Human Resource Management Degree Guide

Learn more about a career in human resource that focuses on training

employees, solving workplace disputes and payroll management. 

Human resources (HR) is an important job in any company or organization.

There are multiple types of HR jobs available, but there are several shared
commonalities among the professions. HR is responsible for protecting
employees, ensuring their rights are upheld. If there are any disputes, whether
due to labor laws or conflicts with a fellow employee, it must be reported to
HR. In many companies, HR is also responsible for hiring and recruiting new
staff members. It is common for HR to participate in training as well.

HR managers also act as guides for employees. This includes explaining

benefits, investment options and helping employees retire. HR is also brought
in whenever an employer wants to terminate an employee. This may include
setting up severance pay or participating in hearings for unemployment
claims. Finally, companies rely on HR to improve company morale and give
employees a safe place to report any potential issues with the company.

HR Assistant
HR assistant is a common starting job for graduates with a bachelor’s degree.
An HR assistant works under an HR manager, largely performing
administrative and clerical tasks. This includes updating employee files,
marking absences and disciplinary actions or filing supervisor reports and
termination information. The exact requirements vary, with some businesses
only requiring an associate degree or previous experience working in an HR
role. On average, HR assistants make an estimated $41,000 a year.

Payroll Clerk
Another entry level HR position is payroll clerk, sometimes called timekeeper.
A payroll clerk handles any data relating to employee payment, such as hours
worked, who gets overtime or paid sick leave and marking when employees
take vacation days. They also prepare paychecks and setup payroll
information for new employees. Due to advancements in business
management software, the payroll clerk position is becoming phased out and
rolled into other positions. In 2021, many companies still use payroll clerks,
but the employment rate has been on a decline. The average salary for a
payroll clerk is $46,000.
HR Manager/Administrator
HR managers, sometimes referred to as specialists, have a number of
responsibilities. HR managers act as company recruiters, meeting with
prospective clients at job fairs and other events, explaining why prospective
workers should join the company. They also assist with the hiring process,
performing interviews and screening potential employees. HR managers
address any employee disputes. If an employee feels like their rights are
being violated, an HR manager launches an investigation.

In some companies, HR managers also help with corporate strategizing. In

these meetings, HR managers work with other high ranked employees to
determine whether there are currently enough employees or what specialties
are needed to advance the business.

The starting salary for HR managers has more variance depending on where
they work, as this determines their general responsibilities. On average, they
make between $61,000 to $70,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts
that more companies are looking to hire HR managers, with job prospects
expecting to grow by 7 percent over the next 10 years.

Training and Development Specialist

Training specialists focus on teaching new employees and advancing existing
employees. Training specialists develop specialized programs to improve
employee skills, as well as teaching proper workplace etiquette. In addition to
working directly with employees, training specialists also create informative
documents and videos. Training specialists are responsible for creating new
material as well as updating previous training programs. They work closely
with other managers to determine what areas the company wants to focus on
for future training. The average salary for a training specialist is $61,000.

Compensation and Benefits Specialists

While it has existed for years, compensation specialists are sometimes
viewed as a new HR position. This is because a greater number of companies
have hired compensation specialists in recent years. Compensation
specialists often have a background in accounting or finance. These
specialists work with management to come up with benefit plans for
employees. This includes retirement plans, insurance policies and workplace
wellness programs, as well as individual advancement, such as raises and
promotions. Benefit specialists not only come up with programs, but they must
assess company finances and come up with ways for the company to promote
these benefits. On average, compensation specialists make between $63,000
to $66,000.

Florida International University (FIU)

FIU runs a bachelor of business administration program, which allows you to
select a concentration in human resource management. The program starts
with 60 credits of general education and business electives before moving on
to advanced courses. Some of the courses include human resource
information systems, managing happiness at work, union negotiations and
addressing civil rights violations at work. This extensive program prepares
students for a variety of HR related jobs. It is also one of the most affordable
HR bachelor programs.

San Diego State University (SDSU)

If you want to get a bachelor’s in business administration from the comfort of
your home, SDSU runs an entirely online program with a concentration in HR.
The school prides itself on keeping up with the current political landscape,
teaching future HR managers how to address workplace issues that are
relevant today. In addition to teaching finance and ethics, the course covers
general marketing techniques and business negotiation.

University of Wisconsin, Madison (UW)

If you are interested in advancing your career, UW runs a master’s program
for HR management through their school of business. There are multiple
courses available to cover different HR paths, such as personal staffing and
evaluation and labor management relations. The school partners with major
companies, bringing in guest speakers from Cisco, General Mills and GE
Healthcare. In the program, students gain real-world experience working as
consultants for these companies.

Texas A&M University

A&M is another university with a master’s program for HR management. A&M
offers an expedited program, allowing you to get your degree in less than two
years. As part of the course, all students are required to complete an
internship, which typically lasts for 12 weeks. Students can go through the
Center for Human Resource Management to arrange an internship, if they are
unable to find their own. This provides excellent network opportunities for
students, with many going on to get jobs from the larger corporations in
Texas. Companies like Pepsi, Lockheed Martin and CenturyLink are
partnered with A&M.