Frequently Asked Questions

A master’s degree in human resources can help prepare you to lead teams, departments, and direct entire organizations. An advanced degree, such as an MBA in Human Resources, can help give you a competitive edge when applying for executive roles, such as chief HR officer or director. An MBA in HR also provides you a unique combination of business skills, leadership training, and advanced human resources knowledge.

To be successful in human resources, you’ll need an education focused on human resources, organizational development, or business. In addition to that, specific skills that HR professionals benefit from include:

• Communication skills: As an HR professional, a major part of your role is communicating with employees. You must be able to express yourself clearly in both oral and written communications.
• Organizational skills: HR professionals must be extremely organized and able to manage different projects and programs.
• Decision-making skills: As an HR manager, you may be responsible for making important decisions regarding hiring and firing people, as well as company-wide rules and regulations.
• Training and development: Many people look to human resources to help provide guidance on training and career development. You should be able to either perform this training or help direct employees as they seek to grow their career.
• Teamwork: HR professionals often work with many different departments and are part of cross-functional teams. It’s important to be able to work well with others, to see their point of view, and work together to reach goals that will best help the company be successful.

To become an Human Resources (HR) manager, you can best qualify with at least a bachelor’s degree and a few years of experience. Some employers might prefer that HR manager candidates have a master’s degree in human resources or an MBA with an emphasis in human resources.

Some people choose to pursue specialized certificates in human resources. Certifications are not always necessary to become an HR manager; however, they can help you demonstrate your expertise and help you stand out from the competition. There are several types of HR certificates, including:

• Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), available through the HR Certification Institute (HRCI).
• SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) for early- and mid-career professionals and the SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) for senior-level practitioners, available through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Generally, yes. It can be possible to work in the human resources field without a degree; however, to advance in your HR career employers may require a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree can help prepare you for higher level HR roles, such as manager or supervisor.

To become a director, vice president, or chief HR officer, it can be beneficial to have an MBA in addition to several years of experience.

A human resources degree is an academic degree awarded to students when they complete a two or four-year program with a focus on human resources or human resources management.

Generally, undergraduate HR programs provide students a learning foundation needed to help manage and develop diverse workforces. A company's human resources department oversees almost everything related to employees from recruitment, hiring, and training to employee motivation, retention, benefits, and other services. That is why HR courses are focused on providing leadership, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills needed to help companies and their employees be successful.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), human resources specialists earn an average salary of $79,730 per year ($38.33 per hour).*

The BLS reports the average pay for an HR manager was $77.15 per hour or $160,480 per year. Those at the top of their field may earn a higher salary depending on their experience and education (for example, if they have a graduate degree).

Human resources is a growing field. According to the BLS, Employment opportunities for HR managers is projected to grow 7% from 2023-2033, faster than the average for all U.S. occupations. This is due in part to growth of existing companies and new companies forming. HR professionals are also needed to help understand and administer complex employment and benefit laws.

Yes! A bachelor’s degree in human resources can prepare you for a long, successful, profitable career in a variety of roles and industries. HR is a very flexible degree that can be applied to a number of specialties, including benefits administration, training and development, and recruitment. If you enjoy helping people and businesses thrive, a bachelor’s degree in HR could be a great fit.

The skills and traits required for success as a social worker overlap with those of a human resources manager or professional. Both careers require strong communication skills, empathy, and a desire to help both individuals and groups thrive.

However, there are significant differences in the day-to-day life of HR professionals vs. social workers, including work environment, schedule, who you’ll work with, and types of problems you’ll be solving.

Learn more about the difference between human resources and social work careers.

Yes, you can earn your degree in human resources online with flexible course options that fit your schedule.

Herzing’s program includes core HR classes helping you to build a strong foundation in human resources, as well as additional business management and elective courses. You can transfer in up to 91 approved credits from prior college classes you’ve taken.