Key takeaways
- When choosing a college for a human resources bachelor’s degree online, make sure to consider factors like college accreditation, alumni profile, and the coursework of the program.
- Many great colleges are offering an online human resources degree. Some of the top colleges include Florida International University (FIU) Online, Southern New Hampshire University (SHNU), Western Governors University (WGU), Maryville University, and the University of St. Francis.
- An online human resources degree is just as valuable as an on-campus traditional program.
- Once you graduate, your graduation diploma does not specify the mode of your degree, i.e. online.
- Getting an online HR degree has many benefits including lower costs due to no traveling, self-paced learning, and immense flexibility to support students who work full-time jobs.
- A BS or BA in human resources usually lasts for 4 years, with typically 120 credits.
- With a human resource degree, you can find jobs in various industries including Finance, Retail, Manufacturing, Digital Media, Nonprofit, HR Consultancy, and Law Firms.
A human resources degree is the best for anyone who is business-minded, and interested in making important decisions related to business management. HR is an important part of any type or size of business since it manages the most important asset for a business, the employees.
Bachelor’s degrees in human resources have enabled people from all walks of life to develop important competencies like communication, negotiations, problem-solving, and technical skills such as data analysis and strategic planning.
Undoubtedly, due to the changing trends caused by technological advancements, you will find human resources bachelor degrees online becoming more and more common. And there is a reason for that.
Online human resources degrees offer a greater level of convenience than conventional on-site degrees, at more affordable costs. Resultantly, online degrees are becoming a preference for students everywhere, specially for students who know that an HR degree is right for them.
If you wish to enjoy online HR degrees’ convenience and cost-efficiency, find the top New York City colleges and other locations for the best distance learning programs.
How to choose a college for pursuing an online human resources degree?
Before you choose the best college for a human resources bachelor degree online, make sure you have considered your priorities and listed down the most important factors. Choosing a human resources college degree will shape the next 4 to 5 years of your academic journey, and can seriously influence your job prospects in the future as well.
Therefore, always remember to consider the following factors when choosing the best college for your online human resources degree.
Look for accreditation
An accreditation proves that the accredited institute offers a standard quality of education and services. There are multiple accrediting agencies in the US, and each has its way of judging and accrediting colleges.
The US Department of Education maintains a list of accrediting agencies that it considers reliable and holds in high regard. Whichever college degree you may be opting for, make sure it has one or more accreditations from agencies listed by the US Department of Education.
You might wonder what is the importance of accreditation when choosing a college. Accreditations make the students of that college eligible for financial aid. College degrees are not the cheapest, and having a financial aid option is surely something you would want. Additionally, transferring credits from a non-accredited college is extremely difficult. With an accreditation, transfers are very easy.
In short, a college accreditation for an online human resources degree makes your college career foolproof.
Look at the alumni profile
If you wish to clear any doubts about how good the college is and what kind of opportunities it may offer in the future, just look at its alumni profile.
Most colleges take quite some pride in their alumni who are doing well for themselves in their careers. The human resources bachelor degree online program should have alumni who are working in good and prestigious jobs that also pay well.
Explore what were the entry jobs offered to the alumni, through professional networks like LinkedIn. Also, don’t forget to check out the most common professions and industries that the alumni are working in.
Not only will this show you how good the online human resources degree is, but will help you plan and sort your career goals too.
Check the coursework
Whatever you study during your human resources bachelor’s degree online will help you prepare and equip yourself for professional life. A good HR degree also equips you with important skills and competencies. This is possible with good quality coursework that not only explores critical areas of HR but also ensures hands-on experiences for better learning.
Any good HR program must have the following core courses:
- Introduction To Human Resources
- Organizational Behavior
- Employment Laws
- Leadership Training
- Communication And Interpersonal Skills In HR
- HR Information Systems
- Change Management
Furthermore, you must also explore the specializations, electives, and concentration areas offered by the program. Some of the most commonly offered specializations in HR include:
- Recruitment
- Training And Development
- Payroll Management
- Compensation And Benefits
- Employee Relations
Choose an online human resources degree that offers the most diverse range of courses, and its framework aligns with your career goals.
Top 5 colleges for human resources bachelor degree online
Whether you are looking for a BS or BA in human resources, or wish to go to colleges in New York City, an online degree will allow you to do that. Here are the top 5 colleges that offer a human resources bachelor degree online:
Florida International University
Founded in 1972, Florida International University, or FIU, is a public school known for its quality education and notable alumni. The FIU Online school offers more than 120 programs completely online. It has numerous corporate partnerships that allow graduating students of the college to get a good start to their careers.
To get an online human resources degree, you must enroll yourself in the FIU Bachelors of Business Administration program, with a human resources major. The online degree aligns with the Society for human resources management curriculum book and its approved course template.
The online programs are led by highly qualified faculty members, most of whom have a higher academic qualification such as a Master’s degree. The college has over 10 accreditation and hosts a diverse student body. For admissions, it requires a high school GPA of about 2. Overall, FIU Online is one of the best colleges in Florida.
Western Governors University
Western Governors University, or WGU, offers one of the highly accredited HR degrees online. Its online human resources degree program will equip you with important skills and competencies in HR areas such as recruitment, payroll management, compensation audit and administration, and DEI management.
The online program also makes its students eligible for the SHRM virtual student center which adds another badge to the students’ qualifications and excellence to be successful in the professional world.
The program consists of 41 courses carefully curated to help students acquire important HR skills and competencies.
Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University, or SNHU, is the best non-profit institute that offers an online human resources degree that can prepare you for an excelling HR career. You can reap all the benefits of an online degree by leveraging the most affordable BA in human resources from SNHU.
The human resources bachelor degree online from SNHU requires 120 credits, which is typically completed in a 4 to 5-year time frame. However, this may vary depending on many factors.
You don’t have to worry about your online education not getting enough attention from employers. Multiple agencies, including the New England Commission of Higher Education, accredit SNHU’s online HR degree.
The UK college’s distance learning enables students in the US to enjoy top-tier education, and then achieve great professional success.
Maryville University
Maryville University campus is located in St. Louis, Missouri. However, its online program is accessible to students residing almost anywhere. This is a great chance for aspiring HR professionals to not miss out on the amazing online human resources degree program offered by MU.
The online HR program at the college requires no admission fee, no SAT scores, and offers financial aid options for eligible students. The coursework is focused on specialized skills that are in line with the recent trends and changes in the HR industry.
Most importantly, it focuses on teaching HR roles and functions in light of technological advancements so you can easily adapt to the professional world. The program is 100% online, so you can ensure self-paced learning with case studies, assignments, lectures, and much more learning materials.
Arizona State University
The Arizona State University online program is the best pick for a BA in human resources online. It offers a BA in Business, with a human resources major. The online program equips its students with crucial skills such as analytical thinking, critical thinking, communication skills, and relationship management. It is surely one of the most renowned colleges in Arizona for an HR degree.
The program uses practical and book-based teaching techniques to give you a holistic understanding of HR functions in the real world. The degree is relevant for jobs in nonprofit, private, and government institutes.
ASU has alumni working in different industries and job roles such as Corporate Trainer, HR Analyst, Payroll and Benefits Manager, and Labor Relations Specialist.
The college faculty that teaches aspiring HR professionals comes from a highly qualified background. From renowned journal publications to members of reputable organizations and clubs, the faculty will contribute to ensuring that you graduate as a highly skilled and well-taught individual from this online degree.
Is an online human resources degree of the same worth?
Many people find themselves attracted to the flexibility and convenience offered by online human resources degrees. Online bachelor’s programs allow people residing in remote or suburban areas to have access to the quality education offered by colleges in New York City, Berkeley, Houston, and so on.
However, a big question rings in their head that might discourage them from pursuing an online degree. So, here is a simple answer to your question, “Is an online human resources degree of the same worth?”.
Yes, an online bachelor’s degree in human resources is just as good as an on-campus degree. your graduation diploma does not specify the mode of education you chose. Additionally, the coursework, degree duration, and faculty are also the same for online and on-campus programs. Therefore, you will not face any discrimination or a shortage of opportunities in the market.
Even other programs and degrees online, such as a sociology degree online, or a criminology undergraduate program online, are also very popular. Their worth is the same as conventional degrees.
The only thing that makes an online degree in HR different from an on-campus degree is the mode. For online degrees, you may require a stable internet connection, a laptop, or PC, a working webcam, and a microphone. If you have these things sorted, you should go ahead and enroll in an online program without worrying.
Online human resources degrees are the best choice for people working full-time jobs who want to self-finance their education. You can take the lectures and work on assignments at your convenience. The flexibility in online programs is exceptional.
Let’s not forget the cost-efficiency of online HR degrees. You would be saving on campus fees, and will barely have any commuting cost.
Why is an online human resources bachelors degree better?
As mentioned earlier as well, a human resources bachelor’s degree online has the same credibility and value in the eyes of employers and professionals as on-campus or traditional bachelor degrees. This goes for all the various disciplines and fields of study. You will see that there are great many options for online sociology degrees as well!
However, there are some ways in which an online human resources degree is better than a traditional on-site degree. Here are some benefits of online HR degrees that you don’t want to miss out on:
Schedule and location flexibility
most online classes are offered via recorded lectures that you can view at any time during the semester. This allows students to enjoy the privilege of studying from any location at any time that is most feasible for them.
Advanced and flexible learning methods
Virtual classes use advanced technologies and solutions like LMS, video conferencing tools, online work management tools, and much more. This prepares you for a digitalized professional world where companies prefer tech-savvy skills and familiarity with digital tools.
Self-paced learning
Online learning is self-paced, meaning you listen to lectures, submit assignments, and learn at your own pace. This does not put you under pressure or unnecessary pressure.
Cost-efficient
With an online degree, you are not required to travel to the campus every day. Neither will you be living on-campus and paying a housing fee. This brings down the cost significantly.
How long is a human resources bachelor degree online?
Full-time students enrolling in a human resources bachelor degree online can fulfill their degrees in about 4 years. The program duration can vary from college to college, however, bachelor programs are typically not less than 4 years. Right after the completion, you can start exploring full-time human resources career opportunities.
What can you do with a human resource degree?
When you earn a human resources bachelor degree online from any of the accredited colleges, you become eligible for numerous career paths. The job outlook for HR is great, as reported by BLS, there will be a 6% growth in employment for HR professionals by 2032.
You can find jobs in many industries, including the following:
- Apparel retail
- Arts and media production
- Banking & finance
- Building & construction
- Colleges/universities & education
- Consulting & professional services
- Digital media and advertising
- Education institutes
- Employment firms
- Energy, mining & resources
- Finance & insurance
- Government
- Healthcare (both public and private)
- Hospitality & tourism
- Hotel & accommodation
- Information & technology
- Information technology
- Insurance firms
- Manufacturing
- Media & digital media
- Medical & healthcare
- Recruitment and consultancy
- Restaurant & food business
- Retail
- Telecommunications
Some common job roles that you may become eligible for include:
- Administrative Services Manager
- Compensation & Benefits Analyst
- Compensation & Benefits Manager
- Compensation & Benefits Specialist
- Employee Relations Specialist
- Hr Consultant
- Hr Generalist
- HRIS Specialist/HR Systems Analyst
- Human Resources Manager
- Human Resources Specialist
- Labor Relations Specialist
- Payroll Executive/Manager
- Performance Manager
- Recruitment Specialist/Recruiter
- Staffing Manager
- Talent Acquisition Manager
- Training & Development Specialist
Get the best human resources college degree online!
The abovementioned list of amazing colleges for human resources bachelor degree online is curated for aspiring and motivated HR professionals. Make sure, that whichever college and online degree program you choose aligns with your career goals and personal preferences. Ask all the necessary questions about human resources to make an informed decision.
There are amazing colleges in the US and outside the US that let you take the degree from anywhere. This is a great option for students working full-time or residing in remote areas where higher education options are limited. Don’t miss out on the benefits of an online HR degree and get enrolled today!