Human Resources and Labor Relations

The Human Resources and Labor Relations degree focuses on the people side of business. This degree is for students who want to work within an organization, with a focus on its most important asset - people. This degree prepares students for a wide range of professional careers focusing on employment and workplace strategies that shape the future of work in business, government, healthcare, education, labor organizations and other not-for-profit organizations.

With the instruction of faculty experts and thought leaders in the School of Human Resources and Labor Relations, the Undergraduate Major in Human Resources and Labor Relations trains students in effective organizational staffing and leadership, building motivating workplaces, managing global/local legal compliance, fostering diversity and inclusiveness, and analyzing total rewards and labor market data.

Demand for qualified human resource professionals is among the highest for all professions, providing excellent employment opportunities for graduates of this major. These opportunities cover a wide range of roles; including recruiting and hiring, training and coaching, facilitating team work and high performance, advancing diversity and inclusion, collective bargaining, HR and employment analytics, and compensation and reward systems.

Offering a comprehensive understanding of human capital in a global society, students develop critical thinking skills and learn essential problem-solving, social, emotional and entrepreneurial skills for advancing the well-being and success of working people, organizations and communities worldwide. This major also prepares students for a variety of graduate programs, especially our top-ranked Master of Human Resources and Labor Relations degree at MSU, recognized as one of the best programs in the nation for human resources and labor relations.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Resources and Labor Relations provides a general social science understanding of the complex nature of people and work. The program focuses on workforce education, training and development; laws governing employment and workplace rights; human decision-making and behavior in the labor market and workplace; and organizational strategies, policies and practices governing and influencing employee outcomes and performance.

Additional information about the requirements may be found in the Academic Programs Catalog on the Office of the Registrar website.

The Human Resources & Labor Relations (HRLR) major prepares students for a wide range of professional careers focusing on employment and workplace strategies that shape the future. Offering a comprehensive understanding of human resources and labor relations in a global society, students develop critical thinking skills and learn essential problem-solving, social, emotional and entrepreneurial skills for advancing the well-being and success of working people, organizations, and communities worldwide. 

Common Job Types

• HR Specialist - Perform specialized activities in the human resource area. Interpret and explain human resources policies, procedures, laws, standards, or regulations.
• HR Assistant - Compile and keep personnel records. Record data for each employee, such as address, weekly earnings, absences, amount of sales or production, supervisory reports, and date of and reason for termination.
• Recruiter - Post opportunities on electronic job boards and on social media. Review resumes and interview candidates. Extend offers to candidates and process hiring.
• Compensation/Benefits Analyst - Conduct programs of compensation and benefits and job analysis for employer. May specialize in specific areas, such as position classification and pension programs.
• Training & Development Manager - Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.
• Payroll Specialist - Compile and record employee time and payroll data. May compute employees’ time worked, production, and commission. May compute and post wages and deductions, or prepare paychecks.
• HR Generalist - Oversee the human resources responsibilities and activities of an organization. Manage recruitment processes, employee relations, regulatory compliance, and training and development.

Download a sample 4 year plan and guidelines to assist you with planning your education.