Human Resources Degree

According to the Department of Labor, careers in human resources are expected to increase steadily over the next few years by 17 percent. When working in a small company, human resources professionals will also be responsible for employee wages, benefits, vacation leave and disciplinary actions. For a career in human resources, someone will need to be competent, able to multi-task, ethical, organized, and can work as part of a team.

How to Become a Human Resources Manager

The minimum requirements to become a human resources manager include a bachelor’s degree in human resources or human resource management. A number of organizations will also require candidates for a managerial job to have a Master’s degree in human resources or human resource management. Some students apply to complete internship jobs within a human resources department of a company to gain experience while studying during their human resources degree. Most people start at entry-level positions such as a human resources assistant and after a considerable amount of experience, it is possible to apply for a human resource manager position. Certification is also essential for a managerial position. Certification in human resources is administered by the HR Certification Institute that is a subsection of the Society for Human Resource Management. Three general certifications are available from the HR Certification Institute: Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR).

Human Resources Degree Curriculum

Human resource degree curriculum covers a wide range of topics from HR law to coaching to legal ethics. Some examples of courses in the curriculum for a human resources degree include:

  • Decision Making
  • Business Strategy
  • Managing Conflict
  • Adapting to Change
  • Finance Management
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Effective Communication
  • Diversity in the Workplace
  • Performance Management
  • Introduction to Human Resource Management

Human Resources Degrees & Certificates

Someone working with a human resources degree will help a company or organization recruit and retain employees. Human resources professionals will also provide training for new and current employees. When people graduate from a human resources education program, they will be qualified to apply for the following jobs such as a human resources assistant, human resources advisor, human resources generalist, human resource officer, human resources professional, and human resources manager. The salary for a human resources manager will vary depending if you are working for the public or private sector. The median salary per year for a human resource assistant is $30,000, and the median annual salary for a human resources manager is $75,000.

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