Online Human Resources Degrees

If you are a people person with a strong sense of organization and leadership, then the many online human resources degrees available may be worth considering. This degree path can help you jump into a fast-paced career in a number of different industries.

Through the course of your online degree program, you will learn vital leadership and administrative skills that give you the tools you need to help a company maintain employee compliance and satisfaction. Over the last several years, programs offering degrees online have become much more commonplace – allowing adult students greater flexibility in their education.

Whether you want to earn a degree to get a promotion at work or have aspirations of graduate school, an online degree in human resources is an excellent way to give yourself an edge in the competitive business world.

Online Human Resources Degrees

A bachelor’s degree in human resource management is a popular choice for students that are looking to earn a marketable degree to get them started in the business world. In addition to the HR skills learned throughout this course of study, you may also have the opportunity to specialize in a degree concentration.

The courses that you can expect to see within your online bachelor’s degree program may include:

• Management for organizations
• Organizational behavior
• Microeconomics
• Accounting and financing
• Business law
• Employee and labor relations

With the flexibility of online learning, you may even be able to finish your degree in less time than traditional students. By taking accelerated courses or utilizing your college’s credits through examination programs, you may be able to put yourself on the fast track to graduation and a well-paying career.

Throughout your online degree program, you will gain a variety of business-related skills that cover the following topics:

• Employee recruitment
• Interview and hiring procedures
• Critical thinking and problem-solving in the business setting
• Business ethics, regulations, and laws

With these advanced courses, you will be able to take on a leading role within a business’s HR department or even have the tools you need to pursue your own business endeavors.

Human Resources Careers & Salaries

Human resource professionals play a vital role within a business, and they are responsible for working directly with the workforce and handling all employee-related concerns.  There are several career positions within the field of human resources, and it is possible to work your way up the ladder to well-paying job opportunities.

For a glimpse into the various careers and annual median salaries available after earning an online degree in human resources, see the table below, which was curated based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

While each of these jobs has a mid-career salary that is higher than the national average across all occupations, you may make more or less depending on your specific skillset and experience. Please keep in mind that some employers look for a minimum of a bachelor’s degree to be considered for a few of these positions.

Human resources is an essential department in any business. Due to this, the career outlook is typically positive across the board for those looking to enter this field. According to the BLS, human resource specialists can expect to see a 8% occupational growth over the next 10 years. Additionally, human resource managers are projected to have a 7% growth during this same time frame.

With a positive job outlook and comfortable salary ranges, graduates from an online human resource degree program should have many opportunities to create a lucrative, fulfilling career within their field.

Human Resources Bachelor’s Curriculum & Courses

Your curriculum as part of an online human resource degree may vary, but here are some courses you may end up taking.

• Employment and Labor Law: You’ll learn about laws surrounding recruitment, termination, employment-at-will, and other areas of human resources.
• Agile HR: This class covers organizational and project management in human resources, including topics like change management and strategic prioritization.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: You’ll learn about different perspectives, theories, and laws surrounding diversity to help prepare you to promote inclusive workplaces.
• Training and Development in Organizations: This course shows students the fundamentals of training and development in case they want to train themselves or help manage training programs.
• Staffing: You’ll learn about hiring workflows, how to recruit employees, and how to assist with career transitions.
• Global Human Resources: This class dives into business management as it relates to human resources on a global level.
• Stress Management: You’ll learn about different stress management techniques that you can use to help train others in the workplace.
• Emotional and Cultural Intelligence: This course teaches students effective communication strategies and methods for enhancing their own personal awareness.
• Organizational Behavior: You’ll learn different techniques for organizational leadership, and work on practical problems that may show up in a real company.
• Compensation in Organizations: This class delves into different systems for compensation, including rewards, monetary, and nonmonetary systems, and the effect they have on employees’ motivation.

In addition to classes like these, you may get the opportunity to participate in internships or capstone projects when obtaining one of the various bachelors in human resources degrees online.

How to Know if an HR Degree Online is Right for Me

Choosing to enroll in an human resources bachelors degree online offers a number of unique advantages to adult students. Whether you are just out of high school or a professional looking to advance within the field, the flexibility of online learning is an excellent option to continue your education.

Beyond the benefit of flexible class scheduling, those earning an online degree in human resources find that there are several advantages to distance learning, including:

• The opportunity to specialize in a concentration within their human resources degree program
• Ability to continue working a full-time job while attending classes
• Possibility of graduating in a faster time frame than traditional students

For those looking to gain valuable skills in interpersonal communication, leadership, and business, an online degree program in human resources can put you on the fast track to making an impact in your new career.

Choosing a Human Resource Degree Online Program

The first thing that most students look at when choosing a college is the type of human resources bachelor degree online options offered by the institution. However, there are several factors that also need to be examined before making the decision to enroll in a school’s online degree program for human resources.

• Accreditation: Accreditation is an essential aspect of a reputable online accounting degree program. Check to see if your chosen school is accredited.
• Student-to-Faculty Ratio: When earning your degree in human resources, it pays to research the policies of your prospective colleges to ensure that their online classes are held to the same low student-to-faculty ratio as their traditional classes. By doing this, you can help ensure that you will have the individualized support needed to get the most out of your degree program.
• Academic Advising and Student Services: Many of the top schools offering online programs in human resources take the extra steps to ensure that their virtual students receive the same academic and student support as those who take courses on-campus.
• Cost: The cost of each program is also an important factor. Compare various programs to see which one fits your budget.
• Degrees Offered: Be sure to check with each school you are considering to ensure they offer your chosen degree program. Also, compare the various programs’ coursework to ensure the coursework fits with your desired career goals.

By doing your research beforehand, you can ensure that your degree will be respected by future employers within the workforce.

Human Resources Major Admissions Requirements

The admissions requirements for a human resource bachelor degree may vary, but here are a few typical ones.

• High school diploma
• High school transcripts
• SAT or ACT scores (only some schools require them)
• Personal essay

Some schools may accept completion of a two-year high school program, or a GED, in place of a high school diploma. Others may accept credits from an associates program, as long as they line up with the bachelor program classes.

Online HR Degrees Accreditation

Enrolling in an accredited college is a safety net for students that want to ensure that their degree is coming from an institution that is reputable and recognized within the business world.

By going through a voluntary review process by an accredited agency, a school is able to demonstrate that its course offerings are of the high quality expected by the student body. There are several regional agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in addition to the many national accrediting agencies.

If you need more information on the recognized accrediting agencies before committing to the college of your choice, take a look at the U.S. Department of Education’s website for a full list.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Before beginning a bachelor degree in human resources online, it’s a strategic move to investigate the financial aid options on the Federal Student Aid website. You’ll see different types of loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study programs available to qualifying students.

To help pay for your undergraduate degree, you may be interested in applying for a direct subsidized loan. Qualifying students do need to demonstrate financial need for these types of loans, but the U.S. Department of Education will pay the interest if certain qualifications are met.

You may also be able to apply for work-study programs, in which participating students earn at least the current federal minimum wage.

Human Resources Professional Organizations

As an undergraduate student getting an online human resources management degree, it can be helpful to join a professional organization. If you’re interested in exploring these types of organizations, check out three major ones below.

• International Public Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR)
• National Human Resources Association (NHRA)
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

You may get opportunities to meet other professionals in the field, who you can ask for advice or potentially informational interviews. It can also be helpful to establish connections that you can reach out to when job searching after graduation.

Is Human Resources a Good Career?

Yes, human resources is a good career for many professionals. If you’re a people person and want to spend your days working with people, you may love working in human resources. These professionals typically help hire new employees and help current ones succeed in their roles.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with an HR management degree, you may decide to pursue roles as a human resource specialist, compensation and benefits manager, labor relations specialist, or human resource manager.

What Does Human Resources Do?

Human resources employees typically handle what’s known as the human capital of a business or institution. This means they spend their time helping, managing, and analyzing the employees in all positions across an organization, from top executives to ground-level hires.

On a day-to-day basis, human resources professionals can do everything from recruit, hire, and train employees, to handle termination and violation issues. Some types of human resources professionals may also work with contracts, compensation, and benefits.

What Can You Do With a Human Resources Degree?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, graduates with a human resources degree may pursue a variety of roles that work with employees in an organization. These can include human resource specialists, human resource managers, and labor relations specialists.

Professionals in the field may also help with onboarding and training employees. These careers can include training and development managers and training and development specialists. Others may work in the payroll department as compensation and benefits managers.

What is a Human Resources Online Degree?

A human resources online degree is a credential that teaches students all aspects of human resources in an organization. Students may learn about compensation and benefits, hiring, training, terminating, organizational management, workplace ethics, and more.

These types of bachelor programs typically have a core curriculum where students take foundational classes in math, science, literature, and more. They usually also have specialized classes in human resources, and a capstone project or opportunities to apply to internships.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources Online?

The timeframe for completing a human resource management degree online varies based on your program’s semester length, your enrollment status, and other potential factors.

If you enroll in a typical, 16-week semester and attend school full-time, it generally takes four years to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. If you enroll in an 8-week semester, however, you may be able to finish in less time. Choosing to attend classes year-round, including during the summer, may also help you graduate from HR degrees online in less than four years.

What Are Some of the Highest Paying Human Resources Jobs?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, compensation and benefits managers are one of the highest-paying human resource jobs on the market, making an annual median salary of $127,530. Human resources managers are also highly paid, making $126,230.

Training and development managers can be lucrative careers at an annual median salary of $120,130, along with management analysts at $93,000. Labor relations specialists can also be well-paid at $77,010, as well as human resources specialists at $62,290.

Is a Bachelors in Human Resources Degree Worth It?

Yes, a bachelors in human resources degree is worth it for many students. If you enjoy working with people and making an impact on the course of peoples’ careers, you may love a job where you get to do just that.

Although your exact salary in any job is determined by a variety of factors, many jobs in the human resources field tend to be fairly well-paid. Compensation and benefits managers, human resource managers, and training and development managers may be lucrative career paths.

Universities Offering Online Bachelor in Human Resources Degree Programs

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.

Arizona State University offers a BA in Business with a concentration in Human Resources entirely online. The program requires 120 completed credits. Courses are 7.5 weeks long, with several start dates throughout the year. Potential courses in the curriculum include Compensation in Organizations and Training, Global Human Resources, and Development in Organizations.

Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

A BS in Human Resource Management is offered through Athens State University. ASU offers the program entirely online and on campus. The curriculum requires 124 credits, including a senior seminar and capstone project. The school may accept credit for prior learning. Potential courses include Organizational Behavior and Teambuilding and Management of Change.

Athens State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Avila University offers the opportunity to earn a BA in Human Resources through the school’s fully online program. Of the 120 required credits, up to 90 may be transferred. Courses are in an asynchronous format and are 8 weeks long. There are several start dates throughout the year.

Avila University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Bellevue University offers a Bachelor of Management of Human Resources. The program can be completed fully online or on campus, with courses planned around work schedules. Courses are 8 weeks long and follow a cohort design. Applicants must have an associate’s degree or 60 transferrable credits.

Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

U.S. News & World Report ranked Charleston Southern University’s BS in Human Resources among the best online HR programs in the country. The program requires 125 credits and may be completed in as few as 17 months, depending on transfer credits. The curriculum’s accelerated courses are taught through a Christian worldview.

Charleston Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Colorado State University offers a BS in Human Resource Management through the school’s Global online program. The program requires 120 credits. Courses are in an asynchronous learning format and are 8 weeks long. There are start dates each month. Specializations are available and include Emergency Management or Marketing.

Colorado State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Columbia College offers a BS in Human Resource Management that is available fully online or on campus. For completion, 120 credits are required. The school may accept up to 90 transfer credits. Online courses are in an accelerated 8 week format, with several start dates each year. The program teaches the fundamentals around compensation and benefits, recruitment, and diversity in organizations.

Columbia College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Concordia University – St. Paul offers a BS in Human Resource Management that is entirely online. Courses are 8 weeks long, with 6 start dates each year. The program requires 120 credits and may be completed in as few as 5 semesters, depending on transfer credits.

Concordia University – St. Paul is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Empire State University offers a BS in Human Resources Management. The curriculum is entirely online, and courses are in an asynchronous format with access to personal tutors. Courses follow a regular semester schedule. The program requires 124 credits and may offer credits for prior knowledge.

Empire State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Faulkner University offers a BS in Human Resource Management for adult learners. Applicants must be at least 23 years of age and meet general education requirements before applying. The program is offered on an accelerated schedule, with 6 modules that are 7 weeks long. There are start dates every 8 weeks.

Faulkner University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

U.S. News & World Report named Florida Tech a Tier 1 National University. The school offers a BA in Human Resources Management, which is available entirely online.

For completion, 121 credits are required. Courses are in an asynchronous format with weekly assignments. Courses are 8 weeks long. The curriculum consists of classes such as International Management, Training and Development, and Business Computer Skills.

Florida Tech is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Franklin University offers a BS in Human Resources Management, which can be completed fully online. The program requires 124 credits and accepts transfers of up to 76% of the credits. Courses are 6 or 12 weeks long. There are several start dates throughout the year. Potential courses include Training and Development and Employee and Labor Relations.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Herzing University offers a fully online BS in Human Resources. The program requires 122 credits and will accept up to 91 qualifying transfer credits. It can potentially be finished in as little as 36 months. The curriculum allows students to begin work toward an MBA. Online courses are offered during the day and evening.

Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

A BS in Human Resources is available through Immaculata University. The program is fully online. Out of the 126 required credits, up to 72 credits may be transferred and there is an opportunity to earn credit for prior learning. Courses are in an accelerated 7 week format, with multiple start dates each year.

Immaculata University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Louisiana State University offers a BS in General Business with a concentration in Human Resource Management. The fully online program requires 120 credits. Courses are flexible and designed with working adults in mind. Courses may include Employee Selection and Placement and Human Resource Analytics.

Louisiana State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Maryville University offers a BS in Human Resource Management. The school is ranked as an Apple Distinguished School. All coursework is completely online. Students may begin work on a graduate degree and may apply up to 12 credits toward a master’s. Potential courses include Recruitment and Talent Management and a capstone experience.

Maryville University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

A BS in Human Resource Management is available through Metropolitan State University. The program is offered fully online with the option to take courses on campus. For completion, 120 credits are required. Courses are offered in full and half sessions. There are start dates in the fall, spring, and summer.

Metro State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Montreat College offers a BS in Human Resource Management through a fully online program. For completion, 120 credits are required. The program may be completed in as little as 4 years. Courses are 8 weeks long and are offered twice per semester. There are 6 start dates each year.

Montreat College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

A BA in Human Resources is offered through Ottawa University and can be completed entirely online or on campus in Kansas, Arizona, and Wisconsin. The program requires 124 credits and offers the opportunity to earn 12 credits toward a master’s degree. Courses are 8 weeks long, with 6 start dates each year.

Ottawa University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Southern New Hampshire University offers a BS in Human Resources. The program is fully online and requires 120 credits, of which 90 qualifying credits may be transferred. Credit for prior learning may also be available. Courses are 8 weeks long, with 6 yearly start dates.

SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, Inc.

St. Joseph’s University – New York offers a BS in Human Resources through a fully online program. Courses are in an asynchronous learning format. The program requires 120 credits and allows for up to 90 qualifying transfer credits. Credit for past work experience may also be available. Courses are offered in full and half semesters.

St. Josephs University – New York is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

A BA in Human Resources is offered through Tulane University. The program is offered fully online and on campus with afternoon and evening courses. Out of the 120 required credits, up to 60 may be transferred. Courses follow a semester schedule and are offered in the fall, spring, and summer.

Tulane University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

U.S. News & World Report named the University of Alabama – Birmingham among the best schools in the country for online bachelor’s degrees. The school offers a BS in Human Resource Management. The fully online program requires a 12 hour capstone experience. Courses are 7 weeks or a full semester long.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The University of Arizona Global Campus offers a BA in Human Resources through its Forbes School of Business and Technology. The program is entirely online. Of the 120 required credits, up to 90 qualifying credits may be transferred. Courses are 5 or 6 weeks long with various concentrations available, including Health and Wellness and Entrepreneurship.

UAGC is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

A BS in Human Resource and Workforce Development Education is available through the University of Arkansas. The fully online program is designed for degree completion, but the school offers general education credits online as well. The program requires 120 credits and may be completed in as little as 2 years.

The U of A is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The University of Maryland Global Campus offers a BA in Human Resources. The curriculum is fully online. Courses are 5 to 6 weeks long and require the completion of 1 course per session. The program requires 120 credits of which up to 90 may be transferred.

UMGC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Utah Valley University offers a Bachelor of Human Resource Management. The coursework is entirely online. Tests may be required to be taken on campus or at a testing center. Courses have synchronous and asynchronous components, follow a semester schedule, and have regular due dates. The program can be started in the fall, spring, or summer.

Utah Valley University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

A BA or a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management may be earned through Wayne State College. The program requires 120 credits, including 48 credits in the concentration. Courses follow a regular semester schedule, are offered in the fall, spring, and summer, and can be completed entirely online.

Wayne State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Western Governors University offers a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources. The program is competency-based, fully online, and requires 41 completed courses. Each term is 6 months and allows students to take as many courses as they want based on a flat rate.

Western Governors University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Winona State University offers a Bachelor of Human Resource Management through a fully online program. The curriculum is designed for degree completion. The program requires 42 credits within the major. Courses follow a semester schedule, with fall and spring start dates.

Winona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Getting Your Bachelor’s in Human Resources Degree Online

If you want a career where you can impact the human capital of an organization, you may love learning about the field through an online bachelor’s in human resources. Online programs may allow for additional flexibility when getting your undergraduate degree.

Many graduates pursue roles in the human resources field straight out of college, while others go on to work toward their masters. Either way, a bachelors in human resources can give you a valuable education in hiring, training, compensation, and more.

To get started toward your online bachelors in human resources degree, try exploring all the accredited universities today.