How Long Does it Take to Get a Master’s in Human Resources?

Are you interested in earning a Master’s in Human Resources and wondering how long it will take? If you currently possess an undergraduate level degree or you are planning to enter the field in the future, knowing how long of a time commitment you must make to earn your degree is important. The amount of time that you spend in school depends on what your current level of education is, whether or not you are employed and your personal and familial obligations. If you would like average timelines to help you map out the path you will take to earn your Master’s in HRM, read on to learn what you need to know.

Earning Your Bachelor’s Degree and Meeting Prerequisites

A Bachelor’s degree is one of the most common prerequisites of Master’s of HR programs. If you do not yet have your Bachelor’s degree majoring in Human Resources, the first step to earning a graduate degree is to earn an undergraduate degree from an accredited university. It is in your best interest as a prospective undergraduate student to review the prerequisite requirements of the best Master’s programs so that you take all of the right courses and attain adequate professional experience.

Fulfilling the Bachelor’s degree prerequisite requirement will take students between 4 and 5 years when students attend degrees that require you to take between 120 and 128 credit hours. If you take an average 12 credits per semester, you will be in school for 4 years, and you will graduate if you take a credit load of 15 to 18 credits.

Earning Your Master’s Degree As a Grad Student

Once you earn a Bachelor’s degree in HR or a related field, the next step will be to apply to a graduate program. Believe it or not, applying to a Master’s degree program can take time, and it is important to apply ahead of time to avoid delays. Applying early on, based on studies conducted by the Princeton Review, will improve your chances of getting admitted to the program. You should take your GRE test, research schools, and submit your test scores to these schools between the months of May and September. After you do this, fill out applications and financial aide applications so that you have the answer by the next April.

After you are accepted into a program, you will start attending when the next semester starts. The average Master’s of Human Resources program consists of 45 to 60 credits, and your timeline for being a grad student depends on the credits you must complete. If you enroll in a program full-time, you can earn a Master’s in 18 months to 2 years. If you are enrolled part-time, it will take upwards of 3 years to earn a graduate degree.

It is very important to take time to research all of the Master’s degree programs majoring in Human Resources that are available to you. Once you research accredited programs, you should review the degree credit requirements and timelines so that you can submit applications on time. Once you get all of the documents and test scores you need together, you can submit your applications for acceptance into an HR program. Take time to become an expert in HR and earn your Master’s in Human Resources to better your reputation and opportunities.