Saturday, 19 May 2012

Online Degrees in Human Resources (HR): Info by Level

Students may find educational opportunities in the human resources (HR) field at several levels, from certificates to bachelor's and master's degree programs. Some universities and colleges offer human resources programs in an online format to allow working adults to further their education and broaden their skills. Depending on the program level, students may be required to have a prior degree for admission to various programs.

Overview of Online Human Resources Certificate Programs

Not all certificate programs in human resources are offered at the graduate level; some are more entry-level and flexible, allowing prospective students to complete a certificate without continuing on to complete bachelor's or master's degrees. Certificate programs allow students to build their skills or start their education in the HR field.

Program Requirements and Information

Although required courses vary from school to school, most certificate programs require courses in communications and marketing techniques. Requirements for online human resource certificate programs can range from 4-10 courses, depending on the college or university offering the certificate.
Some programs are entirely online, requiring students to use online discussion boards and e-mail to communicate with their fellow students and instructors. Textbooks may be required for some courses, while others may require only materials that can be obtained online. Special software, like PDF readers or multimedia players, may be required. Students will be notified of these requirements at the start of class or at registration.

List of Popular Online Certificate-Level HR Courses

Certificate programs in human resources require a variety of courses that teach techniques for understanding and motivating employees, addressing ethical issues and management.

Organizational Psychology and Behavior Course

Courses in organizational psychology teach students techniques for evaluating potential employees' personalities for fit within the organization, also examining employee relations, efficiency and employee training. Organizational behavior courses focus on a variety of concepts that can boost or lower the morale of any organization, including employee motivation, leadership and conflict resolution.

Issues of Law and Ethics Course

This type of course requires students to explore legal and ethical issues related to the business world. Legal issues covered in employment law courses include the Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Act and issues of sexual harassment, immigration and equality.

HR Management Course

From a prospective hire's initial interview to a veteran worker's performance review, this course covers the methods for finding and keeping valuable employees. Job satisfaction surveys, compensation, staff audits and placement are discussed.

Career Information

Individuals with certificates in human resources may have opportunities to work in employment services or small and large businesses. Selected career opportunities for students who have earned graduate-level human relations certificates include management positions in training and compensation or positions in recruitment departments.

Continuing Education Opportunities

Students may be able to complete a certificate and earn a bachelor's degree at the same time, if their particular university or college allows dual enrollment. A bachelor's degree in human resources or business may be available online or in traditional on-campus settings.

Overview of Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in Human Resources

A bachelor's degree is often a starting place for careers in human resources. These online programs can often take several years to complete, though some programs take the form of degree-completion programs for applicants who already hold an associate's degree in a business or HR area. The curriculum provides students with an understanding of how employees and employers relate and the legal issues involved in business.

Program Requirements and Information

Some programs require 60 or more credit hours in courses specific to the human resources major. In addition to these core courses, bachelor's degree programs require students to complete general education courses. The technical requirements for online or hybrid bachelor's-level programs are similar to those for certificate programs; students must have access to a computer with an Internet connection and video streaming software to complete their assignments.

List of Popular Online Bachelor's-Level HR Courses

Required courses focus on accounting, communications, marketing, employee training and development. Some programs also offer undergraduate courses in compensation and international business.

Accounting Principles Course

In basic accounting courses, students learn the vocabulary and procedures used in the accounting field. Advanced courses focus on planning and monitoring business operations through accounting and financial management techniques, including controlling costs.

Bargaining and Labor Relations Course

Students learn about the processes of collective bargaining and dispute resolution while examining the relationship between management and unions in this course. Other topics include the history and development of labor unions and current issues in labor relations.

Communication Course

HR professionals must be clear, effective, tactful communicators, and this course trains students to select and employ strategies for different types of interpersonal interactions. Topics of study include nonverbal cues, intercultural communication, relationship development and listening skills. Online students may need to participate in extensive message board discussions to practice and demonstrate their written communication skills.

Career Information

Individuals with bachelor's degrees in business and human resources may find employment in recruitment, management and training positions. Salary offers to human resources graduates in 2009 averaged $45,170, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which quotes a July 2009 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (www.bls.gov).

Continuing Education Opportunities

Students may continue their training in human resource management by earning a master's degree. Some universities and colleges offer master's degree programs online, but others require classroom attendance in brick-and-mortar universities. A master's degree program may take anywhere from 1-3 years to complete.

Overview of Online Master's Degree Programs in Human Resources

HR-related courses and training programs are often found in business, management or even education departments at accredited universities and colleges. Online master's programs in human resources allow students to complete their degrees at their own pace while working, but they often require completion within a set period of time.

Program Requirements and Information

At the graduate level, students must have a bachelor's degree for admission into the program. Students complete anywhere from 10-15 classes and can conceivably complete their studies in 2-4 years, depending on their planning. Most courses in online human relations programs take no more than one semester or trimester to complete, depending on the university's timing. These programs culminate in thesis and capstone projects, where students apply learned theories and information to the analysis of current issues in human relations.
Students need access to working computer systems and Internet connections in order to take advantage of online human relations master's degree programs. A PDF reader program and multimedia programs may be required to access course information.

List of Popular Online Master's-Level HR Courses

Human resources professionals must manage legal issues and employee relations while respecting the differences of a company's employees. To that end, courses in employment law and workplace diversity are often required in master's degree programs.

Employment Law Course

These classes cover the laws related to working in the United States. From worker compensation to discrimination in the workplace, students learn about major labor laws through examination of case studies, message board discussions of issues and class assignments.

Workplace Diversity Course

In companies large and small, employees come from different backgrounds. Courses on workplace diversity offer strategies to manage challenges related to race and gender issues in the workplace. Some courses require students to use audio and video applications to access course materials.

Training Assessment Course

Focusing on the employee training and development side of human resources management, this course teaches students to analyze how well the workforce is meeting an organization's needs. Students learn to choose and enact training programs to improve and update staff-members' skills.

Career Information

According to the BLS, individuals with master's degrees in human resources may work in labor relations or HR departments, or they may have their own businesses as consultants. Compensation varies with an individual's specialization; for example, workforce training and development specialists made $55,310 on average in 2009, while recruitment specialists made an average of $54,530 in the same year, as reported by the BLS (www.bls.gov).

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