Human Resource Schools: The Difference Between HR MBA & Masters

Learn about human resources schools and the difference between a HR MBA and masters degree.
Many people are confused about the differences between an HR MBA and a human resource management masters degree. I will explain the differences between the two and highlight some of the pro’s and cons of each. In general, it comes down to your specific career goals, past experience, and how confident you are that human resources is your long term career of choice.

An MBA in human resources is a program that provides you with all the same curriculum of a general MBA program, but then allows you to focus more on the principles and practices of HR management. You can expect to take courses in business management, financials, business law, and all the courses you would expect from a typical MBA program; however, you will also get to take a set of courses in topics such as human capital management, organizational psychology, and employment laws.

A masters degree in human resource management is different than an HR MBA because it is designed to delve into much more depth and cover a more comprehensive set of topics pertaining to human resources. A masters degree in HR management will get into topics such as collective bargaining, compensation and motivation theory, employee and workplace psychology, talent acquisition, and managing organizational change. While these are merely a sampling of courses you will be taking, the main point to be made is that the masters in human resource management is a much more focused, on-topic, program, while the HR MBA is more comprehensive in nature.

If you have already been working in a human resource role and feel confident that this is a career path that is aligned with your long term goals, then it might be best to get the most thorough and specific education via a human resource masters degree. If; however, you are unsure exactly where you fit into the business world long term, an HR MBA may be the better option because if you change your mind about working in an HR capacity down the road, you will still have the MBA education and curriculum to fall back on, which will enable you to take on a variety of other roles in the business world, including other management roles.

The great news for working professionals who don’t want to disrupt their current jobs is that online human resources degrees are now readily available through many reputable schools. In fact, online programs are now preferred by both employers and employees because of the flexibility and low impact on their current work schedules. Many companies also have tuition reimbursement programs in an effort to support the further education and growth of their workforce.

Start by researching the specifics on HR MBA and other masters level programs and find human resources schools offering online or campus based programs. Your HR management career is waiting for you.