University of Tennessee- Knoxville

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Top-Ranked UTK Degrees for Human Resources

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is also featured in our ranking of the 20 Best Master’s in Human Resources (Campus-based).

In Stokely Center, the Haslam College of Business led by Dr. Stephen Mangum grants a 120-credit BS in Human Resource Management for University of Tennessee-Knoxville Vols with at least one 12-week internship, such as Wimberly Lawson, and campus SHRM Chapter events.

Chaired by Dr. Mary Goss, the Full-Time MBA offers a 48-credit, 16-month Custom Concentration for HR managers to complete 7.5-week evening courses like Talent Development plus Leap Week workshops, MBA Case Competition, and consulting projects. Each August, the Professional MBA starts a 45-credit, part-time track under Dr. Georg Schaur for Saturday or online leadership development that’s AACSB-accredited. Directed by Dr. Cheryl Barksdale, the MS in Human Resource Management follows a flexible 33-credit, SHRM-aligned sequence with 91 percent job placement at Avery Dennison, Unilever, Deloitte, Insight Global, Clayton Homes, and more.


The Ph.D. in Strategy, Entrepreneurship & Organizations has a 99-credit, five-year curriculum advised by Dr. Anne Smith, the 2011 Keally Award recipient, with dissertation research at cutting-edge institutes like the Anderson Center for faculty positions from Iowa State to Old Dominion.

About the University of Tennessee-Knoxville

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville originated on September 10, 1794, when Rev. Samuel Czar Carrick started Blount College for the Southwest Territory’s men. In 1820, it was renamed East Tennessee College by Rev. David Sherman and moved to a 40-acre “The Hill” campus. In 1840, President Joseph Estabrook succeeded in getting it chartered by the Legislature. In 1869, it was designated a public, land-grant university by the Morrill Act. One decade later, the University of Tennessee name was formally adopted. In 1919, the College of Business was established.

By 1968, Knoxville was made the headquarters for today’s five-college system. Starting in 2002, the University of Tennessee won eight Superior and five Outstanding SHRM Chapter awards. On October 3, 2014, the College of Business was named for James A. Haslam II who founded the Pilot Corporation. Budgeting $2.3 billion total, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville now serves 28,894 Vols in 900+ programs of study online and in 285 buildings with 450+ clubs like Beta Gamma Sigma. Forbes ranked UTK America’s 224th best university, and 117th top research institution. The U.S. News & World Report named Knoxville the 54th best business college nationally.

University of Tennessee-Knoxville Accreditation Details

On March 31, 2015, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville hosted a comprehensive evaluation visit from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to evaluate the Quality Enhancement Plan and extend the Level VI accreditation through 2025-26 under its 26th president, Mr. Randy Boyd, who won the YPK Mentor of the Year Impact Award. Located 217 miles down Interstate 75 in Decatur, this elite 11-state Appalachian Region accreditor is trusted by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to soundly review UTK’s 21 colleges. Particularly, the Haslam College was reaffirmed by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) on July 11, 2011. The Management & Human Resources Department also aligns curricula to the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) Guidebook and Templates.

University of Tennessee-Knoxville Application Requirements

Entering the University of Tennessee-Knoxville is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since just 14,526 of the 18,872 Fall 2017 applicants were selected for 77 percent acceptance. First-year Vols seeking the BS in Human Resource Management must fulfill the 16 core academic prerequisites in high school. The Class of 2021 Big Orange had a median 3.89 GPA. Admission is test-optional for meritorious undergrads with minimum 3.0 GPAs. Otherwise, the required ACT “super scores” are 25 English, 24 Math, 26 Reading, and 27 Science. Most have composite marks above 26 on the ACT and 1170 on the SAT. Haslam College of Business transfers need 2.5 GPAs or better in 12-75 accredited credits, including Oral Communication. Full-Time MBA entrants need a complete bachelor’s plus three years of experience. On average, post-grads present a 3.48 GPA and 656 GMAT score. The MS in Human Resource Management mandates a 3.0 GPA minimum. For the Ph.D., the benchmark moves up to 3.5 in the last 60 credits. Doctoral candidates rank in the top 20th percentile for GMAT scores of 630-720.

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville set undergrad deadlines of June 1st for Fall, November 1st for Spring, and March 1st for Summer starts. The Full-Time MBA has admission rounds until January 15th, March 1st, and April 1st. Professional MBA entrants must file by June 1st or September 15th. The MS in Human Resource Management has a final May 1st U.S. and February 1st foreign deadline. Prospective Ph.D. cohorts should apply before the December 31st priority date. Accordingly, complete the $50 Common Application or $60 UT Graduate School Application online. Official transcripts are mailed to 320 Student Services Building in Knoxville, TN 37996. For testing, select institutional code 4026 (ACT) or 1843 (SAT/TOEFL). Other Haslam College materials include the three professional recommendations, personal ambition statement, current résumé, short answer responses, and immigration documents if applicable. Learn more by contacting (865) 974-5061 or [email protected].

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2019-20, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville is charging in-state BS in Human Resource Management majors $13,116 annually. Non-resident undergrad tuition will be $31,536 each year full-time. Kiplinger’s 85th best public value will cost $371 to $1,130 per credit. Living at the Knox County campus’ dorms like Stokely Hall will add $3,050 to $6,760 for housing. Semester meal plans for Volunteer Dining Hall are $2,225 extra. UTK budgets $1,598 for books, $1,664 for transportation, and $4,002 for personal. Annual bachelor’s attendance equals about $31,862 in-state and $50,282 out-of-state. The Professional MBA has a flat-rate $48,000 price. The Full-Time MBA bills Tennesseans $40,114 and non-residents $70,813. MS in Human Resource Management students spend $13,120 to $31,538 each year plus a $4,500 program fee. The Ph.D. in Strategy, Entrepreneurship & Organizations has a full tuition waiver with $20,000 stipends.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Division of Enrollment Management in Hodges Library gets 93 percent of new UTK Volunteers median financial aid of $8,903 for $37.79 million combined. Business funds include the Frederick T. Bonham Scholarship, Peyton Manning Scholarship, Gen. Robert Neyland Scholarship, Fred M. Roddy Scholarship, Mauer Family Scholarship, Bobby Beard Scholarship, Barrett & Betsy Simonis Scholarship, Alan & Wendy Wilson Scholarship, Consumer Credit Union Scholarship, Donald Mirts Scholarship, Grigsby Family Scholarship, Margaret & Ben Kimbrough Scholarship, Martha W. King Scholarship, and Thomas P. Nelson Memorial Scholarship. The Chancellor’s Scholarship gifts $5,000 yearly for freshmen with a minimum 31 ACT or 1390 SAT score. The Tennessee Valley Human Resources Association offers a $1,000 Knoxville scholarship requiring 3.0 GPAs. National Merit Scholars receive the $2,000 Provost Scholarship each year. Federal assistance like the Pell Grant and Work-Study Program require FAFSA applications coded 003530. The Tennessee Hope Scholarship provides up to $2,250 for residents applying by February 1st or September 1st. Other state offerings are the Tennessee Student Assistance Award, Foster Child Tuition Grant, Dual Enrollment Grant, and Scarlett Family Scholarship.

Keep reading about the University of Tennessee-Knoxville at the Haslam College of Business website.

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