Earn an Online HR Degree Concentration
- $320/credit (120 credits)
- Transfer up to 90 credits
- No application fee or SAT/ACT scores required
- SHRM-aligned curriculum
- HR manager jobs to grow 9% by 20301
- 24/7 online accessibility – attend class when and where it's convenient
Online Human Resources Degree Concentration Overview
Learn how to succeed in HR with the online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management.
Recruit top talent for a tech startup. Visit job fairs on college campuses. Help improve benefits packages for large firms. This online HR program will help you support the teams that help businesses succeed.
“HR professionals are partners with the business,” said Deborah Gogliettino, SNHU’s associate dean for human resources. “[This is valuable] for the organization and for the person doing the job.”
The specialized HR degree program combines your business education with the fundamentals of human resources. You'll learn about employee safety, labor relations and the management of a global workforce. These skills can help set you apart when pursuing your HR career.
Learn how to:
- Solve organizational goals using human resource management practices
- Help build collaborative relationships with diverse teams
- Engage in ethical, legal and socially responsible business practices
- Consider global and societal contexts on all business decisions
- Use business data gathered through research and technological applications
- Communicate effectively to diverse internal and external audiences
This business degree with a concentration in human resource management is aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management's (SHRM) HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates. A leading HR organization, SHRM helps define education standards taught in college business schools by establishing and reinforcing new HR standards recognized and respected by organizations across industries. These industry standards can help professionals learn and apply HR principles in the workplace.
By building upon the online business degree program, this specialized human resources management degree concentration explores how businesses operate. “Your job is to build the workforce," said Gogliettino. "And in order to understand how, you have to understand the organization.”
You'll discover how to implement benefits like paid leave, insurance, retirement income and various employee services.
Flex your way to an online HR degree
Kristin Galvin said the flexibility of online classes at Southern New Hampshire University made it possible for her to earn her human resources degree concentration while balancing a full-time job and family priorities.
Career Outlook
As long as businesses continue to grow and retain top talent, there will always be a need for qualified HR professionals in the workforce.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment for human resources specialists will grow by 10% through 2030, which is faster than the national average for all occupations.1 Likewise, jobs for human resources managers are projected to grow at a similar pace of 9% in the same time period.1
"My original attraction to the HR program was for advancement with my current employer," said student Nicole Thompson. "I thoroughly enjoy working for the company but wanted to take advantage of opportunities in efforts of avoiding stagnancy."
"You don’t need to be headed to the HR department to benefit from this degree program," said Melanie Rowe '18. "A degree in business administration with a concentration in HR prepares you for a leadership role in any department. It teaches you how to manage an organization’s most important resource – people."
"If you’re someone who is unsure what career path you would want to follow, I would recommend to use your resources and speak to your admission team at SNHU," said Dinovincent Frangiamone '20. "They will provide you with some career coaching, which will assist you to determine what career path is most suitable for you."
Start Your Journey Toward an Online Human Resource Degree Concentration
Why SNHU for Your Online Human Resource Management Science Degree Concentration
Flexible
With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.
Affordable
Take advantage of some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation, plus financial aid for those who qualify. We also make it easy to transfer to SNHU by accepting up to 90 credits from your previous institution.
Respected
Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 100,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality.
Recently, Southern New Hampshire University has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:
- “Most Innovative” regional university honors from U.S. News & World Report each year since 2015
- A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth
- Recognition as a 2017 Digital Learning Innovator by the Online Learning Consortium
Network
As a Southern New Hampshire University student, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 200,000 peers, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate your industry. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.
96.5% of students would recommend SNHU.2 Discover why SNHU may be right for you.
Admission Requirements
Part of our mission to expand access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials.
Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms.
How to Apply
Simply contact an admission counselor, who can help you explore financial options, answer all your questions and walk you through the application process. Start by:
- Completing a free undergraduate application
- Providing previous institutions attended – so we can retrieve transcripts for you at no cost
Test scores are not required as part of your application.
Courses & Curriculum
In the human resource management degree online program, you'll learn about leadership, motivation and maximizing an organization's human capital. You'll apply your course material to real-world situations and learn how to build benefits and programs that can add organizational flexibility or may even steer your corporate culture in a different direction, such as including work-from-home packages for employees.
This program is aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management's HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates. All courses are thus designed to meet current HR industry standards.
Apart from business core and general education courses, this concentration will hone in on relevant human resource concepts and principles, such as policies and administration, decision making and planning, compensation and benefits, and strategy and development.
Dinovincent Frangiamone '20 took away the most from his leadership course.
"With this course, I have learned effective leadership behaviors and traits that I could use to ensure that I am leading my team in an effective way," he said. "I enjoyed and found this class to be most valuable, because no matter what department I'm in, I do plan on being part of the leadership team."
For student Nicole Thompson, it's been her Applied Marketing Strategies class.
In this course, we examined how important strategic and smart marketing is in the success or failure of a product," she said. "As a new entrepreneur, this information is extremely valuable. It forced me to rethink my marketing strategies and evaluate how my product would influence my potential audience. "
"The instructors are amazing," said Courtney Sheaffer '18. "They are all very knowledgeable and helpful. They have helped me when I needed help and were there for me when I needed more clarification. They are very professional, and I enjoyed learning from all of my instructors."
Sheaffer isn't the only one who benefitted from the experience of instructors.
"There are some truly amazing instructors that teach courses at SNHU," Frangiamone said. "I have had several experiences learning from inspiring instructors. They offered their assistance in every possible way. They were there to guide and support you throughout your continuing educational journey."
Curriculum Requirements & Resources
- Business core: Business programs require learners to complete the business core program, which includes a variety of business-specific courses. This program focuses on 10 core competencies to prepare you for success wherever you go.
- General education courses: All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes, if not obtained in prior coursework. Through these foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.
- Technology resources: We provide cloud-based virtual environments in some courses to give you access to the technology you need for your degree – and your career. Learn more about our virtual environments.
- Earn math credits for what you already know: Save time and tuition with our Pathways to Math Success assessments. Depending on your scores, you could earn up to 12 math credits – the equivalent of 4 courses – toward your degree for less than $50 per assessment.
SNHU's BS in Business Administration degree offers 14 concentrations, including human resources management. If you're unsure if HR is the right concentration for you, check out our other on campus and online business school programs.
| View Full Curriculum in the Catalog |
|---|
| BS in Business Administration - Human Resource Management |
| Courses May Include | ||
|---|---|---|
| BS in Business Administration Human Resource Management Online | ||
| OL 211 | Human Resource Management | This course examines the fundamentals of policies and administration. Major tasks of procedures and developing, maintaining and utilizing an effective team are studied. Students are introduced to international human resource management. |
| OL 215 | Principles of Management | This course is designed to examine the fundamentals and principles of management in order to develop an understanding of management in any formal organization. Special attention is paid to planning and decision-making. International management is also covered. Writing Intensive Course. |
| OL 325 | Total Rewards | This course covers the development and administration of compensation and benefit programs for organizations. Wage theory, principles and practices, unemployment security, worker income security, group insurance, and disability and pension plans are investigated. Emphasis is placed on objectives, policies, organization, implementation and revision of compensation and benefit systems. |
| OL 442 | Human Resource Strategy and Development | This course provides an in-depth examination of human resource strategy and development. Students will gain an understanding of the importance of sound HR practices and the integral role they play in achieving organizational success. Students will examine the environment of HR management; the challenges of staffing organizations, locally and internationally; the relationship of a learning organization to training and development; the role compensation and benefit strategies play in motivating the developing employee; and the concerns and issues related to employee and labor relations. Senior standing or permission of instructor. |
| Total Credits: 120 | ||
Minimum Hardware Requirements
|
Component Type |
PC (Windows OS) |
Apple (Mac OS) |
|---|---|---|
|
Operating System |
Currently supported operating system from Microsoft. |
Currently supported operating system from Apple. |
|
Memory (RAM) |
8GB or higher |
8GB or higher |
|
Hard Drive |
100GB or higher |
100GB or higher |
|
Antivirus Software |
Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students. |
Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students. |
|
SNHU Purchase Programs |
||
|
Internet/ Bandwidth |
5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency |
5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency |
Notes:
- Laptop or desktop? Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility.
- Note: Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10.
- Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government.
- Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers.
Tuition & Fees
As a private, nonprofit university, we’re committed to making college more accessible by making it more affordable. That’s why we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation—and haven't raised our costs in a decade.
We also offer financial aid packages to those who qualify, plus a 30% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.
| Online Undergraduate Programs | Per Course | Per Credit Hour | Annual Cost for 30 credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree/Certificates | $960 | $320 | $9,600 |
| Degree/Certificates (U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty)* | $675 | $225 | $6,750 |
Tuition Rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually. *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.
Additional Costs No Application Fee, $150 Graduation Fee, Course Materials ($ varies by course)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get a human resources degree online?
Yes. Learning online can be an excellent way for adults to pursue their degree while juggling work, family and personal commitments. By giving students the flexibility to access their coursework anytime and anywhere, online education can help make earning a degree accessible to most.
"Working full time, I didn't think I'd be able to go back to school and give it my 100%," Osinowo said. "I think another reason was the fear of failure and self-doubt. What if I do it and I fail? What if I don't finish? What if I'm not good at it? Those excuses were holding me back from taking that plunge."
Finally, she went for it – and soon realized just how much she was capable of.
"Once I contacted SNHU, the admission process was so easy," she said. "I was able to pick my classes, buy my books, start my courses and fit homework into my schedule so easily. I could finally see that earning my degree was something I could achieve – something that I could give my 100%."
If you haven't taken online classes before, the staff at SNHU can walk you through the platform – and they'll be by your side throughout your program.
"The nervousness and anxiety associated with the unknown quickly dissolved," said student Nicole Thompson. "The professors and student advisors take great care in assisting me throughout the process to make sure I succeed during each term."
Earning a human resources degree online over attending traditional in-person classes is sometimes a necessity.
"I could continue to still work full time and then complete my degree at night," said Susan Jones '18. "I liked the online portion because I had small children at the time and I wouldn’t have to be away at night and have to worry about childcare. I could come home, still spend time with them and then complete coursework after they went to bed."
What jobs can you get with an HR degree?
Earning an online human resources degree can open up a variety of career paths in the HR field, including:1
- Human resources specialist: Represent the front line in a company's recruitment of skilled workers, handling all or part of the process of vetting, hiring and onboarding new recruits.
- Recruitment specialist: Find, screen and interview applicants for job openings in an organization, by posting listings, attending job fairs and visiting college campuses.
- Training and development specialist: Work with executives, managers and employees to determine the skills workers need, and then design, organize and carry out necessary training programs.
- Compensation, benefits and job analysis specialist: Research and compare benefits policies and plans, classify position descriptions to set fair salaries and ensure your company complies with employment laws and regulations.
- Labor relations specialist: Interpret labor contracts and make sure that companies follow the agreements they’ve made when it comes to pay, pensions and management practices.
"A student’s decision to be in one industry or another has to do with their passions," said Deborah Gogliettino, SNHU’s associate dean for human resources. "I [personally] like mission-driven organizations. I like the multi-layers of complex issues you get in healthcare. But a student who’s adept at HR can work in any industry."
Is HR a respected career?
The short answer is yes. While human resources jobs were once considered administrative in nature, a changing workforce and developments in technology have made the HR roles of today much more complex.
Take, for example, the ways employee benefits have evolved over the years, from learning and development initiatives to stock options and other perks. The recruitment process has become more involved, too. A once-simple job description now lives on multiple digital job boards and social media channels, where user-generated reviews can make or break a company's image among current employees and job seekers alike.
Add to the mix a growing emphasis on work-life balance, and you have an entire workforce that expects more than a paycheck from their employers.
"Employees bring their whole self to work," said Deborah Gogliettino, SNHU's associate dean for human resources. "We don't know if the employee had a struggle getting the kids off to school, or is worried about making the mortgage payment. Human resource professionals need to help the organization understand that in today's world, it's not just about the work, it's about the whole person."
According to SHRM, HR professionals play "a vital role in perpetuating a strong culture, starting with recruiting and selecting applicants who will share the organization's beliefs and thrive in that culture."3
As business leaders are well aware: These cultures take work. Therein lies the need for a strong human resource professional to not only recruit talent but also give them a reason to stay. That means implementing sustainable career development opportunities, ensuring benefits that promote long-term health and wellness and offering initiatives that reward and recognize high-performing employees.
In other words, to really flourish in this field, an HR worker needs to be more than a people person with strong administrative skills – they need to be strategic leaders.
“HR interacts with every department at every level of employment,” Gogliettino said. “In other careers, you only really interact with people in your department, doing the same thing the same way every day. HR interacts with everyone and every day is a new challenge.”
Laura Swedberg '21 understands that it goes beyond the people.
"I chose human resources management because I am passionate about people," she said. "Investing in and fostering the talents, abilities and goals of people within an organization is crucial."
Courtney Sheaffer '21 agrees.
"I wanted to study this program because I want to be able to help employees within a company reach their goals and be able to make sure that employees are being educated about all that the company has to offer and feel like they’re being treated right," she said. "I really enjoy helping people – being able to help the employees with their insurance, payroll or any other human resource function."
How do I get certified in human resources?
Becoming a certified human resources professional can give you a leg up when applying for HR jobs and indicates a high level of knowledge and skills.
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers two professional certifications for human resources leaders: the SHRM - Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and SHRM - Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
The certifications link directly to on-the-job scenarios and demonstrate that you can apply your learning to real-world situations. Both the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP require at least a bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field and varying years of professional HR experience in order to qualify for the exams.
"Once I received my degree, I was also able to sit for a couple of certifications that I needed," said Susan Jones '18. "Without the degree, I would not have been given the opportunities that I have been given since. I’ve been able to move into a management role since obtaining my degree, and I would not have been able to do that without it."
Students interested in furthering their education can continue on to SNHU’s online HR management master’s degree program, which is aligned with SHRM competencies on employee and labor relations, legal and ethical issues, recruitment and technology and the changing workforce.
Earning a master’s degree in human resources from SNHU can reduce the number of years you must work in HR before taking the exams and give you the knowledge and skills you need to earn your certification.
What kind of degree do you need for HR?
A bachelor’s degree is typically required for most human resources roles. Earning an online bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources management offers a strong foundation of general business knowledge that can serve you well in a variety of HR jobs.
As human resources becomes increasingly more strategic, a business administration degree can help you understand the various business systems at play within an organization and give you the skills you need to manage relationships between various departments and work as part of an organization’s leadership team.
In a business administration online HR degree program, you’ll also explore organizational leadership principles to improve and maintain corporate culture and keep employees engaged.
The best way to further your human resources career, however, is to take additional HR courses. A master’s degree in human resources management from SNHU can give you the specialized knowledge you need to lead an HR department or a company’s recruitment, employee engagement and talent development efforts.
If you'd like to continue your education once you complete the BS in Business with a concentration in human resources management, SNHU also offers an MBA in human resources, as well as undergraduate and graduate human resources certificate programs.
Is a human resource degree worth it?
If you want a career helping others and making real change within an organization, then yes.
Laura Swedberg '21 believes it is.
"A month before completing my program, I had a job offer in the human resources industry," she said. "Earning my degree has opened doors for me that would not have opened otherwise. The knowledge and education gained through SNHU are invaluable and that shines through in all that I do."
Human resources management is a growing, versatile field with many opportunities available for skilled workers across a variety of industries. Most human resources jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree, with some leadership positions seeking master’s degree holders.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs for human resources managers are projected to grow 10% by 2030. Training and development specialist jobs are projected to grow 11% by 2030, as companies seek to reduce costs by boosting employee retention and developing their existing workforce.1
With a human resource degree from SNHU, you’ll learn how to communicate effectively to diverse audiences, helping you lead strategic changes, act as a bridge between employees and company leadership and help form a positive team or organizational climate for all workers.
"I absolutely think my degree program was worth it," said Susan Jones '18. "It’s opened so many doors that would not have been presented to me if I had not taken the steps to obtain my degree. The program not only met the academic need for me, but also allowed me the flexibility to still continue to work full time and see my family."
How much does an HR degree cost?
We know that cost is a major factor when deciding whether or not to continue your education. That's why SNHU offers some of the most affordable online tuition rates in the country – which we've kept the same every year since 2012.
Affordability is one of the main reasons Laura Swedberg '21 was attracted to SNHU.
"Choosing SNHU for my college education was the best decision I could have made," she said. "I am not carrying financial stress from student loan debt."
That said, the actual cost of your degree will vary based on the specific courses you take, the materials they require and your previous college credits.
While our online college degree programs aim to make use of free resources whenever possible – including ebooks, websites and training videos – some courses will require textbooks.
SNHU also offers a generous transfer policy, accepting up to 90 transfer credits toward bachelor’s degree programs that can save you time and money.
At the end of the day, our goal is to make education accessible and affordable to you. That's why, in addition to the features we've already mentioned, we also offer grants and scholarships to eligible students who need them. As a proud military supporter, this includes scholarships for military families, along with up to 30% tuition discounts for active-duty military and their spouses.
Licensure and Certification Disclosures
SNHU has provided additional information for programs that educationally prepare students for professional licensure or certification. Learn more about what that means for your program on our licensure and certification disclosure page.
University Accreditation
Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.
Related Articles
References
Sources & Citations (1, 2, 3)
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/human-resources-managers.htm (viewed Sept. 28, 2021)
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/human-resources-specialists.htm (viewed Sept. 28, 2021)
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/training-and-development-specialists.htm (viewed Sept. 28, 2021)
2 According to survey responses from over 9,200 SNHU online students conducted in the fall of 2019.
3 Society for Human Resource Management, Understanding and Developing Organizational Culture, on the internet, at https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/toolkits/pages/understandinganddevelopingorganizationalculture.aspx (viewed Sept. 28, 2021)