Human Resources Management Pathway
Is your student good with people and passionate about fair and equal working conditions? Do they tend to be an advocate for others? Then they may be well suited for a career in human resources.
Human resources managers are a liaison between the administration and the employees. This strategic role requires a commitment to ethics, development, training, and organizational management.
Some human resources managers specialize in one area, such as recruitment or benefits, while others have a broad skill set, dabbling in everything from conflict resolution to scheduling performance reviews. If you’re interested in becoming a human resources professional, you’ll need to be a problem solver, an excellent communicator, and an all-around strategist.
Gain real-world skills through project-based learning.
Career Prep has implemented project-based learning (PBL) for a number of courses in this pathway. PBL curriculum is designed to hone students’ problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, and team collaboration skills. With PBL, there’s little to memorize and repeat. Instead, students are given a real-life problem to solve and must work with a team to develop a creative solution.
Our Human Resources Management Pathway Curriculum in Detail
All of our students take the core courses required for high school graduation in their state. The chart below shows the additional classes students take as part of the Human Resources Management Pathway. You can see the rest of the curriculum by viewing the full course list.
CAREER EXPLORATION COURSES
These courses provide an opportunity for students to gain insight into potential careers.
CAREER FOUNDATION COURSES
These courses are building blocks that prepare students for more specialized pathway courses.
CAREER PREPARATION COURSES
These courses prepare students for industry-recognized certification exams.
OPTIONAL CAREER LEARNING COURSES
While not required, these courses provide an opportunity for students to gain knowledge and skills that are useful in their chosen careers.
Business & Marketing Explorations
Intro to Business Information Management
Business Information Management: Data Essentials
Introduction to Management
Management: Insight and Oversight
Human Resource Management 1†
Human Resource Management 2††
Accounting 1
Accounting 2
Introduction to Business Law
Business Law: Legal Aspects of Business
Note: Pathway courses are subject to change.
†New in fall 2022
††New in spring 2023
Get credentialed.
In a world where competition for jobs, pay increases, and academic success continues to increase, certifications provide a credible, third-party assessment of a student’s skills and knowledge of a given subject. The Human Resources Pathway curriculum prepares students to take these industry-recognized certification exams:**
CAREER SKILLS CERTIFICATIONS
These baseline certifications indicate students have mastered domain-specific, entry-level job skills.
NOCTI Accounting—Basic
NOCTI Accounting—Advanced
Get ahead of the competition.
We encourage students to jumpstart the job search by helping them create a professional résumé, cover letter, and profile on Tallo, the leading professional networking platform for Gen Z. Plus, they connect virtually to working business professionals and entrepreneurs through Nepris.***
Find a school near you that offers the Human Resources Management Pathway.
The Human Resources Management Pathway will be available in fall 2022. Check back to see which tuition-free, K12-powered, fully accredited, online public schools will be offering this pathway.
Choose a career. Prepare for the future.
Students in this pathway can prepare for a wide variety of human resources careers, including:
Human resources specialists recruit, screen, and interview job applicants and place newly hired workers in jobs. They also may handle compensation and benefits, training, and employee relations.
2021 Median Salary
$62,290
Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Average
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree
This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on July 1, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/human-resources-specialists.htm.
Payroll and timekeeping clerks compile and record employee time and payroll data. They may compute employees’ time worked, production, and commission. They may also compute and post wages and deductions or prepare paychecks.
2021 Median Salary
$49,560
Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Average
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree
This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on July 1, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.htm.
Human resources managers plan, coordinate, and direct the administrative functions of an organization. They are employed in nearly every industry, and most work full-time during regular business hours. Some travel to attend professional meetings or to recruit employees.
2021 Median Salary
$126,230
Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Average
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s or master’s degree plus several years of related work experience
This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on July 1, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit bls.gov/ooh/management/human-resources-managers.htm.
Compensation and benefits managers plan, develop, and oversee programs to pay employees. Although some managers administer both the compensation and benefits programs in an organization, other managers—particularly at large organizations—specialize and oversee one or the other. All compensation and benefits managers routinely meet with senior staff, managers of other human resources departments, and the financial officers of their organization. They use their expertise to recommend compensation and benefits policies, programs, and plans.
2021 Median Salary
$127,530
Expected Job Growth Rate for 2020–2030
Slower than average
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree plus several years of related work experience
This data reflects the information available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook on July 1, 2022. To learn more about this occupation, visit https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/compensation-and-benefits-managers.htm.
FAQs
Human resources specialists typically need a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, communications, or a related field. By working in an internship during college, students gain relevant experience that may help them compete for human resources specialist jobs.
Human resources managers typically need a bachelor’s degree to enter the occupation. The degree may be in human resources or another field, such as business, communications, or psychology. Courses in subjects such as conflict management may be helpful. Some jobs may require a master’s degree in human resources, labor relations, or business administration (MBA). Management positions typically require understanding human resources programs, such as compensation and benefits plans; human resources software; and federal, state, and local employment laws.
Learn more about course offerings in other career fields.
Business Management & Administration
Criminal Justice & Community Services
Education & Training
Engineering & Manufacturing
Health Sciences
Hospitality & Tourism
Information Technology (IT)
Marketing
Visual Arts & Communications
*Career Prep is a program for students in grades 9–12. At some schools, career exploration is offered in middle school. Opportunities vary by school. Please visit your school page or check with your school counselor to find out what’s available in your area.
**Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
***Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.