The 20 Best Online BS in Human Resources

Without proper human resource management, businesses can’t function efficiently. Human resource professionals (HRs) identify the human capital requirements of their company, seek eligible applicants, and coordinate the hiring process.

HR specialists also oversee the training and benefits of the programs, ensure that businesses obey labor regulations, and administer employee benefit programs.

Take a look: 20 Low-Stress Careers With Jobs That Pay Well

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Quick Summarization

Online BS in Human Resources programs give students the knowledge and skills to set up and run the human resources division of various industries. By studying how to manage the activities and operations of a firm, comprehending how to lead the recruiting of personnel effectively, and having good internal relations and communication skills, students may assert themselves as candidates for higher compensation and promotions when finding employment.

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Methodology

Because of the importance of Human Resources, more and more people are looking for ways to obtain a degree in this field.

An online Bachelor of Science in Human Resources degree program is an excellent place to start if you want to learn how to be a part of the essential human resources management team that drives success for a business or organization.

We compiled the best online BS in HR programs that were picked based on these outstanding features:

• Delivered as a web-based or partially online bachelor’s program that accommodates even the busiest professionals seeking a boost in their academic credentials,
• Coursework that includes general education courses, as well as HR-specific classes in information technology, marketing, payroll, customer interactions, labor relations and law, social law, accounting, and similar other concepts surrounding the discipline,
• Promotes the soft skills of critical thinking, leadership, management, data research, communication, and organization, 
• Facilitated through a top-rated Learning Management System that enables students to access their course materials conveniently,
• Teaching personnel consisting of HR professionals who demonstrate expertise and experience in undergraduate teaching,
• Received accreditation from academic organizations that establish the guidelines for online bachelor’s instruction,
• Provides options for financial aid to qualified online BS in Human Resources students,
• Affiliated with HR organizations that promote discipline and professional practice.

For more details on our college and program ranking system, please read our Methodology.

20 Best Online BS in Human Resources Degrees

Colorado Christian University

Colorado Christian University offers one of the best online Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management degrees that teaches students conventional human resources education from a Christian perspective.

This online HR degree aligns its curriculum and goals with the SHRM, the leading professional association for HR professionals, to prepare students for certifications in the fields and advanced degrees.

Additionally, students in this online human resource degree can choose from nine online minors, such as workforce planning, performance management, and compensation. 

Courses include:

• Leadership & Management
• Foundations of Business Law
• Organizational Behavior
• Human Resources Management
• Labor and Employment Law
• Workforce Planning, Staffing, and Performance

Graduates can pursue a master’s degree in human resources or business administration to further their studies and apply for senior-level positions. Applicants can use the Human Resources Management core course to lessen credit hours in the MS-HR or MBA degrees. 

Students in the online program needing financial aid can ask for guidance from the school’s academic advisors, who can also help them tailor their degrees to meet their current and future needs. 

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Thomas Jefferson University

Thomas Jefferson University offers an online BS in Human Resource Management that allows students to explore the importance of people in an organization and how to maximize their talents within the company. 

This online HR management degree will help you develop the necessary skills to work as a human resource professional in businesses of all sizes. You will gain knowledge and lay a solid basis for a career in human resources by learning about everything from workplace regulations to dispute resolution.

Courses include:

• Learning Across the Lifespan
• Economic Decision Making
• Accounting and Finance for Non-financial Leaders
• Creativity in the Digital Age
• Creative Leadership
• Leading Diverse Organizations

Classes in this online bachelor’s degree can be completed asynchronously, which means you can start your activities any time you find suitable to your busy schedule.

About 95% of current students at Jefferson University have received financial aid. So, if you’re looking for an online university with plenty of financial aid opportunities, this school might be for you. 

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SUNY Empire State College

SUNY ESU’s online BS in Human Resource Management is a 124-credit program that excels at developing core and technical skills, general business, and liberal arts to produce well-rounded and prepared graduates for the job and life in general.

This online human resource management degree is also one of the best in transfer credits, allowing up to 93 major and minor credits to be transferred. Students have the opportunity to follow a more structured degree program, but they can also personalize their degree by choosing from a variety of electives.

Courses include:

• Employee Engagement & Retention
• Learning & Development
• Strategic Planning
• Talent Acquisition
• HR in the Global Context
• Structure of the HR Function
• Organizational Effectiveness & Development

Upon enrollment, students will be given personal academic advisors to help them tailor their degree program based on their future goals. Students will have the chance to receive financial aid by completing the FAFSA application.

Most students in this degree program pursue a master’s degree in human resources and transfer major credits to earn the advanced degree faster.

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Wilmington University

The online degrees offered by Wilmington University are focused on flexibility for busy, working students. Offered online, this Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management degree can be earned in as little as one year by those who want to work in human resources. 

Every student with prior human resources-related work experience can receive credit for their employment and cut the cost and time needed to graduate in addition to transferring credits. 

Wilmington’s dual-credit program enables students to transfer credits earned in an undergraduate degree to other degrees or certificates, keeping online learning costs down.

Courses include:

• Business Ethics
• Operations and Systems Management
• Staffing Organizations
• Organizational Development
• Human Resource Management
• Strategic Human Capital Management
• International Human Resource Management
• Legal Aspects of Human Resource Management
• Compensation Administration

Students must complete 40 three-credit courses for 120 credits to graduate with a degree in human resources management. The cost of each HR course is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students; however, some elective courses are rated differently.

Online students must also participate in an internship program to consolidate information, put skills to use, and arrange the philosophical framework necessary for success in the field of human resource management through work experience.

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Dickinson State University

Various online degree programs are available at Dickinson State University, including a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management. The online BBA in Human Resources Management gives students access to resources, including a personal consultant and excellent courses that are the same as the on-campus option.

This program requires 120 credits to be completed, which are broken down into electives, general core classes, corporate core classes, and core classes in human resources.

HR major courses are:

• Business Law II
• Human Resource Management
• Staffing and Workforce Diversity
• Compensation Management
• Human Resource Development
• Labor Relations

Students who want to experience traditional hands-on classes can choose to enroll in a hybrid learning format. But those who enroll in the 100% online format must complete a Leadership minor. Additionally, school advisors will guide students in applying for financial aid.

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Maryville University

Maryville University offers a fully online BS in Human Resource Management that helps students gain focus and broaden their knowledge about people management in the workforce. This online degree program will help you attain your HR goals through rigorous online coursework from instructors with years of experience.

You’ll learn how to integrate contemporary HR ideas and technology to streamline talent acquisition and development, emphasizing the efficient administration of an organization’s workforce and incorporating current concerns, trends, and technological advancements in the field of human resources. 

Courses include:

• Human Resource Management
• Recruitment and Talent Management
• Labor Relations and Negotiations
• Human Resource Systems and Technology
• HR Employment Law
• Compensation, Benefits, and Financial Management
• Business Organizational Behavior

Aside from the human resource management courses, students will also learn a lot from hands-on experiential training, including an internship and a capstone project.

An internship and a capstone project will allow you to practice your skills in a real office setting and demonstrate your capabilities. These courses will let you define your strengths and weaknesses, so you can work on them before applying for a real job. 

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Faulkner University

Faulkner University helps students gain foundational knowledge and essential skills in human resources with a Christian perspective through their online BS in Human Resource Management degree.

Students with an associate degree in Human Resources or other related fields can transfer credits to complete a bachelor’s degree in a year.

You’ll work alongside committed professors to explore new perspectives and the technical and theoretical understanding necessary for successful on-the-job outcomes specifically designed to address the growing influence of globalization, outsourcing, and constant technological development.

Major core courses include:

• Supervision and Management
• Business/HR Analytics
• Management Information Systems
• Effective Interpersonal Relations
• Perspectives of International Management
• Managing Employee Benefits
• Human Resource Management
• Survey of Training and Development of HR
• Business Ethics and Values

Aside from transfer credits, Faulkner University offers an accelerated degree program that allows students with no prior human resource education to complete the degree faster than other degree programs.

Students in the accelerated program will still receive the same education qualification as regular and traditional programs. 

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Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University offers a 100% web-based Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management degree that develops students’ skills to help create a better and more inclusive workplace. The degree program emphasizes the ability to adapt to a fast-paced industry.

This program was developed considering DEI, HR as an integrated business partner, the evolving talent acquisition landscape, people management in a virtual realm, and strategic management of an effective and efficient workforce based on extensive market research.

Courses include:

• Proactive Human Resource Strategies
• Creating the Employee Experience
• Employee and Labor Relations
• Change Management in Human Resources
• Employee Life Cycle Management

Students who want to earn certifications while studying can enroll in some courses embedded with certificates developed by the HR Certification Institute. Certificates consist of:

• HR Ethics Series: Workplace Issues
• Common Ethical Challenges in the HR Ethics Series
• Taking Charge of Change
• Using negotiations to settle disputes
• Promoting a Culture of Inclusivity

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Trident University

Trident University’s online BS in Human Resource Management is designed to help students prepare for professional careers in businesses of all types and sizes. This online degree will allow you to develop the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to enter the employment field and stand out from the other applicants.

You’ll participate in hands-on coursework with the guidance of experienced human resources managers and have the chance to be a part of the Trident’s Virtual Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) student chapter. 

Courses include:

• Economics for Decision-Makers 
• Business Ethics and Business Law
• Labor-Management Relations
• Servant Leadership 
• Employment Law 
• Organizational Learning and Knowledge Management 
• Money, Markets, and the Economic Environment 
• Leadership and Human Resource Management

Trident University allows students who want to earn a master’s degree in lesser time and cost to enroll in a dual enrollment program.

One of the quickest and least expensive routes to a master’s degree is the FastracDC. If you choose the dual credit option, three of your upper-division courses may be applied toward a Trident MSHRM degree.

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Capella University

Capella University’s online BS in Human Resource Management helps students acquire the abilities and information necessary to succeed as strategic partners.

You’ll learn all the essential information needed to run a business effectively, such as creating strong bonds between employers and employees, establishing human resource policies and processes, training and developing personnel, maintaining a fair and equitable compensation system, and implementing strategies to meet the organization’s future HR requirements.

You’ll also get to choose between two online learning formats: FlexiPath and GuidedPath. 

Courses include:

• Compensation and Benefits Management
• Legal Issues in Human Resource Management
• Recruiting, Retention, and Development
• Employee and Labor Relations
• Employee Training and Development

Capella University is mainly known for its abundance of financial aid opportunities, such as scholarships and grants amounting to $15,000 to help fund your bachelor’s degree. 

Students transfer up to 75% of their undergraduate degree credits through Capella’s transfer credit system. The school will also provide personal enrollment counselors and academic coaches to help you from enrollment to the end of your bachelor’s degree program. 

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Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University offers a BS in Applied Human Resources Management that students can complete online to allow them to continue with their daily work lives while earning a bachelor’s degree.

This degree is best suited to those with entry-level job experience related to human resources or those looking for career advancements.

This online HR degree helps students develop their capabilities to improve business success by using human resources management. Students can build the capacity to apply these abilities in various contexts across multiple fields and types of organizations through courses and assignments.

Courses include:

• Introduction to Marketing 
• Managing Business Communications and Change 
• Financial Decision-Making Total Credits
• Organizational Behavior and Management 
• Human Resources 
• Workforce Planning
• Project Management

The BS in applied HR management incorporates a Christian worldview into every course, emphasizing ethical human resources management. The degree demonstrates to students how they can apply their knowledge to create an atmosphere that is safe, supportive, and equal for all employees of a business.

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Pennsylvania State University World Campus

PSU World Campus offers an online Bachelor of Science in Labor and Human Resources that gives students a chance to major in human resources or labor and employment.

Regardless of your chosen major, you’ll be able to learn about HR from a quantitative angle, equipping you with the expertise for various positions in human resources.

You can use this degree to advance your current job, enter a new field, or pursue a master’s degree program. 

Courses include:

• Exploring Work and Employment
• Employment Relationship: Law and Policy
• Labor and Employment Relations Fundamentals
• Human Resources Fundamentals
• Ethics in the Workplace

Students who choose to major in Human Resources will focus on the different roles that human resource management plays in assisting organizations in achieving the strategic goals they decide to pursue. On the other hand, Labor and Employment Relations majors will concentrate on the labor movement as a professional interest.

This online degree collaborates with Penn State’s renowned School of Labor and Employment Relations and aligns with SHRM’s HR Curriculum Guidebook.

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Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

One of the most flexible online programs in human resources is the BS in Human Resource Management at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Busy students can tailor their degree programs based on their personal and professional schedules and still expect to achieve high-quality education through online learning composed of comprehensive coursework.

This online degree was designed to focus on individual development and skill sets at the operational level to help students become more valuable in the workplace. 

Courses include:

• Strategic Human Resource Management 
• Employee Rewards and Recognition Systems
• Employee Relations
• Employee and Labor Relations
• Human Resource Development

SMU also offers an accelerated online human resources degree that allows students to earn a BS degree faster while studying for a master’s degree. You can obtain a bachelor of science in human resource degree through work experience, college credits, and military service.

With the school’s accommodating transfer policy, you can transfer up to 84 credits to your online bachelor’s in human resources.

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Wayne State College

Wayne State College’s online BS in Human Resource Management teaches students how to operate in the human resources field at various businesses, governmental organizations, non-profits, and other organizations.

This degree program will maximize your knowledge in the field through comprehensive courses that tackle modern methods and approaches in human resources.

You can use this degree to find more job prospects or start to point for an advanced degree in human resources and other related fields.

Courses include:

• Foundations of Human Resource Management
• Human Resource Development
• Workforce Planning and Employment
• Total Compensation 
• Employment Law and Labor Relations 
• Strategic Human Resource Management

Upon enrollment, students can request personal academic advisors to help them create a curriculum plan suitable for their needs and demands. You can also ask for financial aid by completing the FAFSA application after earning a certain amount of credit hours.

Wayne State College also has a generous transfer policy, allowing you to transfer at least 75% of prior credit hours. 

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Columbia Southern University

An online program, the Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management at Columbia Southern University helps students develop competencies to become field leaders. 

This degree is all about real-world application, which means that what you learn throughout the courses will be applicable on your next working day, and a lot of the work you perform for your coursework will be influenced by what you do at work.

Courses include:

• Professionalism in the Workplace
• Human Relations and Development
• Human Resource Management
• Compensation and Benefits
• Training and Development
• Staffing Organizations
• Information Systems Management
• Negotiation/Conflict Resolution
• Principles of Management

CSU’s online bachelor’s degree in human resource management features a LifePace learning. This type of learning will allow you to tailor your own curriculum that includes no required login times, no deadlines, and no set start dates. 

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University of Alabama – Birmingham

The UAB at Birmingham offers an online Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management that involves human resource theory and application. Students can expect to receive guidance from the school while completing comprehensive online courses.

As a student of HR management, you have the excellent opportunity to form mentoring relationships with corporate executives, look for funded internships, and work on real-world projects for diverse companies.

Courses include:

• Human Resource Management 
• Compensation Administration 
• Organizational Staffing 
• Employment Law
• Managing Through Leadership 
• Management Processes and Behavior
• Information Systems

The University of Alabama is well-regarded for its unique internship opportunities that allow you to work with businesses like Coca-Cola, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Alabama Power. Online students can also take part in research projects or study abroad. 

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Indiana State University

One of the best and most unique online human resource degrees is Indiana State University’s online Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Development for Higher Education and Industry, a mix of core courses and electives that allows you to develop specialized expertise.

The curriculum comprises business, psychology, education, and behavioral science studies that will help you become better leaders. This program is best for fresh high school graduates with no education or work experience related to the field. 

Courses include:

• Characteristics of Human Resource Development
• Labor Relations in Human Resource Development
• Work-Life Integration 
• Career Development and Employee Appraisals
• Evaluating Learner Performance
• Industrial Organizational Psychology 
• Adult Learners in Higher Education and Training 
• Contemporary Issues in Human Resource Development

Indiana State provides multiple financial aid opportunities, including work-study programs, veterans’ benefits, and special scholarships for incoming first-year and transfer students. Additionally, if you have special credits from high school, you can transfer them to the program to lessen credit hours. 

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Point Park University

The online BS in Human Resources Management at Point Park University has one of the best HR Partner Programs that helps students collaborate with an HR professional to gain knowledge of the actual field and expand their network for employment opportunities. You’ll gain the necessary skills and expertise to contribute to the success of an organization.  

Courses include:

• Labor and Management Relations
• Current Topics in HRM
• HR Data Analytics
• Compensation and Benefits
• Special Employee Relations in Public Agencies
• Human Capital

One of the best features of this online degree is its transfer credits. Students with prior experience in human resources or other related fields can transfer credits to reduce the credit hours needed in the bachelor’s degree program. However, the experiential learning will not qualify for financial aid and is capped at 18 credit hours.

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Regis University

Regis University’s online BS in Human Resource Management helps students prepare for various roles involving human resources. In this degree, you’ll be able to investigate the ideas of behavior in connection to leadership in organizations, work satisfaction, and employee motivation and examine ethical issues in business.

The knowledge you’ll learn will help you develop the skills you need to help organizations and businesses of all types and sizes become efficient. 

Courses include:

• Labor/Employee Relations and Workplace
• Organizational Behavior 
• Ethical Decision Making in Business 
• Business Policy and Strategy
• Employment Law and Compliance 
• Strategies in Compensation and Benefits

Students who wish to complete a master’s program can do so while earning their HR bachelor’s degree through the school’s FastForward program. This program will allow you to reduce the time and cost it takes to earn a master’s degree in human resources and other related fields. 

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Charleston Southern University

The online Bachelor of Science in Human Resources at Charleston Southern University is perfect for students who don’t have any experience in human resources and even those who have.

This online degree is one of the best-accelerated degree programs that teach future HR professionals critical issues, such as business law, compensation, labor relations, and many more. 

You’ll be able to develop key competencies through a curriculum designed by industry experts in a year or less. 

Courses include:

• Accounting Principles for Managers 
• Business Ethics
• Human Resources Management
• Organizational Behavior 
• Business Policy 
• Labor Relations 
• Diversity in the Workplace 
• Employee Training and Development

Online students can avail of tuition insurance from CSU. This tuition insurance program is in partnership with GradGuard, which will help your families unexpectedly when something happens to you.

This insurance system is one of the numerous ways the school shows concern for its students during this difficult time. Your investment won’t go to waste when something bad happens.

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Check this out: The 20 Best Online BS in Psychology

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BS in Human Resources Common Courses

Human Resource Management

This course covers the fundamental concepts of the area, including employment legislation and workplace diversity. Students also investigate methods for addressing organizational needs that are supported by research. 

Employee Benefits

This course identifies typical employee benefits. Students compare benefits packages, learn to get the most significant insurance for employees, and bargain with insurance providers. The course also looks at how flexible scheduling and remote working practices draw in young talent.

Labor Relations

Students study a range of labor relations-related subjects. They research the background of labor unions and collective bargaining. Students are taught to evaluate labor relations using HR skills. Graduates can use this information to get ready for the labor relations procedure.

Conflict Resolution

This course will help students develop conflict resolution skills through various fictitious mediations. The course covers interpersonal communication best practices as well. Learners acquire conflict resolution and mediation skills. They also learn how to avoid misunderstandings and problems at work.

Employment Law for Business

This course covers the legal relationship between employees and employers governed by employment laws. Important laws and rules, such as the requirements for recruiting, compensating, and terminating employees, are taught to students. Students also study privacy laws and protections against workplace discrimination.

BS in Human Resources Common Career Paths

Compensation and Benefits Manager

A pay and benefits manager is in charge of making sure that employee benefits are all paid out fairly and accurately. The C&B manager oversees all compensation and benefits initiatives in larger organizations where this may be an entire department. However, in smaller organizations, it may only be one of the responsibilities of an HR Generalist.

Median Annual Salary: $131,280

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HR Manager

The administrative tasks of a company are planned, directed, and coordinated by human resource managers. They are in charge of hiring, interviewing, and training new hires. Human resource managers are a point of contact for employees and administrative personnel during strategic planning.

Median Annual Salary: $130,000

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HR Specialist

Human resources specialist is in charge of a particular category of human resources activity. Most of the time, they concentrate on one or two important facets of human resources, such as hiring and recruiting, labor and employee relations, or training and development, and they gain in-depth expertise in those fields.

Median Annual Salary: $64,240

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Training and Development Specialist

Training and development specialists help design, organize, and carry out training programs for enterprises and organizations. They must first evaluate an organization’s needs to do this. They create unique training courses that can be completed online, in a classroom, or in a training facility.

Median Annual Salary: $63,080

Essential Skills in Human Resources

Employee relations

For both employers and employees, a more enjoyable work environment is produced by being able to recognize and address employee complaints as they arise. It boils down to how well you can handle disputes and represent both your organization and its employees.

Human Resources Information Software (HRIS)

HR Payroll Systems define HRIS (sometimes referred to as HRMS) as “a confluence of human resources and information technology through HR software.” These specialized tools may differ a little from one firm to the next, but the majority include essential features that make HR operations run smoothly.

Performance Management

Setting expectations for employees, tracking performance, enhancing an employee’s capacity for performance, and rating performance are just a few HR duties. For this skill, you’ll also need strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Scheduling

Because many HR positions require juggling and prioritizing responsibilities on a team or corporate calendar, employers are looking for applicants with scheduling abilities. It’s crucial to develop a plan that enables everyone to accomplish their objectives.

Negotiation

Employees frequently think they are right and the other parties involved are wrong when they bring an issue to HR management. A human resources manager must strike compromises in these circumstances that are advantageous to both the employer and the employee.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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In Conclusion

• Human Resources is an essential component of every business regardless of size, and the need for degree holders is increasing.
• Students can become qualified for various HR occupations with a human resources bachelor’s degree. Graduates can find employment in HR, business, or employee relations. For greater flexibility and convenience, many schools now offer HR degrees online.
• Online bachelor’s degrees in human resources study the recruiting process and techniques for resolving disputes and keeping employees. HR courses’ main topics will sharpen your communication, critical thinking, and decision-making skills.

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For additional information, see: The 25 Best Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and Humanities Careers