Many colleges and universities offer on-campus and online human resources graduate degrees. When deciding between a master’s degree in HR or an MBA with a concentration in human resources students should realize that those with a master’s degree in HR have the edge for obtaining consulting jobs and HR specialist position.

Here is a list of graduate degrees in human resources:

• Human Resource Training & Development
• Human Resources Management
• Human Resources Development
• Master of Business Administration/Human Resources Management
• Human Resources Management: Human Resource and Organizational Development Concentration
• Human Capital Management
• Human Resources Management and Labor Relations: Labor Management Relations in the Public Sector
• Professional Studies: Human Resources Leadership
• Healthcare Human Resources
• Human Resources and Labor Relations

Human Resources MBA Program

The MBA in human resources typically covers corporate management and business strategy concepts, ethical leadership, organizational behavior and design, and human resources concepts and tools as they relate to general management. The human resources MBA provides students a broad set of business skills that can be used in other arenas besides HR.

Human Resources Masters Degree Program

Human resources master’s degree programs usually include studies of human resource subsystems, including compensation and benefits, legal issues in the workplace, and recruitment and training. The programs also cover leadership and strategic management concepts, organizational design, and organizational psychology. Master’s degree programs typically allow students to focus on a specific area of HR that is of interest to them.

Employment Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a 22% employment growth from 2008 to 2018 for the human resources field.

Characteristics of Top Programs

Top degree programs typically have high admissions standards for applicants. They employ top professors in human resources management who typically have a professional network of colleagues; As a result, these professors may be able to help graduates find jobs. Some top human resources programs offer extensive alumni networking opportunities which can also help land jobs for graduates.

Ph.D. Programs

Ph.D programs in human resources focus on the skills required to become a business partner, write, consult, or teach.

Graduate Certificate Programs

Graduate certificate programs in human resources cover fundamental principles of organizational behavior, basic legal frameworks involved in human resources, the scope of human resource management issues, and other specialized topics.

Human Resource Information Specialists

Human resource information systems specialists work with computerized records and are often in charge of managing them. They work with computer systems to track employee records and catalog individuals who are searching for jobs. They may create Intranet or online employee databases and provide software and hardware support. Some master’s degree programs offer classes in human resource information systems, and others give students the option to specialize in this area.

Answers to the following questions can help students choose the human resources master’s degree program that is the best fit for them:

• Curriculum: What topics are emphasized? Do they offer plenty of elective courses in your selected area of specialization?
• Instructors: Do the instructors have expertise in your area of specialization? Do they have real world experience in your specialty area? What is the reputation of the instructors in the human resources field? Do you have the opportunity to meet faculty members before you enroll in the program?
• Industry relationships: Do employers of human resources managers recruit students at the school? Does the program provide an internship? Does the school provide networking events?
• Online students: Does the program provide networking opportunities for online students via email and chat rooms?
• Career placement: Does the school offer career placement services? What percentage of graduates obtained a management position or a higher management position after acquiring their master’s degree?
• Alumni Networking: Does the program offer extensive alumni networking opportunities

If you’re considering going back to school for a graduate degree in the HR field, it would be wise to take this information into account. After all, it is a big decision, and you want to make sure you’re well informed.

Brian Jenkins has been writing about career and education topics, including career and degree options in human resources management, for BrainTrack since 2008.

   Send article as PDF