Quick Highlights
Yes, Arkansas State University’s MBA in Human Resource Management program is fully online and offers seven-week courses in fall/spring, five-week courses in summer and multiple start dates each year. Because each course is short, you can plan around your busiest HR weeks, and finishing in as few as 12 months means taking more than one course at a time in some terms.
You already carry a full workload: recruiting, employee relations issues, benefits questions and day-to-day requests from managers. The question is whether an MBA can fit around those responsibilities. This guide explores how the format works and how to plan around open enrollment and other peak periods in the online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Concentration in Human Resource Management program at Arkansas State University (A-State).
How the Online Format Works Alongside a Full-Time Job
The 33-credit program has 11 courses: eight in the business core and three in the HR concentration, including Industrial Relations and Law and Ethics in Business. Each course lasts seven weeks (five in summer), so a busy period at work overlaps with one short course rather than a full semester. You can then pace the next course around your calendar. To see where HR coursework can lead, A-State’s guides to HR MBA career opportunities and what an HR MBA can do cover typical roles and career paths.
The Neil Griffin College of Business at A-State is accredited by AACSB International, a distinction held by a limited percentage of business schools worldwide and one that reflects recognized standards for business education. The online MBA in Human Resource Management program costs $17,292 in total, as of 2026, with the same tuition for all U.S. residents. Confirm current tuition and program details before applying.
Important Note
Completing the program in as few as 12 months is the fastest path, and doing so takes more than one course at a time in some terms. If you enroll in one course per term, the same 33 credits stretch over more terms, which leaves more room around a heavy work season. Speak with a student engagement specialist before you build a plan, so your term choices match your calendar.
A Sample Week for Someone Who Studies Before Work
This sample is an illustration, not an A-State schedule, and it sketches the time blocks for one course at a time. Your syllabus sets the actual assignments, and weekly study time rises when you take more than one course in a term. Actual study time varies by course and student background, but graduate business courses typically require several hours of coursework each week in addition to readings and participation activities.
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When
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Time
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What You Do
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|---|---|---|
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Monday to Friday
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5:30 to 6:30 a.m.
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Reading, discussion posts and short assignments, done before the first meeting or hard conversation
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One weekend morning
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About two to three hours
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Longer readings and written work
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One weeknight
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Kept free
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Buffer for a late investigation or a benefits fire drill
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This rough estimate assumes you normally start your day around 7:30 a.m. Studying for one hour on weekday mornings gives you five hours before your first work obligation. This approach also prevents having to complete all your schoolwork at the last minute on weekends. The goal is a pattern you can repeat when work gets stressful.
A Sample Week for Someone Who Studies in the Evenings
If employees and managers most often need you in the morning, an evening block may be easier to ensure. This schedule assumes your workday ends around 6:00 p.m.
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When
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Time
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What You Do
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Monday to Friday
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8:00 to 9:00 p.m.
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Reading, discussion posts and short assignments, done after dinner once the inbox is quiet
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One weekend morning
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About two to three hours
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Longer readings and written work
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One weeknight
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Kept free
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Buffer for a late investigation or a benefits fire drill, and a catch-up slot if the week ran over
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The free weeknight does two jobs in this plan, absorbing a late investigation and serving as a catch-up slot if the week runs over. If it is already booked by Tuesday, that may be a sign to consider a lighter course load during your next term, which the next section discusses.
Plan Around Open Enrollment, Year-End and Hiring Surges
HR work can fluctuate throughout the year, so plan with your calendar and match courses to it. Mark your three heaviest periods first: open enrollment, year-end and any hiring surge your employer repeats each year. Open enrollment is often one of the busiest periods for HR teams because of employee communications, benefits education and enrollment support. Next, consider these approaches to planning your coursework:
- Start when work is quieter. Your first course is where you build the habit, so it might make most sense to start small during a slower period of work.
- Lighten the term that overlaps your peak. If open enrollment lands in a seven-week term, ask a student engagement specialist about a lighter load or a start after the peak.
- Use any break between terms to catch up on reading before the next course starts.
The most sustainable plan starts with identifying your busiest weeks: pick a start date that avoids them, choose a study block you can protect on a difficult day and match your course load to your desired completion timeline. With multiple start dates each year and a pace that runs from as few as 12 months upward, you can make those choices with your own calendar open.
See the full course list, current tuition and upcoming start dates for Arkansas State University’s online MBA with a Concentration in Human Resource Management, then request information to plan your terms around your work calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a five-week summer course harder to fit around work?
Yes, a five-week course packs the same three credits into two fewer weeks, so each week carries more work than in a seven-week term. Summer 1 and Summer 2 are the only five-week terms, so you can plan for a heavier stretch in summer and keep the free weeknight from the sample schedules as your buffer.
Will the MBA prepare me for SHRM certification?
They do different jobs: the MBA is a 33-credit graduate degree with an HR concentration, and SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP are certifications earned through SHRM by meeting its eligibility requirements and passing its exams. The degree adds a business core in accounting, finance and analytics, as well as HR courses such as Industrial Relations and Law and Ethics in Business, which count toward your degree whether you pursue a SHRM credential or not.
How much does the online HR MBA cost?
The online MBA in Human Resource Management program costs $524 per credit hour, or $17,292 for all 33 credits, and tuition covers all fees. The program also has a nonrefundable $30 application fee.
Is an HR MBA too heavy on finance for an HR professional?
No: accounting and finance account for two courses, Accounting for Planning and Control and Corporate Financial Management, and three courses are HR-focused. Business Analytics and Strategic Management round out the core, giving you the vocabulary to discuss budgets and headcount with finance and operations leaders. A-State’s article on strategic management for HR professionals shows how that training applies to talent development.
What are the admission requirements for the online HR MBA?
Applicants need an online application, official transcripts and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA or a 2.75 in the last 60 hours. Applicants below those GPA thresholds may apply by including a statement of purpose.