HR Degree
cmanders
12 Posts
I have been with the company I am at for 13 years and started out just as an average administrative assistant. Over the years I have had more and more responsibilities placed on me and I am now being told by my supervisors that I am the HR manager, basically because I took it upon myself to handle that. Anyway, I have no degree but over the years have developed a pretty significant knowledge in HR. I am considering sitting for the PHR test, more for my benefit than for the company. Those of you who work in HR, do you have a degree in it? There are classes you can take where you get a ceriticate in HR. Has anyone tried any of those? I am just looking to improve my footing and make myself more attractive to future employers should the need arise. Any advice would be appreciated.
Comments
I do not have a degree in HR. I have a Business Management Degree. I think a degree in HR helps you learn the laws and fundamentals of HR but nothing can prepare you for what truly happens like actual HR experience in the real world. Example - talking about disciplinary action in a course is one thing but having to look over all your documention and then firing someone is a completely different ball game!
There are many courses out there that you can take including the SHRM Learning System (which will help you prepare for the PHR) and also some good state specific courses that will teach you the laws that differ in your state as compared to the federal laws. What state are you in? Maybe someone on the forum can recommend some courses in your state.
First of all, kudos to you for assuming HR responsibilities on your own. As far as degrees or areas of study, I was a political science major, but really enjoyed the law and working with people. Unlike many professions, there are no specific academic requirements for human resources manager. However, I think most employers prefer that candidates have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Many colleges and universities have programs leading to a degree in personnel, human resources, or labor relations. Some offer degree programs in human resources administration or human resources management, training and development, or compensation and benefits. You may also want to think about a combination of courses in the social sciences, business, and behavioral sciences. Most prospective human resources specialists take courses in compensation, recruitment, training and development, and performance appraisal, as well as courses in principles of management, organizational structure, and industrial psychology. Other relevant courses include business administration, public administration, psychology, sociology, political science, economics, and statistics.
Good luck!
I will take issue that HR certificate programs are "junk." If you have had no formal education in HR, a certificate program at a local community college will give you a general background in law and practice. The instructors are usually practitioners rather than academics, so you will learn about real applications and can get practical answers to questions.
I earned a degree in English and work in HR, but I found the certificate program very worthwhile--and convenient (all classes at night) and reasonably priced.
I have a Masters in Social-Organizational Psychology, but I really don't think you necessarily need a degree to practice HR. Most of the HR people I have met at the generalist/manager level have business undergraduate degrees. All of the director/vp level people I've worked with have advanced degrees of some sort whether it be business, law, social work, hr, etc.
Regarding the PHR certification, I definitely recommed the SHRM prep courses and finding a good study group.
If you are thinking about future employment opportunities, the postings I see in my area (Pacific NW) all prefer a degree in business/HR or equivalent work experience and are requiring a PHR or SPHR. I am currently in a HR certification program at a local private university and I have found it more theoretical than anything else. I agree that some teachers in certification programs are practitioners, but I have found that is not always the norm. Only one of my professors has recent HR experience so I do get real world advice from him. I plan to sit for the PHR exam at the end of the year and think in the long run it will be more valuable in a real world sense. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
I took the path I did because this is a career change for me and wanted to be able to show my current and future employers that I continued to improve and add to my skills in specific areas and the university I am attending has a reputation of academic excellence. I hate to say that it's really to just look good on my resume, but it wont hurt.
If you decide to look for more education, I would stay away from on-line classes and seminars. Check with your local state universities for classes and certifications that they offer. I did a lot of research before enrolling in college again and found that on-line classes did not offer the kind of education or certification I was looking for. Good luck any way your choose.
You are wise to consider sitting for the PHR. Like a degree, it tells others (internal to your company or in case you are distributing resumes) what body of knowledge you have mastered. A college degree will not make you smarter. However like certification, any education you have is further evidence of your knowledge. My degrees are in business management, but there was plenty of organizational development, employee relations, and business law to get me steered toward HR. The degrees, as well as my SPHR, have opened doors many times.
I think it's wonderful and admirable that you stepped up to the challenge of being the HR guru. I have a BS in HR Management and a MA in HR Development. The only thing the degrees did for me was help me get my first position in HR. It is not necessary, but it can give you an added advantage when applying for other positions. I think its wonderful that you want to sit for the PHR test. That will actually help you much more than the HR degree.
I will take issue that HR certificate programs are "junk." If you have had no formal education in HR, a certificate program at a local community college will give you a general background in law and practice. The instructors are usually practitioners rather than academics, so you will learn about real applications and can get practical answers to questions.
I earned a degree in English and work in HR, but I found the certificate program very worthwhile--and convenient (all classes at night) and reasonably priced.
[/quote]
I really didn't mean to be as inflammatory as the post, in hindsight, appears to be. There may be other good certification programs out there, I just don't know them. Admittedly, there are several and I've only been exposed to a few. Certificate or no certificate, seminars are often very good and an ongoing collection of those can turn out to be a great HR education. Self-starters who read a lot definitely benefit.
Here's my two cents. The degree is MUCH more valuable than a certification. While PHR and SPHR are "nice to have" they are NOT necessary, especially if you have BA/BS or MA/MS in HR or business. Many companies advertise wanting PHR or SPHR but they really don't know what it means. I interviewed once with someone who that it was equivalent to having a CPA - and that I had to go through as much for the PHR/SPHR as he did for his CPA! Far from it! While the PHR and SPHR tests have about a 55-65% pass rate, they are not nearly as difficult to get through as a CPA exam.
Anyhow, my point really is, that if you can get the cert it's fine but if you can get the degree, even better.
And for what it's worth, another of my two cents . . . go for a degree in business vs. HR. If you truly want to be a strategic partner in your company, if you want to fully understand the BUSINESS side of your company, and if you want a seat at the table, then go for the business degree. It will be much more appropriate. HR degrees are fine, but they truly don't prepare you for the corporate business world, just the legal HR world. I'd major in business with a minor in HR. Best of both worlds.
[quote user="TXHRGuy"]The non-PHR/SPHR certification programs are mostly junk. Or, more precisely, I don't know of one that isn't junk. A PHR would be a great career move for you. I have a master's degree in labor and industrial relations, which is an old name for a new curriculum. It's easier to change the courses than the degree name from an administrative standpoint although some labor programs are still actually labor programs. I'll probably get around to the SPHR in the next year or two. I have not sat for either cert although my wife has. They are becoming increasingly important and are already more important than academic credentials in some circles because there is such wide variation in academic programs' value in preparing students to actually do HR work.[/quote]
Actually the CEBS certification (through the Wharton School of Business at University of Pennsylvania) while not as highly regarded as the PHR/SPHR is great for a novice who is wanting to learn more about Benefits and Compensation. It is a well-rounded set of courses in those two areas and great for someone just starting out, or someone without a lot of HR experience. The PHR and SPHR are more for HR professionals who have been in the HR world longer and have more real life HR experience.
While it won't get you a higher paying job just by having the CEBS initials, it will give you the background knowledge to be able to work in the field and move up within it....especially if you are lacking in those areas of HR.
Kudos to you for taking on the duties in the wonderful world of HR! :} I want to make a few points here. I have an undergraduate degree in HR and in case you aren't paying attention- more organizations are advertising for "a Bachelors in HR preferred". I have a dual MBA- one in Global Management of Technology and the other one is in Human Resources Management. I am also certified at the PHR level.
Your education is your dedication to the field- experience is great (1 have 16 years) but please do not devalue those of us who have the foundations in the field. I would disagree that non-certification programs are junk. There are wonderful generalist certifications, the CEBS as mentioned, benefits, etc. I think you need to decided what you want to do in the field and go for it! I plan on studying to the SPHR and obtaining my P.H.D. in the field.
I think that many general business majors and industrial psychological/organizational behavior majors do well- but HR is still based on a lot of case law and it will do you a world of good to be exposed to that. It has opened many doors for my career- I am about to be promoted to Director of Human Resources. I wish you the best of luck in all that you do.
Angie
HR Manager
First of all, congratulations on your promotion! I do not have a degree in HR either but I do have a B.A in Political Science. So I agree that a degree in HR directly is not necessary. However, what I would recommend is taking the PHR. This will give you credibility in the industry and expose you to some areas of interest you may have not yet worked on.
I studied by myself by using the SHRM learning system. It was a bit of challenge to devote the time to it, but overall I would recommend it.
Good luck with your new position.
An important factor to consider is what industry do you work in or want to work for? How large is the Company you now work for? I know smaller family-oriented companies tend to promote from within, do not have "formal" HR departments, and do not necessarily require any management position to have a college degree. I will never understand why people tend to target the Human Resources field as a field that necessarily does not require a person to have a college degree or major in HR-related courses? Possibly because the field is elusive to non-HR employees or employees who do receive a HR degree take general management courses to receive a HR Management Degree?
I have worked in the field for 30 years and did go back to school. I even studied for Certification. I am not impressed with the Certification requirements. I never use my Certification designation and I wish they would change the test. The body of knowledge required to get the Certification designation is different than the knowledge needed on a day-to-day HR Management level. The majority of people in my HR course of study were Management majors. There is a difference in HR Management and General Management.
My suggestion: If you want to excel in HR, stick with the field, get as much experience as possible in different industries, and get a degree. The degree will never hurt your credentials, the years of HR experience will teach you more than any book or college degree, and Certification? I earn the Certification because it is a job requirement to secure a HR Management level position ....... no other reason. There is so much more to HR Management than knowing or memorizing the little legal details or thinking strategically when sitting with a group of executives.