Online Masters in Human Resources Management

Online masters in human resources degree programs aim  to teach how to analyze the concepts, theories, and best practices of human resources management. This is often to create and test strategic management of organizations. This may include recruiting, onboarding, and monitoring ethics. Students may also juggle a number of other things that help human resources impact overall business strategies. By choosing to earn your degree online, you may have the advantage of meeting classmates and professors from around the world. This may give you a firsthand experience on collaborating with those from different cultures. This is often one of the key concepts of modern human resources. Those who are looking to expand on their HR field may pursue a graduate degree from a graduate program. An online master of science in Human Resource Management may be a good option. There are other types of masters degree programs or online MBA programs that may offer human resources management. Some of these HR programs may focus on HR Leadership, employment law, or health care management in the workplace.

Online Masters in Human Resources: What You’ll Learn

While pursuing your online masters in human resources degree, programs may focus on building upon your previous education and professional experience. This is aimed to teach you the many elements of successful human resources teams. Often, programs focus on the various functions of the human resources department and how human resources interact with other departments inside of an organization. Check out the list below for some of the key topics in human resources management.

• Recruiting and Hiring
• Onboarding
• Continuous Training and Development
• Compensation and Benefits
• Legal and Ethical Challenges

Human resources tends to focus on the most important asset of an organization, its workforce. Therefore, more emphasis may be put on the impact that HR may have on the overall success of a company over the last number of years. As a result, many programs may include how HR may help develop and implement corporate strategies.

Important Topics In Human Resources Management

As technology continues to integrate into all of the business processes, many online masters programs may teach how technology could impact the processes of many of the elements listed above. Some of the technologies that have affected human resources may include:

• Online recruiting
• e-learning
• Performance management systems
• HR service centers
• HR outsourcing

These types of technology, and the impact they are having on the workplace, may be some of the reasons why it could be beneficial to earn your degree online. Also, if you choose to pursue your masters degree online, you may gain valuable experience and develop your online communication skills. These have become another important factor in the workplace.

Online Human Resources Management: Common Courses

Many human resources core courses focus on an individual component of human resources. They focus on how that subject fits into the success of an organization. For instance, some courses may look at how to create, develop, implement, and evaluate training programs. Other courses may focus on the legal and ethical dilemmas that may surface in the workplace. Plus, because many students who pursue their masters degree in HR management may have full time jobs. Choosing to earn your degree online may provide you the freedom and flexibility to attend school while working around your personal and professional responsibilities. This may be an important factor for those with full time jobs. You might not have to relocate and may perform coursework when it is convenient for you. Some of the common courses in human resources may include:

• Organizational Training

This course aims to cover different training methods for employees and organizational development. Often includes safety and tools to use. Topics such as professional development and change management may be covered. Organizational leadership and analyzing organizational behavior may also be covered.

• Human Resources Metrics and Statistical Research

This is an analytics course designed to teach performance measurement. The course may cover employee retention and turnover rate. Employee relations may also be a topic.

• Workforce Planning

This course tends to cover planning short and long term for employment needs. The course may also cover what benefits to plan for in the present and future. Topics such as human capital and talent management may be covered.

• Leading Global and Diverse Cultures

This course aims to cover diversity and running human resources on the international level. Learning how to deal and adapt to different cultures in hiring practices.

• Human Resources Legal Challenges and Solutions

This course may cover the legal aspects running a human resources department. Understanding and interpreting wage and labor laws. Labor relations may also be a topic.

• Comprehensive Reward Systems

This course tends to cover methods to keeping employees and different ways to maintain a high level of morale in an organization. Different tools and ideas are often offered and shared in this course.

• Strategic Human Resources

This course often covers ways to get the most out of employees and members of the staff. The course may also cover ways to find the best employees to meet your needs.

• Corporate Communications

This course may cover the dos and don’ts regarding corporate communications. How to make sure all correspondence is in line with all laws.

• Human Resource Information Systems

This course aims to cover different types of human resources software that provides multiple benefits. It may include database management or payroll software.

• Negotiations and Advocacy in the Workplace

This course tends to cover how to meet with and provide employees with what they need and want while getting the most out of them. Goes over different risk and reward programs. Remember that every school may have a unique design and curriculum. Therefore, specific courses, layouts, and titles may be different at each school. The number of credit hours may vary as well. Enrollment times may vary from program to program. Check with a few of them to find the perfect match for you. HR managers may find earning a master of business administration through online learning may consider this an option. They may be able to do this part time while working. An online MS may enhance leadership skills.

Concentrations in Human Resources Management

Some online masters in human resources programs may allow you to choose a concentration. This may provide you a chance to tailor your course of study to one particular aspect of human resources. Typically, choosing a concentration may require you to take a number of courses on the different concepts and theories of that aspect of human resources. Some of the concentrations you may choose from are:

• Benefits and Compensation
• Labor and Collective Bargaining
• Employment and Labor Law
• Staffing, Training, and Development
• Ethics and Leadership
• International Human Resources and Employment Relations

Some schools choose to offer additional concentrations and other schools don’t offer any at all. Check with a number of schools to find one that matches your goals, especially if you’re looking to become an expert in one part of human resources.

Definition of Human Resources Management

Human resource management (HRM) refers to the management of people inside an organization. Therefore, one of the most important parts of HRM may be finding, securing, guiding, and developing employees whose talents and desires match with the goals of the organization. Many components of successful human resources management may include managing the career development of employees. This may include creating, maintaining, and evaluating the performance of training and development programs.

What Is Training and Development?

Training and development are the formal, ongoing efforts of organizations to improve the performance of their employees through a variety of educational programs. During recent years, training and development may be recognized as an integral element of a successful business strategy. At times, it may be difficult to measure the success of these programs. Therefore, to determine the success of a training and development program, many companies may take the following steps. They:

1. Identify Business Impact
2. Analyze Skill Gaps
3. Layer Training Methods
4. Evaluate Effectiveness and Sustain Gains

This may be one of the ways for companies to measure the success of their training and development programs. However, every company measures human resources development in its own way.

Online Masters in Human Resources: Basics

Online masters in human resources aim to teach how effective human resources management plans may have a positive impact on the success of company strategies. Therefore, many programs may look at how HR may help develop long term organizational goals and assemble the personnel needed to achieve those goals. As a result, many programs may ask that you have at least a basic understanding of important business principles. Online programs may offer a number of benefits to students. One of the most important may be the ability to communicate with classmates and professors through email and chat rooms at hours that may not align with typical office hours. Plus, communicating online may allow for more open and honest class discussions. This is because some students may feel more comfortable sharing their true opinions online, rather than if they had to share them in a face-to-face setting. This is especially true in regard to the more sensitive human resources subjects such as bullying and sexual harassment.

Admissions Requirements for Online Masters Programs in Human Resources

Many schools may ask that you have earned a bachelors degree from an accredited university with a 2.3 GPA or higher. Other schools may have additional admissions requirements, such as:

• Letters of Recommendation
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose
• Minimum GRE or GMAT scores

Some schools may be stricter than others, which means some schools may ask for a higher GPA or higher GRE scores. Check out the requirements of a few different schools to find one that matches your goals. There are other things to consider when it comes to decision making regarding your school. Look at factors such as accreditation and electives available. Also, consider how the online courses are presented and if a capstone course or capstone project is required. Look at items such as financial aid and whether the school takes work experience into consideration. Online students may also want to look at the instructional methods used at the program.

Top Online Masters in Human Resources Degree Programs by Graduate 2019

We ranked our top 25 colleges with masters in human resources degree programs. Our methodologies use data from the NCES based on 2019 graduates from the programs.

Common Careers in Human Resources Management

As human resources continues to have more influence on overall corporate strategy, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects the number of human resources managers to increase 6% during the 10 years from 2019 to 2029. This is one of the many positions you may pursue upon earning your online masters in human resources. Some of the other positions include training and development managers, which the BLS expects to increase 7% during those same 10 years. Another is compensation and benefits managers, which the BLS expects to increase 3% during those 10 years. Typically, these positions only require a bachelors degree. However, many companies may look for candidates who have earned a masters degree and have a number of years of experience. Also, a growing number of organizations are placing a greater emphasis on finding candidates with a background in information technology.

Additional Certifications in Human Resources Management

While there are no mandatory additional certifications for human resources professionals, many choose to earn them to show expertise in the field and to improve credibility. Each of the certifying boards have similar objectives, so you should research each of them to find which suits your goals.

The most common human resources boards that offer certifications include those listed here.

• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
• International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
• WorldatWork
• HR Certification Institute

There may be a number of other certifications available. Plus, some schools are designed to prepare you for certification while pursuing your masters degree, while other programs offer additional, specific courses for certification preparation. Check with a few schools to find one that matches your goals.

Take the Next Step

Are you interested in helping companies find, hire, train, and develop great employees? Are you looking to earn your masters degree in a format that provides the freedom and flexibility to perform coursework around your busy life? Then take the next step to earn your online masters in human resources management. Click on any of the sponsored listings on this page. There, you may read program descriptions and see specific requirements. Best of all, you may even contact your favorites to request more information and apply today.