5 Cool Classes You Can Take While Completing an Online Master’s in Human Resources
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- In the wake of the pandemic, the demand for human resources professionals continues to grow.
- Human resources managerial jobs are projected to grow by 8% from 2021-2031.
- If you enjoy coordinating administrative needs and growth, this position is perfect for you.
- Online master's in HR courses may include organizational behavior and business strategy.
Despite recent hiring sprees and freezes and the U.S. being on the brink of a recession, HR workers are in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects human resources specialists to grow 8% from 2021-2031, faster than the 5% average growth rate for all jobs.
Plus, the median salary for this position exceeds the median salary of $45,760 for all occupations. The BLS reports that human resources specialists made a median annual salary of $62,290 in May 2021.
If you want to further your education in a promising industry, an online master's in human resources could be a great way to move forward. Check out five interesting HR classes you may take while completing your master's program.
Popular Online Human Resources Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Law, Ethics, and Politics in HR
No matter where you pursue your studies, most HR programs include a class on ethics. With the current focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in corporate and other business spaces, this class is important from a legal standpoint. It is also important if your company plans to innovate in its industry, as innovation often comes from varying perspectives.
Southern New Hampshire University offers a 36-credit online master's in human resources with a law, ethics, and politics in HR class. The course explores whether legal compliance equals ethical behavior in HR. The university built most of its curriculum around the importance of this concept.
Other programs that teach similar legal courses include:
| Institution | Course | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University | Employment Law | Professional Master's Degree in Human Resource Management |
| Villanova University | Employment Law | MS in Human Resource Development |
| PennState World Campus | Comparative and International Labor and Employment Law Labor and Employment Law I and II |
Master of Professional Studies in Human Resources and Employment Relations |
Organizational Behavior
Bellevue University has a flexible human resource strategic management degree designed specifically for workplace impact. Students are encouraged to work through the program at their own pace with the help of a student coach and other faculty members.
Among the program's core classes is organizational behavior. An extension of a common communication studies class, this 3-credit course allows students to analyze workplace dynamics and behavior.
Students learn about communication theories and how to execute their concepts based on different work situations. Scenarios may include workplace mediation, the onboarding of new hires or new clients, and project workflow.
Other programs that teach similar organizational behavior courses include:
| Institution | Course | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University | Organizational Behavior, Leadership, and Culture | MS in Human Resources |
| Villanova University | Organizational Behavior | MS in Human Resource Development |
| PennState World Campus | Communication Skills for Leaders in Groups and Organizations | Master of Professional Studies in Human Resources and Employment Relations |
Negotiating Skills
Everyone can benefit from building their negotiation skills, especially aspiring HR professionals. Cornell University's flexible 15-month online program includes a negotiating skills course. Faculty are well-respected thought leaders in their industries, and Cornell University self-reports that its HR programs are recognized as some of the best in the world.
These courses teach negotiation techniques you can apply, whether you're determining your future salary or working as a liaison for a new hire.
Other programs that teach similar negotiating skills courses include:
| Institution | Course | Program |
|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois System | Collective Bargaining | Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations |
| Amberton University | Negotiation Skills for Managers | Master of Science in Human Relations and Business |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Compensation | Human Resources and Employment Relations, MA |
Business Strategy
Many people may not know that human resources professionals play a key role in overall business strategy. Identifying a potential candidate for an open position can be integral to your team dynamic.
Any human resources professional must look at their organization as a whole to understand current and future needs. They must also monitor each team and individual within the organization to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Understanding overall business strategy is an important part of an HR role. With this knowledge, a human resources manager can be one of the power players in their company's growth and success.
Programs like Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations' online master's degree in human resources management focus on business strategy and relations with classes like linking HR to business strategy.
Other programs that teach similar business strategy courses include:
| Institution | Course | Program |
|---|---|---|
| University of Kentucky | Strategic Human Capital Planning and Integration | Master of Science in Strategic Human Resource Management and Analytics |
| Florida International University | Human Resource Strategy and Planning | MS in Human Resource Management |
| Cornell University | Strategic Decision Making | Executive Master of Human Resource Management |
HR Technology
Human resources jobs involve using a lot of technology. From customer management systems to project workflow software, spreadsheets, and analytics templates, these workers constantly learn new operating systems. They must also create new workflows and try to make their processes as efficient as possible.
Villanova University's online MS in human resource development program offers an HR technology course. Keep a look out for other helpful courses that teach required technology that HR professionals should know.
Other programs that teach similar HR technology courses include:
| Institution | Course | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph's University | Human Resource Technology | Strategic Human Resource Management MS |
| American University | Innovation Through New Technologies | Master's in Human Resource Analytics and Management |
| Golden Gate University | Technology Strategies for Human Resources Management | Master Of Science In Human Resource Management |
Bottom Line
Having an HR team that approaches its job holistically can be vital to a company's success. When picking your human resources classes, choose ones that can help you stand out from your competition and ensure that you'll learn skills that can make your job easier from day one. Check out these top online master's in human resources programs to get started.
