University of Alberta
speciality: Human Resources
What is a Human Resources degree?
A Human Resources (HR) degree provides students with an overview of HR principles and practices as well as business communication and technology training and how these are applied in business.
HR Bachelor’s degrees place a strong emphasis on organizational theory, behavioural science, legal issues in HR management, performance assessment and management, employee training and development, business ethics and reward management. Ethics and social responsibility are an integral part of any HR degree. As future HR professionals, students have to understand the significance of these in relation to individuals, organizations and the community. HR students learn about individual and group behaviour in business settings in order to be able to manage organizational behaviour, change, communication and performance effectively. Business communication knowledge and skills, which cover emails, memos, business letters, reports and other means of communication, developed throughout HR courses contribute towards the effective management of individuals and groups as well. HR courses also include training in core areas of the business field such as accounting, finance, information technology, marketing and other more general modules. Perhaps, one of the most important aspects of such a degree is the fact that it teaches students the significance of aligning HR management with overall business strategies and how to do that in practice.
If students go on to complete an MBA program, they will most likely explore the specifics of corporate management, ethical leadership, organisational behaviour and business strategy as well as dive deeper into HR concepts.
Overall, an HR degree develops students; understanding of how to enhance human capital in the organization by attracting, retaining and improving the skills and competencies of employees in order to aid the achievement of organizational objectives.
It is worth noting that students may be required to have a strong background in English, communications, speech and debate. Such requirements are set in order to ensure that students possess the required skills to be successful in the HR field. Individuals who wish to take an HR postgraduate course need to have attained a Bachelor’s degree which covers the core HR concepts.
Benefits of a Human Resources degree
HR is a broad field, which keeps HR students’ career options open. An HR degree prepares students to pursue a career in HR in different business settings. Moreover, there are numerous employment opportunities regardless of the degree level students have attained.
HR programs at different Higher Education Institutions are often accredited by professional bodies, such as CIPD, which means that students become certified professionals once they graduate with an HR degree without having to complete additional courses to acquire the needed qualifications.
Students may be glad to hear that HR courses could offer a lot of flexibility in acquiring these qualifications through online course opportunities. Online HR courses offer the same quality of education as on-campus courses. On top of that, they allow students to do the required work from the comfort of their home or any other location, which has Wi-Fi connection, at the most convenient time for them. In other words, students can fit their coursework into their personal schedule and still gain the required qualifications to become a certified HR professional.
Students may also find it appealing that an MBA or Master’s degree in HR often secures them high positions such as director of HR.
Human Resources Degree Structure
The duration of HR degrees varies depending on the country and level of the degree. In most cases, a Bachelor’s degree in HR takes four years to complete in the United States and three years in the United Kingdom. Some HR courses in the UK, however, offer students the opportunity to spend a year in the industry and gain professional experience, which extends the course to four years.
Master’s degrees in HR usually take between one or two years to complete.
PhD degrees in HR require students to dedicate a substantial amount of time to their studies. The completion of a PhD degree takes anywhere between 3 and 6 years depending on the mode of study (full-time or part-time) but could even exceed that time period in some countries, such as the US.
1 Student Reviews
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Human Resource ...01 Dec, 2022
LeenaCATaking initiative with support in one's learning.I like how the University of Alberta provides students with access to extracurriculars like clubs, sports teams and activities alike, but it is up to the students to decide their own path. They make it so that students need to take initiative into their own experience but are still their to support them as an institution. I also appreciate the quality of professors and faculty. They are all highly qualified, and teach in a way that students can actually understand and apply the material. They are available outside class times during office hours, and via email for students to further clarify on aspects of the lesson they may not understand. That being said, students are not coddled and actually have to put in effort to see results in terms of grades. One thing UofA could work on however is the process for scheduling appointments. Some offices (ie co-op office, business student centre) have extremely long wait times and it is near impossible to schedule an appointment, which can get frustrating especially if the matter is pressing. However overall, I highly recommend the University of Alberta to all who are considering applying.
View moreProgramme: Human Resource ManagementDegree: Bachelor'sGraduation: 2024Delivery Type: On CampusCampus: Edmonton
