The Master of Science in Human Resources and Employment Relations (HRER) is a two–year, 37-credit program. It prepares students to (1) understand the roles employers, employees organizations, and public policy makers play in the employment relationship, (2) analyze systematically and understand the complex personal and organizational issues inherent in the employment relationship, (3) evaluate research results in the process of administering labor and human resource systems, (4) undertake advanced graduate or professional training, including law, beyond the master’s degree, and (5) work as practitioners in the field. Further, the program highlights the growing importance of diversity in the workforce and the globalization of public and private organizations.

The program includes 22 required credits; students choose either a thesis or research paper option. Students anticipating further postgraduate education should take the thesis option, and those who anticipate not being in residence for at least part of their studies should strongly consider it. Some of the most recent thesis titles have been:

• Impact of Globalization on Employment Relations Policies: A Case Study within the Technology Sector
• Empirical Analysis of Employment Arbitration Decisions
• Challenge of Retaining Top Employees in Rural Communities: A Case Study within the Academic Sector
• Make-up Time: A Study of Morning Grooming Time in the U.S.

The Department offers numerous learning opportunities for students to satisfy the 37-credit degree requirement. In addition to a variety of courses, the Department and University provide an enriched learning environment in numerous ways. The University Libraries system, ranked thirteenth nationally by the Association of Research Libraries, contains more than four million volumes and subscribes to major periodicals in our field. In the area of human resources and employment relationa, the Libraries system continually expands its holdings and has attracted valuable private collections as well, including papers from the United Steelworkers of America and the United Mine Workers of America, which are housed in Pattee Library on the University Park campus. It also has a major on-line reference system.

Graduate students have access to numerous computer software programs, plus the Internet and the World Wide Web, from various locations on campus and within the Department offices.

The Department also presents seminars featuring guest speakers whose research bears directly on the employment relationship.

HRER MS Program Timeline

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Penn State HRER masters program will find that a variety of opportunities await them, whether they seek employment or more post-graduate education. Depending on a student’s particular interest, employment opportunities exist with private employers, unions, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Students may enter the field of human resources management, collective bargaining/labor-management relations, or both. They would be involved in the critical components of managing employment relations, including hiring, job evaluation, compensation and benefit administration, arbitration, contract negotiation and administration, grievance handling, equal employment opportunities, sexual and racial discrimination prevention, occupational health and safety, and employee retention and training.

Those seeking further postgraduate training upon completion of their masters degree will have an equally diverse set of opportunities. Students may pursue doctoral training in economics, industrial relations, history, human resources, industrial psychology, organizational behavior, or sociology. Additionally, students may pursue further education in law, policy analysis, or business management.

Current Positions and Programs of Recent Graduates:

2006

• Human Resources Officer, U.S. Gypsum Corporation, CA
• Human Resources Manager, Ralston-Purina Corporation, PA
• Executive Training Program, Target Corporation, GA
• Compensation Analyst, Mercer Human Resource Consulting, PA
• Human Resources Leadership Development Program, Lockheed Martin, NY
• Human Resource Representative, Aramark Corporation, PA
• Dickinson School of Law, Penn State, PA

2005

• Human Resources Development Program, Automotive Business Group, Eaton Corporation, MI
• Administrative Organizer, SEIU/1199, Buffalo, NY

2003

• Human Resource Representative, Citigroup, NYC
• Human Resource Manager, Ingersoll Rand Corporation, Texas
• Ph.D. Program in Information and Science Technology, Penn State University
• Human Resource Coordinator, ABC Carpet & Home, NYC

2002

• Human Resource Manager, Westinghouse, Blairsville, PA
• Labor and Employee Relations Specialist, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
• Human Resource Manager, Cigna, Philadelphia
• Ph. D. Program in Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State University
• Research Associate, Consortium of Transportation Unions, Washington, DC
• Ph.D. Program in Statistics, Temple University
• Law School, University of Miami
• Assistant Director of Human Resources, CIGNA, Philadelphia
• Human Resource Manager, United Technologies, Connecticut

2001

• Director of Human Resource, Overhead Door, Lewistown, PA
• Organizer/Representative, Service Employees Union-1199, Syracuse, NY

2000

• Field Examiner, National Labor Relations Board, Pittsburgh, PA
• Human Resource Representative, Lockheed Martin, Valley Forge, PA
• Ph.D. Program in Sociology, Penn State University

1999

• Director of Human Resources, Pharmaceutical Company, New York City
• Human Resource Practitioner, Towers Perrin, Philadelphia
• Manager, Benefits Programs, Hewlett-Packard Australia, Melbourne, Australia
• Human Resource Generalist, Lockheed Martin

1998

• Human Resource Analyst, Sunstate Equipment, Phoenix, Arizona
• Human Resource Supervisor, Poland Spring Bottled Water, Maine
• Vice President, Human Resources, Commerce One Bank, MD