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STEP 4: Consider Education

Which HR degree is right for me? HR draws from a number of disciplines, and many successful HR professionals have degrees in psychology, sociology, business, education, and other social sciences. It is worthwhile, however, if you are considering a long-term career in human resources, to explore HR-specific degree programs. Click below for a roundup of the kinds of HR degrees you can get and how long they would take.

HR Degree Programs

How do I pay for school?

Because there are millions of dollars in scholarships available, you’re almost guaranteed to fit eligibility requirements. HRGuru lists hundreds of scholarships that are available to just about anyone. Many students assume that they have to be brilliant, athletically talented, or gifted musically to earn a scholarship for college. What they don’t realize is that sometimes they just need to be persistent!

Of course, it helps to get good grades. Many colleges award scholarships to students with significant financial need in the accepted applicant group — a grant that you don’t need to repay, just for making the cut and getting admitted!

Even if your family doesn’t demonstrate financial need, your chances of getting scholarship dollars go up significantly if your grades are good. When scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit, without regard for need, students who have worked hard and achieved results in high school will be the winners.

You should also be persistent in seeking out other scholarship sources. Sometimes all it takes to get a scholarship is to find out who in your area is offering one: your church, your employer, your parents’ employers, local civic organizations. You’ll just need to fill out any required applications or interviews on time in order to be considered.

Go to school for free – Search HRGuru’s Scholarship database now

The Online Option

From Monster.com

Are you a full-time employee, a single parent or both? Does it seem you just don’t have enough time to pursue a “real” degree?

If so, then online education may be just the thing you need. It’s a great way to earn a degree while working. Online courses and degree programs are developed specifically to provide the flexibility needed to fit a busy schedule. In fact, thousands of single parents and full-time workers earn their degrees each year using online education. Most schools offer online programs that range from associate’s to master’s degrees and, depending on the course, may take as little as one to two hours a day, three days a week.

How Online Education Works

Online courses follow the same format as traditional college courses, with a professor, textbooks, homework, exams, etc. However online courses have a much higher degree of flexibility and usually use a combination of message boards, e-mail, chat rooms, CD-ROMs and textbooks. In a typical online course, the professor will post weekly reading assignments, study questions and schedule a group online chat time. The student must post answers to the study questions and respond to at least one other student’s postings by the end of that week. Online courses typically have weekly deadlines – however, your daily/weekly study schedule is completely up to you. At the end of the course or module you will have a final exam (lower level) or written essay requirement (upper level) summarizing the context of the class.

Your Key to Success

Just like in traditional college classroom courses, your success comes from a willingness to commit to your coursework. On average, online students spend a couple of hours a day studying. It is also essential for you to have a strong desire to learn and remain focused on the goal of earning the college degree – your degree will expand your career opportunities.

Are Online College Courses for Real?

Yes. Many people share your concern about the validity of online college programs. Online programs are offered by many big-name, fully accredited and esteemed schools like Penn State, University of Phoenix, the University of Washington and Capella University, to name a few. However you should remember: “Don’t buy into an image, buy into a degree.” Many small-name colleges offer online courses that may best fit your needs and budget.

There are a couple of questions you should ask when choosing the right school and program for you:

• Does the media (CD-ROM, e-mail, Internet, etc.) fit your needs and abilities?
• Does the school have the degree program that fits your education goals?

If you think online may be the best fit for you, begin looking for the school that meets your needs. Schools usually have free information packets they will mail you with answers to the questions above, more on tuition costs and an application.

Find a degree program here

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