Human Resources Schools and Programs in The United States

Human Resources Studies in The United States

Human resources (HR) is the part of management that deals with the people in an organisation: recruiting and selecting staff, pay and benefits, training, employment law and relations between employer and employees. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) describes human resources specialists as the people who recruit, screen and interview job applicants and place newly hired workers in jobs.

In the United States the subject is taught mainly in business schools, usually as a specialisation inside a business degree. A second tradition, industrial and labor relations, studies work from the side of both employers and employees. The ILR School at Cornell University, founded in 1945 with a mandate to train labor and management, is the example on this page.

How the degree is organised

The standard entry qualification is a bachelor's degree, which EducationUSA says is usually completed in four years of full-time study. According to the BLS, human resources specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in human resources, business, communications or a related field. In many universities HR is not a separate degree but a concentration within the business administration major. At Towson University in Maryland, for example, management students choose between concentrations in entrepreneurship, human resource management, international business, and leadership and management. The HR concentration covers hiring and retaining staff, compensation and benefits, training, and employment and labor law.

Community colleges offer shorter routes. At the Community College of Aurora in Colorado, the Business Management AA degree of 60 credits prepares students to transfer as a junior to a four-year university in the state, where they can continue in areas such as management or human resources; the college also lists a Human Resource Management certificate. EducationUSA calls the transfer route "2+2".

Specialised master's degrees are common for those who want to move into management:

• The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business offers a Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM) on a 16-month full-time path or part time; a 12-month path is open to domestic students only. The GMAT or GRE is optional and a business degree is not required.
• Cornell's ILR School offers the Master of Industrial and Labor Relations (MILR), a two-year MS in labor research and policy, a 15-month online Executive Master of Human Resource Management for working HR professionals, and a PhD.

Admission and language

EducationUSA states that undergraduate applicants in general must have completed high school and be at least 17 years old, and that US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. Teaching is in English, and the subject relies on US employment law and workplace practice, so some of the content is specific to the country. The search for a programme should begin 12 to 18 months before the academic year.

To study on an F student visa, students must first be accepted by an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Where to study human resources in the United States

The schools on this page are spread over many states, with no city standing out. Public universities on the list include The Ohio State University in Columbus, Purdue University in West Lafayette, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and Towson University. Private institutions include Cornell University in Ithaca, Suffolk University in Boston, the University of Scranton and Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu. Community colleges include the Community College of Aurora and Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, California.

Accreditation and professional certification

EducationUSA explains that the recognition of course credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to an institution's accreditation. Business schools can also hold a specialised accreditation from AACSB, which describes it as a framework for quality assurance and continuous improvement in business education.

HR is not a licensed profession. The BLS notes that certification is voluntary but shows professional expertise and credibility. The best-known credentials are those of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management: the SHRM-CP for HR professionals in operational roles and the SHRM-SCP for those in strategic senior-level positions, both renewed every three years. Some degrees are built around them: Towson states that its HR curriculum follows the guidelines recommended by SHRM and that final-year students who meet the eligibility requirements can apply to take the SHRM-CP.

Careers

Graduates usually start as HR specialists or generalists, in recruitment, training, or compensation and benefits. The BLS counts 939,700 jobs for human resources specialists in 2025 and projects growth of 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 73,700 openings a year. Human resources managers held 224,900 jobs in 2025; these posts typically require five years or more of related work experience, and some require a master's degree in human resources, labor relations or business administration. About 16,800 openings for managers are projected each year.

Frequently asked questions

Is human resources a separate degree in the United States?

Sometimes. Many universities teach it as a concentration within a business administration degree, as Towson University does; others offer specialised master's degrees such as Ohio State's MHRM or Cornell's MILR.

Do I need a master's degree to work in HR?

Not to start. The BLS states that human resources specialists typically need a bachelor's degree; some management positions require a master's degree.

Is there an official licence for HR professionals?

No. Certification is voluntary. The SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP are professional credentials that must be renewed every three years.