According to a 2001 salary survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, bachelor's degree candidates majoring in human resources, including labor relations, received a relatively high starting salary in comparsion to other professions. This reflects the demanding nature of the human resource professional's role as well as the value that employers place upon a properly qualified candidate when looking to fill vacancies in human resources.

A bachelor's degree can take up to 4 years, but in many cases it can be completed in much less time. The program generally consists of general education and elective courses, along with your particular area of study - a 'major'. Students who major in a human resources topic should think carefully about which topic they choose and also the other subjects they study because this can affect the kind of job they attain on graduation. Human resource professionals are increasingly specializing in particular areas of the function and your choice of subject could limit your area of work, or it could make you specifically well qualified to work in a particular industry. Specific HR competenciesc covered in bachelor's degree programs in human resources include training and development, strategic staffing, labor and employment law, managing organizational change, compensation and benefits, leadership and team building. You will graduate with the necessary knowledge to carry out roles such as recruitment, selection and placement of employees; training employees in the context of their career development plans; developing and supporting performance appraisal systems; managing labor relations; managing compensation and benefit programs; and implementing personnel policies and procedures.