Key Takeaways
- Human resources degree holders and professionals handle the most important business management task — the employees. They find, shortlist, screen, recruit, onboard, and manage employees in an organization as per the changing needs and demands.
- The number of HR employees has increased from 2013 to 2023.
- The median salary for HR professionals in 2023 was $67,650/year.
- human resources has various roles in an organization including selecting, screening, shortlisting, recruiting, onboarding, training, managing, and retaining employees.
- HR degrees can help you develop skills like communication and interpersonal skills, problem-solving, strategic planning, adaptability, and leadership.
- Some of the most reputable colleges offering human resources degree programs include Alfred State College, Anderson University, Auburn University at Montgomery, and Ball State University.
- You can get accredited human resource degrees online from colleges including Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University, and Capella University.
- A 4-year HR program typically includes courses like Introduction to HR, Employment Law, Organizational Behavior, Compensation and Benefits, Training and Development, and many more.
- Career opportunities with an HR degree are diverse. The most common human resources degree jobs include HR Specialist, Recruitment Specialist, and HRIS Specialist.
- During your human resources degree program, make sure you are careful about time management, are networking with seniors and alumni, and stay up-to-date with industry trends. Moreover, observe experts, take up practical work opportunities, and participate in campus life.
- Some challenges in the HR field include managing remotely working teams, adapting to organizational changes, managing employee-employer relations, and retaining existing employees.
A human resources degree delves deep into the valuable skills and knowledge needed for solving employee-related issues in an organization. A bachelor’s in human resources spans a time period of 4 years, with multiple coursework, assessments, and projects that help one become all set for the professional journey.
Some of the most important skills an HR professional develops after earning an HR degree are leadership and interpersonal communication skills. In addition to that, employee and labor laws knowledge, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills are also necessary.
Moreover, some important data from Statista shows that the number of HR workers and employees has steadily grown from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, there were 980,000 HR workers in the USA alone.
From theoretical knowledge to soft skills and practical experience, an HR degree is your ultimate best friend in pursuing a career in employee management. The rapidly changing technology landscape is also changing how HR professionals execute their strategies. Therefore, the human resources field of study and work is going to be fun, lively, and happening for you.
Certainly, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for HR graduates is great. Entry-level jobs only require a bachelor’s degree in human resources and don’t have any high experience expectations either. Additionally, the median salary for HR professionals in 2023 was $67,650 per year.
So, if you are still in the decision-making phase and wondering what importance and significance an HR degree holds, then you have come to the right place. Here you will find an answer to all your questions regarding the human resources degree, the field, what skills you need, and much more!
What is human resources?
In a machine, different cogs and parts work together to perform a function and reach their performance goal. Similarly, for any business organization, it is almost crucial to have multiple cogs and parts working together.
Human resources, or HR, is one such cog that works alongside different parts of an organization, such as finance, marketing, and R&D.
In the simplest of words, human resources is a department in an organization that finds, hires, trains, and manages employee life cycles. Additionally, the HR department is responsible for labor laws compliance, employee pay and benefits management, and even termination of employee-employer contracts.
In fact, an important part of HR is being good with people. Therefore, a degree in sociology can also help people have careers in HR.
Human resources and its role in an organization
HR plays a crucial role in an organization, managing the most valuable asset; the people. Since most of the HR roles revolve around people management, degrees like organizational management, or an undergraduate degree in sociology also help build a career in HR.
HR roles and key functionalities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Recruitment and selection
Finding the right candidate for the right job vacancy through various mediums and channels, including online job boards.
Onboarding and orientation
Hire, introduce, and help the newly hired candidate gel in and adjust to the new job. The orientation can take place on the first day or span a number of days and includes an introduction and detailed explanation of company policies and expectations.
Employee relations
HR is a liaison or moderator between various employees and management.
Performance management
Performance-based appraisals, increments, improvement plans, terminations, and general performance feedback are looked after by HR.
Training and development
HR may host training and sessions for employees’ growth and learning at the company to benefit both parties.
Compensation, benefits, and payroll
Employee salaries, benefits, bonuses, and other monetary and non-monetary compensation must be managed by HR and ensure timely deliverance.
HR Information Systems (HRIS)
In large organizations with more than 50 employees, data management, data records, payroll information, and other employee data is stored and managed on various HRIS software and tools.
Legal compliance
HR must ensure labor laws, international laws, and company-specific policies and their compliance.
Employee engagement
HR may take multiple initiatives to engage employees and foster a culture of inclusion, fun, belonging, and positivity. Might include acknowledgement awards, feedback surveys, and employee recognition initiatives.
Employee retention
After an employee’s hiring and onboarding, HR must take important steps and initiatives to ensure that the employee is retained and is motivated to stay on board.
What are the benefits of obtaining a human resources degree?
HR professionals are just as essential for an organization as any other department’s employees. HR specialists, whichever domain or specialization they may be working in, have a lot to offer to an organization’s well-being and prosperity.
If you plan on earning an HR degree today, note that BLS reports suggest a 6% growth in HR employment from 2023 to 2032.
Getting a bachelor’s in human resources is going to take you places. It will load you with organizational and business management skills that even the most advanced technology cannot replace.
More importantly, today’s dynamic business world is incorporating and welcoming technology into HR. So, obtaining an HR degree is going to give you hands-on opportunities to work with technology and solve people-related problems in organizations.
As discussed, here are some important reasons you should pursue a human resources degree.
- HR is becoming more and more data-driven. Essentially, you as an HR professional will not be working in isolation from other departments.
- Technological Advancements are taking over HR operations. This allows HR professionals to learn and develop their technical skills, and work with technology to solve HR-related problems and tasks.
- According to BLS, job security for HR professionals is higher than other business management degrees. As an HR professional, you become crucial to the company’s employee management and culture.
- Organizational culture is always in the hands of HR. With an HR degree, when you take up the HR profession, you will be able to learn and navigate through dynamic cultures and even be able to bring about cultural changes yourself.
- As an HR professional, you will often find yourself in mentorship and leadership roles within teams. This can help you gain a lot of personal and professional growth.
What skills and competencies will I develop with a human resources degree?
If you are wondering what skills and competencies can you develop with an HR qualification, here they are:
Communication and interpersonal skills
Effective and efficient communication across various teams and departments is crucial in any organization with multiple employees. You would need a resource in your office that can convey messages across teams, ensure collaboration, and aid conflict resolution.
HR professionals also ensure that their employees are heard and seen by developing healthy channels of communication.
Problem-solving abilities
Perhaps the most important role an HR professional plays in an organization is problem-solving and conflict resolution. When there is friction between two teams or employees, or there are complaints regarding the company’s work ethic, or culture, HR is the one everyone goes to.
Consequently, HR can also be referred to as the company’s spokesperson. But instead of external audiences, they are a spokesperson for the organization’s internal stakeholders, the employees.
Knowledge of employment laws and regulations
During and by the end of your human resources degree, you will be equipped with knowledge of employment laws and regulations. These laws may be external (by the state) or be organization-specific. Knowing these laws and regulations will assist an HR professional in navigating employee conflicts and problems.
Strategic thinking and planning
With your HR degree, you shall be trained to make long-term plans to achieve long-term goals. The degree enables you to identify issues, set objectives, allocate resources, communicate across teams, and envision your goals by strategizing and planning.
Employee recruitment is one of the most technical and time-consuming processes, with involvement from various angles such as financial resources.
Adaptability
Considering the non-stop technological advancements that are changing the world of corporate and business management, it is without a doubt that you may need to adapt to various types of situations and environments.
As a result, an HR degree will walk you through the various advancements and changes that have occurred around the world of HR, and make you more flexible and adaptive to these changes.
Leadership skills
Since there is a lot of problem-solving and employee handling, HR also teaches your leadership skills. It allows you to explore the most effective ways of handling a crowd during organizational training.
Therefore, as an HR professional, you also require the skill and the art to reject potential candidates most humanely. This helps develop empathy — a crucial skill for a leader.
Which colleges offer the best bachelor’s degrees in human resources?
If the skills and competencies, along with the job outlook for an HR degree amuses you, you must start looking into further options. Equally important, don’t forget that the quality of education varies from one college to another.
So, before you make the final decision, do your thorough research and explore the various colleges offering human resources degrees.
You can find colleges in Texas, Maryland, and colleges in Illinois for an HR degree. Most impressively, a few great colleges in Hawaii also offer excellent undergraduate programs for HR.
Here is a list of top colleges offering bachelor’s in Business Administration, with a focus on or majors in human resources.
Alfred State College, SUNY
Alfred State College, SUNY, is one of the easiest colleges in New York to get admission to if you wish to pursue a degree in human resources. The college has an average GPA requirement of just 3.0, with an 89% acceptance rate.
Moreover, it guarantees a lively campus life with its more than 40 sports teams, multiple fraternities, and several student organizations.
Additionally, at Alfred, you can opt for the human resources major with your Business Management program. The major will cover all important aspects of HR. In short, enough to equip you with the necessary skills and capabilities for pursuing a career in the field.
Anderson University
At Anderson University, you can enroll yourself in its B.S. in Business: Human Resources Management program. It offers valuable learning experiences that have allowed its past alumni to enjoy prestigious professions and jobs in industries including government and nonprofit, private corporate jobs, and business management.
The human resources degree program’s concentration areas include multiple options, so you can choose the one that aligns with your career goals. Precisely, the options include Organizational Development, Compensation Management, Employment and Labor Laws, and Organizational Psychology, among many more.
The college has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1, which ensures individual attention and a personalized education experience.
Auburn University, Montgomery
At Auburn University, Montgomery, you can enroll in its BS of Business Administration program with a specialization in human resource Management. The specialization allows you to work hands-on with real-life and practical case studies that help improve ethical problem-solving skills.
In addition to that, the department is led by qualified and well-accomplished faculty members who lead students into bright futures. With the skills and knowledge provided at the college’s bachelor’s in human resources, the degree completion requires you to join and complete an internship program as well. This ensures a great start for your HR career path.
Lastly, the college has over 84 sports teams, with multiple fraternities and several types of housing options. So, if you plan on living on-campus or are an out-of-state resident, you can definitely explore campus life at AUM.
Ball State University
Ball State University, or BSU, offers the HR major in Business and Management program from the Miller College of Business. The program focuses on training you with a core understanding of HR’s key functions and responsibilities. It is a popular college in Indiana.
Consequently, it teaches you to make an impact on an organization and strategies to maintain employee motivation and engagement.
BSU has an acceptance rate of 69% and an average GPA requirement of 3.6. It has a low student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1, which is great if you wish to enjoy more class participation and individual attention.
In addition to that, the campus life at BSU is also notable. Furthermore, it hosts various events and festivities all year round. It offers multiple housing options, including coed and separate dorm rooms, as well as special housing options for disabled students.
Can I get an HR degree online?
HR has been one of the most popular and successful career choices for people for a long time. Education institutes now realize the importance of specialized degrees for human resources that focus on this aspect of business management.
While numerous colleges are offering HRM degrees, more and more education institutes are now willing to offer these programs online. Particularly, after COVID-19, online and virtual education has become a huge hit amongst students, faculties, and colleges.
Therefore, reputable institutes are now offering human resources degrees online, with the same accreditation and quality one receives from an on-campus degree.
So, suppose you have geographical, financial, or physical limitations that keep you locked away from on-campus HR degrees. In that case, you should definitely check out the following list of human resource degrees online.
Colleges offering HR degrees online
Explore some of the most reputable colleges that offer an HR degree online:
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)
Southern New Hampshire University or SNHU offers a Bachelor of Science in human resources Management. You can choose to take this human resource degree online at your convenience and enjoy immense flexibility during your academic career.
The program focuses a lot on teaching technological implementations in HR, and data analysis. It helps students develop a skill for cultivating a healthy work environment. The degree also teaches some foundational courses for business management that go beyond just the human resources aspect. This allows students to get a holistic understanding of businesses.
Lastly, the college has an average GPA requirement of 3.1, and an acceptance rate of 89%.
Western Governors University (WGU)
The human resources degree at Western Governors University or WGU is the best program for students who are working full-time jobs. The program is completely online, so you can take the courses from anywhere at any time. Typically, as per WGU, students complete all the course material and a Capstone project within 3 years instead of 4.
Some of the skills that you may gain from the online degree are time management, detail orientation, HRIS, problem-solving, and talent acquisition. Additionally, the program includes 41 courses, with some of the courses focusing on Business Administration.
The college has an average GPA requirement of 2.0 or higher, and an acceptance rate of 100%!
Capella University
At Capella University, you can opt for the BS in Business, human resources major, completely online. The online degree is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers multiple financial aid programs.
The program is supported by qualified and excelling faculty members. It offers academic coaches and enrollment counselors who make sure that the students make the right academic decisions.
The best part about the program is that all its assessments and coursework are based on real-life examples and situations. Resultantly, students gain hands-on experience and learnings that they can implement in their professional careers.
The college has an average GPA requirement of 2.8, and an acceptance rate of 100%.
What are the core courses and curriculum in the human resources degree?
The human resources degree usually consists of some standard courses that you might find in most programs and colleges.
You might also find many courses overlapping with other majors and disciplines. For example, to be a criminologist, you must study courses related to employees’ laws and regulations.
To help you understand what an HR degree offers, and what you will be learning during the 4-year undergraduate HR program, here are the most important core courses included in the HR curriculum.
Introduction To Human Resources Management
All bachelor’s in Human Resources programs offer an introductory course that walks you through the basics of the subject.
Employment Law
The course explores the legal compulsions, laws, and company-wide rules that govern an employee-employer relationship.
Organizational Behavior
It explains various ways employees may be kept motivated, engaged, and invested in the organization. As a result, they make the company achieve its goals and objectives.
Compensation And Benefits
This course looks into aspects such as salary, additional perks, leave entitlement, medical insurance, and more. Additional perks such as car allowances, advance pay, annual bonuses, and other such benefits are also included in this.
Recruitment And Selection
This is a solid course needed for any human resources management degree, as it covers the most crucial aspect of HR which is recruitment.
Training And Development
HR degrees touch upon the various aspects of employee management. To be clear, these areas also involve training and development. Consequently, employees can upskill for the betterment of the company, as well achieve self-fulfillment, and stay motivated on the job.
Performance Management
This course touches upon the importance of setting KPIs, how to manage them, and strategies to improve employee performance.
HR Information Systems
HRIS is software used by companies to fulfill HR-related duties and responsibilities.
What are the human resources degree jobs and career paths?
Undoubtedly, HR is one department that you will find in every organization, of every scale, every nature, and every industry.
Resultantly, career opportunities with an HR degree are diverse, and not limited to just one industry.
Some of the job roles and their descriptions that HR graduates can get are:
| Job Role/Title | Job Description |
| Compensation and Benefits Analyst | Plan, design, and implement compensation and benefits framework for existing and future employees. |
| Employee Relations Specialist | Work closely on employee conflicts and ensure conflict resolution, problem-solving, and long-term solutions to ensure employee well-being. |
| HR Consultant | An expert offering advice and expertise to organizations to solve their HR-related shortcomings. |
| HR Generalist | Handle a wide range of HR tasks, including recruitment, employee relations, training, performance management, and compliance. |
| HRIS Specialist/HR Systems Analyst | The role requires a thorough understanding of HR-specific software and IT systems that aid in the completion of HR tasks and responsibilities. |
| Recruitment Specialist/Recruiter | Screen, shortlist, and recruit the best candidates for the job by using various techniques and strategies. |
| Talent Acquisition Manager | Oversee recruitment efforts and develop strategies to hire and retain top talent. |
| Training and Development Specialist | Plan, design, and organize training and development opportunities for existing employees for skill development and motivation. Training programs may be related to specific skills required for the job or general. |
Tips for success in a bachelor’s in human resources program
Since you have set your eyes on an HR degree, it is important that we reflect quickly on some important tips for having an enjoyable and successful time during your human resources degree program.
Time management
Firstly, during your bachelor’s in human resources, it might be crucial for you to start working on your time management skills. From handling coursework to your assessments to managing a healthy campus life, you must be good at time management to be successful.
Ask questions
Secondly, during your classes, make sure you are sitting fully invested and are participating. Ask questions and be curious. Don’t shy away from digging into deeper details.
Learn from experts
All industries have some experts that are doing the most phenomenal work. So, explore various platforms like LinkedIn and other channels to keep up with the industry experts and observe what they do and how.
Networking
Make sure you are networking with your batch mates, seniors, and alumni. This network will come in handy when you are soon looking for human resources degree jobs.
Consider further education
Further education like a master’s in HR always opens new doors to great career opportunities. It helps you polish existing skills, expand your knowledge base, and become more specialized in a particular field. There are many colleges across the nation that offer feasible programs for higher education, such as a master’s or doctoral degree. You should definitely look into the colleges in Colorado, and some colleges in Arkansas.
Look for practical work opportunities
Get a head start on your career and human resources degree jobs by starting work during your bachelor’s degree instead of after.
Participate in student clubs and organizations
Don’t miss out on your campus life, and participate in student organizations and events. These events offer a chance for networking as well as showcasing your skills such as time management and event management.
What are the challenges in HR?
Like every field, human resources is also not free from some challenges that students and professionals may face. However, anybody willing to put up with the challenges should opt for an HR degree.
Managing organizational change
Organizational changes are sometimes unforeseen and quite major. For example, mergers often require organizations to restructure their hierarchy of employees, sometimes even leading to layoffs and mass terminations.
During such organizational changes, HR plays a crucial role in streamlining the change. In fact, it is responsible for communicating the changes and handling all employee-related tasks such as documentation and morale management.
Keeping up with legal changes
Since the laws and regulations around employee rights are evolving, HR professionals must be aligned with the latest changes. After the pandemic, the increasing popularity of remote work is one of the many factors contributing to the ever-evolving and improving legal and regulatory changes.
Managing employee relations issues
As discussed earlier as well, HR is in charge of bridging the gaps between an employee and an employer, or team manager. HR conveys messages, open channels of communication, and must have a good listening ear.
However, managing employee relations issues is not easy. Essentially, you must propose a non-biased, legally compliant, strategic, and the most efficient solution to the issues.
Recruitment and onboarding of new employees
Once the employees are screened, interviewed, and selected, HR must ensure a smooth and quick onboarding process.
A lot of HR professionals often take a lot of time to get back to the candidates, which makes the onboarding process really complicated. This reflects poorly on the company’s HR, wastes time, and often leads to the employee leaving before they even join.
Retention of existing employees
As we discussed above as well, the onboarding process is one of the many contributors to employee retention. While recruiting may not be as tough, retaining an employee is a big challenge. HR needs to consistently make sure the employee is motivated, is given good development opportunities, and is satisfied with the compensation and benefits.
Managing diversity and inclusion in this day and age
There is a huge shift in focus towards ensuring and fostering a work culture that welcomes and accommodates inclusion. This inclusion may be towards, but not limited to, people of color, specially-abled individuals, and so on.
Since HR is primarily in charge of fostering a good work culture, inclusion, and diversity are a huge responsibility. HR must be politically correct, and have a good sense of social issues in order to bring inclusion in the workplace. For example, hiring from a pool of diverse candidates is one way of ensuring inclusion in the workplace.
Managing remote work and flexible work arrangements
In 2023, research and studies suggest that on-site job postings declined by 14% in 2023, with an increase in remote or hybrid jobs.
With the increase in remote work and flexible arrangements, HR faces challenges with a workforce that is majorly working remotely. A flexible work arrangement means that the workforce may or may not work from the office at their convenience.
In this regard, HR professionals find it difficult to maintain the interactivity and engagement of employees in teams. HR also struggles to keep track of employee behaviors and performance.
Flexible or remote work arrangements also require HR to start working on new policies to accommodate the changing work situations.
Resources for HR students and professionals
You don’t need to step out or browse through an immensely large library to find the latest news and updates. If you are truly invested in HR, you must explore some great platforms and resources available online.
Having many questions, confusion, and a hunger for all the information about human resources is natural.
While you are pursuing a bachelor’s in human resources, make sure to explore some of these resources as well:
Bamboo HR
Find the best guides, reviews, and long-form content from the Bamboo HR blog. It is also a popular tool used by HR departments.
HR Bartender
Keep up with the latest news and industry trends. It is engaging and aligns with the changes in the HR landscape.
Podcasts
Explore podcasts of HR and business management professionals to get expert opinions on professional issues.
Books by CEOs and HR experts
Some great books come from HR experts while others come from business owners and board members. They share with us the insights of world-famous businesses.
“The only way a company can grow, stay true to its soul, and remain consistently successful is to attract, hire, and keep great people.”
Quote by Danny Meyer, CEO of Shake Shack in his book “Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business”
Make your future look bright with a human resources degree!
To sum up, with the right choice of college and a college degree, you can make sure your future looks bright and stable. You need to walk yourself through some important considerations before you make any such big decisions.
For example, those who want to pursue a human resources degree must have adequate skills that will make the HR degree a good fit for you. Time management, socializing, problem-solving, and strategic planning are some skills for starters.
On the other hand, if you wish to work full-time while pursuing your education, then a human resource degree online might be the right fit for you.
However, the college you enroll in for a human resource management degree also matters. The ideal colleges for HR degrees offer a good campus life, and housing options. In addition, they must have a high acceptance rate and good faculty members.
You can find a great range of colleges in the following states for a degree in HR:
According to BLS and many other resources, the future of HR employment looks great. In short, an HRM degree could lead you to a diverse pool of jobs and career pathways. These may include Recruitment, HR consultancy, and much more.