Clock tower on campus with Cayuga Lake behind it

Executive Master of Human Resource Management (EMHRM)

THE MASTER'S FOR HR LEADERS

An online master’s program from Cornell that’s ideal for high-potential human resource professionals who have 8+ years of experience. This selective 15-month online program will give high-potential human resource professionals the advanced knowledge and skills needed to move into senior HR roles and enable the development and execution of a human capital strategy on a global scale.

Learn From The World’s Leading HR Faculty

Our faculty are respected worldwide as thought leaders in human resources, work, labor, and employment issues. They conduct research that informs public policy, consult government and workplace leaders and offer regular commentary to national and international media. Their expertise and reputation are part of the reason our human resources programs are routinely recognized as among the best in the world.

Interact With World-Class HR Practitioners

As part of the EMHRM program, you will have access to senior, global HR leaders as guest lecturers and as executive advisors on your EMHRM project. Chief HR officers and other senior HR executives convene at Cornell to consult with faculty and recruit our graduates. Many senior HR leaders hold ILR and other Cornell degrees. They give back generously by spending time in ILR classrooms, discussing their career experiences and their views on emerging HR issues and opportunities.

The Student Perspective

Graduates of the Cornell ILR School’s EMHRM program discuss their participation in the program.

Read stories from EMHRM alumni, students, and faculty.

I didn’t enter this program to get a promotion or as a catalyst for a big career move, but the accomplishment is a constant reminder of my capacity, drive, and ability to compete on an elite level. It ended up being the exact “breath of fresh air” I was looking for, and I find myself drawing on learnings from the program daily. And! More important than that, I have a new community of life-long friends and colleagues.

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Cara Herrick

2020 EMHRM Alumnus Director, Product Marketing, Employee Workflows at ServiceNow

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Cara Herrick

2020 EMHRM Alumnus Director, Product Marketing, Employee Workflows at ServiceNow

The curriculum was specific and thought-provoking. While classes are condensed, there’s a vast amount of information that could be quickly implemented into my current day-to-day operations. I also appreciated the on-campus classes and engagement with my cohort and faculty. The onsite visits provided the opportunity to develop deeper personal relationships while being able to actively engage in current issues and bring true thought leadership to these challenges.

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Matt Sumrack

2020 EMHRM Alum Vice President, Talent Acquisition at Consilio LLC

The program and school are highly marketable to employers. I was fortunate enough to have multiple offers. The EMHRM program made me more well-rounded in HR’s different disciplines and enhanced my business acumen and in-depth understanding of HR strategy. I greatly appreciated the support and expertise of the program facilitators and professors. I really appreciated how much they cared and considered themselves stakeholders in my future.

–

Christina Aboud

2024 EMHRM Alumnus Manager, Human Resource Information Systems at Rambus

Fast Facts

Program Overview

EMHRM by the Numbers

30

Average Cohort Size

15

Months Online

3

On-Campus Sessions

8-20+

Years Work Experience

$65k

Total Tuition

265k

Cornell Alumni Network

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Program Schedule

May 2025 - August 2026

Summer 2025

May 9 - 12:00-1:00pm - Online orientation
May 19 - July 13 - Online coursework
July 19 - July 25 - Residential Session I

Fall 2025

August 10 - November 25 - Online coursework and capstone work
November 26 - November 30 - Thanksgiving Break
December 1 - December 14 - Online coursework

Spring 2026

January 5 - March 13 - Online coursework and capstone work
March 14 - March 20 - Residential Session II
March 31 - March 27 - Capstone work
March 28 - April 5 - Spring Break
April 6 - May 16 - Online coursework and capstone work

Summer 2026

June 1 - July 17 - Online coursework and capstone work
July 18 - July 24 - Residential Session III
July 25 - Commencement ceremony

Courses

Agile Project Management Approaches
Business Strategy for HR Leaders
Coaching Skills for Leaders
Diversity and Cross-Cultural Teams
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion in Practice for HR
Executive Compensation Essentials
Global and Comparative Employment Relations
HR Leadership
HR Strategy Finance & Accounting Principles
Human Resource Leadership
Labor Relations Strategy and High-Performance Work Systems
Managing and Developing Talent
Managing and Leading Hybrid Teams
Navigating Power Relationships
Negotiation Skills
Negotiations
Organizational Behavior: Managing Change
Results Through Talent Management
Strategic Decision Making
Strategic Engagement
Strategic HR Management
Strategic Talent Analytics
Total Rewards Compensation
Using Design Thinking in HR
Valuing HR Initiatives

The Case Project

A critical component of the EMHRM program is the case project, through which you'll apply the knowledge and skills you learn on campus and online to a challenge facing your organization.

The case project has four phases, each with its own deliverable:

Phase 1 – Identifying the Business Challenge
Phase 2 – Expanding the Business Case and Identifying HR Challenges
Phase 3 – Developing an HR Intervention and Change Plan
Phase 4 – Final Report and Presentation