What is the Best Undergraduate Degree to Have Before Getting a Master’s in Human Resources?
If you have ever given consideration to the pursuit of a Master’s in Human Resources, you may be thinking about which undergraduate degree you should attain first. Although there is no one undergraduate degree program that can be considered best, there are a variety of programs that you can choose from:
1. Business
Business degrees offer students foundational knowledge regarding the business principles that guide the internal functioning of organizations. Additionally, they provide students with knowledge regarding how these organizations relate to the external worlds that they seek to influence. Classroom learning experiences will typically include an amalgam of classwork as well as real-world experiences. Typically, individuals who earn business degrees will attain proficiency in written and oral communication, management, leadership, and conflict resolution. All of these skills are applicable within the world of human resources.
2. Psychology
Psychology degree programs place primacy on helping students understand the complexity of the human mind and how it affects the way people think and act. As Kendra Cherry notes in her article “What Is Psychology?,” research within the psychology sector often places primacy upon diagnosing and treating various mental health issues, but other applications are involved. Some of the other important sectors of the psychology field pertain to issues like self-help, performance enhancement, productivity, motivation, and much more. Because the field of human resources is one that places emphasis upon the cultivation of productive and positive relationships between employees and employers, attaining a degree in psychology can be a great precursor to working within the human resources sector. By gaining a profound awareness of how people think, you will likely be able to offer the type of services and counsel that help the human resources department function with expedience and excellence.
3. Sociology
Sociology is a degree program that places importance upon enabling the student to understand the complex web of human institutions and social relationships. The subject matter students cover when pursuing their undergraduate degrees will be diverse and can pertain to religion, crime, family, the state, and racial divisions. Each of these distinct subsets of the sociology field is unified by the purpose of understanding how human thought and action give shape and are shaped by existing social and cultural structures. Individuals who plan to pursue careers in the field of human resources should note that this type of degree can help them excel within their vocation. This is the case for many reasons, including the fact that the field of sociology helps students gain a deep understanding of individual and group behavior.
A Bachelor’s in Human Resources
In addition to thinking about attaining an undergraduate degree in the aforementioned subjects before pursuing your Master’s in Human Resources, you should give thought to obtaining an undergraduate degree in Human Resources. Many schools now offer this degree program, and some of the courses you can expect to take will include:
- Lifestyle Benefits and Compensation in the New Millennium
- Strategic Recruiting, Retention and Succession Planning
- Intellectual Capital and the Workplace Learner
- The Effectiveness of a Market Connected Culture
- The Legal and Ethical Environment of Human Resources
Individuals who want to pursue careers in the Human Resources sector should know that doing so can bring personal fulfillment, professional challenges, and economic stability. Now that you have a basic understanding of several undergraduate degrees that can be a good precursor to attaining a Master’s in Human Resources, you can begin deciding which program would best suit your personal interests and vocational objectives.
