21st Century Human Resources Career Path
American University’s MS in Human Resources Analytics and Management prepares you to lead future companies through their current HR challenges in a range of executive and consulting roles. In its 2016 Global Human Capital Trends Survey,1 Deloitte University Press identified technology as a major driver of change in the HR field, and also saw that 24% of high-performing HR organizations used design thinking as part of their development strategy. Further findings revealed,
- 72% of respondents recognized Digital HR as an important tool
- 61% have trouble moving their organization towards self-directed learning
- Just 9% felt fully ready for Digital HR
Armed with specific coursework and experiential projects in HR technologies, design thinking, company culture, and analytics, you’re exceptionally positioned to solve these challenges. You’ll stand out as a star candidate for your dream position in one of the over 1 million positions available to HR professionals with a master’s degree in Human Resources.2
Our students have access to the Career Directions program in the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies. The center provides professional development resources for adult learners and offers a variety of workshops, as well as one-on-one career coaching sessions.
Human Resources Careers
The market is strong and growing at an above-average rate, especially for those who exhibit proven skills in emergent technologies, data analytics and human resources. This skill set is in urgent demand, and 91 percent of American University graduate degree holders find jobs or go on to further studies. When you weigh these facts against the excellent job market, graduates may consider pursuing positions and median human resources salary listed for the positions below.
- Human Resource Managers3
Job Growth: 9% Median $: 104,440 - HR Management Analyst4
Job Growth: 14% Median $: 81,320 - Top Executives5
Job Growth: 6% Median $: 102,690 - Compensation and Benefit Managers6
Job Growth: 6% Median $: 111,430 - Training and Development Managers7
Job Growth: 7% Median $: 102,640
Discover Your Personal Network
Surround yourself with people who are as dedicated about your work as you are.
Robert Stokes: The MS in Human Resource Analytics and Management program at American University is a really exciting program from the standpoint that it really prepares those that are in HR to really have a better understanding of data-driven decisions and metrics and analytics in making those decisions. It's also a great program for people that are in a career that are working maybe outside of HR and want to enter HR.
The nice thing about our program, and I think is an attractive feature about our program, is it was approved by the Society of Human Resource Management as a academically aligned program, so that when a student's finishing our program, which includes courses in intercultural communication, change management, employee metrics, risk and compliance, they'll be coming out with a background and a preparation that SHRM puts its stamp of approval on.
HR has really evolved to where you have people that are generalists in a lot of different HR areas, and you have people that are specialists in one area like benefits or compensation. And being able to have those students learn from each other and learn in a setting that's nurturing from an academically known institution like AU is really important. They'll end up coming out with portfolio projects that they've worked on that they actually can use in terms of applying for advancement or applying to get into HR. And we also spend time talking with them outside of the classroom about career planning, and job search, and giving them advice as to where they can be looking and how to go about doing that process.
Career Services
American University’s Career Center offers the same services online and over the phone that it does on campus. Students and alumni have access to resources for their job search, career advising, internships and scholarships.
Students and graduates can also network, look for jobs, and apply for positions by making an account at AU Career Web, our online career search tool.
The Office of Professional Studies offers career development workshops, continuing education through industry specific webinars with practitioners who discuss emerging trends in their fields, and our academic practitioner Program Directors act as mentors to current students and alumni alike.
References
1 https://dupress.deloitte.com/dup-us-en/multimedia/infographics/2016-human-capital-trends.html.
2 http://www.bls.gov/data.
3 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Human Resources Managers, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/human-resources-managers.htm (visited November 29, 2016).
4 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Management Analysts, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/management-analysts.htm (visited November 29, 2016).
5 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Top Executives, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm (visited November 29, 2016).
6 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Compensation and Benefits Managers, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/compensation-and-benefits-managers.htm (visited November 30, 2016).
7 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Training and Development Managers, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/training-and-development-managers.htm (visited November 30, 2016).
Get Started
Align your education to the immediate and future needs of the HR industry with the Master of Science in Human Resource Analytics and Management from American University. Learn more now, or call 855-725-7614.
