What is Human Resources?
Oklahoma is one of our smallest states by population. Most of their industries fall in the 30s, when ranked against the other 49 economies. However, they stand out in one key industry: mining, quarrying, and oil & gas extraction. In fact, at one point, Tulsa was the global leader in the oil industry. Currently, this natural resource industry ranks 2nd in the nation, surely making Oklahoma an important player in the global economy.
A human resources manager is a business professional who focuses on one of the most important parts of any business – its people. HR departments ensure that each employee has a benefits package, fair pay, and can work in a safe working environment. HR managers oversee these departments and see to it that employees are recruited, trained, and even let go in an efficient manner. HR also oversees payroll issues that include reimbursements for travel or other business-related expenses. It's no secret that if employees are not paid fairly, and in a timely fashion, they will probably not work for you very much longer.
Human resource managers typically work in office buildings where they can be easily accessed by employees. These days, many HR managers may be working remotely, but the nature of their role dictates that they will need to be physically present at certain times.
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Online Human Resources Education in Oklahoma
Oklahoma is more than oil and minerals, however. The state is home to a diverse and growing economy that supports the full spectrum of careers and companies. Its second strongest economic sector is real estate, which is fairly common among the states. Since Oklahoma is so sparsely populated, this sector may be relying on sales and leases of oil fields and quarries. Nevertheless, real estate brings Oklahoma $19 billion each year, the 33rd biggest real estate sector in the nation.
Manufacturing may also be riding on the tails of Oklahoma's natural resource reserves, ranking 3rd statewide and 34th in the nation. Oklahoma's manufacturing sector brings the state $18.5 billion each year. The state is also invested in other non-mining ventures, including professional and business services. That economic sector brings Oklahoma $17 billion each year and ranks 32nd for the sector nationwide.
Professional and business services is a part of the economy that covers a wide spectrum of business activities. These include commercial laboratories, management services, and other service providers who help businesses thrive in Oklahoma. These business services include HR consulting firms that help smaller firms with benefits and corporate recruiters who staff oil companies with top management personnel. These consultants can thrive because every firm in the Oklahoma economy needs personnel and human resources professionals to thrive.
With that in mind, the Oklahoman legislature allocates funds to the state's colleges and universities that are spent to strengthen their business schools and thus their human resources management degree programs. The legislature knows that every business in Oklahoma needs HR managers if they are going to continue growing. After all, it takes human resources to mine and drill for the state's natural resources.
Online Associates (AS)
A two-year associate human resource management degree is a great way to land an entry-level position with a smaller or local company. It's also a great way to earn a lower cost degree, explore human resources as a career, and then make an informed decision about completing a bachelor’s degree in the same or a similar field.
Since all associate degrees require that students complete the core college curriculum, two-year degree holders have much of the same knowledge base as those with four-year degrees, with somewhat less in-depth knowledge in their particular field. Further, those who complete their two-year degrees in a timely manner and get to work immediately can gain two years of experience in actual HR departments before their peers in universities graduate and start their first day of work. Even those who decide to dive straight into their third year in an Oklahoma university could have a financial advantage over those who spend all of their years in a four-year institution because of the lower general expense of two years earning an associate degree in a community college.
National Online Rankings - Best 25 Online Associate HR ProgramsOnline Bachelors (BS or BHRM)
A four-year bachelor’s human resource management degree is probably the best way to start a career. Employers love to hire students fresh out of their bachelor’s degree programs because they know they are primed for success. Bachelor’s human resource management degree holders have taken the time to dive deep into the individual topics that comprise the human resources picture including compensation, benefits, and issues related to employment law.
Bachelor’s human resource management degree students have also had the opportunity to explore other, related fields. For instance, mathematics and statistics are great, complimentary fields for any business degree student. Human resource management students might also consider studying fields such as organizational psychology, sociology, and economics. General business management courses are also valuable, as are courses in finance, marketing, and corporate law. Finally, a bachelor’s degree often offers students the opportunity to complete an internship program in a real-world human resources department.
National Online Rankings - Best 25 Online Bachelors HR ProgramsOnline Masters (MS or MHRM)
A master’s human resources management degree is often a ticket to upper human resources management, if not the C-suites, of any top Oklahoma business. Master’s degree students have explored topics related to human resources on a deeper level than those in bachelor’s degree programs. Master’s degree graduates of MBA programs have also expanded their general business knowledge to a great degree. Every MBA program starts with a dive into general business topics, at the master’s level, before students get started on their concentration area. Programs offer concentrations in areas that can include human resources management, marketing, information technology, corporate finance, leadership, and more.
These days, many human resources students complete their master’s level work through online degree programs. This approach allows them to continue working and gaining valuable experience while simultaneously earning the advanced degrees that are highly prized. The flexibility of an online human resources degree program is also great for students who need to stay home and care for a family member.
National Online Rankings - Best 25 Online Masters HR ProgramsOnline Doctorate (PhD)
A doctoral degree program for human resources management is not always sought by employers in the business community. It's often seen as too intellectual and theoretical for the workaday world. However, that may be changing. So many human resources professionals are entering the workforce with master’s degrees that a doctorate, plus ample work experience, may make the difference in a hiring decision. Further, a PhD can open other opportunities for graduates.
Many PhDs choose to forgo the business world and pursue work in academia instead. While it is possible to teach college level courses with a master’s level degree, a PhD is virtually required for landing a full-time, tenure track position. While we often think of these positions as teaching jobs, that's not always the case. There are many PhDs who work with a university as tenured research faculty. These professionals basically work as consultants to firms that need expert level consultation on the human resource issues that may be troubling them.
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Become a Human Resources Manager in Oklahoma
Every business needs employees if it's going to thrive. Thus, Oklahoma is full of human resource management professionals who help to hire capable workers and then make sure those workers are fairly compensated, have benefits, and enjoy a safe and healthy workplace. However, many Oklahoma students are not yet sure how to become human resource managers.
The steps to success in human resources are relatively simple. The first step is found as early as high school. There, core skills are formed. Students who are interested in business are urged to work hard in their mathematics courses. Even though human resources is a people-focused career, every HR professional needs to be able to understand spreadsheets, project budgetary needs for their department, and negotiate for the best benefits. These days, some high schools offer courses in business math, accounting, and statistics. If these are available, students should certainly take them. There may even be co-op programs with local community colleges that offer these courses for high school students.
High school students might even look for summer work in HR departments. There may be part-time opportunities where students help clean up the personnel files or perform other vital tasks, including collating benefits enrollment packages for employees. Some may consider this an internship, but savvy future business leaders can negotiate for a paid position.
When it comes time to find a bachelor’s human resource management degree program, students should cast a wide net. Each potential program should be scrutinized to determine whether it's a good fit. One key quality each possible program should have is valid, current accreditation. The bare minimum accreditation credential should be from a CHEA-approved regional accreditation agency. Students should also seek out programs that can boast a program-specific accreditation from a national agency such as AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE.
Students should also evaluate each HR program's curriculum and course offerings to ensure that they will be able to study the topics that matter the most to them. While many high school students may not yet have a clear idea of what specialty they want to focus on for their HR careers, it's still helpful to compare each program's course descriptions.
Careers for Human Resources Graduates
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants:
Every department in a business office needs secretaries and administrative assistants. This position doesn't require any specific degree, but an associate degree in business or human resources could definitely help you land a job. Ambitious assistants are often able to rise through the ranks of their HR department. - Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers:
This high-pressure job requires a keen attention to detail, organization skills, and clear communication. Dispatchers need to be able to think on their feet so that the right resources are allocated for an emergency. While a degree is not required, those with an associate degree may find that this job opens more opportunities later. - Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistance:
These administrative workers are a cut above most other support staffers. Legal secretaries often have a bachelor’s degree in legal studies, corporate law, or pre-law. The pay for these workers typically reaches into the six figures and offers a lot of other intangible rewards, too. - Fundraisers:
The non-profit sector relies, in large part, on donations from gracious benefactors. However, that money must be constantly raised by fundraising professionals. Fundraisers may help organize mailing campaigns to raise funds. Depending on their organization, some fundraisers will organize social events where patrons are invited to party and donate to the cause. - Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists:
These human resources professionals work hard to ensure that all the employees in their firm receive the pay and benefits they deserve. - Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists: These human resources professionals work hard to ensure that all the employees in their firm receive the pay and benefits they deserve.
- Lodging Managers:
Every hotel, motel, and posh resort needs a lodging manager to make sure that reservations are managed properly and the beds have fresh sheets. Lodging managers sometimes work at a resort for a free room and a reasonable paycheck. Hospitality managers who work for multinational chains often are asked to move around the globe until they land in their dream job and hotel. - Compliance Officers:
Most companies need someone working in compliance to make sure that their operations remain within the bounds of the law. This position often has a higher profile in industries that have a more legal exposure, such as healthcare and finance, among others. - Labor Relations Specialists:
Businesses that employ union workers need to employ a labor relations specialist for their human resources department. Some labor relations specialists may work as consultants for businesses that are seeing labor organizing. A background in labor law and corporate law may be very useful here. - Chief Executives:
This position usually comes to those who have a long, proven track record of success in their industry. The position usually requires at least an MBA, however, people who start up their own companies can appoint themselves to the CEO position. This is common and perhaps the quickest way to attain this title.
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