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Western Governors University

Bachelor of Science Business — Human Resource Management

A business and H.R. curriculum aligned with SHRM guidelines.

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Degree Overview

Bachelor of Science—Human Resource Management

Our online human resources degree will boost your HR career. The B.S. in Business Human Resource Management degree has been recognized by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) as fully aligned with their HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates. This program provides expertise in HR along with knowledge and skills in business and labor practices. Earn a human resources degree online so that you can become a competent and knowledgeable HR professional.

Who the Program is For:

  • Experienced HR professionals who are seeking a human resource management degree to move up the HR career ladder.
  • Experienced business professionals who seek entry into an HR career and need a bachelor’s in human resources to do so.
  • Individuals who have completed some college coursework or have applicable work experience.
  • Individuals who can typically spend 15 or more hours per week on their studies.

This program will be flexible and adaptable to your schedule. Click here to learn how this program works.

What You'll Learn

Essential Knowledge and Skills

We developed our human resource management program with significant input from experts and business leaders who serve on our Business Program Council. In this online human resource degree program, you’ll learn all the essential skills and knowledge needed. This program covers the six categories that make up the HR Body of Knowledge established by the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI). It is also aligned with the guides and templates established by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) to define the HR content areas that should be studied by HR students at the university level.

Additionally, this program is aligned with and will help you prepare for the Professional in Human Resources (PHR®) Certification Exam and the Assurance of Learning® Exam. Here is some further information about these exams:

  • The Professional in Human Resources (PHR®) Certification Exam is administered by the HR Certification Institute (HRCI). Other experience requirements apply to undertake this exam. See HRCI for details.
  • The Assurance of Learning® Exam is administered by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). 

Speak to an Enrollment Counselor to learn more about which exam you may be eligible to take as part of your WGU degree program.

The program requires a total of 120 competency units (CUs), our equivalent to the traditional credit hour. If you’ve taken courses or received a degree from another college or university, you may be able to clear some of these requirements through transfer credit.

Key Subject Areas

These Courses Add to Your Credentials

  • Leadership and Management

  • Human Resources

  • Business

  • Business Management

  • Business Law and Ethics

  • Economics

  • Marketing and Communication

  • Accounting

  • Quantitative Analysis for Business

  • Spreadsheets

  • Management

  • Finance

  • IT Management for Business

Core Subject Areas

These General Education Assessments May Be Cleared through Transfer Credit

  • Introduction to Psychology

  • Intermediate Algebra

  • English Composition I and II

  • Introduction to Communication

  • Critical Thinking and Logic

  • Introduction to Probability and Statistics

  • Survey of United States History

  • Introduction to Sociology

  • Introduction to Humanities

  • Integrated Physical Sciences

View the PDF Program Guide

Capstone Project

The Bachelor of Science in Business — Human Resource Management online degree program also requires the successful completion of a professional portfolio and a capstone project.

Your capstone project is something to be proud of – it's the culmination of all your hard work. Your final project allows you to take what you've learned and apply it to a real-world situation, proposing a solution to an actual issue you face in your place of business. Go ahead, show everyone what you can do.

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How It Works

A Degree Program That Fits Your Schedule

WGU Missouri is designed to let you go to school on your time, not according to a class schedule. Our online degree program is flexible and puts you at the center of your education: you choose when and where to complete your coursework. Once you demonstrate your competency in a subject area, you can move on to your next course.

Online learning is not easy.

You should expect to work hard and spend 20 hours or more per week on your studies. Still, your program will be flexible enough to fit into your schedule, not the other way around.

How Long Will It Take?

It Depends On You

The average time it takes to complete the B.S. Business — Human Resource Management online degree program at WGU is 2-2.5 years for students with an associate's degree or equivalent and 4-5 years for students with little or no prior college. That’s significantly less than at other online schools.

WGU’s competency-based method, which allows you to advance through your courses using the skills and knowledge you already have, may allow you to finish your degree in even less time.

Ultimately, the pace at which you complete your online B.S. in Business — Human Resource Management program depends on how rapidly you pass assessments.

It’s your program. It’s up to you. Create your own schedule, choose your pace and achieve your personal goals.

"Our partnership with WGU enables our employees to advance their education affordably without interrupting their careers." John Steele, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Hospital Corporation of America

How Competency-Based Education Benefits You

Put Your Existing Knowledge to Work

Western Governors University was the first university in the country to employ a cutting edge, competency-based learning model that lets you use skills and knowledge you already have to accelerate your degree program.

In WGU's online degree programs, students advance by demonstrating their competence in each subject area. You’ll be able to move quickly through material you already know so you can spend your time focusing on what you still need to learn.

  • You’ll work with your assigned Faculty Mentor on a personalized Degree Plan that establishes the pace at which you move through the program.

  • With few exceptions, you’ll be able to choose when and where you study.

  • You’ll complete as much work as YOU choose during each six-month term.

  • You’ll collaborate with your Faculty Mentor to determine the learning resources that will help you develop and demonstrate your competency in each subject area.

  • You’ll be required to complete at least 12 CUs per term for bachelor's degree programs and 8 CUs per term for graduate degree programs in order to make On Time Progress. If you choose to and are able, you can add courses and move more quickly through your program.

How Much Will It Cost?

Less Than You Think

We're committed to keeping tuition low and making sure our online education degree programs remain the very best value for hardworking students. WGU doesn't spend money on classrooms, research facilities, or football stadiums. Instead, we focus on keeping costs low. And because we charge tuition at a flat-rate each term, if you complete coursework ahead of schedule, you can save yourself money as well as time.

 

You pay for time—not credits

  • No matter how many courses you complete each term, your tuition stays the same.

  • The more courses you complete each term, the fewer terms you have until graduation.

  • Our competency-based model gives you the opportunity to accelerate your progress.

  • If you complete your program ahead of schedule, you'll save both time and money.

Total Tuition Depends on Time

You’ll pay the same low, flat-rate tuition each 6-month term, regardless of how many courses you complete. If you accelerate your degree program, you’ll pay less for your degree. The following hypothetical students illustrate two common scenarios for the Bachelor of Science, Business- Human Resource Management program:

Tuition and Fees

For this program, a full-time course load is 12 courses, or competency units, per term. Because we allow you to complete extra courses at no extra cost, you may be able to increase the value of your program by dedicating extra time to your studies.

  • $3,190: Tuition per 6-Month Term
  • $145: Resource Fee per 6-Month Term
  • $65: One-Time Application Fee

The B.S. in Business — Human Resource Management online degree program at WGU is designed to be affordable for hard-working adults with bills to pay.

Learn more about tuition and fees.

When We Say Affordable, We Mean It

WGU's B.S. in Business — Human Resource Management online degree program is typically about half the cost of a comparable program at another online university. A business degree at a traditional university can cost as much as $40,000.

Tuition Comparison: Bachelor of Science Business — Human Resource Management degree

WGU University of Phoenix
$3,190 per six month term.
If it takes four years = $25,520		 120 credits x $490* per credit = $58,800

*$490/credit cost based on an average of $395 per credit for lower-division courses and $585 for upper-division courses.
*Note: This chart is for illustration only. Actual results will vary depending upon the number of terms needed to complete the program. Estimates based on WGU's standard tuition as of January 2018. Tuition rates were gathered from competing university websites during April 2017.

Compare WGU tuition to tuition at other schools

Financial Aid

You Can Afford to Earn a Degree

WGU's financial aid experts are on hand to help you finance your education in the smartest way possible. 76% of WGU students receive some type of financial aid.

Federal Financial Aid is available to most students.

Respected, Recognized, and Accredited

Northwest Commission Accredited

Western Governors University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The Northwest Commission is also responsible for the accreditation of other major universities in the West, including the University of Washington, the University of Oregon, Gonzaga University, and the University of Utah, among many others. Learn more about accreditation here.

An online business degree from WGU tells employers that you're serious about success.

Take the next step into a prosperous future.

WGU Graduates Succeed

Become a Success Story

Our latest survey of leading employers speaks volumes about our ability to prepare grads to work in many industries:

98%

of employers agreed that WGU graduates meet or exceed their expectations.

94%

of employers said WGU grads exceed expectations.

93%

of employers rated WGU graduates’ job performance as very good or excellent.

100%

of employers consider WGU graduates prepared for their jobs.

97%

of employers said they would hire another WGU graduate.

Note: 2017 Survey of Employers by Harris Poll

You can learn more about how employers view WGU grads by exploring our National Student Success and Performance Data.

"The big draw was the fact that it was online. I could work at my own pace." James Dye,
WGU Alumnus

How a Course Works

Prove What You Know and Move Forward

You set your own pace by demonstrating your skills. In the online degree programs at WGU Missouri, you'll advance through each course by first mastering the course content, then completing and passing challenging assessments that measure your knowledge and skills in each subject area.

These rigorous assessments (tests, papers, assignments, and projects) let you demonstrate your competence in each subject area in order to pass the course and earn competency units (CUs), our equivalent to the traditional credit hour.

WGU Missouri sets a high standard, and we want our students to succeed. You'll be given ample opportunity to master the subject matter and re-take assessments as needed in order to graduate.

Get Started

Enrollment is easy. View our Enrollment Checklist for the easy steps to getting started.

Applicants must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent. Applicants who do not possess an appropriate AA or AS degree will be required to take the WGU Readiness Assessment — a short, multi-part online admission test that helps determine the likelihood of success in a WGU Missouri program.

See More about College of Business Admission Requirements

Speak to an Enrollment Counselor and Apply Today

You'll be on your way to a successful career. A world of opportunity awaits.

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Question and Answer

Select a question from the left, see the answer to the right.

How does WGU keep its tuition so low?

As a nonprofit university, WGU doesn’t need to benefit shareholders. Our students are our main concern. We also try to keep our operating costs low. And since we’re an exclusively online university, we don’t need to maintain expensive classroom buildings, a campus, and other non-academic programs. 

Should I consider financial aid?

Using financial aid is a personal decision. When making this decision, you should know that a degree is a great investment in yourself that will pay for itself many times over. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn on average almost a million dollars more over the course their careers compared to those without one. A master’s degree typically has a similar impact on your wallet. You should definitely consider federal financial aid if it means the difference between getting your degree or not. Speak to an Enrollment Counselor to learn more.

 

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