8 Top Double Majors With an HR Degree

Human resources is a sector of business that strives to promote a beneficial working environment and foster growth. HR works with people, both internally, with training and onboarding, and externally through recruiting.

Although there are many skills for human resources professionals that are independent of industry or company, some business fields need a more specialized touch. To add to the skill set that a human resources degree provides, some students also pursue a second major through either a double major or a dual degree program.

What Is an HR Double Major?

A double major is a system where a student completes the equivalent of two college degree programs for one degree. Usually, this is done with two undergraduate degrees that complement each other and provide a more well-rounded skill set as opposed to a single major, or a major and minor combination.

Double Major vs. Dual Degree

One common alternative to a double major is a dual degree program. Unlike a double major, the student instead earns two degrees. This system is often employed by students who are trying to earn graduate and undergraduate degrees at the same time.

For HR students, a master's degree can provide more opportunities than an undergraduate degree. Instead of pursuing a double major, some students, especially those interested in graduate programs, might see the advantages of a dual degree program.

Best Double Majors With an HR Degree

For human resources, certain areas of study may be more complementary than others. When selecting a second major to match your human resources degree, you need to evaluate your career goals.

If you're planning to work as an HR professional for a company in a very specific industry, having a degree or majoring in that field of study will give you advantages over applicants with more generalized human resources knowledge.

Computer Information Systems

Computer information systems (CIS) is a field of study that focuses on how to use technology in business. Technology has become an essential part of human resources management. Though you'll be trained in many of the necessary programs for HR work in your main degree program, a broader understanding of how technology works can be beneficial for these roles.

The biggest advantage of a computer information major might not be what it can do for your practical skill set; instead, understanding the processes required to do the work will help you become an effective recruiter. You'll know specific skills and personalities to look for when reviewing resumes.

Marketing

Marketing studentsstudy aspects of promotion for products and businesses. Marketing agencies are full of people with diverse skill sets, including account managers and creative employees. If you've studied marketing in-depth, you'll be better poised to help establish corporate structures and benefits programs tailored to marketers.

Marketing can also present communication skills that can help HR professionals convey their ideas and plans to stakeholders inside their company and present the company well to job candidates.

Sociology

Sociology is a degree program that focuses on demographics and human interaction. Sociology focuses on understanding larger group dynamics, which can be helpful in HR. These principles of sociology are highly applicable to human resources, so having degrees in both areas prepares professionals to understand multiple groups of people across department lines throughout a company.

Understanding how these groups work together can help prevent internal corporate conflict, especially for international companies with workers located in different countries.

Management

Management degrees teach the theories and tools behind effective management and leadership in corporate settings. Hiring future leaders is one of the roles of human resources, and understanding the principles of management can help HR managers identify the best qualities in future leaders for their company.

Additionally, larger HR teams have an internal hierarchy. Having management skills can position you to become a leader of an HR team, or even a higher executive role.

Finance

Finance majors study financial statistics and learn skills to assess the financial health of a company and projected performance. HR professionals are in the role of assessing the needs of a company from a staffing side.

Having a combined knowledge of understanding both the money and people side of a business is a great combination. An HR professional with finance knowledge can be helpful in future planning, especially when it comes to reviewing benefits and pay growth for employees.

Engineering

Engineering is a highly specialized field that uses math and science to solve technical problems, no matter which concentration the engineers majored in. For HR professionals who interact with engineers, it can be helpful to understand their work and what knowledge is required to do their jobs.

Although it will be nearly impossible for a human resources professionals to have the full depth of knowledge that a practicing engineer does, hiring qualified engineers will be easier with industry understanding.

Business Administration

A business administration degree covers the various components of running a business or participating in a corporate hierarchy. Human resources professionals ultimately work to make sure a company runs smoothly by creating positive work environments through proper treatment of employees. Many factors make a business successful, and HR professionals should know as much about business operations as possible.

There will always be on-the-job learning about how each company an HR professional works for, but more general concepts of business won't be taught the same way.

Healthcare Management

Healthcare management, like engineering, is a highly specialized industry that involves people of various educational backgrounds often working in shifts around the clock at hospitals or other healthcare facilities.

Healthcare also includes different rules and guidelines around employee practices that HR professionals might not learn in their standard degree programs. By including healthcare management in your education plan, you can get more knowledge about the highly specialized work done by hospital HR teams.

HR Double Major and Dual Degree Program FAQs

Choosing to add a major or second degree to your time in college shouldn't be taken lightly. Before enrolling in a double major or dual degree program, make sure you get answers to your questions.

Can I Earn an HR Double Major Online?

Yes, there are several online HR degree programs that you can pursue double major or dual degree programs through. If you're going to pursue your HR degree online, you need to confirm that your school is accredited and that you will qualify for the required license exams to work in HR.

Do Employers Prefer Dual Degrees or Double Majors?

For most HR job opportunities, it won't matter if you have a double major or a dual degree. Although having additional schooling will give you an advantage in hiring someone without it, most employers will care more about the licenses you have, such as SHRM or PHR.

Do I Need a Graduate Level Degree to Work in HR?

A graduate-level degree will speed up the process of taking licensing exams, like PHR and SHRM, but you can take these exams with only an undergraduate degree. A bachelor's degree in human resources with a double major will be enough to become qualified for many job openings.

How Does a Double Major Affect HR Licensure?

Having a double major will only affect your licensing if you have a bachelor's degree. Most of the common credentials for HR professionals have different requirements for graduate degree holders compared to undergraduate degree holders, but you will be able to pursue higher credentials regardless of your degree level.