Degrees
A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Human Resources typically consists of general education plus elective courses taken towards a major. Another variation on this degree is B.A. in Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources.
Specific HR competencies covered in bachelor’s degree programs in human resources include training and development, strategic staffing, labor and employment law, managing organizational change, compensation and benefits, leadership and team building.
Undergraduates with a major in Human Resources or in Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources are well prepared to carry our entry level roles such as Recruitment Coordinators, HR Analysts, and HR Project Managers.
There are several options for advanced education in Human Resources:
The most common is the Masters of Human Resource Management (HRM) or Human Resource Development (HRD). Masters degrees in Human Resources generally take two years and include a mix of required courses such as general HR, compensation basics, statistics and employment law and electives such as international HR, HR strategy and organizational psychology. Many HR Masters programs offer joint courses with related departments such as business, law, and psychology. You can also receive a Masters degree in Labor Relations, or a specialization in Labor Relations, which involves deeper learning in union law, negotiation and collective bargaining.
Another popular option with HR professionals is a Master’s degree in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology. Industrial-Organizational psychologists (called I-O psychologists) are behavioral scientists specializing in human behavior in the work place. I-O psychologists apply research to the practice areas of human resources and may work as external or in-house consultants on a number of projects. Most masters programs in I-O psychology last two years, and include a combination of academic theory and practical work through internships.
Doctoral degrees in HR should be pursued by those who have identified a subject area that they would like to work on for multiple years, or those who enjoy statistics, psychometrics and research methodologies. Ph.D. s in HRM take about five years, and include course work, internships or teaching assistantships, and a dissertation.
Doctoral degrees in Organizational Development or Organizational Behavior involve deep dives into organizational theory and scholarly research. Most OD/OB programs are split into two focus areas: micro-organizational topics such as decision-making, emotions, power and influence, and macro-organizational topics including culture, change, networks, etc. Many OD/OB Ph.D. programs offer the opportunity for interdisciplinary research with related programs such as business, psychology, and sociology.