What Are the Most Popular Concentrations for Masters in Human Resources Degrees?
Since the dynamic field of HR is increasingly growing to include a broad range of human resources careers and employment opportunities, Masters in Human Resources concentrations can be one of the best methods for fine-tuning theories and skills related to a specific career interest.
While many students pursuing a degree in human resources enjoy the freedom of endless career possibilities and are seeking a broad-based education in the industry, others decide to select a concentration to demonstrate their advanced knowledge in a specialized area to future employers upon graduation. If you are interested in focusing your studies to enhance your specific career plans, the following are three popular concentrations that are the most readily available to graduate students pursuing a Masters in Human Resources.
Organizational Development or Leadership
Designed to enhance the capability of human resources administrators and managers in cultivating their ability to fulfill leadership roles, a concentration in organizational development or organizational leadership focuses on providing specific coursework for professionals who want to lead change in today’s complex organizations. Ideal for human resources majors who are interested in training, organizational behavior, leadership, organizational change, organizational psychology, and personal self-development, the concentration area is all about the human side of business. Since how leaders interact with people can dramatically affect how well an organization functions and performs within the marketplace, many graduates with a background in organizational development go on to lead successful leadership positions as organizational leaders, executive coaches, senior managers, and consultants at Fortune 500 companies.
Resource: Top 15 Most Affordable Online Masters in Organizational Leadership Degrees 2014
Labor Studies and Employment Relations
Due to the fact that growing workforce diversity and the changing role of labor unions are just some of the major challenges facing managers in the thriving field of human resources, selecting a concentration in labor studies and employment relations can be an excellent choice for understanding all aspects of the employment relationship. Since an organization’s most valuable asset is its workforce, a concentration in labor or employee relations enables human resources majors to focus their career in the fields of labor relations, employment law, organizational behavior, workforce diversity, or even social work. Furthermore, graduates have the skills needed in dispute resolution to pursue careers as mediators or arbitrators in labor unions as a representative of employees in an organization.
Strategic Human Resources Planning
For those who are interested in being involved in the development of strategic plans to guide management decisions that will support the future direction of an organization, a concentration in strategic human resources planning could be an excellent option. As one of the most important components of strategic human resources management, most mid to large-size organizations have a strategic plan that leads them through successfully meeting their missions. With this concentration, you will receive the training needed to integrate human resource management strategies to achieve the overall success of an organization while meeting the needs of all employees and stakeholders.
Although choosing a concentration area can be simple for students who know exactly where their career interests lie, it can be a more thoughtful process for those who are unsure about which discipline would be the best fit for their professional goals. In order to choose the best concentration for you, be sure to carefully reflect on all the disciplines, research the required courses in each field, look through the textbooks assigned for the courses, and talk to your advisor or professors teaching in the courses that interest you. After you do your homework, you will be able to choose among the Master’s in Human Resources concentrations to determine the perfect career match.
