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MBA

MBA with a Human Resources Specialization

Grow your career with a Human Resources Specialization

Show the business world that you’re passionate about employees by pursuing your Master’s in Business Administration with a Human Resources Specialization at DeVry University’s Keller Graduate School of Management. Develop business and leadership skills while being immersed in areas such as planning, staffing, and talent nurturing. You’ll also hone your presentation and corporate communication skills.

Get to know our Human Resources Specialization

If you’re interested in exploring your passion for HR, our Human Resources Specialization can help you pursue your career goals. In this program, you’ll learn the essentials of cultivating an organization’s people and culture. Plus, you’ll develop an understanding of management theory and practices, employment law, strategic HR management, and more.

To prepare for the next phase of the field, you’ll also explore how AI tools can be ethically applied to optimize HR tasks and projects. As you build up your skillset, you will also gain knowledge in business communication, business management theory, and business acumen.

Classes start on May 4, 2026
Request info
Course Waivers at Keller

Master’s advantage: Are you eligible?

If you’ve earned an undergraduate degree in business, technology, or a degree with a technology specialization, you may be eligible to waive up to 3 courses (or 9 credit hours). We call this our Master’s Advantage. With these prior learning credits,1 you can earn your graduate degree with fewer courses, allowing you to put your master’s degree to work for you even sooner.

Accelerated Schedule2
1 year
4 months
Average 10 credits per semester
OR
Normal Schedule3
2 years
8 months
Average 6 credits per semester

Accelerate on your schedule

Choose the schedule that best fits your goals and commitments. You can earn your Master’s in Business Administration with a Human Resources Specialization in:

  • As little as 1 year and 4 months with an accelerated schedule2 

  • Or 2 years and 8 months with a normal schedule3

2Accelerated schedule requires at least 9 credit hours of prior learning credit. Assumes completion of 3 semesters, enrollment in an average of 10 credit hours per semester and continuous, full-time year-round enrollment with no breaks per 12-month period.

3Normal schedule does not include breaks and assumes 3 semesters of year-round, full-time enrollment in an average of 6 credit hours per semester per 12-month period.

  • 01 Knowledge & skills
  • 02 Embedded programs
  • 03 Career
  • 04 FAQs
  • 05 Catalog download
Knowledge and skills

What you’ll learn

The Human Resources Specialization from our Keller Graduate School of Management covers the following:

Professional communication

Develop and demonstrate professional communication skills and learn to use tools that support business needs.

Human resources leadership

Analyze and demonstrate an ability to implement and oversee mid-to-senior-level human resource management (HRM) functions, including change management, employment regulatory concerns, and employee legal matters.

Strategic HR management

Synthesize the role of HRM and contribute to the progression and achievement of an organization’s strategic plan through partnership.

Performance measurement

Create metrics to analyze organizational performance, inform improvement initiatives, and strategically design objectives resulting in the efficient use of technology, human capital, organizational culture, leadership, workforce planning, and talent management.

Accreditations and recognitions matter

Being accredited means we’ve met rigorous quality standards and are committed to giving you the education you deserve. Our accreditations and recognitions include:

Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP): Our Master of Business Administration is accredited by ACBSP, acbsp.org, demonstrating it has met standards of business education that promote teaching excellence. Learn more about program outcomes and student achievement.4

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM): Our Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Human Resources is acknowledged by SHRM and aligned with SHRM’s HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates.

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC): Institutionally, DeVry University is accredited by HLC, www.hlcommission.org. Our Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation.

ACBSP Accreditation logo
ACBSP
Student achievement
At-a-glance
Embedded programs

Demonstrate skills at every step

Automatically earn a resume-boosting Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management5 when you enroll in our Master's in Business Administration with a Human Resources Specialization — allowing you to showcase your skills while earning your master’s degree.

Career

Career opportunities in human resources

When you earn our MBA with a Human Resources Specialization, you may consider pursuing roles such as:

  • Compensation and benefits manager

  • Human resources manager

  • Technical recruiter

  • Training and development manager

It's worth noting that while you may meet the application requirements for a job at one company, you may not meet them for all employers. Job titles are not standardized across the industry.

FAQs: MBA with a Human Resources Specialization

Is an MBA in human resources worth it?

Yes, for many people earning an MBA in human resources is worth it because it’s a growing field. While actual local growth may vary, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects jobs for human resources managers to grow 5% on average nationwide from 2024 to 2034.

There are many other reasons why an MBA in Human Resources can be worth earning, too. If you’re interested in working in HR, this can be a great way to advance your core business knowledge while growing your human resources skillset. It may also help you meet the requirements to pursue a wider variety of job opportunities, depending on the type of organization you’d like to work for and the area in which you live.

What is the difference between an MBA in human resources vs. Master’s in Human Resources?

The primary difference between an MBA with a Human Resources Specialization and a Master's in Human Resources is the courses you’ll take. An MBA with a Human Resources Specialization contains a blend of business and HR courses and is indicated as a business degree on your diploma. A Master's in HR focuses more exclusively on HR courses and is indicated as a degree in Human Resources on your diploma. To determine which program may be the best fit for you, consider your career goals, interests, and the types of roles you may wish to pursue.

What HR certifications complement a master's in HR?

The certifications that complement a Master’s in Human Resource Management or a Master’s in Business Administration with a Human Resources Specialization depend on your career goals, work experience, and education. Two certifications you may want to pursue include:

  • Society for Human Resource Management – Certified Professional (SHRM-CP): An early-to-mid career certification that demonstrates real-world HR knowledge
  • Society for Human Resource Management – Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP): A senior certification that demonstrates strategic HR knowledge

Take advantage of our career resources and your dedicated Keller career advisor to get guidance on the best certification options for your professional goals.

What is the average salary for master's HR professionals?

The average salary for an HR professional with a master’s degree can vary based on experience, location, education, and the company or industry in which you are employed. For a general understanding of an HR professional’s earning potential, we recommend referencing data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How do I apply to Keller?

Applying is quick and easy:

  1. Talk to an admissions representative: Fill out a brief form, and we’ll reach out to walk you through the process.
  2. Submit your application: We’ll take you through the application over the phone. If you prefer, you can apply online. It only takes 5-10 minutes.
  3. Enroll in your first courses: Once everything is submitted and verified, we’ll help you build your schedule.

Learn more about admissions.

Academic catalog
2025 - 2026 academic catalog
View academic catalog
Program overview
View program guide

1Eligibility for and application of course waivers vary based on the type and level of course, credit earned, enrolled location and/or state of residence. For more information, please refer to the Course Waiver section of the Keller academic catalog.

2Accelerated schedule requires at least 9 credit hours of Prior Learning Credit and assumes completion of 3 semesters, enrollment in an average of 10 credit hours per semester and continuous, full-time year-round enrollment with no breaks per 12-month period.

3Normal schedule does not include breaks and assumes 3 semesters of year-round, full-time enrollment in an average of 6 credit hours per semester per 12-month period.

4Conferral and assessment data is available for all DeVry and Keller ACBSP-accredited programs. For a full list of our ACBSP-accredited programs, visit our Accreditation page.

5Future programmatic changes could impact the ability to earn additional credentials en route to an eligible degree program. Refer to the academic catalog for details.