MS in Business Analytics & Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations

Mastering the Art of Analytics and HR

The Master in Human Resources & Industrial Relations (HRIR) with MS in Business Analytics (MSBA) dual degree program is designed to provide a unique and exceptional educational experience that perfectly integrates the knowledge of two highly esteemed graduate programs. Students will be join forces with the renowned school for its excellence in HRIR and the state-of-the-art MSBA program, which will help merge the art of human resources with the precision of analytics. This powerful skill set that graduates acquire is relevant and highly in demand in today's dynamic business landscape.


Explore the MSBA-HRIR Dual Degree

To help you learn more, we've compiled information on admissions, careers, tuition, and aid. Click on the tabs below to get started.

Candidates must apply for both programs and be admitted separately in order to pursue the dual degree. Candidates may apply for both programs at the same time or current HRIR students may apply to the MS in Business Analytics Program during their first year of study in the HRIR program.

Application Deadlines

MS in Business Analytics

  • November 1 
  • January 15 - Priority deadline for international applicants 
  • March 15 - Final deadline for international applicants outside the U.S. 
  • May 15 - Final deadline for international applicants in the U.S. 
  • June 15 - Final deadline for domestic applicants  

Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations

  • Full-Time Program
    • Round 1: December 1
    • Round 2: February 1
    • Round 3: April 1*
    • Round 4: June 1
    • Round 5: July 15
  • Part-Time Program (Spring Intake)
    • Round 1: October 15
    • Round 2: November 15
    • Round 3: December 15
  • Part-Time Program (Fall Intake)
    • Round 1: May 15
    • Round 2: June 15
    • Round 3: July 15

Deadlines that occur on a weekend or holiday are extended through the next business day. We will review applications beyond our final round deadline on a case by case basis.

GRE/GMAT: Note that each program has different criteria regarding the GMAT and GRE. For the MSBA program, if you have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, the GMAT/GRE are not required. For the HRIR program, it is required unless you choose to submit an academic readiness essay instead. For more details on all application requirements, refer to the links below.

MSBA Admissions Requirements HRIR Admissions Requirements

The Carlson School hosts both the MSBA and HRIR programs, which come with excellent career services to support your career aspirations. The dual degree program is designed to equip graduates with a highly desirable skillset that will enable them to engage in strategic discussions on human resource decisions, or manage organizational challenges from a functional business and management perspective. Whatever your career goal may be, this program will help you achieve it.

Learn More About Carlson Career Services

MSBA-HRIR students pay the tuition and fees at the school through which they are registered each semester. Scholarships are awarded separately by each program and are applied when a student is enrolled in that designated program.

All applicants admitted to the Carlson School are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. 

MSBA Tuition & Financial Aid HRIR Tuition & Financial Aid

Program Structure

Students must take on a rigorous course load to graduate within the designated timeframe. However, there is an opportunity to reduce credits through a dual degree program. Upon completion of the program in two and a half years, students will have earned a total of 71.5 credits:

  • 37.5 credits coming from MSBA
  • 34 credits coming from HRIR

Note: Since there are no 1.5 credit courses available outside of MSBA program, the minimum number of credits required for dual degree students is 71.5.

Register as a Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations

Fall

  • HRIR 6001 Business Principles (4 cr)
  • HRIR 6111 Using Data and Metrics in HRIR (4 cr)
  • HRIR 6301 Staffing, Training and Development (3 cr)
  • HRIR 6805 Practicum for Staffing, Training, Development (1 cr)

TOTAL CREDITS: 12
 

Spring

  • HRIR 6501 Compensation and Benefits (3 cr)
  • HRIR 6701 Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining (3 cr)
  • HRIR 6805 Practicum for Compensation and Benefits (1 cr)
  • HRIR electives (4 credits - two classes)

TOTAL CREDITS: 11
 

Summer

  • Internship

Register as MS in Business Analytics

Fall

  • MSBA 6311 Programming for Data Science (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6131 Introduction to Business Analytics in R (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6231 Data Management, Databases & Data Warehousing (3 cr)

TOTAL CREDITS: 9
 

Spring

  • MSBA 6331 Big Data Analytics (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6411 Exploratory Data Analytics & Visualization (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6421 Predictive Analytics (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6441 Causal Inference via Econometrics & Experimentation (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6141 Ethics and Data Privacy (1 cr)

TOTAL CREDITS: 13
 

Summer

  • MSBA 6431 Adv Issues in Business Analytics (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6451 Optimization and Simulation for Decision Making (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6511 Business Analytics Experiential Learning Project (6 cr)
  • MSBA 6345 Consultative Problem-Solving & Agile Management for Analytics Projects (1.5 cr)
  • MSBA Elective (2 cr)

TOTAL CREDITS: 15.5

Register as a Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations

Fall

  • HRIR 6401 Organizational Theory Foundations (2 cr)
  • HRIR 6441 Organizational Behavior Foundations (2 cr)
  • HRIR 6801 Experiential Learning capstone: Strategy, Ethics and Execution (3 cr)
  • HRIR electives (4 cr - two classes)

TOTAL CREDITS: 12 


Need MSBA course to qualify for STEM designation* (MSBA 6XXX Business Communication for Analytics Projects)

*International students must enroll in MSBA coursework in order to maintain eligibility for OPT STEM extension. Domestic students will also complete this MSBA coursework in year 3.

Register as a Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations

Fall

  • HRIR 6001 Business Principles (4 cr)
  • HRIR 6111 Using Data and Metrics in HRIR (4 cr)
  • HRIR 6301 Staffing, Training and Development (3 cr)
  • HRIR 6805 Practicum for Staffing, Training, Development (1 cr)

TOTAL CREDITS: 12
 

Spring

  • HRIR 6501 Compensation and Benefits (3 cr)
  • HRIR 6701 Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining (3 cr)
  • HRIR 6805 Practicum for Compensation and Benefits (1 cr)
  • HRIR electives (4 credits - two classes)

TOTAL CREDITS: 11
 

Summer

  • Internship

Register as MS in Business Analytics

Fall

  • MSBA 6311 Programming for Data Science (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6131 Introduction to Business Analytics in R (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6231 Data Management, Databases & Data Warehousing (3 cr)

TOTAL CREDITS: 9
 

Spring

  • MSBA 6331 Big Data Analytics (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6411 Exploratory Data Analytics & Visualization (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6421 Predictive Analytics (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6441 Causal Inference via Econometrics & Experimentation (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6141 Ethics and Data Privacy (1 cr)

TOTAL CREDITS: 13
 

Summer

  • MSBA 6431 Adv Issues in Business Analytics (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6451 Optimization and Simulation for Decision Making (3 cr)
  • MSBA 6511 Business Analytics Experiential Learning Project (6 cr)
  • MSBA 6345 Consultative Problem-Solving & Agile Management for Analytics Projects (1.5 cr)
  • MSBA Elective (2 cr)

TOTAL CREDITS: 15.5

Register as a Master of Human Resources & Industrial Relations

Fall

  • HRIR 6401 Organizational Theory Foundations (2 cr)
  • HRIR 6441 Organizational Behavior Foundations (2 cr)
  • HRIR 6801 Experiential Learning capstone: Strategy, Ethics and Execution (3 cr)
  • HRIR electives (4 cr - two classes)

TOTAL CREDITS: 12 


Need MSBA course to qualify for STEM designation* (MSBA 6XXX Business Communication for Analytics Projects)

*International students must enroll in MSBA coursework in order to maintain eligibility for OPT STEM extension. Domestic students will also complete this MSBA coursework in year 3.


Connect with us for any questions about the program.

MS in Business Analytics

Email: msba@umn.edu
Phone: 612-625-5555

MHRIR Program

Email: mhrir@umn.edu
Phone: 612-625-5555