Human resources (HR) is an attractive field for many reasons, offering a high salary, healthy job growth, and an opportunity to engage in cross-functional work. It is also typically one of the most people-focused roles at an organization, enabling you to get to know every single one of your colleagues and enjoy more human interaction than is available in other roles. However, the cross-disciplinary nature of the work, changes in the way employees look at their employers and their career, and the constant introduction of new technology can make HR a highly demanding field.
Many people assume that like any professional role, it is best to obtain an HR-specific degree if you want a career in HR. The reality is that HR draws from many different disciplines and academic backgrounds. Obviously, a degree in HR is going to set you up best to move into that field quickly, but there are benefits to using other majors in your HR career.
Here’s a breakdown of the most common degrees HR professionals hold—and how each supports a career in human resources.
Human Resource Management
A degree in HR management offers you the best hands-on training in the field. You’ll work through scenarios and take courses covering business ethics, collective bargaining, employment law, and organizational research. Possibly the most important benefit, however, is the focus on leadership as a skill, which is a critical component of a good HR skillset. Strong leadership is what helps you effectively get employees and new hires to engage with a company’s mission and values, which is critical for staff retention.
Bachelor’s Degree in HR
A bachelor’s degree in human resources is one of the most direct and comprehensive educational paths for entering the HR field. This degree typically covers core areas such as employment law, organizational behavior, compensation and benefits, talent acquisition, and conflict resolution. This gives students a well-rounded foundation in both the strategic and operational sides of HR. Many programs also emphasize soft skills like leadership, communication and ethics, which are essential for managing employee relations and shaping workplace culture. For those planning to advance into management or pursue a master’s degree later on, a bachelor’s in HR provides a strong academic and practical launching point.
Master’s Degree in HR
Many HR professionals choose to pursue a master’s degree in management after earning a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Graduate-level HR programs deepen your knowledge in organizational leadership, conflict resolution and change management, while also preparing professionals for senior-level roles. Master’s programs emphasize executive communication, equipping HR leaders to advocate for resources, influence strategic decisions and collaborate across departments.
Examples of Degrees in HR
- Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management
- Master of Science in Human Resources
- Master of Science in Human Resources with a concentration in Instructional Design and Technology
Other Degrees That Are Helpful for HR Professionals
Studying social sciences such as economics, psychology, or sociology gives you a deep understanding of human behavior, which offers a lot of value in the HR field. Through these disciplines, you’ll gain insights about decision-making and organizational dynamics that will enrich your HR studies and profession. These social sciences degrees are research-intensive and are especially valuable for HR professionals working in data-driven or strategic roles, such as HR analysts or program developers. These related degree programs are also useful in an HR administration role or someone who sources, studies, and evangelizes new HR techniques or technology for their department. Although you will lack the grounding in the details of HR, employment law, and recruitment strategy, having a major in the social sciences positions you to learn on the job, possibly in an entry-level role, and start your HR career. Knowing behavioral trends and human motivation can be a powerful asset in any HR department.
Business and Finance
Obtaining a business, finance, or accounting major is a great way to learn about the incentives and infrastructure of a modern business, empowering you to craft an HR strategy that aligns with business goals. A finance degree also gives you tools to map out the costs and benefits of your organization’s HR practices, analyzing recruitment and retention and assigning dollar values to each. This process enables you to make informed decisions about which practices work. Since HR is sometimes seen as a cost center, particularly in the current high-turnover environment, having the skills to address this issue directly would be invaluable.
Examples of Degrees in Business and Finance
Associate of Science in Business
Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership
Bachelor of Science in Strategic Leadership
Master of Business Administration
Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Doctor of Business Administration
Doctor of Organizational Leadership
Marketing and Press Relations (PR)
Having a degree that enables you to market roles and analyze the performance of your recruitment strategy is highly valuable. Marketing and PR are also useful when onboarding new hires and leading employees — being able to craft quality internal messaging will help win people over and motivate them to engage with their roles and recognize their value to the company as a whole.
Start and Advance Your HR Career at Columbia Southern University
Whether you’re looking to build on your current degree or pursue a new path in human resources, Columbia Southern has majors and degrees focused on the HR discipline. Our programs are designed to be as flexible as possible while giving you a solid foundation in human resource management. Explore our programs to see how CSU can support your next step in human resources.
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography and degree field, affect career outcomes. CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.
