If I plan on working in human resources what would be better degree, MBA, MSA, MPA, MA in Negotiations and Conflict Management? I think that the online MPA and MA in Negotiations and Conflict Management offered by California State University, Dominguez Hills sound really good. I also really like the MSA program offered by Central Michigan University. Also I feel that the MA in Negotiations and Conflict Management would be very useful to have along with my LLB. Bo
This doesn't exactly answer your question, but how about the professional designation in the HR field, in this case the CHRP in Canada, as an addition to your planned master's degree?
Re: Re: Human Resources AWN, Actually I looked into the Master of Human Resources Management program at York University. It's a part time program that can be completed in 2 years without having to stop working. The program cost $25,000 so I plan on getting a job in HR and get the company that I work for to pay for it. Bo
Re: Re: Re: Human Resources Not a bad idea. It may take some time though, first you have to get the job in HR, then I guess you will have to establish yourself within the dept./co. before they consider to pay your tuition. Good luck and best wishes with your studies.
Good afternoon! It sounds like you have a number of choices that may be suitable in the HR field. I can't comment on the relative utility of each of your alternatives; however, I would like to offer a few words of advice regarding the MSA program at Central Michigan. I completed my MSA (concentration in general administration) six years ago, and this degree has been very helpful in my career. Numerous ideas and concepts learned in the degree program helped me to solve organizational issues and take on key projects. However, it appears that you would most likely pursue the Human Resources concentration in the MSA program. Please be aware that only the general concentration is available 100% online; it appears that the HR courses would have to be taken in weekend/evening/other mode at the CMU campus or at one of its many off-campus centers. If your location in Canada is in the province of Ontario, then the metro Detroit centers could provide the courses you would need (see http://www.cel.cmich.edu/programs/program-locations.html?dc=MSA&cc=568&src= for a list of centers offering the HR coursework). You may consider talking directly to the people at CMU, and the web site at http://www.cel.cmich.edu has the appropriate contact information. As a CMU graduate, I would be happy to see another person enter the university as long as the program will meet that person's needs. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a PM via this board or post the question here. Good luck!
The CSUDH MA in negotiation and conflict was popular with law enforcement officers at the time I was attending CSUDH (early 90s). Personally I would go for the MBA since it gives one a much wider choice of career flexibility (including HR).
I may have missed it, but have you considered an MBA with HR concentration? You can list the degree with or without the concentration depending on need - just a thought.
Hi J. Ayers, Thank for you're input. I live in Toronto so I don't think that distance will be a problem for me. By the way I was wondering if by any chance you live in Canada, and if so how well was the degree accepted my Canadian employers? Also do you have any idea how long it takes to complete the MSA degree? I had no luck finding that information in the information package the school sent me. Bo
Re: Re: Re: Human Resources No I don't. I knew a couple of people who earned their MBA there thru on campus study and reported that it was a great program.
Hi Cmt, I did not know that you can do that, but I don't think there is much sense in doing that. If you don't list you're MBA concentration on you're resume I am pretty sure that one of the first things that the employer is going to be asking you during the job interview is about you're MBA concentration. Also if I do go for an MBA it will probably be a general one. The reason for that is because my two big interests in the business field are HR and marketing. So let's say that after working in HR for a few years I decide that I want a change and go into marketing. I think that it would probably be a lot harder finding a good job in marketing with an MBA in HR, then it would be if you have a general MBA. So my bottom line is that I want to keep both doors wide open. Bo
Good evening! Although the CMU alumni publication (Centralight) provides anecdotal information regarding the many graduates who appear to be putting their MSA degrees to good use in the US (e.g., chief personnel officer for a hospital, VP of Finance & Administration for a college, director of HR for a school district, program manager at a Big Three automaker, etc.), I do not have any information regarding acceptance in Canada. Regarding the time to completion issue, I don't think CMU publishes such data since many of the MSA students take classes part-time. I know students who earned the degree in 18-24 months, but it took me three years part-time. One thing that could help you accelerate the process is the fact that you may be able to travel to the metro Detroit centers, and you would have more choices of available classes. If a Canadian degree is required, you may consider the MBA in Human Resources Management at Royal Roads which has a short residency format (three three-week sessions) plus distance learning coursework spread over a two-year period. Information is available at http://www.royalroads.ca/Channels/for+learners/divisions+and+schools/school+of+business/graduate+degrees/mba+in+human+resources+management/default.htm on the web. Jonnie Liu's website at http://www.geocities.com/liu_jonathan/distance.html offers links to numerous programs that may be of interest as well. I hope this helps! Regards, J. Ayers
Good evening! Although the CMU alumni publication (Centralight) provides anecdotal information regarding the many graduates who appear to be putting their MSA degrees to good use in the US (e.g., chief personnel officer for a hospital, VP of Finance & Administration for a college, director of HR for a school district, program manager at a Big Three automaker, etc.), I do not have any information regarding acceptance in Canada. Regarding the time to completion issue, I don't think CMU publishes such data since many of the MSA students take classes part-time. I know students who earned the degree in 18-24 months, but it took me three years part-time. One thing that could help you accelerate the process is the fact that you may be able to travel to the metro Detroit centers, and you would have more choices of available classes. If a Canadian degree is required, you may consider the MBA in Human Resources Management at Royal Roads which has a short residency format (three three-week sessions) plus distance learning coursework spread over a two-year period. Information is available at http://www.royalroads.ca/Channels/for+learners/divisions+and+schools/school+of+business/graduate+degrees/mba+in+human+resources+management/default.htm on the web. Jonnie Liu's website at http://www.geocities.com/liu_jonathan/distance.html offers links to numerous programs that may be of interest as well. I hope this helps! Regards, J. Ayers
Several MBA's have an optional HR concentration. This could be as little as 6 elective credits in HR or more. The core requirements are the same as any other MBA. It is not unusual at all to have a general MBA (no concentration), so listing one without a concentration would certainly not raise an eyebrow or be cause for any questions. The MBA is not "in HR," it is a Masters in Business Administration. You don't get an MBA in anything; you get a Masters in BA. My wife is in HR and most MBA's she sees on resumes do not list anything for a concentration. Many MBA's list a course in HR Management as an option in the "core requirements," so taking one more HR course for is hardly an MBA in HR. The same holds true for Marketing, if you choose a concentration in that. Here are some possible concentrations (i.e., Conflict and Negotiation Management). If you search, you can find a degree for just about anything, so I am sure the perfect one is out there for you.
Bo: I also attended CMU. They have a satellite campus where I live so I attended classes on the weekend. I supplemented this with two online classes so that I could finish sooner. It took me about 13 months from start to finish (which included the thesis). Where I took classes in NC, they advertised about an 18-24 month average completion time. However, I really wanted to finish so I took full time loads (one semester being 15 hours, 2 classes being online). It was tough but manageable. I was working full time and married but at the time, I did not have any children. I completed the general concentration but took classes in Personnel Management and Public Personnel Administration. I enjoyed the program and have benefited greatly from it. I too thought I wanted to work in human resources but life led me into the direction of working in education, which I love. My advice is to just look at all of the choices out there, take your time and then choose the best option for you. My personal opinion is that if you want to work in HR and stay there, I would choose an MS in HR or something closely related. I think CMU is a good choice but you may also want to check out the following… http://cehsdept.unl.edu/index.php?Page=1304 http://www.cityu.edu/programs/programs.asp?Cat_Title=3 http://segs.fit.edu/pdf/catalog/0304Catalog.pdf#mshrm Duff
Dual concentrations Touro allowed you to get dual concentartions if you liked. Just had to be willing to shell out the extra time, effort and dollars. Check with the school you choose. Might be an option for you if you wanted both concentrations. If an MPA is an option, my wife is getting hers through Troy State University in Alabama. It is very reasonably priced and can be finished in a year or two depending how hard you work at it. It is, also, professionally accredited if that is important to you. Good Luck, Chris
Hey Duff, Thanks for you're input. First of all congratulations on completing you're MSA in only 13 months. On average how many hours a week did you spend studying in order to complete degree in that time? How is the grading done in the program? Is there tests or exams, and in so how are they taken? Bo
Bo: I would say I probably spent 8-12 hours per week on my work. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I remember working on papers and presentations from 5pm-3am sometimes. That was usually if I waited until the last minute to put something together. Because I took classes on the weekends, we went to school every other weekend, which gave me two weeks between classes. That helped. The center in NC pulls instructors from all over the east coast and I remember having one from Georgia State University. As far as test/exams go, we mostly did a lot of writing with papers and presentations. However it was also up to the instructor. The two on-line courses I took were tough. It was my first time taking an on-line course so that may have had something to do with it. The on-line classes did require test in which some of them were done over the computer while the mid-term and final were done through a proctor. The grading in the weekend classes was based off 2-3 grades, usually papers. That made it stressful because those 2-3 grades determined your final grade. But the program makes you a better writer by far. The on-line classes consisted of more grades because you had to complete several smaller projects or papers. Duff
