WHAT IS AN ONLINE HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE?
Online human resources degree programs focus on a business’ most important asset: its workers. You could learn the ropes of how to find, retain, and help to develop employees. You could also study work place ethics, employee benefits, and ways to communicate.
HR managers serve as a link between business leaders and employees. Programs in this field cover what matters to workers like pay and rewards. And, they cover areas that concern business leadership like hiring new talent.
HR programs also explore what to do when times get tough. That includes things like change in management and handling work place disputes. You could learn how to put policies in place that help prevent and resolve conflict. And, you’ll learn how to make the work place more positive for all.
TYPES OF ONLINE HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE PROGRAMS
Bachelor of Human Resources and Organizational Leadership
This program covers the theory of both HR and leadership. So, you could prepare for diverse roles across different companies and industries.
Course Examples:
- Intro to HR
- Strategic HR
- Instructional Design
Master of Human Resource Management
At the Master’s level, you’ll take a more detailed look at HR – including theory and practice. Expect to explore present day topics, like HR technology and diversity.
Course Examples:
- Labor Relations
- Employment Law
- Legal Issues in HR Management
MBA in Human Resources
The MBA program covers the general business and management theory. In the HR focus, you’ll drill down on topics like how to recruit, hire, and train.
Course Examples:
- Business Communications
- Training and Development
- Strategic Reward Systems
HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE ONLINE PROGRAMS
Bachelor’s, Master’s, and MBA in HR programs are all mostly found online. You could even earn a PhD or DBA in Human Resources in an online format.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
Bachelor’s in Human Resources programs offer an overview of HR and how it impacts business. So, you could study things from marketing to labor law and employee training. And, most programs require gen ed credits like English and math.
Bachelor’s in human resources programs include courses like:
- Business communications – like writing, public speaking, and media
- Laws and ethics related to HR, including diversity and inclusion
- Software used in business and human resources
- Social psychology and behavior in the work place
MASTER’S AND MBA DEGREES
At the master’s level, expect to delve deeper into HR theory and practice. A Master of Human Resources program may focus on present day issues in HR. For example, you could study labor relations, diversity, and employee rewards. Some programs require candidates to have work experience. This may help you apply HR theory to real world issues. You could even solve problems in your current work place!
Common programs include:
- Master of Science in Human Resources – May focus on technical and career based subjects
- Master of Arts in Human Resources – May include more liberal arts courses
Or, think about going for your MBA (Master of Business Administration) with a focus in Human Resources. MBA programs feature a core of business courses. So, you’ll build wider knowledge of the business world, in addition to a focus on HR. This could help you understand the bigger picture of managing human capital in a company.
Human resources master’s programs include courses like:
- Compensation and Benefits
- Labor Law
- Leading Change
- Recruitment and Staffing
- Ethics in Human Resources
PH.D. AND DBA DEGREES
Online PhD and DBA programs in HR focus on research and leadership practices. You may study areas like organizational behavior, labor relations, and even public policy. Usually, you’ll have to research and write a dissertation to earn the degree.
Common programs include:
- PhD in HR – A Ph.D. is a research degree. So, a Ph.D. in HR will likely focus on being able to contribute to the field’s body of knowledge. This type of program may suit you if you’re interested in an academic career path.
- DBA in HR – A DBA is a professional doctorate degree. This type of program may focus on the practice of human resources, and its role in a company. So, you may use applied research to solve many HR problems.
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Southern New Hampshire University
- Take advantage of some of the nation’s most affordable tuition rates, while earning a degree from a private, nonprofit, NEASC accredited university
- Qualified students with 2.5 GPA and up may receive up to $20K in grants & scholarships
- Multiple term start dates throughout the year. 24/7 online classroom access.
Popular Programs
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University of Arizona Global Campus
- 99% of University of Arizona Global Campus students study online
- University of Arizona Global Campus offers affordable tuition, so college is accessible to many students.
- he University of Arizona Global Campus (formerly Ashford University) is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Available Programs
Accounting and Finance, Information Technology, Political Science…
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Western Governors University
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WHAT DO HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE COURSES LOOK LIKE?
Many HR programs cover two sets of courses. Ones that relate to business basics. And others about human resources practices and concepts.
Business classes often look at federal rules and ways to communicate in the work place. They may also touch on finance, ethics and leadership. Things that develop your sense of how to manage people, projects and daily tasks.
Human resource classes may vary from one school to the next. But they all provide the concepts and skills that HR pros need to know to thrive in their career.
Some common courses include:
Intro to HR: Many programs begin with a broad overview of HR and the role it plays in business. This also frames the areas involved in human resources and how they interact.
Training and Development: Central to HR is to understand the training process. This is about helping to develop talent to fit a business’ goals. And, often delves into ways to design employee training programs.
Staffing and Recruitment: This type of class looks at the role of staffing. How it can support a business strategy and improve productivity. You are likely to also go over legal and compliance issues. Plus ways to select, recruit, and keep personnel.
Compensation and Benefits: In this kind of class, you tend to look at wage and pay systems. How to calculate base pay and pay increases for example. And, any compliance issues and laws that affect pay. Side topics tend to cover employee benefits. Like health care, paid time off, and retirement plans.
Employment Law: HR managers need to know a wide range of laws. So this class may provide an overview of key Acts. And labor laws about unfair practices. Like workplace safety. Side topics might also cover the ins and outs of contracts and negligent hiring.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO EARN A HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE?
An online Bachelor’s in Human Resources requires about 120 to 128 credits. It usually takes 4 years for full time students to earn the degree. Earning an online Master’s in HR calls for around 30 to 48 credits of course work. Full time students may earn the degree in about 2 years. Some faster paced programs take as few as 12 months.
Finally, online doctorate programs in HR may require 58 to 66 credits of course work. You may also have to research and write a dissertation. So, earning a PhD or DBA in HR can take between 2 and 4.5 years, or longer.
HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE PROGRAM EXAMPLES
| School | # of Credits Required | Start Dates | Minimum Months to Complete |
| Louisiana State U | 30 | Multiple | 10 |
| Lasell College | 30 | Multiple | 12 |
| U of Northern Colorado | 36 | 6 start dates per year | 12 |
THE AVERAGE COST OF AN ONLINE HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE PROGRAM
According to the most recent data, HR students paid a median in state public tuition of $8,038 per year. Out of state private tuition was $33,150 per year.
Many online schools charge by the credit. Compare cost per credit for these schools that offer HR programs.
| School | # of Credits Required | Cost Per Credit | Total Tuition Cost |
| Purdue University Global | 16 | $485 | $7,760 |
| U of Phoenix | 120 | $398 | $47,760 |
| Rutgers | 36 | $915 | $32,940 |
TOP SCHOOLS FOR HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE PROGRAMS
Last check, there were 354 schools that offer Human Resources Management programs. From those schools, 27,074 HR degrees were awarded to students. The majority of these were Bachelor’s degrees.
| School | 2022 Degrees awarded | 2023/24 Tuition (out of state unless *) |
| University of Phoenix Arizona | 1,566 | $9,552* |
| Webster University | 364 | $30,730* |
| Rutgers University New Brunswick | 601 | $36,001 |
| University of Oklahoma Norman Campus | 465 | $26,665 |
| University of Maryland Global Campus | 616 | $12,336 |
| Colorado State University Global | 846 | $8,400* |
| Cornell University | 379 | $66,014* |
| Capella University | 528 | $14,436* |
| Central Michigan University | 180 | $14,190* |
| Ashford University | 502 | $13,160* |
Estimated for full time, beginning undergrad students
CHOOSING A HUMAN RESOURCES DEGREE ONLINE ACCREDITED PROGRAM
Finding an accredited college or university should be your first step. Accredited schools meet certain standards that may matter to your future employers. It’s also important that your school is accredited if you hope to qualify for federal financial aid.
But what about program accreditation? Human Resources programs fall under the umbrella of Business. So, you may find HR programs that hold business program accreditation.
Some of these agencies include:
- The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs – ACBSP accredits business programs at the undergrad, Master’s, and doctoral levels. They base it on standards like leadership, curriculum, and student learning.
- International Accreditation Council for Business Education – IACBE accredits undergrad and graduate business programs. They measure standards of business education like quality and accountability.
Finally, some programs offer a curriculum aligned with the standards of SHRM. SHRM stands for the Society for Human Resource Management. It is the world’s largest HR professional society. SHRM doesn’t offer accreditation, but they award certification for human resources professionals. Employers may prefer candidates with certification from SHRM or similar places.
HUMAN RESOURCES CAREER PATHS AND POTENTIAL SALARIES
Job prospects for HR positions vary depending on the role but they range from growing as fast as any other occupation to growing faster than average according to BLS. Below you’ll find a guide to some of the more popular career paths that many HR graduates pursue. We’ve also listed the minimum education that is needed to enter the field along with salary (2022) and job outlook through 2032.