Working professionals and nontraditional students are increasingly looking toward online universities as a flexible avenue through which to advance their careers, or launch a new career, with an academic degree.
A vast majority of the online universities available have business schools, and most of these offer both undergraduate and graduate Human Resource Management degrees.
This article will highlight some of the best places to look when shopping around for a Human Resources degree online.
Online Bachelor Degree – Human Resource Management
A number of for-profit and nonprofit online schools – both those dedicated solely to online learning and campus-based programs with online options – offer a Bachelor degree in Human Resource Management. This section highlights some of the more established institutions as well as some smaller, well-regarded schools, and organizes degrees by their online course structure.
Most online schools, in order to present schedules which offer a maximum amount of flexibility, have fully asynchronous courses. These are archived courses which students can attend whenever they choose (rather than be required to attend live sessions). The following schools offer an undergraduate Human Resources degree online, either as a concentration within Business Administration or as a stand-alone offering:
- Champlain College (undergraduate certificate)
- Upper Iowa University (B.S.)
- Dickinson State University
- Kaplan University (B.S. in Business Administration)
- Ashford University (B.A. in Human Resources Management)
- DeVry University (B.S. in Business Administration)
- Walden University (B.S. in Business Administration)
- Saint Leo University (B.A. in Human Resource Management)
- Capella University (B.S. in Human Resource Management)
Some schools balance their course structure so that students receive a mix of both synchronous and asynchronous courses. While such schedules lack the same level of flexibility found with fully asynchronous classes, students still benefit from the flexibility afforded by online learning with the benefit of live, web interactions with both fellow students and professors. Below are two established options:
- Nova Southeastern University (B.S.)
- University of Phoenix (B.S. in Business)
- Strayer University (B.S. in Business Administration)
An additional option to consider is Western Governors University (WGU), which offers a B.S. in Business with a concentration in Human Resource Management. While WGU, like most online institutions, offers an asynchronous schedule, its learning structure is based on skill acquisition instead of credit accumulation. Rather than receive a slate of courses which must be completed, students receive a portfolio of skills which must be mastered through online lectures and learning resources.
Human Resources Graduate Degree
Just as with undergraduate degrees, there are a number of online universities which offer a Human Resources graduate degree. This section lists some of the larger online options as well as some smaller, respected programs, and organizes universities by their course structures.
Most of the established online universities have courses which are asynchronous, meaning that students log in and attend archived courses whenever they choose rather than attending live sessions. Such a course structure offers students a maximal amount of scheduling flexibility. The below universities offer a Human Resources graduate degree with asynchronous courses:
- Upper Iowa University (MBA)
- Kaplan University (MBA)
- Ashford University (MBA)
- DeVry University
- Walden University (MBA)
- Capella University (MBA)
A small number of schools provide hybrid course structures which combine synchronous and asynchronous classes. While not as flexible from a scheduling perspective, such structures provide students with the added benefit of live interactions and dynamic web conferencing with professors. Below are two established options:
- Nova Southeastern University (M.S.)
- University of Phoenix (MBA)
- Strayer University (MBA)
Another school to consider, Western Governors University (WGU), provides an entirely unique learning structure that, while asynchronous, is focused on skill acquisition rather than credit accumulation. Students at WGU do not take courses; instead, they receive a slate of skills which must be attained to receive a degree, and utilize online lectures and resources in pursuit of their skill acquisitions. WGU offers an MBA with a concentration in Human Resource Management.
A Human Resources Degree Online from State University Systems
Many state university systems have developed distance learning cooperative programs which connect a broad network of state schools for online learners. An example is the University of Texas System, which created an online campus – UT TeleCampus – that links together 15 separate institutions of higher learning. This particular system offers an M.B.A. with management concentrations.
Students are encouraged to check their state university system to find if online learning has been established this can be done by contacting either the appropriate state-level Department of Education or a state's office of higher education.
Benefits of a Human Resources Degree Online
For working professionals or adult students looking to advance their careers or launch a new career with an academic degree in Human Resource Management, distance learning provides a flexibility not found at campus-based colleges. In addition, online degree programs are often less expensive due to lower costs of attendance.
Whether students are looking at for-profit online universities or nonprofit, state university systems, a number of solid online options are available.
For those interested in finding individual courses, or additional degree options, see also:
Finding an Accredited Online Graduate Course
David Harris-Gershon - David Harris-Gershon – a blogger for Tikkun magazine and a freelance writer on Israel, the Middle East and America’s role in ...
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