| Location | Email Address | Program Website |
|---|---|---|
| 150 Atkinson | gradhrm@yorku.ca | hrm.gradstudies.yorku.ca |
The Graduate Program in Human Resources Management offers an executive master’s degree in Human Resources Management as well as a PhD in Human Resources Management.
These graduate degree programs explore issues such as organizational change, training and development, labour relations, strategic staffing, compensation, international human resources management, research methods, and the impact of human resources policies, practices and programs on employee and organizational performance. Pedagogical activities incorporate a wide range of teaching and learning methodologies such as lectures, case studies, simulations, seminars and supervised independent research. Students benefit from working with a cadre of internationally recognized professors who have been recruited from top universities in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and Canada.
Admission Requirements
a) Applicants must have an undergraduate honours degree (a four year degree*) with a minimum of a B+ average in the last two years of study. The honours degree does not have to be in a specific area, but preference is to be given to students with an undergraduate honours degree in human resources management or related area (e.g., business, administrative studies, psychology, labour studies or sociology).
*Applicants who have completed a three-year undergraduate degree with a minimum of a B+ average in the last two years of study and have extensive human resources work experience at a senior level may also be considered.
b) Applicants must demonstrate that they have acquired sufficient human resources education and/or experience to prepare them for a graduate degree in human resources.
Applicants must:
- have completed a master’s degree in human resources management or in a related field from a recognized university with a minimum B+ average;
- submit a statement of research interests and attend an interview;
- submit three letters of reference; and,
- for students whose first language is not English, have a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language score of 600 (paper-based) or 250 (computer-based); or a York English Language Test score of 1.
Some applicants to the program will have successfully completed graduate level courses that are the equivalent of the required course in univariate statistics and human resources management theory and practice prior to admission. These candidates may apply for advanced standing in this either one or both of these course. Candidates granted advanced standing will be allowed to take the second year research method(s) courses.
Degree Requirements
MHRM
Candidates for the master’s degree in Human Resources Management by coursework must successfully complete the following six core courses:
Human Resources Management 6100 3.0: Staffing Organizations;
Human Resources Management 6200 3.0: Employee Training and Development;
Human Resources Management 6300 3.0: Strategic Compensation;
Human Resources Management 6400 3.0: Organizational Change and Development;
Human Resources Management 6500 3.0: Human Resources Management Effectiveness; and,
Human Resources Management 6600 3.0: Research, Measurement and Evaluation of Human Resources
Plus two of the following elective courses:
Human Resources Management 6700 3.0: Labour Relations;
Human Resources Management 6800 3.0: Global Mindsets and People Management; Human Resources Management 6910 3.0: Issues in Human Resources Management: Careers; and,
Human Resources Management 6920 3.0: Issues in Human Resources Management: Work/Life Balance.
Candidates for the master’s degree in Human Resources Management degree by research paper must successfully complete the following six core courses:
Human Resources Management 6100 3.0: Staffing Organizations;
Human Resources Management 6200 3.0: Employee Training and Development;
Human Resources Management 6300 3.0: Strategic Compensation;
Human Resources Management 6400 3.0: Organizational Change & Development;
Human Resources Management 6500 3.0: Human Resources Management Effectiveness; and,
Human Resources Management 6600 3.0: Research, Measurement and Evaluation of Human Resources;
Plus the major research paper: Human Resources Management 6000 3.0: Major Research Paper.
Evaluation Procedures for Research Papers
Selected students may be given the opportunity of completing a major research paper under the supervision of one of the program’s faculty members. This paper is evaluated on a pass/fail basis by the supervisor and one other member of the Graduate Program in Human Resources Management. A major research paper is a substantive piece of written work (average length 75 pages). It differs from a paper submitted for course work in that it is longer, must demonstrate the student’s understanding of research methods, be an original piece of research employing critical analysis, and should result in a paper of publishable quality.
Before commencing the major research paper, a student is required to:
1) obtain approval from a faculty member in the program that the faculty member is able to directly supervise the progress and completion of the major research paper; and,
2) obtain permission from the Graduate Program Director.
The MHRM program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Entry is fall term.
The expected degree completion time for full-time master’s students is 4 terms (full-time) or 8 terms (part-time). Students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of 4 terms of full-time study. All requirements for a master’s degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms (4 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time master’s student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.
PhD
Program requirements include 24 credits of coursework, a comprehensive examination and a dissertation:
Year 1
Human Resources Management 7000 3.0: Human Resources Management Theory
Human Resources Management 7020 3.0: Quantitative Research
Methods and Multivariate Statistics
Human Resources Management 7040 3.0: Univariate Statistics
Human Resources Management 7120 3.0: Seminar II
Year 2
Human Resources Management 7010 3.0: Qualitative Research Methods
Human Resources Management 7030 3.0: Teaching, Learning & Pedagogical Processes
Human Resources Management 7050 3.0: Multivariate Statistics
Human Resources Management 7110 3.0: Seminar I
Year 3
Comprehensive examination
Preparation of dissertation proposal
Commencement of dissertation research
Year 4
Dissertation
Candidates are required to write a three-part comprehensive examination after successfully completing the required coursework. The examination is designed to assess the candidate’s competence and knowledge in three areas: research methods; seminal and macro-human resources management research – material from Seminar 1; and micro-human resources management research – material from Seminar 2. The three parts of the exam (one in each area) are held on three successive days.
Candidates are given “Fail,” “Pass” and “Pass with distinction” grades. A second and final exam may be allowed for candidates who do not pass the exam in their first attempt.
All candidates are required to submit and defend a formal research proposal during their third year in the program. The proposal defence involves a presentation to the program faculty members. In general, the proposal (approximately 3500 words) outlines the objectives for the study, the need for research on the selected issue, a review of the pertinent literature, and a discussion of the proposed methodology. To be acceptable, the proposal must be judged ‘achievable’ (i.e., the research issue is well-defined, data and resources are available, the project can be completed within time, etc.), and deemed to contribute to the literature.
Each candidate writes a dissertation which is an embodiment of the results of their original research. The dissertation is written under the guidance of a principal supervisor and a committee, established for each candidate in accordance with the rules of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The evaluation procedures ensure that the dissertation represents high-quality, original research deserving of a PhD in human resources management.
The PhD program can be completed on a full-time basis. Entry is fall term.
The program is designed for completion within four years on a full-time basis, but a candidate may wish to change to part-time only after the comprehensive exams and with the permission of the Graduate Program Director.
Doctor of Philosophy students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of six terms of full-time registration. All requirements for a doctoral degree must be fulfilled within 18 terms (6 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time doctoral student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.