Find out what to expect from the human resources field, and start your search with our ranking of the best online human resources degrees.
As organizations expand and employment laws increase in complexity, the demand for trained human resources professionals grows. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the addition of more than 73,000 human resources specialists and nearly 15,000 human resources managers between 2020 and 2030. With that in mind, a human resources degree from one of the following top-ranked schools can help graduates access this growing field. To create the list of programs below, we collected publicly available information from the most reputable sources. Read about ZDnet’s ranking methodology to learn more about what school and program information we use to build our rankings. Unless otherwise indicated, data is drawn from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, College Scorecard, and each program’s website. A bachelor’s in human resources provides learners with business and human resources fundamentals. Students learn about labor laws and business operations, along with training and development strategies, compensation and benefit programs, and organizational behavior. The programs often include theoretical and practical training plus individual and group assignments. Human resources students learn how to manage people, resolve conflicts, and improve performances and operations. In addition to having communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, online human resources learners need self-motivation and dedication to complete the rigorous training. HR degrees may include concentrations such as healthcare management or project management. Courses commonly offered during a human resources degree include: Labor law This course provides information on collective bargaining agreements and state and federal employment laws. It may delve into occupational health and workplace safety issues. Organizational behavior In this course, students learn how organizational culture and behavior can impact performance. Learners may examine methods and strategies for improving employee morale, motivating staff, and shifting culture to improve outcomes. Compensation and benefit strategies This course explores the most effective strategies for developing a compensation and benefit system.
