Eastern Michigan University

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Four Eastern Michigan Degrees for HR Management

Eastern Michigan University is featured in our ranking of the 50 Most Affordable Human Resource MBA Degree Programs.

At the Gary M. Owen Building, the College of Business presents a B.B.A. in Management with two concentrations, including Human Resource Management, for Eastern Michigan University undergrads to gather strategic advantages helping companies smash their goals. Chaired by Dr. Sanjib Chowdhury, the 60-credit, upper-division major generally admits juniors with minimum 2.5 GPAs as the U.S. News & World Report’s 312th best undergrad educator. Required Ypsilanti courses like Management Ethics, Team Building, Union Relations, and Staffing Organizations have a 17:1 learner-faculty ratio. Undergrads submitting $40 applications can join the SHRM Chapter for networking with the Greater Ann Arbor Society plus workshops and co-ops. Other opportunities include pledging Phi Kappa Phi, engaging in the Michigan Small Business Center, interning at Aflac, touring Australia, and using the Corporate Closet.

Bestowed the 2017 LEAD Award for Best Master’s Program, Eastern Michigan’s M.S. in Human Resources and Organizational Development lasts 24 months for College of Business post-grads determined to implement ethical systems that meet diverse employee needs. Directed by Dr. Fraya Wagner-Marsh, the 30-42 credit curriculum is conveniently available during evenings in Ypsilanti and Livonia or anytime online via Canvas. Admission requires at least 2.75 GPA, 290 GRE, 450 GMAT, or 80 TOEFL iBT marks with or without business experience. Expect SHRM-aligned, 600-level courses like Compensation Management, HR Technology, and Continuous Team Improvement that satisfy Certified Professional exam stipulations. Washington Monthly’s 285th top institution boasts 92 percent job placement at Bank of America, Ford Motors, McAuley Health, PeopleMost, the Agriculture Department, and more.


Partnered with the WMU Thomas M. Cooley Law School, the M.S. in Human Resources and Organizational Development offers a unique Dual JD/Master’s pathway split between Ypsilanti and Lansing for future licensed attorneys dedicated to protecting fair working conditions in court. Overseen by Dr. Jeffrey Martlew, the 90-credit, ABA-approved major saves time with credit transfers for post-grads with median 2.85 GPAs and 141 LSAT scores. Ranked #2 by Judging the Law Schools, Cooley currently bills $1,750 per credit in courses like Labor Law, Collective Bargaining, Worker Disability, and Business Meditation. Bar Exam prep includes 14-week externships at one of nearly 2,000 sites, such as Plunkett Cooney or Miller Cohen. Students could also enter the Client Counseling Competition, join Mock Trial, add the Oxford Semester, engage in the Access to Justice Clinic, and review Benchmark magazine.

Since 1982, the EMU College of Business at Forbes’ 602nd best university has granted a Master of Business Administration that’s AACSB accredited to prepare confident, strategic decision-makers in 12 custom specializations, such as Human Resource Management. Led by Dr. Kenneth Lord, the 36-54 credit degree follows a hybrid Ypsilanti and online format currently costing Michiganders $762 or non-residents $1,347 per credit. Applications for financial aid resources like the James & Helene Reader Scholarship are due February 15th yearly. Currently, 209 post-grads with an average 3.29 GPA and 539 GMAT score are sharpening their leadership prowess. Intensive 600-level courses, such as Employment Law, Economics of Strategy, and Globalization, culminate with a capstone consulting project. Note there’s a faster 15-credit Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management available too.

About Eastern Michigan University

Located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, just 35 miles west of Detroit, Eastern Michigan University, or EMU, is a co-educational public university. Initially known as Michigan State Normal School at its founding in 1849, EMU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and belongs to the Mid-American Conference. EMU operates seven schools and colleges, including a Graduate School, an Honors College, the College of Technology, the College of Health and Human Services, the College of Education, the College of Business, and the College of Arts and Sciences. The 800-acre campus is composed of more than 120 buildings, and the school’s total enrollment exceeds 23,000 students per year. Students enrolled at EMU can choose from more than 200 majors, including graduate programs in health, education, and business. According to U.S. News & World Report, EMU is tied 290th for its business programs.

EMU also celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day every year with opportunities for creative expression and community-building exercises. EMU students have the opportunity to pledge to approximately 25 sororities and fraternities, join more than 300 organizations, and unwind from their studies at the Starbucks cafe located right in the Student Center. Athletes play at the varsity, club, or intramural level and can choose from 21 different intercollegiate sports within the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference.

Eastern Michigan University Accreditation Details

Eastern Michigan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. This agency conducts institutional-level accreditation to all post-secondary degree-granting schools in the North Central region, including Michigan. EMU first earned HLC accreditation in 1915 and continues to renew its accreditation when appropriate. Accreditation is important for several reasons, including the transfer of credits from institution to institution as well as the assurance to the public, prospective, and current students that the school continues to meet or exceed the rigorous standards set forth by the agency.

Eastern Michigan University Application Requirements

In order to be admitted into the Master of Business Administration program at Eastern Michigan University, applicants must be graduates of a regionally accredited university or college and have achieved Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) scores and grades that indicate an aptitude for advanced business studies. International applicants are also required to submit official TOEFL scores.

The application requirements consist of a graduate admissions application, a nonrefundable application fee, and official transcripts from all previously attended undergraduate institutions. In addition, students must submit a well-written personal statement that includes their reasons for applying and their backgrounds and an up-to-date resume. Applicants must have achieved a minimum GMAT score of 450, including a minimum of 24 in the quantitative section and 20 in the verbal section, or a minimum Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score of 297, including scores of at least 140 in quantitative reasoning and 143 in verbal reasoning.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Graduate students pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree from Eastern Michigan University will pay $8,364 in tuition and fees if they are residents of Michigan. Non-residents will pay $15,216 in tuition for the same graduate degree. All graduate students should also keep in mind additional expenses for room and board, books and supplies, personal expenses, and transportation as well as $114 in loan fees and a $100 registration fee.

Students seeking financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Although some types of aid are available at any time during the year, Eastern Michigan University recommends interested students apply in October as some forms of aid, particularly those with limited funding, are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. EMU offers two different graduate scholarships, including the EMU Success Scholarship and the National Scholars Program, that award $3,100 and $8,200, respectively, for a maximum of two years. Also awarded by the EMU Graduate School are the Brenner Scholarship, the Barton Scholarship, and several graduate assistantships and fellowships.

GI Jobs Magazine ranked Eastern Michigan University third in the U.S. among the top “Military and Veteran-Friendly Universities,” and the EMU Military and Veteran Services received the Gold Standard award from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency in 2017. The school offers free applications for all veterans as well as programs specifically for veterans, active duty servicemembers and their dependents such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Students interested in attending Eastern Michigan University should keep in mind that their VA benefits can only be used for classes required for graduation in their degree programs of study.