M.S. in Human Resources (degrees, MBA, psychology, master's)

[chikid]

I eventually want to get a Master's part-time while working full-time. I currently am starting a job that is not specifically HR but rather it is a branch of HR. I want to work a year or two before I start considering applying to part-time graduate programs.

With that being said I am interested in either pursuing a career in HR. Now I see that most Master's programs related to HR are through MBA's. However, I found one program that is specifically a M.S. in Human Resources that can be completed in one year full-time or two years part-time where I live.

So basically, has anyone gotten a Master's in HR? Is just going for the MBA better with a concentration better?

Like I said this is all just pre-planning, I just want to work and gain experience from there and maybe two years down the road see how things go, but just want to see if anyone has any advice out there.

[joe from dayton]

The only thing I can tell you is that the few people I have known who worked in HR had HR degrees. I also know that there are certifications that one can get after being in the field for awhile. Someone may come along and correct me, I think advanced certs would be more important than what master's program you attended.

[mizzourah2006]

Originally Posted by joe from dayton

The only thing I can tell you is that the few people I have known who worked in HR had HR degrees. I also know that there are certifications that one can get after being in the field for awhile. Someone may come along and correct me, I think advanced certs would be more important than what master's program you attended.

Yeah I agree, I would look into a PHR or SPHR certification instead of a master's in HR. If you really want a master's in that area I would look into I/O Psychology. It is very similar to HR, but is based upon scientific principles. So while HR teaches you how to do payroll, compensation planning etc., I/O teaches you valid selection systems, science based training, etc.

But if you want to go straight HR I would think a certification would be plenty and much cheaper.