Human Resource Online Degree Program Changing Lives
April 7, 2022 | by Heidi Wells, Global Campus
Can earning a college degree through a program delivered online change your life?
Two women who recently earned bachelor’s degrees in human resource and workforce development from the University of Arkansas will answer unequivocally, yes. And, they don’t base that only on their improved job prospects.
For Polly Millard of Knoxville, Tennessee, earning a college degree online was a pivotal event in her life.
“Completion of the human resource and workforce development program is one of my proudest accomplishments and a transformative experience,” Millard says. “The HRWD program uncovered in me the desire to become a lifelong learner.
“Online learning enabled me to achieve my dream in the midst of moving to another state, a global pandemic, major health issues, a severe case of COVID-19, the deaths of dear loved ones, and an unwanted divorce,” she continues. “What a gift it is that I completed the program and can now encourage others to finish their education. It is never too late!”
Human resource development empowers businesses to make investments in their employees that will later result in a stronger and more effective workforce. An education in human resource and workforce development qualifies a graduate to help organizations make smart, effective investments in their employees.
Krista Gray of Santa Cruz, California, says the program also changed her personally.
“I learned more self-confidence, that I have the strength, courage and bravery to reach my goals,” Gray says.
She says, if asked, she would tell others who are considering enrolling in the online degree program to stay focused on their goals.
“I would tell them to make their education their No. 1 priority, and to never give up. Also, I would tell them that it’s never too late, they’re never not good enough, and they’re never too old to go back to school.”
Krista Gray
(Photo submitted)
Polly Millard
(Photo submitted)
Krista Gray
Studying Online Brings Unexpected Results
Millard also says she learned a surprising number of positive things about herself. Her education went beyond books and papers to how she thought and interacted with others.
“I learned how valuable my life experience and development are in helping others to be their best,” she says. “I also learned how to actively listen carefully to others to further explore and understand their perspectives based on who they are, not me.”
The human resource and workforce development degree-completion program is aimed at people who can develop talent and lead teams to help organizations meet their goals. As the name states, it aligns workforce development with human resources, a natural, valuable pairing. Undergraduates also obtain a solid academic base to pursue a graduate degree. Before their senior year in the program, students must have three or more years of any type of full-time work experience or equivalent, take three to six hours of required social sciences courses and three hours of a required math course, and have a cumulative U of A GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Pre-pandemic, the National Center for Education Statistics reported 7.3 million students were enrolled in any distance education courses at degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. in fall 2019. Enrollment in online graduate programs has surged, increasing 63% from 2019 to 2020, according to an analysis by EAB of distance enrollment data from the IPEDS Fall Enrollment Surveys. IPEDS is the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System that is part of the National Center for Education Statistics, and EAB is a firm that conducts K12 and higher education research.
Learning online has become even more commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the University of Arkansas, high-quality online education was already well-established. The U of A, through the Global Campus, offers 75 online degree, certificate, microcertificate and licensure programs. In academic year 2021, 279 undergraduate students and 858 graduate students earned degrees through online programs. Several programs delivered online, on both the undergraduate and graduate levels, have ranked well for years in the annual U.S. News & World Report “Best Online Programs” rankings.
The U of A also ranked No. 11 in the nation and earned a five-star rating in Newsweek’s inaugural, survey-based rankings of colleges and universities that offer degree programs online. Newsweek and Statista, a market and consumer data company, ranked 150 colleges and universities for 2022 after surveying students who studied online to obtain academic degrees. Rankings also considered other institutional indicators that are publicly available, including enrollment, graduation statistics and research activity.
Career Options
Data drawn from large national data samples shows 36 career options in the human resource
specialist field. There have been 641,876 job postings in the past year, and students
could earn an average of $54,000 a year. This data is not reflective or representative
of U of A-specific student or program outcomes.
Source: Burning Glass Technologies, March 21, 2022
Online Degree Program Works for Students
Millard had been a stay-at-home mom to two sons when she decided to add going back to school to her new life. She had been out of college for 24 years. She chose the online degree program for two reasons.
“The program was offered completely online, and my desire to equip and empower others to become their best would be possible in a professional human resource development career,” Millard explains. “The goal was to find my passion and a profession that was the vehicle to live it out. After looking at many of (Arkansas’) degree plans, it became apparent to me that HRWD was the answer.”
After significant online research, Gray decided to enroll at the U of A because she learned the HRWD program had been taught online for over 13 years. She also wanted the same experiences that other graduates received, such as walking at commencement, so she looked for a university with a brick-and-mortar base.
The same academic departments that offer degree programs on the Fayetteville campus develop online offerings. U of A students who study online also have their names carved in Senior Walk on the Fayetteville campus, a unique tradition among institutions of higher learning, and have access to many of the same resources that on-campus students have, including library materials, tutoring, and student activities and clubs.
Studying online was an adjustment for both women, but they forged ahead with it. Millard says studying online proved to be a much superior learning experience for her.
“Studying online was foreign to me because my first three years of college were completed before the internet was accessible to the general population. My mindset was fearful and doubtful when I attempted to assess my ability to study online. I discovered online learning was so much better than classroom lectures for me.”
Polly Millard“In my case, studying online gave me the freedom to set my own pace and challenged me to think beyond a textbook to integrate my life experiences and reach out to others for feedback and input,” Millard says.
Gray also mentions some of the adjustments were beneficial. She did not have to drive, find parking, and deal with traffic, for example.
Faculty Support Takes Online Learning to New Level
While studying online was convenient for Gray, it was not without its challenges.
“In other ways, it was difficult not working face to face with professors and fellow students,” Gray recalls. “It sometimes got really lonely, but I also did make many really good connections with fellow students and professors. The support I received from faculty ranged from emotional support through email communications, opportunities for Zoom meetings one on one or group sessions. Links to various learning resources, etc., and research and library resources were very helpful.”
Millard also says the faculty in the online degree program made the difference. They are, in her words, incredible, and they truly value students and their development.
“Each member of the faculty brought a unique perspective and provided support,” Millard says. “Everyone was responsive, encouraging, flexible, supportive and available. I really appreciate the willingness of my professors to provide book recommendations, valuable resources, input, feedback and opportunities to meet wise professionals practicing HRD in live online settings.”
Both Gray and Millard pursued new employment opportunities since earning their degrees. Gray landed a full-time human resources job at a community college where she had been employed on a temporary basis.
Both women thanked the HRWD program staff.
“I would recommend any online program from the University of Arkansas because they really have spent many years perfecting their programs, and I learned so much that I am now applying to what I am doing today,” Gray says.
Explore the Human Resource and Workforce Development Education Program
To learn more about how an online bachelor’s degree in human resource and workforce development education from the University of Arkansas can help you develop talent and lead teams to help organizations meet their goals, visit the program page on our website.
National Rankings
The human resource and workforce development education online degree program and other online bachelor’s degree programs at the University of Arkansas ranked No. 24 in U.S. News & World Report ’s 2022 “Best Online Programs” category. U.S. News rankings for undergraduate degree programs are based on four categories: student engagement, student services and technology, faculty credentials and training, and expert opinion, a category formerly labeled peer reputation.
The U of A ranked No. 11 in the nation and earned a five-star rating in Newsweek’s inaugural, survey-based rankings of colleges and universities that offer degree programs online. Newsweek and Statista, a market and consumer data company, ranked 150 colleges and universities for 2022 after surveying students who studied online to obtain academic degrees. Rankings also considered other institutional indicators that are publicly available, including enrollment, graduation statistics and research activity.
Heidi Wells
Content Strategist
Heidi Wells is the content strategist for the Global Campus at the University of Arkansas and editor of The Online Learner. Her writing spans more than 30 years as a communicator at the U of A and a reporter and editor at Arkansas newspapers. Wells earned two degrees from the U of A: a master's in 2013 and a bachelor's in 1988.
Wells can be reached at heidiw@uark.edu or 479-575-7239.
Bachelor of Human Resource Development
There is a growing demand for individuals who can develop talent and lead teams to help organizations meet their goals. This degree-completion program aligns workforce development with human resources – a natural, valuable pairing.
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