American Public University Human Resources Management Programs
American Public University is also featured in our ranking of the 20 Most Affordable Online Master’s in Human Resources
Students who attend American Public University have two options for studying human resource management. One option is the undergraduate certificate, and the other option is the Bachelor of Arts in Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management. Students interested in a brief curriculum and a short timeline to completion will choose the certificate program.
Requiring 18 credits, the Undergraduate Certificate in Human Resource Management program allows students to transfer up to nine credits into the program that were earned at other facilities. The university offers course starting dates every month, which means students can enroll at virtually any time and begin their studies within a few weeks.
Concepts covered in the program include labor relations, recruiting, compensation, and other areas within the realm of human resources. The curriculum is designed as one that follows current industry trends. In all, students will take six courses of three credits each unless they decide to transfer previously earned credits into the program. Students should contact the university to discuss whether their previous work may qualify for transfer credit.
Classes a student will take include Human Resource Management, Employment & Labor Relations, and Compensation Benefits. Students will also take Human Resource Management Information Systems, Principles & Theory of Management, and Human Resource Development. At the conclusion of the program, students will be able to assess current trends and issues in human resource management.
Other objectives of the program include gaining the ability to discuss compensation packages and incentives that employers regularly use to recruit new employees, as well as the ability to identify standard rules and regulations. The certificate program is appropriate for students who already have an associate or bachelor’s degree and are interested in expanding their knowledge of human resources.
Prospective students who want to enter a program with a broader scope will choose the Bachelor of Arts in Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management. To graduate, students must take a total of 120 credits but may transfer up to 90 credits earned from another institution. Students who don’t transfer any classes into the program are expected to take four years to complete the degree.
As with all other degrees offered at APU, classes are offered online, and new classes begin each month. Classes required for the degree include those related to the arts & humanities, the social sciences, communication, history, mathematics, and the natural sciences. Since the overall degree is in management, additional classes required are in business areas like employment, ethics, supply chain management, and organizational behavior. In all, students must complete 24 semester hours in management.
Within the Human Resource Management concentration, students will take a total of five specialized courses. Those classes include Compensation & Benefits, Human Resource Management, Human Resource Management Information Systems, Recruitment & Staffing, and Human Resource Development.
About American Public University
American Public University was established in 1991 and is a school that offers online learning in a for-profit environment. American Public University is joined by American Military University within the American Public University System. The university system has academic offices in Virginia and West Virginia and offers its associates, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs online.
Approximately 48,000 students attend the university system with more than 80 percent of those students studying at the undergraduate level. The university was founded by Major James P. Etter, who served as a United States Marine. The school’s initial purpose was to offer instruction to military personnel. The university’s official colors are blue and gray, and the official mascot is the Volunteer.
American Public University Accreditation Details
American Public University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which is an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Some of the university’s programs have earned specialized accreditation from external groups and industry governing bodies. For example, the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress has given its approval to the degrees in Fire Science, as well as Emergency and Disaster Management.
The Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP) has accredited the programs in business and related areas at the university. Degrees at the associate, bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels are accredited. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the university’s nursing programs, and the degree in public health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
American Public University Application Requirements
American Public University has four different application processes that depend on a student’s status. Prospective undergraduate students must have a high school diploma or GED and may need to complete a college readiness assessment, as well as provide a color copy of government-issued identification. Applicants for graduate admission will need to have already earned a bachelor’s degree and will also need to provide government-issued identification.
Students in the military and international students are also invited to apply, and students in or separated from the military are eligible to receive special tuition rates. To apply, prospective students will choose a program, apply online, complete the university’s admissions requirements, and register for classes.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The tuition rate for undergraduate students at American Public University is $279 per credit. Military-affiliated students pay a reduced rate of $250 per credit. The tuition rate for graduate students at the university is $350 per credit, with military-affiliated students receiving a reduced rate of $325 per credit.
Students who require financial aid to afford their tuition have several options that include federal student loans, grants, and a variety of scholarships, military benefits, and veterans benefits. Students may also work with their employer to gain tuition assistance, and the university also offers several ways to save on the overall cost of tuition.
For U.S. service members, the reduced rate on tuition is extended to the active-duty service member’s spouse and dependents. These discounts are also offered the members of Guard and Reserve families and veterans. Military-affiliated students will also have their technology fee waived. Military families should contact the university for full details on possible tuition savings.
Students may be able to reduce their tuition costs by transferring credits earned at other institutions of higher learning. All eligible students can also qualify for the undergraduate book grant when they enroll in undergraduate courses at American Public University, which equals an award of $250 per academic semester.
