Know your time commitment
While people choose distance learning for various reasons, many online students juggle commitments outside of the classroom, like full-time jobs and families. These learners often require flexible study programs to fit their schedules.
When researching online human resources degrees, consider how much time you can devote to school work each week. If you have limited availability, you may prefer part-time or asynchronous programs.
Consider not only your daily time commitment, but also the bigger picture. How long do you want to stay at school in total? Part-time programs may be easier to manage with a busy schedule, but they also take longer.
If your goal is to work in your field as quickly as possible, full-time enrollment may be best for you. You can also look for programs with accelerated degrees and generous credit transfer policies. Some schools even offer credit for non-academic experience such as military training, professional certifications, or prior learning assessments.
See accreditation
Attendance at an accredited school is necessary to qualify for federal and state financial aid, or to transfer credits between institutions. A degree from an accredited college or university also makes it easier to apply to graduate school, find a job, and earn professional certifications.
The US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognize two types of accreditation: institutional and programmatic. For institutional accreditation, independent agencies conduct a rigorous, holistic review of a school’s programs, practices, and resources to ensure the entire institution provides quality education. Any school you consider should be institutionally accredited.
Subject-specific organizations grant programmatic accreditation to individual programs or departments. The accrediting organizations for business-related programs in the US are AACSB, ACBSP, and IACBE. Many of the best online human resources degrees receive programmatic accreditation from one of these organizations, but not all.
Consider your future goals
Depending on your goals after graduation, you can set different priorities when choosing your degree. Will you be looking for work immediately or continue your education with a graduate program? What Certifications Could Benefit Your Career?
Below, we explore how different pathways after graduation can affect your choice of degree.
business college. If you are pursuing further study, you may prefer schools that offer both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in human resources. Remaining at the same institution can ease the transition to graduate school, and bachelor’s graduates may receive preferential admission to master’s programs at their alma mater.
Graduate students may also consider integrated bachelor’s-to-master’s programs that allow students to earn credit for both degrees at the same time. Employment. If you want to start looking for a job right after your studies, you can research internships and cooperation offers in various programs. Hands-on learning experiences can help build professional skills and enhance your resume. With their valuable network potential, strong alumni associations can also benefit new graduates who are looking for work. certification. Your professional goals may include certification. Although becoming a human resource manager is not required, professional certifications can validate your credibility and expertise in the job market.
HR certification bodies include the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Human Resource Standards Institute. If you are interested in SHRM certification, consider programs that align their curricula with SHRM standards.
