Human Resource Management Specialization

Human Resource Management Career

A human resources manager is the liaison between government officials or corporate managers and their respective employees. Human resources managers oversee all administrative functions, including hiring, training, compensation and benefit plans, employee grievances, employee discipline, personnel policies, labor negotiations and many other administrative matters.

What is a Human Resource Management MPA Specialization?

Students pursuing a Master of Public Administration (MPA) learn some of the skills and knowledge that apply to the human resources profession. These students learn how to create policies and procedures that keep an organization running smoothly. Students who pursue an MPA with a specialization in human resources management, are particularly prepared to succeed in this field.

MPA human resources specialization programs cover many topics pertaining to the management of complex government agencies and organizations, private businesses and non-profit entities. Courses within this specialization can cover:

• Talent recruitment, acquisition and retention techniques
• Performance evaluation and management
• Legal and ethical considerations
• Compensation and benefits systems
• Pros and cons of alternate workplans
• Legal regulations
• Conflict resolution strategies
• Technological impact on productivity
• Technological impact on social behavior
• Management and leadership expectations
• Potential effects of global competition
• Succession planning
• Labor union relationships
• Multicultural workplace matters
• Impact of government regulation on a private business or organization
• Human resources management trends and their effects

The above functions apply to public and private sector human resource managers. This specialization also includes courses that specifically apply to government human resource management. These concepts can include:

• Management of a public workforce
• Civil services procedures
• Foreign government systems

Career Options with this Specialization

Individuals with this specialized degree have many career options. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) {www.bls.gov} reports that 14% of human resources managers work for corporations and 10% work for the government. BLS predicts a 9% job growth rate in this field between 2016-2026.

Private Sector Human Resource Positions

In the private sector, entry level human resources employees are referred to as human resource specialists. These specialists oversee strictly administrative matters such as wages, the assignment of benefit plans and training. They do not delve into policy discussions.

Human resources employees with more practical experience, or a specialized graduate degree, hold management level positions. Human resource managers oversee their entire department and work on more sensitive employee and policy related matters.

In large corporations, the top human resources employees are referred to as director or vice president of human resources. These individuals are members of the company’s executive leadership team. They have many responsibilities, including the direction of labor relations issues through the negotiation and drafting of union contracts and the coordination of wages and grievance processes for nonunion shops. Working closely with the rest of the organization’s executive team, these professionals address matters that affect the overall business.

Human resource management jobs are created each time a company forms, merges or expands. Additionally, the substantive work of a human resources manager is currently changing. While these individuals will always be responsible for coordinating an organization’s administrative functions, new tasks are being added to their job profiles. Top officials and executives consider them valuable business partners.

Public Sector Human Resource Positions

While these positions may have different titles in the public sector, the overall career progression is similar. In the government system, human resource positions are created each time a new administration takes office. The addition of an MPA, with a specialization in human resource management, creates a competitive advantage for candidates applying for these government jobs.

Return on Investment

The field of human resources management is staffed by highly educated individuals. Corporate executives and high-level government officials expect their human resources team members to have undergraduate, and often, graduate level degrees. Practical experience is required for these positions, but the theoretical aspects of this career are best learned in an academic setting.

Human resource management pay varies by sector of employment and an organization’s size and location. In 2017, BLS reported the median salary for a human resources manager as $110,120. Directors, Vice Presidents and specialized MPA graduates may earn a higher annual salary.

Is this the Right Master of Public Administration Specialization for you?

Human resource management is often characterized as the “softer” side of business. This career combines personnel matters, negotiation and business management. Simply having prior business experience does not adequately equip individuals for this profession. While pursuing this specialized master’s level degree, students gain theoretical and applied knowledge in the areas of public policy, change management, organizational structure and performance management.

Many of the qualities of a human resources manager cannot be taught in school. The most effective human resources employees combine their practical work experience, theoretical academic knowledge and innate interpersonal, communication and leadership skills.