Southeast Missouri State University’s Master of Business Administration in human resource management has earned academic alignment from the Society for Human Resource Management, becoming the first MBA program at a public university in Missouri to receive the distinction.
SEMO’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in management with a concentration in human resources also successfully renewed its SHRM alignment for 2025–2029. This marks the fourth consecutive review cycle for the undergraduate program, which first earned alignment in 2011. SEMO’s undergraduate HR program is one of only two in the state housed within a BSBA program; most other HR programs in Missouri are offered as Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degrees.
SHRM alignment recognizes that a degree program meets standards outlined in the SHRM Human Resource Curriculum Guidebook and Templates. The guidelines, developed and regularly revalidated by industry experts, define the minimum HR content areas that should be studied at the undergraduate and graduate levels and are designed to keep pace with changes in the workplace.
To earn and maintain alignment, universities complete a comprehensive review of course work, mapping classes to SHRM-defined competencies and outcomes. Faculty qualifications and the integration of HR practice within a broader business context are also evaluated.
“There are thousands of institutions that offer HR degrees or concentrations,” said Dr. Heather McMillan, interim chair and professor in SEMO’s Department of Management. “To be among roughly 850 programs worldwide that have achieved alignment places us in a very select group. Our curriculum is held to the same standards as aligned programs at major research institutions.”
The MBA program achieved alignment in its first year of existence and has already graduated two students. McMillan said that distinction signals both the strength of the curriculum and the University’s responsiveness to workforce needs.
“If a working HR professional is considering a master’s degree, SHRM alignment sends a clear message that the education they receive here will prepare them for the next step in their career,” she said. “I would put the quality of our education and our students up against any program in Missouri, public or private.”
As of this year, 11 undergraduate and seven master’s programs, public and private, hold SHRM alignment in Missouri. SEMO is one of two public universities in the state with an aligned undergraduate HR program and the only public institution to offer a SHRM-aligned MBA in human resource management.
When SEMO first earned undergraduate alignment in 2011, it was the first public university in Missouri to do so. McMillan has led every SHRM alignment and recertification effort since the program’s inception, overseeing curriculum design, competency mapping and review preparation at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
“This program and these students are a reflection of that work and my commitment to advancing the careers of HR professionals,” she said. “I take each student’s success personally. It means a great deal when alumni return years later to share how their education supported their growth.”
SHRM alignment also ensures that coursework prepares students for professional certifications, including the SHRM Certified Professional exam, further strengthening graduates’ credentials in a competitive job market.
The renewed and expanded alignment underscores SEMO’s continued focus on delivering industry-informed programs that prepare graduates to lead in organizations across the region and beyond.
To join Missouri’s first SHRM aligned MBA in human resource management, visit semo.edu/human-resource-mba.