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2023 Best Online Human Resources Degrees Guide

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The department at a business or company that works diligently to recruit new employees, vet prospective employees, and select new employees is called the human resources department. People working in this field will be tasked with hiring employees and firing some as well. This will also work on promoting the business and training employees. Also, ensuring that employees are paid properly, explaining their benefits to them, and offering career development. Human Resources Degrees Guide discusses certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and PhDs in finance.

Human resource employees create contracts with independent contractors to get work accomplished. Directors within the department will handle contracts with insurance companies to provide benefits and compensation for their employees and will help resolve work-related issues of individual employees. They develop policies that can affect the overall working environment of a company.



Online Certificate In Human Resources

For people who enjoy a lot of variety and flexibility in their careers, human resources may be the career for them. Human resources, which is also referred to as talent management, ranks number 17 on the list of Best Business Jobs by U.S. News and World Report.

Is Human Resources A Good Career?

This career gets high marks for its job satisfaction and the potential for growth. Graduates with a degree in human resources as well as an online certificate are able to impact individuals. There is plenty of variety in this career for people who work in human resources. Human resources employees wear many different hats. They provide training for employees in securing benefits and compensation for employees. They hire and fire people within the company and assist employees with any issues that may arise.

There is plenty of flexibility for graduates who work in this field. This can include telecommuting and adjusting hours to be able to provide training. There is also plenty of potential for growth in this field. As a matter of fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a eight percent growth in employment when it comes to human resource specialists between the years of 2021 and 2031.

What Is A Certificate In Human Resources Used For?

There are many different types of certificate programs that graduates with a human resource degree can obtain to further their careers by being promoted at their current job or being able to secure a more advanced position. There are also certificate programs available for people who are employed in the human resource field and have experience in this area but do not yet have a degree but want to obtain more education within their field.

While obtaining a human resources certificate has never been a requirement for graduates to work within the human resources field, certification can definitely be valuable to an individual’s career in human resources, even for beginners in the field. Human resources certification can assist students in their understanding of the field overall, learning the latest practices within the field, and to be able to freshen up their resume to help them garner higher pay within their current job or to be able to advance within their career field.

According to Payscale.com, 34 percent of professionals in the human resources field had at least one certification under their belts. They were able to receive a higher level of career success more quickly than expected and received more promotions than other employees due to their certification.

How Do You Get A Certificate In Human Resources?

To receive a certificate in human resources, some programs require only a high school diploma, while others require students to have already completed a degree program in the Human Services field or work experience to be eligible to work towards a certificate.

Most colleges and universities offer human resource certificate programs and many of those programs are offered fully online. This is very convenient for students who work full or part-time jobs or have family obligations to tend to, since it will allow them the flexibility they need.

Students can obtain a variety of different certifications, including human resource management certification, senior certified professional, certified professional, or professional and Human Services certification, along with several others.

Online Associates In Human Resources

What Is An AA In Human Resources?

In general, students can obtain an associate in arts degree which focuses more on the liberal arts side of human resources, or an associate in science degree which tends to focus more on the scientific and mathematical side of the human resources field. The associate degree in human resources program normally takes four semesters to complete, but that time can be condensed with an online program from two years to about 18 months. An associate’s degree in human resources will set students up to work in the field of human resources right away or to continue their education by earning their bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and even doctorate if they so choose.

Graduates in the human resources field can work in a variety of settings, such as commercial, government, education, or legal, and can take on a variety of different responsibilities. Human resources specialists can secure a medium salary of around $60,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Is It Hard To Get Into A Human Resource Career?

The field of human resources is rapidly growing and new positions are opening up all the time. Graduates with an associate-level degree in Human Services will be able to enter into this exciting field in a variety of different entry-level positions. To increase their chances of obtaining positions within the human resources field, graduates can further their education and beef up their resumes with online certificate programs in a variety of different subjects within the human resources field.

While working in entry-level positions, graduates will be able to network with different professionals within the human resources industry and to obtain the work experience they need to advance their careers. They can also utilize their associate degree in human resources to further their education to obtain a bachelor’s degree or beyond, which will help them secure a higher salary and can help them advance in their careers.

What Jobs Can You Get With An Associate Degree In Human Resources?

By obtaining an associate’s degree in human resources, graduates will be prepared for an array of different entry-level job opportunities in the human resources field, which is growing rapidly. Graduates can garner positions in the human resources field of training, recruiting, administration, or benefits management.

Graduates with an associate degree can participate in the recruitment of new employees for the company in which they work while also writing job descriptions, posting job listings, participating in job fairs, administering assessment tests to prospective employees, conducting job interviews, collecting data for employees and managing that data, and even answering questions from current and prospective employees about company policies and benefits.

With an associate degree in human resources, graduates can apply to become human resources assistants, human resources generalists, personnel recruiters, or even staffing specialists. With this type of degree, they can expect to make around $50,000 per hour starting out, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Is An Associate’s Degree In Human Resources Worth It?

Yes, an associate’s degree in human resources is definitely worth it for students who are interested in this exciting field. To earn their associate degree in human resources, students will be required to enroll in a variety of general education courses as well as introductory coursework that is related to the human resources field. Normally, associate degree programs take 18 months to two years to complete, but with the growing trend of completing degrees online, students can finish their degrees in less time, depending on how fast they work through the required classes.

While an associate’s degree will not have the same power as a bachelor’s degree in human resources would, it is definitely a great start. Prospective human resource professionals can spend a lot of their time learning the industry while working in the field and earning a paycheck. This type of hands-on experience is very valuable for graduates who want to make the human resources field their career.

There are a variety of entry-level jobs that candidates who possess an associate degree in human resources will qualify for after they graduate. According to glassdoor.com, the average salary of a human resource associate is around $52,759 per year. When looking at the fact that high school graduates entering into the field with no degree only make around $25,000 per year, it makes sense that obtaining an associate degree is definitely worth it.

Online Bachelors In Human Resources

How Do I Get A Bachelor’s In Human Resources?

Students who are interested in a career in the human resources field can take a bachelor’s degree program that is offered by most colleges and universities throughout the United States. Those who already have earned an associate’s degree in human resources can possibly enter into a more accelerated program since many of their credits will transfer to their bachelor’s degree.

Students who opt to take a bachelor’s degree program fully online can also get it done quicker since they can work at their own pace and possibly shorten the normal for your program down to only taking about 18 months to two years to complete. Professionals who are already working in the human resources field may also be able to test out of some of the courses or get credit for them due to the work experience that they already have under their belts.

Human resources is a very quickly growing field and graduates with a bachelor’s degree can make a very good income to support themselves and their families. Human resources is a very rewarding field since graduates can work with employees to make their work environment better which can improve their quality of life overall.

Is Bachelor In Human Resources Worth It?

A bachelor’s degree in human resources is definitely worth it since, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, these types of jobs are set to grow by at least seven percent over the next decade, which is faster than the average for all other occupations.

There are many different human resources careers that graduates can apply for after they obtain their bachelor’s degree. Some of those include training and development specialist, human resources specialist, Labor Relations specialist, human resources manager, and compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialist.

By studying human resources for a bachelor’s degree, students will be prepared to enter into a job in which they can support a company’s most important asset, which is its employees. Graduates will have knowledge of human relationships and how they work as well as cognition and motivation that can help them to train, recruit, develop, and encourage employees, which is very important to the success of a company or even a government agency or medical facility. Graduates will also be able to effectively settle conflicts that arise within the workplace.

What Can I Do With A Bachelor’s In Human Resources?

For students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree in human resources, there are many possibilities when it comes to job prospects. These positions will allow students to utilize their degree in the knowledge they gained from their college experience, which will help them to build quality relationships with the employees that they work with and allow them to use their problem-solving skills to help the company they work for thrive and flourish.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in human resources can obtain a job as a human resources assistant for which they will make around $16.26 per hour. Some of the main duties in this position are to work alongside a human resource manager or specialist to help keep the department running properly and efficiently. Students who like the math side of their education can garner a national average salary of around $20 an hour as a payroll specialist. They will process timesheets that have been submitted by managers and employees so they can get paid.

Graduates can also obtain a job as office managers making a little over $40,000 a year. This position will allow them to complete administrative tasks to help the office in which they work run smoothly and efficiently. They will be responsible for scheduling meetings and important events as well as managing payroll for employees along with the office budget. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree can also work as training coordinators, making around $50,000 a year. In this position, the graduate will be responsible for creating structure and goals for employees to facilitate a positive working environment and to achieve the company’s goals overall.

Working as a recruiter making around $55,000 annually is also an option for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in human resources. Students will also have the opportunity to work towards a career as a human resources specialist in which they will make about $55,000 per year while they work at building new and improved human resources policies for the company that they are hired to work for along with creating very strong employee engagement and training programs, keeping track of the budgets of each department within the company, in conducting quarterly and annual performance reviews for employees.

The position of human resource manager will garner a salary of well over $70,000 per year and allow graduates to utilize their skills to build strategies that will engage both employees and their managers to build quality team working skills and address any issues employees may be having on their jobs. They will also manage the overall employee recruitment process and build salary and benefits programs for their employees.

Is Human Resources A Stressful Job?

While many people consider their job to be very stressful, some jobs have more stress associated with them than others. A job in the Human Services field can bring a lot of stress along with it, since there are many different duties to handle on a daily basis. Human resource managers normally have an array of different projects to juggle and balance with tight deadlines that can contribute to their overall stress level..

While this can be a stressful field, it is also a very rewarding one. Human resource managers and specialists get to work with companies to ensure their employees have a great working environment and are paid appropriately for their work.

Online Masters In Human Resources

Is A Master’s In Human Resources Hard?

A master’s degree in human resources will provide students with the in-depth training they need to be successful in this growing field. The knowledge they obtain within their degree program will help prepare them to be able to develop new policies in their role as a Human Services manager or specialist while also developing a key role in business decisions for the company while also working in a positive way with the company’s workforce to facilitate a productive and successful working environment.

A master’s degree program that is done fully online can be completed in about 18 months or less. Most students who enroll in a master’s degree in human resources program have already been working in the field for some amount of time, so the program should not be as difficult for them since they have the work and life experience necessary to be successful throughout the completion of this degree program.

Do I Need GRE For A Master’s In Human Resources?

GRE, which stands for the Graduate Record Exam, is a very common admission requirement that is implemented by colleges and universities for a variety of master’s degree programs. This can include a master’s degree program in human resources at certain colleges and universities since not all of them require this exam to be taken before someone can be admitted into the program. The test is designed to allow universities in college to rank students on a more level playing field since they will come from different schools and with backgrounds of education and work experience.

To determine if you will need to take this exam before entering into a master’s degree program, you need to check to see what the specific criteria are for entry by the college or university you are interested in attending.

How Do I Prepare For A Master’s In Human Resources?

To prepare for a master’s degree in human resources, it will more than likely be required that you already possess a bachelor’s degree in human resources before you can apply for the master’s degree program. Some colleges and universities may offer credit for work experience in the field of human resources, but it is helpful if you already hold a four-year degree before furthering your education. Some students even hold two degrees by this point if they began with an associate’s degree in human resources and then continue their education to obtain their bachelor’s degree before enrolling in a master’s degree in human resources program.

During a master’s degree in human resources program, students will obtain the knowledge and skills that are required for a variety of human resources roles, such as strategic workforce planning, employee contact and development, and employee engagement strategies, along with several others. Students will also have the option to pick a specialty within the field of human resources from six different concentrations that were developed after an in-depth analysis of the current trends that are happening, as well as future predictions, within the human resources field.

What Field Of Human Resources Pays The Most?

There are several high-paying jobs within the human resources field, such as labor relations specialist. This position pays about $84,000 annually and allows the graduate to work as a liaison between a company and the labor unions that employees belong to. This position is very important to companies that have unions in place. Graduates will be able to utilize their interpersonal, communication, and even negotiation skills while working in this position.

Graduates can also garner a position as a training and development manager, making about $88,000 per year. This position will allow graduates to be responsible for helping with the career development of employees within the company they work for while also conducting orientation and trainings for new employees as well as current employees.

Working as a compensation and benefits manager at a salary of about $95,000 per year is also an option for graduates with a master’s degree in human resources. The role of this position is to handle the compensation and benefits for employees while not placing any undue financial strain on the company. Graduates can also work as human resources managers, making around $96,000 per year. In this position, responsibilities include the operation of the entire human resources department as well as overseeing staffing issues, conducting training for employees, facilitating Labor Relations between management and employees, and securing benefits and compensation for employees.

The highest paying position in the field of human resources is vice president of human resources. This position will garner graduates an annual salary of over $200,000 per year. This position is referred to as the chief human resources officer and is the highest human resources position within a company. The CEO oversees all of the human resources functions for the company for which they work.

Online Doctorate In Human Resources

What Is A Doctorate In Human Resources?

Human resources is a great career choice and there are positions available at all of the different degree levels, including a doctorate in human resources. Most jobs in the human resources field require only a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree, but a doctorate degree in human resources is needed for roles in areas, such as higher education, organizational development, consulting, and research.

A doctorate degree in human resources is focused mainly on the research side of the field and students will create and then publish their own research in the field. Graduates will work to implement policies that can provide administrative support for companies, government agencies, and organizations in an array of different ways. Graduates will also be able to recruit, screen, and even provide new employee orientation and assist employees when it comes to their pay, benefits, and insurance options for health care.

With a doctorate degree, graduates can conduct the research that is needed to effectively train employees and to implement new policies that will help the company or organization as well as the employees who keep the place running. Graduates with a doctorate degree can also develop the best practices for a company or other agency or ensure a safe workplace for employees and management teams while working on the best methods to mediate disputes that arise between employees or employees and management.

Many careers in the human resources field, such as human resources specialists, managers, and even compensation and benefits managers, require at least a bachelor’s degree and some even require a master’s level degree. With a doctorate degree, students can specialize in certain areas of the human resources field that will combine research, strategy, and leadership to assist companies and agencies in implementing policies and procedures that are best for everyone.

How Long Does a Doctorate In Human Resources Take?

For students who take the traditional route of attending classes in person at a brick-and-mortar college or university for their doctorate degree, it can take four to five years to complete the program. Most doctorate degree in human resources programs requires that students complete between 58 and 66 credit hours to earn their degree.

Most full-time students can finish their degree in four and a half years and online students can sometimes finish it even faster. Students who complete their coursework online can work at their own pace which means they can work ahead in several of their classes.

This can mean that they can finish the degree program in as little as 18 months to two years if they have enough extra time to dedicate to it. Online degree programs are a lifesaver for many students who need to continue working either full or part-time jobs as well as students who have other responsibilities, including taking care of their children. Some doctorate programs will require a dissertation to be done at the end of the coursework to ensure the student fully understands everything they learned within the doctorate program. Not all doctorate degree programs require a dissertation, though.

Is It Worth Getting A Doctorate In Human Resources?

A doctoral degree in human resources is definitely worth the time, hard work, and dedication it takes to complete the doctorate level program since it allows students to specialize in the human resources field with special concentrations in the areas in which they are most interested. After students graduate, they will have an even larger variety of upper-level management and leadership positions to apply for with higher rates of pay.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a doctorate degree in Human Resources is very helpful for graduates who want to eventually do consulting work, secure writing or teaching positions, or even for those who want to start their own human resources related company and be their own boss. It is predicted that the job growth outlook between the years 2019 and 2029 for human resources managers as well as for post-secondary teachers is between six and nine percent per year. For students who want to eventually teach at the college level as professors in the human resources field, a doctorate degree in human resources is a great idea and will net them a salary of about $72,000 per year.

Some doctorate programs combine human resources coursework with related studies, such as Labor Relations, industrial relations, labor laws, and organizational behavior. This will allow students to gain a broader understanding and scope of the entire field in areas that also affect employees and companies alike.

What Can You Do With A PhD In Human Resources? 

Many people who are already working in the human resources field and already hold degrees in this area continue their education to earn a doctorate degree because they want to continue to improve their career prospects as well as garner a lucrative salary and contribute to research and advancement within the human resources industry. A doctorate degree will give them an increased level of diversity, performance, and career stability.

Since the population throughout the United States is growing, this means there will be a larger workforce which in turn necessitates more human resource professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers throughout the United States are expected to add over 10,800 human resource manager positions and about 58,000 human resources specialists positions from 2021 through 2031.

Graduates with a doctorate degree in human resources can secure an array of different positions, such as compensation and benefits managers, labor relations specialists, human resources specialists, human resource manager positions, employee recruitment and staffing specialists, and training and development specialists positions. 

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