exhaustive of all electives; it includes courses that may help you craft a plan of study that achieves this track's goals. Talk to your academic advisor for further details.
SHRM Alignment
Purdue University’s Human Resource Management programs feature curriculum that aligns with the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates.
If you’re considering similar residential or non-degree program offerings, compare the curriculum of our Online MS in Human Resource Management (OMSHRM) degree with that of our MSHRM residential program or explore our Online Fundamentals of Human Resources Graduate Certificate.
Explore the Residential MSHRM Program
Explore the Graduate Certificate
If you would like to receive more information about the Online MSHRM program at Purdue, please fill out the form and an enrollment specialist will be in touch.
We are available to meet with you virtually to discuss how your goals align with our curriculum, community, student experiences, and outcomes to determine if Purdue is the right fit for you!
