collageShould I Get a Doctorate in Human Resources?
Some working professionals with an advanced business degree leave the workplace to pursue a doctorate in human resource management on a full-time basis. Students should evaluate their personal circumstances to decide whether they want to earn the degree full-time on campus or to take advantage of online flexibility to earn their Ph.D. in human resources. Some learners may pursue the degree right after completing a master’s. In this case, many choose an on-campus program.
Once in the program, learners study subjects such as organizational behavior, human resource management, and measuring human capital. Research plays an important role in the doctoral HR curriculum, as faculty groom students for roles as researchers and educators. Learners take courses in areas such as qualitative reasoning and analysis, research methods application, and advanced research design. They also participate in significant research as part of the program.
The on-campus program provides other tangible benefits, like networking opportunities with peers and face-to-face discussions with faculty and advisers. Near graduation, learners can take advantage of the school’s job placement or career services to dive into the job-hunting process. New Ph.D. holders enter the workforce with terminal degrees that often enhance their competitiveness and long-term career earnings.
What Can I Do With a Doctorate in Human Resources?
Getting a doctorate in human resources management represents a significant investment in time and money. While some doctoral programs in HR groom learners specifically for teaching positions, many pathways await professionals with this degree. Some choose to work as human resources managers within large organizations such as Fortune 500 companies. Other HR professionals specialize in particular areas such as training and development and compensation and benefits. Many with a Ph.D. in human resources embrace an entrepreneurial spirit and work as consultants, lending their expertise to companies both large and small
Human Resources Manager
HR managers at this level oversee departments and staff responsible for hiring and firing, compensation and benefits, training and development, and other personnel issues. While most of these positions require a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of experience, positions at larger organization prefer a more advanced degree.
Median Annual Salary: $110,120
Projected Growth Rate: 9%
Training and Development Manager
Training managers plan, develop, and coordinate initiatives designed to enhance employees’ knowledge and skills. Many training professionals began their careers with a bachelor’s, but some employers want a master’s degree with a specialization in HR management, training and development, or organizational development. Employers expect these managers to possess at least five years of experience, and high-level positions may require a doctorate or a commensurate level of work experience.
Median Annual Salary: $108,250
Projected Growth Rate: 10%
Compensation and Benefits Manager
These managers specialize in the planning, development, and managing of compensation benefits for employees. Most jobs in this area require a bachelor’s and at least five years of experience in HR, management, or a related field like finance.
Median Annual Salary: $119,120
Projected Growth Rate: 5%
College Professor
Professors teach students HR management, organizational leadership, and related areas at postsecondary institutions. Typically, faculty hold a doctorate and boast a body of research which includes scholarly publications. Some colleges require some work or teaching experience. Many students in a Ph.D. in human resources program acquire teaching experience as graduate teaching assistants in this program.
Median Annual Salary: $76,000
Projected Growth Rate: 15%
Management Analyst/Consultant
Management consultants improve an organization’s efficiency in a number of areas, including training and development and HR compensation and benefits. This position requires a bachelor’s degree or master’s and demonstrable expertise such as a track record in the area of specialization. Those seeking to position themselves as HR thought experts benefit from a doctorate; most consultants enhance employability by earning the Certified Management Consultant designation.
Median Annual Salary: $82,450
Projected Growth Rate: 14%
How to Choose a Doctoral Program in Human Resources
A number of issues factor into the decision to pursue a doctorate in human resources. Participants can expect to spend four to five years pursuing the degree with full-time attendance — five to eight years for part-timers. Working professionals may opt to enroll part time to maintain careers while they further their education. They must also decide whether to choose an on-campus program or take advantage of the flexibility offered by online programs. The price of the program will serve as a significant factors for many.
Those who pursue careers in academia need teaching experience. An on-campus Ph.D. in human resources program furnishes access to such experience with teaching assistantships. Participants work closely with professors researching or teaching junior classes in exchange for a stipend and/or tuition reduction. Some schools also offer research assistantships for on-campus students to assist faculty. Out-of-state students may find themselves exempt from these opportunities.
Whichever mode of delivery they choose, learners can expect to take courses in areas such as strategic human resources management, performance improvement, quantitative research in HRD, and organizational performance. All programs require a dissertation involving substantial research. Faculty may also require that learners complete a comprehensive exam. Online learners may still need to attend campus for required residencies. If students plan to pursue an on-campus program, they should consider factors such as the cost of living and the quality of life they can expect if they move to a new location. Students should also weigh their future earnings against the cost of the degree.
Programmatic Accreditation for Doctoral Programs in Human Resources
Students should ensure that programs hold accreditation. Degree-granting programs hold either institutional or programmatic accreditation. Since no agency solely accredits HR programs, they receive blanket accreditation from the institution. In some instances, they may also hold accreditation from a business school accrediting agency such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, if the institution’s business school offers the degree.
Most likely, a Ph.D. in human resources holds regional accreditation from one of seven agencies that accredit doctorate-granting colleges. Students should never underestimate the value of accreditation, since schools must undergo a rigorous evaluation process to achieve it. Without accreditation, the program may not provide the academic rigor or cachet students need for career success. Employers may not recognize a degree from an unaccredited institution. Furthermore, if a student begins a doctorate at a school that does not hold accreditation and decides to transfer to one that does, the credits may not transfer. Regionally accredited schools only accept credits from other regionally accredited schools. A college’s accreditation also affects a student’s ability to receive federal financial aid.
Doctorate in Human Resources Program Admissions
Students should expect to go through the same admissions process for either an online or on-campus doctorate in human resources. Applicants typically need the same documents, even if deadlines differ. Students should apply to six schools offering advanced human resource management degrees. Keeping their list of options at a reasonable number saves money and helps learners concentrate on putting together a comprehensive and polished application packet for each. Students should make sure that each program meets their personal, educational, and career objectives in terms of costs, course offerings, degree completion flexibility, and specializations they may need. Below, we provide a concise list of prerequisites and admission materials students should consider.
Prerequisites
- Degree: In general, students need a master’s degree in human resources, management, business administration, or a related field for admission to a doctorate in human resources program. A select number of schools may offer a dual master’s and doctoral program.
- Professional Experience: Some schools design their doctoral programs with working professionals in mind, expecting students to incorporate their hands-on experience into the program and apply what they learn in their work. Many others do not require work experience or require minimal experience. Students should make this requirement a factor in their decision-making process.
- Minimum GPA: Most graduate business/management programs require a minimum 3.0 GPA for admission, including doctoral programs. The admissions committee may consider other qualities the applicant brings to the table, such as HR or management work experience or a strong GMAT score.
- License: Students seeking to enter a doctoral program in human resource management do not need to meet any licensure requirements.
Earning a PhD in Human Resources Management
An advanced degree in human resource management is awarded to students who earn either a masters in human resources or a PhD in human resources degree. With a master’s degree in human resource management, you may be prepared to lead, examine, design, and assess human resources procedures across an organization, while incorporating those procedures and systems with business strategies. Most master’s degree courses focus on the basis of the human resource profession, including the concepts of human resources, labor relations, organizational design, training, and behavior, and employment law. Depending on the regulations of your school, you may be able to complete a master’s degree program in human resource management with almost half the credit hours required to complete a PhD degree program. Upon completion of the degree, you might be qualified to pursue careers such as: human resource generalist, executive, staffing director, employee manager, or compensation manager.
Popular Human Resources Management PhD Programs
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PhD programs in human resources management goes beyond the master’s degree and strongly highlights linking theories, research, and practice. A PhD human resources degree helps prepare students to lead, consult, and teach. Practically, you will likely acquire knowledge about diverse demographics and cultural viewpoints, the impact of emerging technologies within the work environment, and the effects of the dynamic external workplace. Furthermore, you will also discover research and best practices that support cutting-edge work environments to develop and keep top talent within an organization.
Potential Careers: PhD in Human Resource Management
With a PhD in human resource management, you may be qualified to work toward careers such as:
- A human capital or resource manager
- Director of human resources
- Part-time or adjunct professor
- Independent/free agent consultant
Possible workplaces include:
- Multi-national corporations
- Consulting firms
- Government organizations
- Offline or online college or university
- Higher private or public educational centers
| State | Employment | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 3,400 | $92,660 |
| California | 2,970 | $135,630 |
| Illinois | 1,420 | $112,030 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,380 | $123,570 |
| Massachusetts | 1,240 | $139,500 |
| Metro Area | Annual Mean Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $157,090 | 1,840 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $148,720 | 3,820 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $146,330 | 4,410 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO | $144,250 | 280 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | $140,860 | 870 |
Popular Research and PhD in Human Resources Thesis Topics
Similar to other PhD degree programs, you are likely to be required to conduct research as a requirement for earning your PhD in human resources management. Depending on your specific interest and career goals, you can might be able to choose from a variety of topics.
For example, if you are interested in pursuing a career as a human resource manager and are interested in the dynamics of the workplace you can consider research areas such as “What are the pros and cons of in house recruitment:?” Exploration of this topic may allow you to dive deeper into the real-life issues that human resource managers might deal with on every day basis. This type of research might help you discover methods companies can employ to ensure that the best candidate is hired.
On the other hand, if you are more interested in working toward becoming a consultant and are interested in financing and cost-savings, a topic such as “How can time management help increase the revenue of an organization?” might help you gain insight into the ways proper resource management might help an organization maximize its profits. This topic is important because efficient resource management is vital for the success of an organization.
If you are more interested in the psychological side and employee relationships, a topic such as “Human Resource Manager’s role in shaping employees’ attitudes.” might help you gain knowledge in this area. You could explore the ways the attitudes that employees in an organization hold can be defined by the values promoted by the human resource department. Consequently, human resource management can be seen as one of the ways that organizations can use to shape the attitudes of their employees.
On the other hand, if you are more interested in the technology side of human resource, topics that deal with information technology (IT) might interest you more, such as “The role of IT in human resource development” or “Social networks and IT regulations in the workplace.”
The bottom line is, the thesis topics in Human Resource Management are endless, PhD candidates in human resources graduate programs can use their thesis to deeply explore a specific subject within the field, develop expertise in this area, and discover new knowledge to help advance the profession as a whole.
National Resources for Human Resources Management Students
Several professional organizations provide resources to current human resource practitioners and students. When considering a career in human resource management, you should take advantage of the resources these organizations provide.
The National Human Resource Association, or NHRA , is a national association that provides information and resources for career advancement, leadership, and planning(2). You can find information on professional networking programs, career development seminars and workshops, and industry meetings. The main goal of the NHRA is to offer support and professional development tools and job openings to its members. They also run online meetings, conferences and seminars from their affiliate locations, delivered in association with their training partners. The NHRA also provides webcast and audio cast events on-demand
The Society for Human Resource Management, or SHRM, is the largest human resource membership organization in the world. It was established in 1948 and has over 275,000 members in more than 160 countries(3). The SHRM society is the foremost provider of resources for human resource professionals and also seeks to advance the development of the professional practice of human resource management. The organization has over 575 chapters affiliated to it in the United States and some other subsidiary locations in India and China
HumanResources.com is the go-to website for both current and aspiring human resource professionals looking to earn their PhD in Human Resources. They have been providing quality resources about employment opportunities, education, and carrier development and management since 1999(4).
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