Human Resources Degree

When most people think of the human resource department, they think of clerical work and the hiring and firing process that a corporation goes through. While the human resource field used to be heavily focused on areas such as managing employee benefits, recruiting employees, interviewing potential employees, and firing poor performers; the career field has changed drastically in recent years. Human resource specialists now work with top level individuals in a corporation in strategic planning when it will affect the business’ work force.

There are a variety of human resource degrees available to individuals interested in working within the field of human resources. These degree programs can vary from certificate and Associate’s degree programs all the way up to a Doctorate. The type of degree an individual decides to pursue will be affected by a number of factors including their ability to pay for their education and what field within human resources they wish to work in. Regardless of what position an individual is interested in, a human resource degree is almost always required to gain employment within the career field.

The following are just a few of the human resource degrees an individual can pursue:

• Associate of Science – Human Resource Management
• Bachelor of Science – Human Resource Management
• Bachelor of Business Administration – Human Resource Management
• Bachelor of Science – Business/Human Resource Management
• Master of Science – Human Resource Management
• Master of Business Administration – Human Resource Management
• Master of Management – Human Resource Management

The variety of coursework an individual faces during their pursuit of a human resource degree will vary. Associate’s level programs will provide students with introductory coursework in the field of human resources including areas such as recruitment, selection, compensation, and evaluation. More advanced degree programs will introduce students to other concepts including, but not limited to, the following:

• Planning and development
• Training
• Compensations and benefits
• Global human resource management
• Employee health and safety
• Labor law