CollegeChoice is committed to delivering content that is objective and accurate. We have built a network of industry professionals across healthcare and education to review our content and ensure we are providing the best information to our readers.
With their first-hand industry experience, our reviewers provide an extra step in our editing process. These experts:
Suggest changes to inaccurate or misleading information.
Provide specific, corrective feedback.
Identify critical information that writers may have missed.
Reviewers typically work full time in their industry profession and review content for CollegeChoice as a side project. Our reviewers are members of the Red Ventures Education Freelance Review Network and are paid for their contributions.
Discover the Best Online Master’s in Human Resources
Experienced human resources professionals can earn an online master’s in human resources to advance their career. Graduates often work as human resources managers or compensation and benefits managers. Curricula cover workforce planning, ethics in the workplace, and performance management. Learners also master industry software and workplace safety guidelines.
Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school. Some master’s in human resources programs require a minimum GPA. This guide explores the benefits and cost of earning an online human resources degree. The following sections also cover career options for graduates.
A master’s degree in human resources qualifies graduates to work as benefits managers and compensation directors. Job candidates may need professional experience.
Is human resources a stable career?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment for human resources managers to increase 9% from 2020-2030. This is about the same as the average job growth projection for all occupations.
What is the difference between human resources and organizational leadership?
Both human resources and organizational leadership professionals attract and retain talented employees. However, organizational leadership professionals focus on their employer’s overall development and success.
Why Get a Degree in Human Resources?
Online master’s in human resources programs prepare learners to enter the growing HR field. Flexible online programs appeal to workers from various backgrounds, such as veterans. Veterans often succeed in human resources, as the career requires many of the same skills as military careers. Earning a master’s degree in human resources can help graduates qualify for lucrative positions.
Online learning can benefit recent college graduates and working professionals. Students with personal or professional responsibilities can research asynchronous programs. These programs do not require degree-seekers to attend virtual lectures at specific times.
How Much Does a Human Resources Degree Cost?
According to the Education Data Initiative, a master’s degree cost an average of $66,340 in 2021. Tuition rates vary by school. In-state public institutions typically offer the most affordable online master’s in human resources programs. However, many schools charge all online learners in-state tuition rates. Private institutions generally charge the highest tuition rates.
Degree-seekers can minimize student debt by applying for institutional scholarships and grants. Some schools consider all incoming students for financial aid, while others require a separate application. Learners with financial need may also qualify for federal grants and loans. Degree-seekers submit the FAFSA annually to maintain eligibility for federal funding.
Additional Online Student Fees
In addition to tuition, degree-seekers should budget for fees. Many schools charge online students a per-class, per-credit, or per-semester technology fee. Learners in hybrid programs pay to commute to campus or internship sites. Online students also purchase textbooks and pay a graduation fee.
Graduates may need professional certification to launch or advance their career. The Society for Human Resource Management administers a certification for early-career professionals. Candidates must pass an exam and pay certification fees. Members receive a discount.
How Much Do Human Resources Majors Make?
Human resources managers earn a median salary of $121,220 per year, according to the BLS. However, many factors impact an individuals’ earning potential. Professional, scientific, and technical services companies pay the highest median salary. HR managers in New Jersey, New York, and the District of Columbia earn the highest average salaries, ranging from $167,190-$177,960 per year.
HR specialists can enroll in master’s in human resources programs to qualify for promotions to managers. According to the BLS, human resources managers earn a median salary about double that of HR specialists. Professionals can also qualify for promotions and raises by pursuing certifications.
Courses in Human Resources
Students pursuing an online human resources degree learn to create HR strategies, research the latest trends, and develop inclusive and diverse workplaces. Some programs offer specialization options. Degree-seekers typically complete a thesis or capstone project.
Many online master’s in human resources programs feature the following classes. However, course availability varies by school. Curricula can impact students’ learning experiences and career options. Learners can contact an admissions advisor for information about their prospective program.
Human Resources Strategy
This course introduces human resources professionals’ role in companies and organizations. Coursework explores organizational resources, holistic frameworks, and effectiveness best practices. Degree-seekers analyze challenges unique to multinational employers. This class prepares learners to promote workers’ growth in HR roles.
Leadership in Human Resources
Master’s degree-holders often pursue management positions. Applicants to these roles need advanced leadership skills. This class trains students to develop leadership plans, maintain professional networks, and persuade others to change their actions or thinking. Learners practice self-reflection, an essential managerial skill.
Talent Management
Human resources managers use talent management strategies to attract and retain employees. Students in this course learn to develop and evaluate these strategies, make data-based decisions, and coach other managers on retention best practices. Degree-seekers explore how group-level decisions impact promotions and performance reviews.
How to Become a Human Resources Professional
A bachelor’s degree in human resources qualifies graduates for human resources specialist positions. These professionals interview applicants, check references, and deliver orientations. The job involves extensive recordkeeping. Professionals specializing in recruitment represent their employer at job fairs. HR specialists need advanced communication and interpersonal skills.
Human resources specialists with a master’s degree or at least five years of experience often become human resources managers. These professionals oversee specialists’ work, develop benefits programs, and resolve staffing issues. HR managers also coordinate with senior managers on long-term recruitment and retention plans.
Penn State World Campus offers working professionals a graduate human resources management degree. Here, students can earn a master’s in human resources and employment relations without leaving the comfort of their home. This school is also an HRCI approved provider and in complete alignment with the SHRM’s HR Guidebook and Templates.
Program Features
The school is unique in that the HRER program is provided in partnership with the school’s internationally recognized School of Labor and Employment Relations. Online students receive the same education as on-campus students, and the same instructors teach the courses. This ensures that the high standard of excellence at Penn State is achieved by all students, regardless of how they study. The program requires 33 credits to graduate. The degree also comes with its own concentrations, including:
International Human Resources and Employment Relations
Ethics and Leadership
Employment and Labor Law
Notables
The degree culminates in a capstone project where students demonstrate their mastery of HR issues in a written report that covers their professional interests. This project, which is personalized for each student, allows learners to showcase their knowledge of HR issues. Students can also show their ability to research and create HR strategies.
Villanova University is one of the best-known schools from which to get an online human resources management degree. This school is an HR Certification Institute-approved provider as well as an SHRM preferred provider. It currently has one of the highest-rated master of science in human resource development programs in the country.
Program Features
At Villanova, students receive a world-class educational experience, right from the comfort of their own home. The program caters to working professionals. The degree requires 30 credit hours for completion and up to six credits can be transferred to Villanova from another accredited university. Enrollees take classes like:
Strategic Workforce Planning
HR Analytics
Financial and Human Capital
Notables
Students are encouraged to study full-time, which allows them to graduate in less than two years. However, students may also choose to study part time. Students must also take and pass the SHRM Certification Exam, the SHRM Assurance of Learning Assessment, or the HRCI Certification Exam before graduating. This ensures that students who earn the master's degree at Villanova enter the workforce with the added benefit of either an HRCI or SHRM certificate.
Colorado State University-Global Campus (CSU-Global) is one of the three separate campuses in the Colorado State University System. This online school houses business programs, such as the human resources certification online program as well as graduate degrees. The CSU-Global master of human resource management degree is one of the best in the country.
Program Features
The program focuses on research, employee behavioral expectations, and strategies for resolving HR workplace issues. It was designed for working business professionals who need to get a graduate degree part-time. The degree requires 36 credit hours, which includes a capstone project, for completion. Students can finish this degree, depending on their studying schedule, within 2-5 years. This program also allows for transfer credits from a regionally accredited institution. Below we list some classes:
Effective Organizations: Theory and Practice
Managing Human Resources
Strategic Labor Relations
Notables
The CSU-Global HRM capstone project is a culmination of the student’s entire educational journey at the school. Students create a written report that outlines, examines, and researches current HR issues in a business environment and drafts HR strategies to resolve those issues. Some students gain job opportunities based on their capstone project before graduating.
Online adult education is taken seriously at the School of Professional Development, which is housed at Stony Brook University. The school is a pioneer in creating graduate HRM programs that are aligned with the SHRM’s HR Guidebook and Templates and has since been nationally recognized for its academic excellence.
Program Features
The master of science in human resource management at Stony Brook has currently gone through an update. It has been refined to reflect the six key areas as defined by the SHRM and is further improved by the rigorous standards the university sets for itself and its faculty. Take a look at a few of the stand-out classes:
Employee Relations and Labor Management
Job Evaluation, Compensation, and Benefits
Diversity and Global Issues in the Workplace
Employment Law and Policy
Notables
The program requires 30 credit hours. There is also an optional opportunity for an internship. Students do not need to complete an internship to graduate, but it does give them 45 hours of real-world HR work experience. The internship may provide learners with a competitive advantage upon graduating from the program.
Central Michigan University has one of the best online human resources master's degrees in the country. CMU offers an MBA with a concentration in human resource management. This program is best for business professionals who are interested in moving into an HR leadership position and want an MBA to help reach that goal.
Program Features
World-class faculty teach the classes, and instructors have terminal degrees and HR experience. The degree requires 36 credits, with nine credit hours comprising the human resource management concentration. Courses for the core curriculum include some of the following:
Global Economic Environment
Marketing-Based Management
Global Business and Sustainability
Notables
Online students are treated to a nationally recognized virtual school, called Global Campus. MBA students, who take all of their courses online, are supported virtually by a dedicated online staff that can help them with all of their needs, including advising them on courses, setting a degree path, and finding a tutor.
New York University, known as NYU, is an innovator of online education. The school’s internet portal has dozens of degrees available online, including the master of science in human resource management and development. This school is one of the few schools on this list that have a human resource online degree that comes with its own specializations. Students can complete the degree with no on-campus requirements.
Program Features
There are 24 core credits required for completion, and each specialization requires 16 credits. Students have up to five years to complete the degree, although many finish in as little as two years. This master of science in human resource management and development degree has four specializations:
Human Resource Management
Organizational Effectiveness
Learning, Development, and Executive Coaching
Global Talent Management
Notables
An online degree from NYU features a similar educational experience an on-campus degree. The school strives to impart the same education to each of its students, which is why nearly all of its online courses are taught by the same instructors who teach it on campus. Along with tutoring and student services available online, working professionals receive a world-class education from home.
The University of Houston at Clear Lake is one of the South’s best online schools for people interested in getting a graduate degree in human resources. The school, which has regional accreditation by the SACSCOC, is also accredited by AACSB for its business programs. Additionally, UHCL’s online graduate HR programs are certified by SHRM, a distinction only given to 150 institutions worldwide.
Program Features
This school is dedicated to excellence among HR professionals. It provides its master of human resource management entirely online and is taught by world-renown faculty. The program requires 42 credit hours and can be completed in as little as 18 months. Part-time students have up to five years to finish the requirements. Learners can look forward to classes like:
Employee Planning, Staffing, and Selection
Compensation and Benefits
Legal Environment of Human Resource Management
Training and Development
Notables
UHCL is also proud to be one of the nation’s first competency-based HRM programs. This means that students move from one course to another after demonstrating competency in a subject. This is perfect for a student who has prior experience in HR issues and is looking to expand their knowledge of advanced subjects.
Florida International University has one of the most comprehensive, online graduate HR programs available today. The school, which is accredited by SACS-COC, is known for requiring excellence from both its students and teachers. It is one of the best schools for an HR degree in the country. The Master of Science in Human Resource Management is a substantial and rigorous degree program.
Program Features
The school has aligned itself with the SHRM’s HR Guidebook and Templates, ensuring that students have mastery over the subject matter while simultaneously preparing them for SHRM certification. This is a benefit that students who wish to be certified will not be able to pass up. The program requires 39 credits for completion. Seminars are included in the required credit hours and must be passed in order for a student to graduate. Additionally, students are also required to complete an internship, which can be completed in the student’s area of residence pending approval by the faculty. Classes include:
Labor Issues and Conflict Management
Reward Systems Management
Staffing Organizations
Notables
The M.S.-HRM is a program that is for self-motivated and ambitious working professionals. It does not offer part-time study, so students are encouraged to apply only if they have the flexibility needed in order to fulfill all degree requirements. Advisors are also available to aid students in deciding if Florida International is right for them.
Western Carolina University has one of the oldest human resources master’s degree programs in the country, having established its program in 1984. Now the school has brought that respected program online in the form of the M.S. in Human Resources. This school is regionally accredited by SACS-COC. The MSHR is a 36-credit hour program that can be earned entirely online.
Program Features
An internship with a designated organization is also required for graduation. It is designed specifically with working HR professionals in mind and so is best suited for students with prior HR knowledge. Students can finish this degree in as little as 18 months with full-time study. Part-time students can take up to two years to finish all the requirements needed. WCU also offers professionals the chance to transfer credits from a regionally accredited university, pending approval by the faculty. The curriculum includes classes such as:
Organizational Acumen for HR Leaders
HR Consulting
Coaching for Performance
Talent Acquisition and Retention
Notables
At WCU, students will be partaking in a program that has been recognized as being aligned with the SHMR’s HR Guidebook and Templates. This distinction is reserved for only 201 institutions worldwide and is a mark of HR academic excellence. Serious HR professionals who are interested in moving into leadership positions will be well-served by this degree.
The Catholic University of America houses its online HRM degree under the Metropolitan School of Professional Studies. This program is well-respected in the human resources field and is currently affiliated with HRA-NCA, SHRM and the Montgomery County Chapter for SHRM. It is regionally accredited by MSCHE.
Program Features
This school offers a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management, as well as a free and optional course so students can prepare for the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification exams. The degree is highly sought after both for its first-class faculty and for its alignment to the SHRM’s HR Guidebook and Templates. This is the best degree for working professionals who are looking to move into top management positions in organizations. You'll jump into classes like:
Human Resource Management and Strategy
Managerial Decision-Making: Finance and Budget
Labor-Management Relations
Legal Environment of Human Resource Management
Notables
Students will find that this degree is a practical and applications-based education. Simulations, lectures, team projects and other activities provide a diverse education that allows students to put into practice the concepts and skills they have learned. While this degree is challenging, it is no doubt a great way for HR professionals to understand how and why human capital affects the workplace.
The Florida Institute of Technology is one of the pioneers of online education. It continues this reputation through its decision to make a graduate human resource degree available online. The school, which is regionally accredited through SACS-COC, has dedicated itself to creating a Master’s in Human Resources Management that is respected across the country.
Program Features
Working professionals who study at Florida Tech are treated to an online education that is unrivaled. The faculty who teach the online courses are not only academically excellent, they are also trained business professionals with experience in the workplace. This ensures that students are taught by instructors who understand the subject material comprehensively and can pass that knowledge on to their students. You'll take classes like:
Employee Relations
Leadership Theory and Effective Management
Interpersonal Relations and Conflict Resolution
Business Ethics
Notables
An interesting aspect of earning an MHRM from Florida Tech is the required hands-on experience that students undergo their last year of studying. This experience, which includes working with local and national businesses in need of HR consulting, allows students to implement their skills. By working teams to develop and recommend real solutions to clients, students learn how HR professionals work in the field, giving them an advantage once they’ve graduated.
The Master of Science in Human Resource Management that is available at Robert Morris University is the perfect graduate HR program for busy professionals. The school fully supports the program with a substantial online support service. This degree is only available with part-time study. Students at Robert Morris will enjoy the integration of theoretical and application-based teaching methods that make up this 100 percent online program.
Program Features
Classes are asynchronousand taught in a sequential format, ensuring students complete the degree in as little as two years. Classes are only online, making it easier for business professionals who work during the day to participate. There are 30 required credit hours for this degree, but students may be eligible to transfer credits. There are two classes per session with a total of five sessions making up the program duration.The human resources classes that make up this degree include:
Employee Rights Under Law
Current Issues in Human Resource Management
Decision Sciences for Human Resources
Notables
Students will also take a capstone course as a final requirement. This class, called Strategic Human Resource Management, was created to allow students to demonstrate their mastery of HR ideas and issues as well as show their ability to communicate analysis and strategies through a written report.
Drexel University is the premier school for students who are interested in an online graduate degree that focuses on organizational learning. The school offers an HR online degree that is primarily focused on learning within the workplace. The Master of Science in Adult Education and Organizational Development with a specialization in Strategic Human Resources is a substantial degree. It is a fully online program that enables students to learn new skills and implement them in a practice-based format, giving them the opportunity to see their new skills in a real-world scenario.
Program Features
This program is different from other HR degrees in that the program was created for working professionals who have an interest in both business and education, as HR managers are continuously teaching their employees to improve their performance. Students who take on this degree will complete 45 credit hours of courses. These include the degree’s core requirements, the concentration curriculum and a substantial capstone project that results in a portfolio for the student. A sampling of classes includes:
Global Human Resource Development
Leading and Evaluating Change
Coaching and Mentoring for Sustainable Learning
Organizational Consulting
Notables
Courses range from organizational consulting to strategic competencies for HRD leaders and span the space in between. The capstone project is why many students choose Drexel. While the project is substantial and requires a great deal of work, working professionals find that having a portfolio they can show potential employers to be a great asset. In fact, Drexel students who graduate with this degree have reported finding employment because of the portfolio they did with the help of faculty and staff.
The Huizenga College of Business and Leadership is a well-respected business school. It is also where Nova Southeastern University houses its online business programs. The school is committed to innovation in teaching working professionals, both online and on-campus and it has done this exceptionally well for its online human resources degree programs.
Program Features
The M.B.A. in Human Resource Management, which is a staple at the campus, is one of the most popular programs online. It is taught with care and dedication by Nova faculty, which have been trained in the art of online teaching. Coupled with the substantial online support students have at their disposal, it is no wonder that this school is one of the best in the country for HR programs. The MBA-HRM is fulfilled on the completion of all 39 credits, including 18 credits that come from the Human Resource Management concentration. Here are a few course options:
Talent Management
Managing Total Rewards
Employee Relations
Human Resource Development
Notables
It is a program that integrates both general business knowledge with human resource skills to prepare students for any HR issue that may arise in the workplace. This degree has five start dates a year and can be completed in 21 months. Students who wish to study part-time will find that this degree can be earned within 3 years. There are no on-campus residency or project requirements.
Wilmington University has made it their mission to provide as many online business degrees as possible online. To this end, the school has made a graduate degree in human resources within reach for many working professionals. Wilmington offers the Master of Science in Management with a Concentration in Human Resource Management.
Features
This degree was designed for students who have a vested interest in current affairs and conflicts surrounding the business environment and who want to learn how to strategize and implement HR strategies that would improve the workplace. The MSM-HRM requires 18 credit hours and a study project for completion.Courses for this degree include:
Analysis of Decision Making
Strategy in Organization
International Human Resources
Notables
As well as being offered completely online, the degree is also self-directed. This allows students to complete their degree in as little or as much time as they like. Students will find that the degree is best suited for self-motivated and ambitious professionals who are eager to advance their career.
Clemson University has a robust online portal that offers a variety of degrees for adult students. The most popular program is the masters degree in human resources, which was created with working professionals in mind. The Master of Human Resource Development, also known as MHRD, is a program that produces graduates that can serve as HR managers in a variety of settings, including industrial, educational, and governmental environments.
Program Features
This degree is taught by Clemson’s own first-class faculty that teaches on campus. There is also a selection of experienced scholars who utilize the newest technological innovations to bring this program to life online. The MHRD program provided by this online school requires 36 credits for completion. Unlike other schools on this list, Clemson requires students to commence their education in the fall, just like their on-campus students.Some sample courses include:
Consulting For Education and Industry
Applied Research and Development
Concepts of Human Resource Management
Notables
Online students are also expected to complete two courses per term and graduate within two years. Exceptions can be made on an individual basis. The courses required for this MHRD vary in focus, but all have an element of applied learning.
Webster University understands that HR managers are the backbone of a successful business venture and are strategic partners in the positive environment of any workplace. That’s why the university now offers a graduate HRM degree for their online students. The Master of Arts in Human Resource Management, the school’s premier graduate HR program, is offered wholly online for the convenience of working professionals.
Program Features
This program requires 37 credit hours for completion of the degree. However, it is possible for students to transfer up to 12 credits from another regionally accredited institution. It may also be possible for students to test out of certain courses provided they receive approval from the business school first.Students will take a wide variety of courses within the HR discipline. Some of them include:
Managing Human Resources
Staffing and Retention
Labor-Management Relations
Notables
Students who choose this program are treated to small classes sizes, short sessions and flexible scheduling for their own degree needs. They are also taught by the same expert faculty that teaches the on-campus classes, ensuring that they are getting the same Webster education as everyone else.
At Regent University’s School of Business and Leadership, working professionals come first. The school’s online portal offers 100 percent online degrees, including a graduate human resource management degree, that offers them the chance to advance in their career. The school has been nationally recognized for its program and for its world-class faculty by U.S. News and World Report.
Program Features
This degree requires 42 credits and can be completed in as little as 16 months. Most students choose to study part-time, and the average length for the completion of this degree is around two years. All course are delivered asynchronously and students will find that this flexible online format will fit with their busy lives. Highlight courses include:
Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining
Performance Management
Strategic Human Resource Management and Issues
Managerial Economics
Notables
The MBA with a Human Resource Management Concentration is available in a flexible online format. Working professionals can also choose to go to school full-time or part-time, and with no on-campus requirements, students are free to learn on their own schedule. Students will also be happy to know that financial aid and a one-time graduate scholarship are also available to help pay for the degree.
Liberty University Online is one of the largest and most comprehensive online schools specializing in business degrees. The school houses an online Master of Business Administration — Human Resources that will prepare students to become leaders within the business world. This degree is available completely online.
Features
Liberty requires 45 total credit hours for completion of the degree, but students are welcome to transfer up to 12 credit hours from another regionally accredited institution. Students will find that with the completion of an MBA-HR, they can get a career as an HR consultant, an arbitrator or a mediator, just to name a few.Human Resources classes for this degree include:
Compensation Management
Human Resource Development
Workforce Planning and Employment
Notables
These courses, combined with the MBA general curriculum, will build a foundation of knowledge on how human resources works within business and government organizations, making Liberty students qualified and attractive candidates to any employer.
At Indiana Wesleyan University, students are treated to an online Master of Science in Human Resource Management program. This program combines a biblical framework with the necessary skills needed to become an effective HR leader. The MS-HRM program was designed to prepare students for a job in which human capital in the workplace is their primary concern.
Program Features
The program focuses on the relationship between business and human capital in the workplace and how best to implement change, improve morale, and resolve conflict. This degree is perfect for students who wish to become HR managers within an organization. This degree has 36 required credit hours that are taken in sequential order. This is to ensure that students have gained mastery of one concept before moving on to another. This format was designed for busy students who enjoy focusing on one subject a time. Stand-out courses include:
Decision-Making and Business Communication
Accounting and Finance for Managers
Total Rewards Management
Strategic Risk Assessment
Notables
Indiana Wesleyan’s MS-HRM program also requires a capstone project for graduation. This previously approved project sees a student implementing their newfound knowledge to an existing HR problem. The results of this project have been known to land recent graduates employment offers.
Online education is an important tool at the University of St. Francis at Joliet. It is the primary pathway for working professionals to gain a graduate degree in order to advance their career. The school’s core HR offering is the MBA Human Resource Management. It is a program that was designed to aid students in taking general business skills and implementing them into human resource issues.
Program Features
The program revolves around case studies, lectures, and exercises to demonstrate how the knowledge and skills students learn in the classroom will be used in a real-world scenario. The MBA-HRM degree requires 36 credit hours as well as an assessment in order to graduate.The Human Resource Management Concentration requires 12 credit hours and focuses heavily on the day-to-day skills that an HR manager would need in the workplace. Human resources classes include:
Needs Analysis
Instructional Design and Assessment
Acquiring, Developing, and Retaining Talent
Notables
Working professionals will be happy to hear that the school offers all of its coursework online for the convenience of the students. It is also possible to earn this degree in as little as two years with full-time study; however, students can take up to five years to fulfill all the requirements. This is the perfect degree for a business professional interested in moving into a senior leadership role.
Southern New Hampshire University is an innovative university that believes in online education. It offers an online degree in human resources for busy professionals who want to further their education while continuing in their current field. The school confers the Master of Science in Human Resource Management.
Program Features
This degree requires 36 credit hours for graduation, all of which can be completed online. Courses are taught in 10-week terms, meaning the degree can be completed in as little as 15 months, though students have up to five years to complete the degree. And with a course load that is recognized as being in alignment with SHRM standards, SNHU students can rest assured they are receiving the education they need to further their career. Highlight coursework includes:
Strategic Human Resources Management
Leading Change
Negotiation/Advocacy in the Workplace
Managing Difficult Conversations at Work
Notables
Most students will find that there are a few unique aspects to learning online at SNHU. Research takes a big role in courses, with Business Research being a required class for graduation. Also, students will be required to finish a capstone project which will see them put into practice the skills and knowledge they have learned.
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
The University of Colorado at Denver has an excellent online human resources degree program. The school confers the Master of Science in Management with a Specialization in Human Resources. This is the most popular graduate degree for HR professionals who are interesting in advancing their career as HR managers and leaders. Students will find the online portal at CU to be exceptional, with online tech and student support services available around the clock.
Program Features
While the course load may be rigorous, it is the best option for those who would like both degrees. This MSM requires 30 credit hours of work, 16 of which come from the Human Resources Specialization. These courses include:
Leadership Development
Managing Global Talent and Legal
Ethical Environment of Business
Notables
Students will also find that courses are delivered completely online, with the same faculty who teach the courses on-campus teaching the internet courses. This school offers something unique in that students have the option to get a dual degree, combining the necessary credits for the MSM with an MBA to graduate with both degrees with just a few more terms of work. This is great news for students who feel torn between getting an MBA or an MSM.
Brandman University is a pioneer in HR online graduate programs and is nationally ranked for its dedication to educating professionals. The school has been recognized by SHRM for its online MBA in Human Resources. This degree program aligns with SHRM’s HR Guidebook and Templates. Brandman utilizes Blackboard as its virtual college, ensuring that wherever there’s an internet connection, students can go to class.
Program Features
This is a fully online Masters Degree in Human Resources that was designed to prepare professionals already in the field to move into senior leadership roles. This MBA-HR requires 48 credits and a capstone project for graduation. The HR concentration includes subjects on the hiring, training, and retention of employees, making the degree a great fit for students who wish to become HR executives.Courses focus primarily on general business subjects such as:
Finance Management
Leadership and Innovation
Corporate Responsibility
Notables
For students who aren’t interested in the MBA-HR program, Brandman also offers a Master of Science in Human Resources as well as graduate certificates in this field. Students are encouraged to discuss their education options with an advisor to start on the path towards getting a graduate degree.
Colorado Technical University is an excellent school with an impressive online portal. The school is one of the leading schools for HR professionals who are interested in getting a human resources degree online. CTU offers an online MBA in Human Resource Management, a degree that has been ranked among the Best Online Programs by U.S. News and World Report.
Program Features
The program offers an advanced education in general business studies along with a specialization in human resource management, which is fast becoming one of the most in-demand degrees by employers. Students will be expected to complete 48 credit hours and a capstone project for graduation. All coursework and project requirements can be fulfilled online, and students have the added security of knowing that this program has been acknowledged by SHRM for adhering to the HR Guidebook and Templates. Here's a quick look:
Applied Managerial Marketing
Operational Human Resource Management
Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making
Notables
Courses at CTU primarily focus students’ attention on the changing climate of the workplace and include subjects such as Current Legal Issues in Human Resource Management and Managing Organizational Development and Change. This is the perfect degree for working professionals who wish to move into senior roles within government and business organizations.
The Keller Graduate School of Management is the best-known school at DeVry University, and for good reason. Its online business degrees are highly respected in the workplace and have led several graduates into lifelong dream jobs. Keller offers the Human Resource Management Master’s Degree program completely online.
Program Features
This is a unique human resource degree in that it focuses students on the hiring of human capital and the implementation of HR strategies across a wide range of disciplines within a business environment. The program joins a select group in being aligned with the SHRM’s HR Guidebooks and Templates. The MHRM requires 45 credit hours and can be completed 100 percent online. Students have the option to take courses in sequential order in order to fully master each subject before moving on to the next.MHRM courses require a large range of interdisciplinary courses, including:
Management
Finance
Law & Ethics
Notables
In this format, the degree takes 30 months to complete on the school’s eight-week course schedule. Courses are also taught by the outstanding faculty at Keller, ensuring every working professional gets an education from industry insiders and businesspeople who understand the current and changing climate of the business world.
Eastern Michigan University offers a strong selection of online degrees through its internet portal, including a graduate human resources degree that is fast becoming a popular selection. The school has been recognized for their Masters of Science in Human Resources and Organizational Development degree in a national leadership excellence competition.
Program Features
The MSHROD program requires 30 credit hours and is a robust program that covers all aspects of human resources and how it relates to the business leadership framework in the workplace. Students are required to take practicums and submit a thesis in organizational development in order to graduate. These requirements were designed to provide evidence that a student not only comprehends but has mastered, the subjects covered within the degree. Here's a look at a few classes:
Human Resource Development
Leading Innovation and Change
Staffing Organizations
Compensation Management
Notables
This graduate program is offered in a hybrid format (it is not fully online). Working professionals will definitely appreciate the flexibility the program offers and the number of online electives which are delivered asynchronously. The courses were also created to fit into a student’s busy lifestyle, making it easier for students to stay on track and graduate in a timely manner.
Tiffin University has an online education that is geared towards making leaders out of students. This school has a reputation for offering a graduate degree in HR online, offering working professionals the chance to get a degree while continuing in their current job.
Program Features
This school provides the MBA Human Resource Management degree 100 percent online. It requires 27 credits for graduation and is conducted in a sequential format. There are nine sessions, with one course being offered per session. This sequential format is perfect for students who work full-time and prefer to master one subject a time. And because the courses are online and asynchronous, students can decide what time is most convenient for them to study. The HR courses include:
Human Resource Planning and Talent Acquisition
Business Research Analysis
Information and Decision Support
Notables
The MBA in Human Resource Management was designed to give business professionals a better understanding of human resources within a business environment. Students are given a focus developing leadership and conflict resolution skills as well as a chorus of courses that provide insight into the changing business world.
Concordia University at St. Paul is committed to offering adult graduates and working professionals the ability to get a human resources degree online. That is why the school offers the Master of Arts in Human Resource Management, a completely online degree that allows students to work and study at the same time.
Program Features
Concordia University’s M.A. in Human Resource Management is fully aligned with SHRM’s HR Guidebook and Templates and is one of only 201 schools to have recognition from the society. This is an important distinction for HR schools, as the alignment with SHRM denotes that this is a world-class program that will definitely catch the eye of any employer. Alignment with SHRM also ensures that a student will be prepared to move on to the society’s certification programs.Sample courses include:
Organizational Development for HR Professionals
HR Leadership and Ethics
Research Methods and Design
Notables
The M.A. in Human Resource Management requires 36 credit hours for completion. Courses are delivered asynchronously and are offered in seven-week sessions. This program was designed specifically for working professionals who wish to learn more about the HR field.
Online learning at Waldorf University is becoming a popular format for both undergraduates and graduates who are working towards a human resources management degree. The school, which is regionally accredited by MSCHE, is one of the few to offer a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership with a Human Resource Development Concentration.
Program Features
This degree requires 36 credit hours for completion and can be completed online. Waldorf calculates that the average degree completion time for this degree is two and a half years of full-time study. Part-time students can expect the program to take up to five years to complete. Courses for the MS in Organizational Leadership with an HRM concentration include:
Crisis Communication and Leadership
Personal Leadership Development
Diversity and Inclusion in the Organizational Culture
Notables
Additionally, students will also learn how to spot talents and opportunities in employees, create new HR strategies and shape organization culture. This is a great degree for students interested in becoming effective HR leaders.This degree is as much about personal development as it is about personnel development. Students will evaluate their own leadership skills and talents and develop new skills that will see them excel in their new career field.
Saint Leo University Online is a comprehensive virtual college for working professionals who are interested in pursuing a graduate education. The school offers a graduate human resources certification online for HR Professionals, but it’s also popular for its MBA with a Human Resource Management Concentration.
Program Features
The MBA with an HRM Concentration is a challenging program. It requires 36 credit hours, of which 15 are reserved for the concentration. Because this is an MBA with an HRM concentration, students will learn both about human resource issues within an organization and general business aspects. Students will divide their time between MBA and HRM courses. Samples of MBA courses include:
Global Business Management
Managerial Economics
Total Compensation and Personnel Law
Notables
Additionally, students can partake in an optional internship which has been known to lead to employment. This degree is completed wholly online, giving students the flexibility of when and how they study. It is possible to complete the degree in a year, but part-time students will have up to five years to complete all of the requirements.
Maryville University is the most recognized and highest ranked university in the state of Missouri, particularly for its business programs. The online programs alone have been listed in no less than four national rankings in the past two years, including Kiplinger’s and U.S. News World Report. The school confers the online MBA with a Human Resource Management Concentration.
Program Features
Maryville has one of the most accessible MBA-HRM degrees in the country. Students do not need business experience, GRE or GMAT to apply and the degree can be completed in as little as one year with full-time study. There are also six start times a year, meaning that whenever a student is ready to learn, they can start the path to a graduate degree. Specialty HR courses include:
Workforce Management
Employment Law and Compliance
Compensation and Benefits
Notables
The MBA-HRM is not the only HR graduate degree available at Maryville, however. The school also offers a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership, which is fully available online with no on-campus requirements. This degree program is taught by a first-class faculty which hold terminal degrees in their field and is a perfect addition to an HR professional’s resume.
Saint Francis University is well known for its online human resources masters degree, a program that is growing in popularity with both students and employers. The school designed the Master’s in Human Resource Management with the advisement of SHRM’s HR Guidebook and Templates. It is one of only 201 schools worldwide to be acknowledged by the institution for its curriculum.
Program Features
The MHRM program at Saint Francis takes a personalized approach to human resources. The degree focuses on research and implementation of new HR policies as well as conflict resolution of any issue that may arise in the workplace. It is a comprehensive program that is well suited for working professionals who are currently working in the field. Students are required to complete 30 credits in order to graduate. Courses include:
Strategic Human Resource Management
Employment Law
Business Leadership
Notables
This degree was designed for full-time and part-time study and can be earned within two to five years.These courses are taught asynchronously so students can learn whenever it is convenient for them.Because of the online nature of the degree, students can take their time, finishing the required credits as their schedule permits.
Grand Canyon University offers a human resources masters degree through its online portal. The MBA in Human Resources Management is a popular degree for students who are interested in taking on leadership roles within business organizations. Grand Canyon prides itself on the rigorous education HR students receive at the school.
Program Features
By learning the interpersonal, critical thinking and communication skills needed to be successful in the HR field, students are prepared to take on any challenge that comes their way. The school requires 54 credits for graduation. All courses are taught online asynchronously, ensuring students complete their courses at their own convenience. Here's a look at some classes:
Designing HR for Competitive Advantage
Strategic Management
Leadership and Organizations
Notables
Grand Canyon has a unique aspect to this degree in that it requires an orientation course before a student can continue with the degree requirements. This course, called the Introduction to Graduate Studies in the College of Business, teaches students how to best implement the internet to help them graduate on time. The course also goes over the school’s online services, how to communicate with staff, and more.
Abilene Christian University is heeding the call for more experienced HR professionals and implementing a masters degree program that results in qualified managers and officers onto their internet platform. This online degree is taught in a Christian framework and is the perfect choice for students who are looking to enter the HR field as professionals with a Christian education background. This school is the premier online school in the South.
Program Features
The Master of Science in Organizational Development is one of the most sought after degrees on this online portal, as is this schools human resources certification online program. It is 100 percent available online with no live lectures to schedule and can be completed in as little as 18 months with full-time study. Additionally, students are not required to take the GRE or GMAT to be accepted into this program. Some possible classes include:
Negotiation: Principles and Practice
Strategic Vision and Planning
Managerial Decision Making
Notables
The MS in Organizational Development focuses on skills just as much as it does subject matter. Students will be taught communication, interpersonal, critical thinking, business management and leadership skills throughout their coursework. Students will also be expected to implement those skills in group work and individual exercises.
Upper Iowa University is well known for its online education, and it continues the traditional of excellence with its human resources degree options. The school is regionally accredited by the NCACS THLC and its MBA with a Human Resource Management emphasis has been certified by SHRM. It is one of the most popular SHRM-recognized HR programs in the country. Students will be happy to learn that this degree requires no on-campus residency and the degree can be started at any time.
Program Features
They will also be able to transfer any eligible credits that are applicable to the degree, ensuring that they focus on subjects they have not yet mastered. UIU also offers a few more online advantages, such as asynchronous classes and a flexible schedule that allows a student to accelerate their degree completion time. A few stand-out classes include:
Labor/Management Relations
Compensation and Benefits
Development and Management of HRM
Notables
The MBA with a Human Resource Management emphasis requires 36 credit hours for completion along with a research capstone project. This written report will help students demonstrate that they have mastery over the knowledge they have learned and can implement it into a real-world report. Sometimes these reports have led to employment after graduation.
Purdue University Global is a national leader when it comes to online education. It is best known for its business program, including the graduate human resources degree. Purdue University Global is also one of the few schools that offer a Master of Science in Management with a Human Resources Concentration. The MSM-HRM is a unique degree that allows working HR professionals to learn more about how to research, design and implement new strategies in the workforce.
Program Features
The degree focuses on the strategies that are being used in the workplace today along with new innovations that have yet to be streamlined in the business world. Courses at Purdue University Global are sequenced, ensuring that students focus on one subject at a time. With 56 credits required for graduation, working professionals will find that this timeline ensures the strategies and skills learned through the degree are fully absorbed and will make them stronger HR professionals in the field. Here are a few classes:
Managing in Developing Economies
Managing Behavior in Organizations
Employment Law
Managerial Communication Skills
Notables
The Human Resources concentration allows students to get a general degree in management while simultaneously understanding how their concentration relates to the business world. And because this school is aligned with the SHRM HR Guidebook and Templates, it is one of the best degrees for students seeking HR administrative roles.
Ashford University is the home to the Forbes School of Business, which offers an HR degree online to working professionals. Ashford is an academically excellent university that utilizes the internet to reach students who may not otherwise seek further education. The school offers its MBA with Human Resources Management specialization fully online.
Program Features
The degree was designed for working HR professionals to ensure that they can comfortably learn while continuing their career. It is one of the most popular programs currently offered by Ashford. This MBA-HRM requires 30 total credits for graduation, with nine credits coming from the Human Resources specialization. These courses focus heavily on the day-to-day activities of an HR executive and include:
Compensation and Benefits
Training and Development
Strategies in Human Resource Management
Notables
An MBA-HRM is fast becoming an in-demand degree. Corporations, organizations, and government agencies need professionals who understand and can resolve issues that arise in the workplace. This degree will help any graduate move into a senior role, all the while continuing in their current job. From online student support to tutoring services, Ashford provides online students with the best education available in the field.
At American InterContinental, academic excellence is key. This dedication to excellence for all students, including online students, is obvious through the school’s selection of business degrees, including a graduate human resource degree.American InterContinental University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. These accreditations makes the school one of the top online destinations for HR professionals.
Program Features
AIU offers an MBA in Human Resource Management, a degree that helps HR professionals climb to the highest rungs of leadership within an organization. The MBA-HRM at AIU requires 48 credit hours for graduation. Of those credit hours, half come from the HRM specialization. This means that students who choose to study here will be provided with a strong background in both business and HR, all while learning online.Some sample courses from this degree include:
A Managerial Approach to Marketing
Global Financial Management
Business Research for Decision Making
Notables
This program is one of the only degrees on this list that was created solely to be taught online. Students at AIU can comfortably finish this degree in as little as 11 months of full-time study. It is possible to also complete this program with part-time study, as the school allows students to take up to five years to finish the requirements.
A Master’s in Human Resource Management from Capella will take students far, especially if they choose to stay within the HR management field. This school offers this human resources master’s degree fully online. By utilizing online courses and CapraTek, students will graduate with an in-demand degree from a school that is recognized by employers nationwide.
Program Features
This degree has a required minimum of 48 credits for completion of this degree, but students can transfer up to 12 credit from another regionally accredited institution. Working professionals are also given the option to earn a human resource management certificate while they progress through this program, allowing them to get a promotion and advance their career while continuing their education.Courses for the MHRM include:
Certificate Exam Preparation
Global and National Human Resource Practices
Law and Workforce Planning
Notables
This Capella HR degree is different from most in that it focuses on practical application education. This is the perfect degree for students who are interested in taking on a senior HR administrative role.Capella is distinctive in that it is one of only 201 schools to be recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits, or PDCs, for its certification programs. PDCs are required, along with an independent exam, in order for students to be certified by this esteemed institution.
Online College Resources
Helping you prepare and gain the most out of your educational experience.
Earning a master's in education degree online is a great way to progress in a current career or start a new one. Here, we highlight the most affordable program options.
Earning an online business degree can lead to a variety of new career opportunities. Here, we list this year's most affordable online business degree programs.
Mechanical engineers design items such as car parts and electrical wiring. These online engineering degrees can give you the tools to thrive in this industry.
Discover a program that is right for you.
Search schools to find the program that is right for you.
