What is Human Resources?
New Hampshire is one of the strongest economies in New England; this is certainly helped by its proximity to Boston and the interstate highway that connects the two. The bustling metropolitan center is only an hour from Manchester, NH and brings the world's economy to a state that also features bucolic countryside, quaint bed and breakfasts, and even ski resorts. Thus, New Hampshire can maintain its character as a New England wonderland while driving headlong into the future of business and technology.
Like many states, real estate is a huge part of the New Hampshire economy. The sector leads the state with $12 billion in annual revenues, securing the #38 spot for real estate nationwide. Much of the real estate activity is due to urbanites renting and buying vacation homes in the New Hampshire hinterlands and the state’s ability to attract new business and workers.
Human resources managers are business professionals who oversee the departments that manage how employees are compensated, hired, and terminated. They also help employees with trainings related to workplace behaviors and even government regulations, such as insider trading or personal safety matters.
Human resources managers usually rise into their position from a lower-level position, often referred to as human resources specialist. They may have specialized in compensation, benefits, or employment law, for instance. Once they rise into management, HR managers oversee all aspects of the human resources picture in their company. Thus, a comprehensive education in human resources is always helpful to provide the background needed for managers.
While most HR managers work for a single firm in an office building, there are other career paths for the HR professional. One great option is to work as an HR consultant who provides human resources services to smaller firms who need outside help. HR consultants may step in to manage a firm's benefits packages and enrollment periods. Other HR professionals work as independent corporate recruiters who seek out the best staffing solutions for their client. There are also HR professionals who work as temporary staffing professionals.
Online Human Resources Education in New Hampshire
The second strongest economic driver in the state is known as professional and business services. This segment of the economy covers businesses such as waste removal, commercial scientific laboratories, and business consultants, including human resource management services.
Other top business sectors for New Hampshire include manufacturing, finance, and retail/wholesale trades. Manufacturing brings the state almost $10 billion each year, earning a national ranking of 36th, and finance ranks 37th overall, with revenues edging upwards of $7 billion. These industries all share certain attributes in terms of their administrative needs, but they certainly need human resources management. After all, no firm is worth anything without its employees. Human resource managers help to attract employees with competitive compensation packages, and they keep employees by ensuring that they are protected under employment laws. They even help to resolve employee disputes when personalities clash on the job.
New Hampshire helps its economy thrive by fully funding the educational institutions that continually produce new human resources managers for the economy. Faculties from community colleges through graduate schools of business are funded to attract and maintain
the best human resources professors and instructors that the nation can provide. Luckily, the state is situated in the heart of a veritable intellectual hotbed. And what professor wouldn't want to call New Hampshire home? Students interested in completing a human resource management program from a NH, New England college or university will have many options across the state and region. These may include Southern New Hampshire university, Granite State College, the University of New Hampshire, New England College, and other accredited colleges in New Hampshire and nearby states.
Online Associates (AS)
A two-year associate human resource management degree is a great way to get a start in the business world. Employers like to hire people with a two-year degree for their entry-level positions. From that spot, professionals can move up and take on more sophisticated responsibilities.
An associate degree from a New Hampshire community college also makes sense for many other reasons. One terrific advantage to an associate degree is that community colleges charge far less per credit hour than four-year institutions. Since a two-year degree opens the door to entry-level work, workers can start gaining real-world experience before they complete a four-year degree. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement, meaning that a two-year degree may help leverage low-cost or even free educational advancement. This approach also enables workers to experience the field without having invested as much time and money as required for a bachelor’s degree.
Online Bachelors (BS or BHRM)
A bachelor’s human resource management degree is the optimum credential for most corporate recruiters. A four-year degree offers students the opportunity to dive deep into their field and start working toward a specialty area such as benefits management, compensation, organizational strategies, or employment law. Bachelor’s human resource management degree students may also flesh out their academic work with an internship. Internships offer students the opportunity to gain hands on experience in a working human resources department.
Bachelor’s degree students can also expand their knowledge with work in related fields that will help inform their work later. Human resource management students may use their elective credit hours to earn a minor concentration in a field such as economics, sociology, corporate law, or organizational psychology, all of which will inform their work in human resources. Naturally, a baccalaureate degree in human resource management prepares students to enroll in an MBA program later.
Online Masters (MS or MHRM)
Professionals who want to take their career to the next level enroll in master’s human resource management degree programs. There are two primary options available for one's graduate work: an MS in Human Resource Management or an MBA with a concentration in human resource management. Both are great options.
An MS in Human Resource Management degree focuses the student on human resources for two solid years. This degree will help a human resources professional dive deeper into their area of specialization, such as compensation or benefits. It can also provide a human resource specialist with a broader base of knowledge for when they move up into human resource management. Courses in a master's degree might include topics like strategic thinking or strategic management, human capital, change management, performance management, employee development, organizational development, and even business administration.
An MBA with a human resource management concentration offers professionals many of the same academic advantages while providing a broader foundation in general business. That is, the first year of an MBA is a general business curriculum. This year can include HR courses, but many choose to broaden their knowledge base with courses that expand their knowledge of accounting, marketing, or corporate finance. An MBA is often the choice of a professional who is looking at a C-level position, perhaps including the top CEO spot.
Online Doctorate (PhD)
A PhD in human resource management is the top academic degree for this profession. Doctorate degree candidates in human resources are often aiming at either a C-suite position, consulting work, or an academic career. In fact, most corporate recruiters aren't looking for a PhD candidate because this level of academic work is often considered too intellectual and not focused enough on the daily demands of business. However, they do appreciate hiring an HR consulting firm that is headed by a PhD.
Working HR professionals who can complete a doctorate while still on the job may find that their degree helps them rise in the ranks. But perhaps the best option for a doctorate in HR is academia. With a doctorate degree, professionals can seek a tenure track position with a top New Hampshire university or a four-year college.