What Degree Do You Need for a Human Resources (HR) Career? (2024)

After graduating with your bachelor’s degree, it can be hard to know what your next step should be. Maybe you’ve got an HR job but you want to move up in the ranks of your current organization or want to diversify your role. A postgraduate degree might be your next big move.

The Best Degrees for a Career in HR

People within the HR field typically have an undergraduate degree in business, management, or even social sciences. But the options for advancing your career with a post-graduate degree are much more diverse. We break down two post-grad degrees to give insight into what might be the best option for you and your goals.

Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management

  • Timeline: 16-24 months
  • Learning outcomes: strategic resource planning, compensation design, employee rights and responsibilities, etc.

Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership

  • Timeline: 14-20 months
  • Learning outcomes: strategic decision-making and problem-solving within the political and cultural context of an organization, organizational systems and behavior, team building and communication skills, etc.
What Degree Do You Need for a Human Resources (HR) Career? (1)

Organizational Leadership vs. HR Degree

While both offer important learning outcomes to apply in an HR career, it’s important to discern what role you want to step into within HR.

A general master’s degree in organizational leadership can give you a diverse range of experiences and skills to apply in HR work. The broad outcomes and curriculum can be helpful to someone curious about the variety of opportunities available. In contrast, an HR degree focuses specifically on HR practices within the degree program.

Determining which degree you wish to pursue is impacted by whether you want to enter a specialized and specific role, or whether you have a wide range of career goals. While both can help you break into the HR world, what you want to do informs which degree to pursue.

Additional Education:

After getting a master’s degree, some supplement their post-grad education with professional certifications. These can add to your career trajectory by helping determine the type of HR work you want to do. Typically, HR professionals can choose between specialist and generalist roles.

__________
It’s never too late to start your journey.
Earn your M.A. in Organizational Leadership today.
__________

A generalist career path consists of jobs that involve all functions of human resources, while a specialist pathway encompasses jobs dedicated to a single function. The following are some common certifications HR professionals pursue.

SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)Professional in Human Resources (PHR)Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR)

The SHRM-CP allows applicants to demonstrate their proficiency with situational judgment and operational knowledge in the HR environment. The categories the certification covers are competencies (ethical practice, leadership and navigation, etc.), people, organization, and workplace. This is more of a general certification applicable in most positions.

The PHR, like the SHRM-CP, covers technical and operational aspects of HR management; however, it also includes U.S. laws and regulations. The topics include employee and labor relations, business management, talent planning and acquisition, and learning and development.

The GPHR focuses on applying HR operational knowledge in a global marketplace. This is more of a specialist certification that leads applicants to apply their HR knowledge specifically in the global marketplace setting. The topics of the exam include strategic HR, global talent management, global mobility, workplace culture, total rewards, and risk management and compliance.

What Degree Do You Need for a Human Resources (HR) Career? (2)

What Skills Do You Need to Work in HR?

In addition to skills gained through a master’s and certification program, some baseline important skills include:

  • Clear communication
  • Public speaking
  • Managing people and their schedules
  • Sensitivity to lived experiences with the company
  • Experience with HR tools and software
  • Servant leadership

How a Master's Degree Can Help You in Your HR Career

Although it's possible to pursue a career in HR without a master’s degree, the benefits are clear. It aids in your advancement and mobility up the ranks within your department. It also allows you to take on specialized roles if that’s an area you followed with a certification. With a master's degree, you will learn the organizational, strategic, management, analytical and communication skills needed to thrive in the role.

Higher-ranked jobs traditionally come with a higher salary. A master’s degree opens doors to moving up the ladder into higher-paying careers.

Masters-Degree Level HR Careers and Salary

A master’s degree can also provide an opportunity to enter into a higher-paying position. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the following on the wages of HR professionals in 2021.

  • Human resource specialists: median salary was $62,290 with a projected growth rate of 8% in the next 10 years.

  • Human resources managers:median salary was $126,230 with a projected growth rate of 7% in the next 10 years.

HR Careers and employment are growing.

Earn an Organizational Leadership Degree at PLNU

PLNU offers a Master's of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL) that will prepare you for stepping boldly into leadership at any level and organization. This program is catered for busy working individuals and offers two delivery options: online or in person. With your MAOL you’ll be set on the path to achieving your career goals.

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What Degree Do You Need for a Human Resources (HR) Career? (2024)

FAQs

What Degree Do You Need for a Human Resources (HR) Career? ›

You'll likely need at least a bachelor's degree if you want to land an entry-level job in human resources. “In most companies I have worked for, a 4-year degree is required to get a starting HR position—and then additional (education) to grow to senior levels,” said Rhett W.

What degree is best for HR? ›

The two most common types of master's degrees you can earn for an HR career are a master's in human resource management (MHRM) or a master's in business administration (MBA) with a focus on HR.

Can you do HR with any degree? ›

While there are a number of undergraduate HR programs available at U.S. colleges and universities, a bachelor's degree in a related subject – such as communications, business, industrial/organizational psychology, sociology and the social sciences – could also be applied to a career in human resources.

What qualifies you to be HR? ›

Human resources managers typically need a combination of a bachelor's degree and work experience. Candidates typically need a combination of education and several years of related work experience to become a human resources manager. Although most positions require a bachelor's degree, some require a master's degree.

Is human resources a hard major? ›

Is Human Resources an Easy Major? Some people consider it an easy major compared to more math and science-intensive field. But this degree path will force you to hone your problem-solving abilities and develop strategies for dealing with both information and people.

Which branch of HR pays the most? ›

The Highest Paying HR Jobs
  • Compensation and Benefits Director. ...
  • Human Resources Manager. ...
  • Training and Development Manager. ...
  • Administrative Services Manager. ...
  • Talent Acquisition Manager. ...
  • Compliance Manager. ...
  • Labor Relations Specialist. ...
  • Human Resources Consultant.

What is the lowest HR position? ›

14 Entry-level HR position titles and salaries
  • HR Intern. ...
  • HR Assistant. ...
  • HR Coordinator. ...
  • HR Associate. ...
  • Recruitment Coordinator. ...
  • Talent Acquisition Coordinator. ...
  • Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator. ...
  • Benefits Administrator.

How to start in HR with no experience? ›

How to start a career in HR with no experience
  1. Develop your communication skills. ...
  2. Write a tailored CV. ...
  3. Get a professional qualification. ...
  4. Pursue an HR internship. ...
  5. Grow your personal network. ...
  6. Seek out HR-related tasks. ...
  7. What's next?

Can you make a living as a HR? ›

Human resources professionals average a good salary of more than $100,000 a year, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). According to the BLS Occupational Handbook, an HR Manager with a B.S. Human Resources degree can expect a median annual salary of $126,230.

What credentials do you need to work in HR? ›

Three general paths will lead you to an entry-level position in human resources:
  • Completion of a four-year degree in HR.
  • Attainment of a four-year degree in a related field like business or I/O psychology, with HR certifications.
  • Years of experience working in an operational role that led to an HR transition.
Jul 1, 2024

Is HR a lot of math? ›

Human Resource Management (HRM) is not often associated with mathematics at first glance. However, in a modern strategic context, mathematical techniques are increasingly vital in optimizing HR processes, enhancing decision-making, and improving overall organizational performance.

Is a degree in HR worth it? ›

Are HR degrees worth it? Yes—if you're pursuing a career in human resources, HR degrees are definitely worth it. HR specialist and HR manager positions typically require a bachelor's degree at a minimum, with a master's preferred for some management positions.

What is a human resources degree called? ›

Others will call it a Bachelor of Arts in Management with a concentration in human resources. Some schools offer a bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, both as a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts. Still, others will refer to the academic path as earning a Bachelor of Organizational Management.

What degrees are equivalent to HR? ›

HR-related degrees may include but are not limited to the following: MA in Human Resource Management (HRM); MS in Human Resources (HR); MA or MS in Industrial and Organizational Psychology; MA in Management (MAM) with HR concentration; MBA with concentration in HRM; Organizational Leadership or Leadership Development ...

Is a bachelors degree in HR worth it? ›

Are HR degrees worth it? Yes—if you're pursuing a career in human resources, HR degrees are definitely worth it. HR specialist and HR manager positions typically require a bachelor's degree at a minimum, with a master's preferred for some management positions.

Which HR specialization is best? ›

5 types of human resources specializations
  1. Recruitment. Human resource professionals who pursue this specialization can show employers their expertise in sourcing quality talent for open company positions. ...
  2. Human resource managers. ...
  3. Training and development. ...
  4. Compensation and benefits. ...
  5. Financial management.

Is human resources a BA or BS? ›

A B.S. in human resources will typically be more focused on the core courses – mostly those involving mathematics and science. A B.A. is going to be more generalized in focus and include courses centered on psychology, humanities, and the arts.

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