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MBA or MA in HR?
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MBA or MA in HR?
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After being in HR for 5 years, I still cannot get an HR Generalist position to do employee relations. I am considering getting a Masters in hopes of being able to find an HR Generalist position afterw
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MBA or MA in HR?

posted at 6/24/2004 6:14 AM EDT
Posts: 26
First: 11/21/2003
Last: 11/2/2004
After being in HR for 5 years, I still cannot get an HR Generalist position to do employee relations. I am considering getting a Masters in hopes of being able to find an HR Generalist position afterwards. The company I'm currently with has an awesome tuition reimbursement program and I want to take advantage of it. However, I'm not quit sure which degree to go with? My questions are:

1. Should I go for an MBA (general in case I want to do something else) or a MA in HR?

2. I'm considering one of those non-tradition schools like National University/U of Phoenix where I don't have to take the GMAT and can be done in 1 yrs time. How are those schools perceived in the business world? Will it help me advance in my career?

If any HR professional who has received Masters can offer their experience and what worked and didn't, please share.

Thanks.
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MBA or MA in HR?

posted at 6/24/2004 7:46 AM EDT
Posts: 1783
First: 11/11/2003
Last: 5/13/2010
1. I think you may be able to select a particular focus with an MBA program, such as HRM, healthcare administration, public administration, etc. A Master of Arts degree sounds like it wouldn't have enough of a business focus (perception = reality).

2. Not all MBA programs require the GMAT. The one I was in didn't. I'm sort of skeptical of online degrees except for specialized topics that may not be available "live" in your local area. It took me six years (one course/semester) to complete my program, but I believe I benefited as much by hearing from my classmates their issues and experiences as I did from the material formally presented in the texts. Also for most of my classes I had to do some sort of presentation, which gave me public-speaking opportunies I otherwise wouldn't have had.
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