Why You Need a Degree in Human Resources - Geneva College
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Why You Need a Degree in Human Resources

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Adult Students
Human Resources is a highly competitive field for good reasons: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 13-21 percent increase in job opportunities by 2020, and median annual wages for HR managers came close to $100,000 in 2012. HR positions are also perfect stepping stones up the corporate ladder if you're interested in top level management. 

People who consider themselves to have a high emotional intelligence, enjoy interacting with people and are good at resolving conflicts are best suited for an HR career; however, with so many candidates vying for such a coveted career, most employers disregard applicants who do not have a bachelor’s degree.

What Can I Do With a Degree in HR?

The main goal of any organization's human resources department is to manage and build relationships between the employer and the other workers. Many people associate HR with recruiting, interviewing and hiring new staff, but those are only a few of an HR specialist's duties. The modern HR specialist must understand social media practices, labor laws and ever changing health insurance policies. It's no wonder all of these matters take a few years of formal training to fully comprehend.

Every organization has its own corporate structure based on its size and function, but here are some common job positions within the HR field:

- Human resources assistants work under another HR specialists to aid with duties such as staff recruitment, employee communications and administration of benefits.

- Human resources generalists have greater autonomy and more responsibilities
including organizing staff training sessions and other important business functions.

- Human resources managers oversee a company's HR department and are charged with delegating daily tasks in addition to working with the company's management to better serve employees.

- Labor relations managers usually work for large corporations to collect data and statistics for the purpose of improving employee working conditions. They may also be in charge of negotiating with labor unions.

Why Get Your HR Degree from Geneva College?

Flexibility: Geneva College offers flexibility for busy students who work and have families to take care of. In addition to offering courses that are taught solely on campus or solely online, our new hybrid format blends the best of both methodologies so students can receive some face-to-face instruction while completing the majority of their coursework on their own schedule.

Affordability: Geneva was recently named one of America's “50 Most Affordable Small Colleges for an HR Degree in 2015” by the prestigious Human Resources MBA website. Our small class sizes allow students greater one-on-one interactions with instructors, so you can get the most out of your educational investment.

Credibility: Courses in the Human Resources major at Geneva prepare graduates to respond effectively to rapid change and cultivate broad perspectives necessary for effective leadership in today′s diverse organizations. Course titles include Business and Interpersonal Communication, Employee & Labor Relations and Human Resources: Research and Resources. 


Start your journey into the exciting field of human resources by visiting the Geneva College Bachelor of Professional Studies in Human Resources website for further details about our program.

Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.

Sep 15, 2015
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