Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

What you'll study

This programme blends foundational business studies with specialised human resources topics, taught through lectures, case studies, projects and workplace experiences. Students cover the principles and practices that allow organisations to attract, develop and retain talent, with emphasis on ethical decision-making and contemporary HR technology.

• Core HR foundations: principles of human resource management, organisational behaviour, and strategic HRM that link HR activity to business goals.
• Employee lifecycle: talent acquisition and selection, onboarding, performance management, career development and succession planning.
• Reward and benefits: compensation systems, benefits administration, total rewards strategy and pay equity considerations.
• Employment law and labour relations: U.S. employment law basics, compliance, workplace investigations and collective bargaining fundamentals.
• Learning and development: training design, instructional methods, leadership development and evaluation of learning outcomes.
• HR technology and analytics: HR information systems (HRIS), metrics and analytics for workforce planning and decision-making.
• Diversity, equity and inclusion: inclusive hiring, bias mitigation, workplace culture and policies to support diverse workforces.
• Ethics and leadership: professional ethics, servant leadership approaches and the role of HR as an ethical steward in organisations.
• Experiential components: practicum or internship with local employers, applied projects and a senior capstone integrating HR strategy and practice.

The degree is structured alongside the university's liberal arts curriculum, so students also take general education courses in communication, quantitative reasoning and social sciences to build well-rounded professional capabilities.

Entry requirements

Admission is typically based on a completed secondary school qualification such as a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants are expected to demonstrate a record of academic achievement and readiness for undergraduate study.

• Recommended academic background: coursework in English, mathematics and social sciences. Background in business or psychology is helpful but not required.
• Typical supporting materials: official transcripts, a personal statement or essay describing interest in human resources, and contact details for a reference. Some applicants may be invited to an interview.
• International applicants: proof of English language proficiency if the applicant’s prior education was not in English, in line with the university’s standard English requirements.
• Transfer applicants: previous college coursework may be assessed for transfer credit; applicants should provide transcripts and course descriptions.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for a broad range of roles in public and private sector organisations, non-profits and consulting firms. Typical entry and mid-level positions include:

• HR generalist or HR coordinator
• Recruiter or talent acquisition specialist
• Training and development specialist
• Compensation and benefits analyst or administrator
• HRIS analyst and workforce data specialist
• Employee relations or labour relations assistant
• Talent management and organisational development roles

Alumni also move into related areas such as operations management, organisational consulting, and business management. Graduates who wish to advance into senior HR leadership commonly pursue professional certifications (for example from SHRM or HRCI) and graduate study such as an MBA or a specialised master’s degree.

Why study at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers a personalised learning environment with small class sizes and faculty who bring both academic and practitioner experience to teaching. The programme emphasises experiential learning through internships, community partnerships and applied projects that connect students with regional employers.

• Applied focus: strong emphasis on practicum experiences and real-world projects to build employable skills.
• Student support: career services, internship placement assistance and advising to help students transition into the workforce.
• Values-based education: grounded in the university’s mission to develop ethical leadership and service-oriented professionals.
• Flexible delivery: options for on-campus and blended learning pathways to accommodate different student needs.

These features make the programme well suited to students seeking a career-focused human resources education within a supportive, community-oriented university setting.