The first two to three years of undergraduate coursework follow the same undergraduate curriculum that other students follow in the Labor and Human Resources B.S. program. The final two years of study typically include graduate program requirements. Students may double-count a maximum of 12 specified credits toward their graduate and undergraduate degrees, thus making faster progress toward each degree.
Student performance is monitored on an ongoing basis by the Graduate Program Director and the Graduate Programs Office. Each student is expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on all courses used toward the M.S. degree in order to maintain good academic standing and meet graduation requirements. Students are allowed only one “C” on their graduate transcript, regardless of their grade point average.
Upon completion of the integrated degree, students will be well-positioned to assume positions of greater responsibility in Human Resource Management, Employment Relations, and related careers as a result of the advanced knowledge, skills, and confidence gained through the program. The IUG program is intended for students interested in pursuing a professional career in either Human Resource Management or Employment Relations, and in earning a graduate degree a year faster than is usually required.
The integrated undergraduate-graduate (IUG) LHR Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and HRER Master of Science (M.S.) program is designed to allow academically talented Penn State students to obtain both the B.S. in Labor and Human Resources and the M.S. in Human Resources and Employment Relations degrees after five years of study rather than six.
The integrated Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Spanish and HRER Master of Science (M.S.) is a five-year program designed for outstanding and motivated students pursuing a B.S. in Spanish and ultimately interested in employment in the Human Resource Management or Employment Relations fields, including supporting culturally diverse workplaces. Students in the IUG program develop basic skills in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing Spanish. Students will also gain familiarity with Hispanic cultures through literature and the University’s international education program if they choose to have that experience.
The integrated Psychology Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and HRER Master of Science (M.S.) program is designed to allow academically talented Penn State students to obtain both the B.S. in Psychology and the M.S. in Human Resources and Employment Relations degrees after five years of study rather than six. IUG students will develop expertise in the human resources and employment relations field beyond that provided by their Psychology B.S. degree.
The undergraduate psychology curriculum potentially introduces students to (1) personnel selection, (2) training and development, and (3) organizational psychology. The graduate curriculum provides for a more intensive, individualized, and focused examination of the human resources and employment relations fields, including (1) the roles employers, employees, employee organizations and public policy makers play in the employment relationship, (2) the complex personal and organizational issues inherent in the employment relationship, (3) the laws that form the legal framework for the employee-employer relationship, (4) the tools needed to analyze systematically those complex issues and evaluate research relevant to those analyses, and (5) human resource management policies and practices that contribute to individual and organizational success. It also provides an opportunity for students to explore a concentrated sub-area of the HRER field in depth. The program culminates with the student either completing a thesis or capstone course.
The integrated Communication Arts and Sciences (CASBS) Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Human Resources and Employment Relations (HRER) Master of Science (M.S.) is designed to allow academically talented Penn State students to obtain both the B.S. or B.A. degree in CAS and the M.S. degree in HRER after five years of study rather than six. Students will develop expertise in the human resources and employment relations field beyond that provided by their CAS B.S. degree.
The undergraduate communication arts and sciences curriculum potentially introduces students to (1) fundamental facets of human communication, (2) practical applications of communication research to organizational contexts, and (3) effective communication in personal, social, professional, and multicultural situations. The graduate curriculum provides for a more intensive, individualized, and focused examination of the human resources and employment relations field, including (1) the roles employers, employees, employee organizations, and public policy makers play in the employment relationship, (2) the complex personal and organizational issues inherent in the employment relationship, (3) the laws that form the legal framework for the employee-employer relationship, (4) the tools needed to systematically analyze those complex issues and evaluate research relevant to those analyses, and (5) human resource management policies and practices that contribute to individual and organizational success. It also provides an opportunity for students to explore a concentrated sub-area of the HRER field in depth, choosing between an HR and an ER option. The program culminates with the student either completing a thesis or capstone class.
Penn State’s online Master of Professional Studies in Human Resources and Employment Relations (HRER) degree program balances advanced theory with practical knowledge, making it an important credential for you, the experienced human resources professional. It is also an excellent choice for those students desiring to prepare for an entry-level position in human resources and employment relations. As of 2021, this program is confirmed to be in alignment with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates.
IUG students must complete a minimum of 39 graduate credits. Twelve credits can apply to both the undergraduate and graduate degrees; at least six of these credits must be at the 500 or 800 level. No more than six 400-level credits can be double-counted, and no more than twelve 400-level credits in total can count toward the graduate degree. The twelve credits for double-counting must be chosen from the following list of approved courses (all courses are 3 credits):
To earn the Master of Science degree in HRER, students in the LHR IUG program must complete all the degree requirements for the Master of Science.
Students must apply to the IUG degree program by October 1 to begin in the spring semester and March 1 to begin in the fall semester (typically the spring semester of a student’s third year). Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores normally required of graduate school applicants are waived for applicants to the IUG program. For more detailed information about all of Penn State’s IUG programs, please see The Graduate School’s website.
Requirements for admission include:
The application for admission to the IUG program must include the following materials, all of which need to be uploaded within the Graduate School application:
The Graduate School application must be submitted electronically. This reduces your processing time and ensures receipt of your application. For students desiring to start classes in August, applications are due March 1 (ALL materials including the three recommendation letters must be submitted by this deadline).
If an eighth-semester undergraduate student does not require financial aid, the student does not have to graduate with B.S. until they have completed their M.S. requirements, if they so choose. If an eighth-semester undergraduate student requires financial aid of some sort to remain in the program, the student must contact Erin Hetzel, the Graduate Staff Assistant, to discuss their options and ensure that financial aid is not negatively affected by the student’s course sequence. To make an appointment with Erin Hetzel, please log onto Starfish, click on Services, use the search box in the upper right for “Hetzel”, then click on the Members tab from search results to find her and make an appointment.
Please note that applicants to the IUG program are not required to submit GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, or IELTS scores.
When are Application Decisions Made?
The Graduate Admissions Committee reviews IUG applications twice a year. Once after the October 1 deadline and notifies admitted students by the end of October. The second review happens after the March 1 deadline. The applicant will be notified by the end of March.
Undergraduate tuition rates apply as long as the student is an undergraduate. There is no guaranteed financial support in the IUG degree program.