From Karen Schweitzer,
Your Guide to Business School.
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Human resources has become an essential field in the business world as more and more companies realize the impact a human resources department can have on the bottom line. Some of the duties human resources professionals perform include hiring, firing, interviewing, recruiting, benefit management, and various clerical functions.

Human Resources Coursework
Business majors who specialize in human resources usually focus one of two academic paths: generalization or specialization. Generalists will take general human resources coursework, and specialists will focus more on a specific area such as employee benefits management or arbitration.

Students who are enrolled in almost any human resources program can expect to take courses like strategic planning and employee health and safety. Coursework will help business majors develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Educational Requirements
Educational requirements for aspiring human resources professionals vary depending upon the desired career path. Business majors who want to be able to obtain entry-level employment will need at least an associate's degree. Those wishing to become certified will generally need a bachelor's degree or a certificate. Would be managers should seek at a master's degree or an MBA degree.

To get an idea of what you can expect from each type of human resources program, click on the links below:

• Certificate Programs
• Associate Degree Programs
• Bachelor Degree Programs
• Master Degree Programs
• MBA Programs

Human Resources Programs for Business Majors
Business majors should have no problems finding a human resources program at their current school or another nearby school. Human resources is a very common specialization in the business world. Programs range from certificate programs to doctorate programs.

Working in Human Resources
After completing a quality human resources program, business majors should be able to find work in virtually any industry. Some positions will be easy to obtain immediately upon graduation, while others will require some work experience in the field.

Society of Human Resources Management Certifications

• Human Resource Professional
• Senior Human Resource Professional
• International Human Resource Professional

Additional Career Information
To learn more about the career and salary potential for business majors with a human resources degree, see the Job Profile for Human Resources Managers.