Localize Your School Search

Search by State

AB AL AR AZ BC CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MB MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK ON OR PA PR QC RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY

Schools in All States

Degrees and Schools

A bachelor's or master's degree in human resources management or business administration with a concentration in human resources management are the most appropriate degrees for individuals who want to become Human Resources Managers. A master's degree in labor relations would be appropriate for those who will be managing this specific area. These types of degrees can be found at universities and colleges across the country with labor relations degrees being somewhat harder to find than human resources programs.

Coursework

Students in a human resources management program will take courses similar to those listed below:

• human resources management
• strategic compensation
• employee benefits planning
• human resources development
• labor and employment relations
• employment law
• organizational behavior
• human resources information systems
• negotiation and conflict management
• leadership and team management

Online Classes and Programs

Programs in human resources management can be found online at both campus-based schools and at online schools. Students should make sure the school is accredited by a regional accreditation agency to ensure full recognition of the degree earned.

Employment Requirements

Human Resources Manager positions require a bachelor's or master's degree or concentration in human resources management or labor relations. Candidates need to have at least five years of relevant human resources experience. Other skills employers look for include excellent interpersonal and communications skills, project management experience and proven leadership skills. Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification is very helpful as many employers give preference to candidates with this certification. Other, more specialized certifications are also valuable for some positions.

How to Evaluate Schools and Programs

The following questions should be asked when selecting a program leading to a Human Resources Management position:

• Electives - Does the program offer electives in a student's area of focus such as benefits, staffing or labor relations?
• Curriculum - Does the curriculum fill in gaps in knowledge? How much does it overlap knowledge already mastered on the job?
• Working Students - Can the program be completed part-time while the student continues to work? Are classes offered in the evening or weekends or online?
• Reputation - Is the program well-respected by employers? Will future employers trust that the student received a good quality education?
• Accreditation - Is the program accredited by one of the six regional accreditation agencies?

Human Resources Managers Job Description

It is a commonly held truth that people are a company's greatest asset and so companies and other organizations need to have professionals whose jobs it is to ensure the organization's human resource assets are well taken care of. Human Resources Managers are responsible for oversight of human resources departments which take care of many aspects of the relationship between employees and the organization. The areas of responsibility that fall under these departments includes recruiting, compensation, benefits, employee development and training, labor relations, occupational health and safety, among other areas.

In a small company, the Human Resources Manager may be one of only a few human resources personnel who handle all functions, whereas at a large corporation, they may manage a department responsible for only one aspect such as recruiting, benefits or training. Human Resources Managers work in all types of organizations, whether they be non-profit, governmental or commercial.

Responsibilities of a Human Resources Manager vary based on the scope and size of the group they manage. The types of work they may manage may include:

• workforce planning
• recruitment and interviewing
• employee compensation and benefits
• employee assistance programs
• employee training and development
• labor relations
• equal employment opportunity compliance

Resources

Society for Human Resources Management - The SHRM offers professional certifications for human resources professionals through its Human Resources Certification Institute. It also offers publications, research, advocacy, education, conferences and local chapters to support its members.

The American Society for Training and Development - The ASTD provides resources to workplace learning and performance professionals through research, publications, online information, conferences, workshops and a job bank.

International Human Resources Information Management - The IHRIM sponsors an annual conference and technology exposition and provides periodicals, newsletters, educational courses, online resources, research and articles to support human resources professionals.

International Public Management Association for Human Resources - IPMA-HR represents the interests of human resources professionals who work for federal, state and local governments. They provide information and assistance to help human resources professionals improve their job performance and effectiveness.