Online Human Resources Degree

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WHAT IS AN ONLINE HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE?

Online human resources degree programs focus on a business’ most important asset: its workers. You could learn the ropes of how to find, retain, and help to develop employees. You could also study work place ethics, employee benefits, and ways to communicate.

HR managers serve as a link between business leaders and employees. Programs in this field cover what matters to workers like pay and rewards. And, they cover areas that concern business leadership like hiring new talent.

HR programs also explore what to do when times get tough. That includes things like change in management and handling work place disputes. You could learn how to put policies in place that help prevent and resolve conflict. And, you’ll learn how to make the work place more positive for all.

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TYPES OF ONLINE HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE PROGRAMS

Bachelor of Human Resources and Organizational Leadership

This program covers the theory of both HR and leadership. So, you could prepare for diverse roles across different companies and industries.

Course Examples:

  • Intro to HR
  • Strategic HR
  • Instructional Design

Master of Human Resource Management

At the Master’s level, you’ll take a more detailed look at HR – including theory and practice. Expect to explore present day topics, like HR technology and diversity.

Course Examples:

  • Labor Relations
  • Employment Law
  • Legal Issues in HR Management

MBA in Human Resources

The MBA program covers the general business and management theory. In the HR focus, you’ll drill down on topics like how to recruit, hire, and train.

Course Examples:

  • Business Communications
  • Training and Development
  • Strategic Reward Systems

HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE ONLINE PROGRAMS

Bachelor’s, Master’s, and MBA in HR programs are all mostly found online. You could even earn a PhD or DBA in Human Resources in an online format.

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

Bachelor’s in Human Resources programs offer an overview of HR and how it impacts business. So, you could study things from marketing to labor law and employee training. And, most programs require gen ed credits like English and math.

Bachelor’s in human resources programs include courses like:

  • Business communications – like writing, public speaking, and media
  • Laws and ethics related to HR, including diversity and inclusion
  • Software used in business and human resources
  • Social psychology and behavior in the work place

MASTER’S AND MBA DEGREES

At the master’s level, expect to delve deeper into HR theory and practice. A Master of Human Resources program may focus on present day issues in HR. For example, you could study labor relations, diversity, and employee rewards. Some programs require candidates to have work experience. This may help you apply HR theory to real world issues. You could even solve problems in your current work place!

Common programs include:

  • Master of Science in Human Resources – May focus on technical and career based subjects
  • Master of Arts in Human Resources – May include more liberal arts courses

Or, think about going for your MBA (Master of Business Administration) with a focus in Human Resources. MBA programs feature a core of business courses. So, you’ll build wider knowledge of the business world, in addition to a focus on HR. This could help you understand the bigger picture of managing human capital in a company.

Human resources master’s programs include courses like:

  • Compensation and Benefits
  • Labor Law
  • Leading Change
  • Recruitment and Staffing
  • Ethics in Human Resources

PH.D. AND DBA DEGREES

Online PhD and DBA programs in HR focus on research and leadership practices. You may study areas like organizational behavior, labor relations, and even public policy. Usually, you’ll have to research and write a dissertation to earn the degree.

Common programs include:

  • PhD in HR – A Ph.D. is a research degree. So, a Ph.D. in HR will likely focus on being able to contribute to the field’s body of knowledge. This type of program may suit you if you’re interested in an academic career path.
  • DBA in HR – A DBA is a professional doctorate degree. This type of program may focus on the practice of human resources, and its role in a company. So, you may use applied research to solve many HR problems.

WHAT DO HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE COURSES LOOK LIKE?

Many HR programs cover two sets of courses. Ones that relate to business basics. And others about human resources practices and concepts.

Business classes often look at federal rules and ways to communicate in the work place. They may also touch on finance, ethics and leadership. Things that develop your sense of how to manage people, projects and daily tasks.

Human resource classes may vary from one school to the next. But they all provide the concepts and skills that HR pros need to know to thrive in their career.

Some common courses include:

Intro to HR: Many programs begin with a broad overview of HR and the role it plays in business. This also frames the areas involved in human resources and how they interact.

Training and Development: Central to HR is to understand the training process. This is about helping to develop talent to fit a business’ goals. And, often delves into ways to design employee training programs.

Staffing and Recruitment: This type of class looks at the role of staffing. How it can support a business strategy and improve productivity. You are likely to also go over legal and compliance issues. Plus ways to select, recruit, and keep personnel.

Compensation and Benefits: In this kind of class, you tend to look at wage and pay systems. How to calculate base pay and pay increases for example. And, any compliance issues and laws that affect pay. Side topics tend to cover employee benefits. Like health care, paid time off, and retirement plans.

Employment Law: HR managers need to know a wide range of laws. So this class may provide an overview of key Acts. And labor laws about unfair practices. Like workplace safety. Side topics might also cover the ins and outs of contracts and negligent hiring.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO EARN A HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE?

An online Bachelor’s in Human Resources requires about 120 to 128 credits. It usually takes 4 years for full time students to earn the degree. Earning an online Master’s in HR calls for around 30 to 48 credits of course work. Full time students may earn the degree in about 2 years. Some faster paced programs take as few as 12 months.

Finally, online doctorate programs in HR may require 58 to 66 credits of course work. You may also have to research and write a dissertation. So, earning a PhD or DBA in HR can take between 2 and 4.5 years, or longer.

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HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE PROGRAM EXAMPLES

School# of Credits RequiredStart DatesMinimum Months to Complete
Louisiana State U30Multiple10
Lasell College30Multiple12
U of Northern Colorado366 start dates per year12

THE AVERAGE COST OF AN ONLINE HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE PROGRAM

According to the most recent data, HR students paid a median in state public tuition of $7,841 per year. Out of state private tuition was $32,830 per year.

Many online schools charge by the credit. Compare cost per credit for these schools that offer HR programs.

School# of Credits RequiredCost Per CreditTotal Tuition Cost
Purdue University Global16$485$7,760
U of Phoenix120$398$47,760
Rutgers36$915$32,940

TOP SCHOOLS FOR HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE PROGRAMS

Last check, there were 354 schools that offer Human Resources Management programs. From those schools, 28,730 HR degrees were awarded to students. The majority of these were Bachelor’s degrees.

School2021 Degrees awarded2022/23 Tuition (out of state unless *)
University of Phoenix  Arizona1,566$9,552*
Webster University364$29,840*
Rutgers University New Brunswick601$33,963
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus465$25,880
University of Maryland Global Campus616$12,336
Colorado State University Global Campus846$8,400*
Cornell University379$63,200*
Capella University528$14,328*
Central Michigan University180$13,650*
Ashford University502$13,160*

Estimated for full time, beginning undergrad students

CHOOSING A HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE ONLINE ACCREDITED PROGRAM

Finding an accredited college or university should be your first step. Accredited schools meet certain standards that may matter to your future employers. It’s also important that your school is accredited if you hope to qualify for federal financial aid.

But what about program accreditation? Human Resources programs fall under the umbrella of Business. So, you may find HR programs that hold business program accreditation.

Some of these agencies include:

Finally, some programs offer a curriculum aligned with the standards of SHRM. SHRM stands for the Society for Human Resource Management. It is the world’s largest HR professional society. SHRM doesn’t offer accreditation, but they award certification for human resources professionals. Employers may prefer candidates with certification from SHRM or similar places.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH AN HR DEGREE?

According to the most recent data, there are 11.2 million human resources degree holders in the work force. This group is moving up, with one year growth of 3.01%!

More females than males earned degrees in HR management and services. That’s 70.2% females to 29.8% males. And, the average age of a worker in this field is 43.7 years old.

TOP SALARIES BY STATE FOR HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE HOLDERS

The following info is for Human Resource Specialists. Salary and employment numbers will differ for other HR career paths.

StateEmploymentAnnual Mean Wage
District of Columbia7,710$103,650
Virginia30,050$78,060
Washington23,780$87,330
New York53,940$85,170
New Jersey18,600$85,750

HUMAN RESOURCES CAREER PATHS AND POTENTIAL SALARIES

Job prospects for HR positions vary depending on the role but they range from growing as fast as any other occupation to growing faster than average according to BLS. Below you’ll find a guide to some of the more popular career paths that many HR graduates pursue. We’ve also listed the minimum education that is needed to enter the field along with salary (2022) and job outlook through 2032.

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGERS

Human Resources Managers manage staffing concerns and supervise recruitment and hiring within companies. They collaborate closely with the workforce, analyzing individual candidates’ strengths and weaknesses to strategically allocate personnel for the company’s benefit. Additionally, they possess a deep understanding of employment laws.

According to 2022 BLS Data:

Median Salary: $130,000  per year

Job Growth Through 2032: 5% (Faster than average)

Typical Entry level Education: Bachelor’s degree

HR SPECIALISTS

HR Specialists act as a support function to human resources managers, handling numerous shared responsibilities. They engage with employers to address the company’s hiring requirements, manage employee records, and conduct background checks for potential hires.

According to 2022 BLS Data:

Median Salary: $64,240 per year

Job Growth Through 2032: 6% (Faster than average)

Typical Entry level Education: Bachelor’s degree.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS

Training and Development Specialists assess the weaknesses within a company’s workforce and devise methods to enhance skills and knowledge. Their responsibilities may encompass designing manuals, online learning programs, instructional methods, and organizing classes for employees to attend.

According to 2022 BLS Data:

Median Salary: $63,080 per year

Job Growth Through 2032: 6% (Faster than average)

Typical Entry level Education: Bachelor’s degree.

© Education Connection 2024. All Rights Reserved.

*https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d20/tables/dt20_311.15.asp

Sources for school statistics is the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.

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