The MBA with a Concentration in Human Resources Management program from the Monfort College of Business at the University of Northern Colorado provides the educational foundation HR professionals need to advance into challenging and rewarding leadership roles.
HR Leadership Is Vital to a Company’s Success
Human resources managers, directors and executives have diverse leadership skill sets. In addition to having a broad base of management fundamentals, including financial management, strategic marketing and managerial accounting, HR decision-makers are well-versed in corporate recruitment, compensation, organizational training and employment law.
HR leaders understand the workings of an organization, and because of their broad-ranging skills, they are often consulted for high-level organizational decision-making. It is no wonder then that Fortune 500 companies pay a premium for the strongest talent in HR leadership.
What HR Leaders Do
Human resources leaders are people-focused. They manage the recruiting, interviewing and hiring processes; collaborate with company executives on strategic personnel planning; provide leadership and a vision for company benefits and employee retention; and liaise between management and workers. They manage, plan, direct and coordinate the administrative functions of their organizations. Often, HR leaders are involved in corporate issues pertaining to ethical leadership, global enterprise management and problem solving.
Move Into HR Leadership With a Comprehensive Skill Set
Earning an MBA in HR Management online from UNC provides the specific skill set that is highly sought after by HR departments in companies of all sizes. These include strategic HR planning and staffing, talent management, performance management, compensation, and organizational change management.
Students in this specialized program learn to become the chief architects of their organizations’ ongoing personnel strategies. With the skills this program develops, your innate people and problem-solving capabilities, and your experience as an HR professional, you will be prepared to enter the ranks of leadership.
You are here:
- Human Resources Manager
- Recruiter
- Payroll Manager
- Employee Relations Manager
- Compensation or Benefits Analyst/Manager
- HR Information Systems Manager
- Training and Development Manager
An MBA in HR could take you here:
- Senior Human Resources Manager
- Director of Human Resources
- Vice President of Human Resources
Career Prospects for Human Resources Managers
The job market is competitive for human resources managers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), but MBA graduates with industry-specific skill sets have an advantage. For most corporate employers, an MBA or equivalent graduate business degree — preferably with a focus on HR — is required. This training prepares graduates to enter human resources management, a field that expects to add 12,300 new jobs between the years of 2016 and 2026. The current median salary is $110,120 per year as of July 2018, but this figure would likely be higher if it excluded the salaries of HR professionals who lack an MBA.
One of the greatest benefits of all for well-educated HR managers is that they can work in nearly any industry, which makes the career much more resistant to economic swings.
“As new companies form and organizations expand their operations, they will need human resources managers to oversee and administer their programs, and to ensure firms adhere to changing and complex employment laws. Strong competition can be expected for most positions,” according to the BLS. Candidates with a master’s degree concentrated in human resources management should enjoy the brightest career prospects over this time frame. Work experience in human resources programs, policies and employment law will also be extraordinary assets for aspiring HR leaders.
An MBA in HR management provides the training organizations in nearly every industry demand, and the knowledge aspiring HR professionals need to become leaders.
Learn more about UNC’s online MBA program with a Concentration in HR Management.
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Human Resources Managers
Poets & Quants: HR Execs Make the Case for the MBA
U.S. News & World Report: MBA Programs Help Students Become Leaders in Human Resources
