Topic 2:

Teaching HRM/Leadership/Communications

Question: There is one thing I can say without hesitation - I love my job! With almost 10 years experience I am more in love with curriculum development and teaching than ever before. In fact, I am thinking of switching careers to the traditional classroom on a university or college campus. My undergraduate is in organizational communications. I am taking this next year off to pursue my Master's degree so that I can pursue my dream of teaching human resource management, leadership and communications. What Master's degree should I pursue? Teaching? Human resource management? Business? Thanks.

--Michelle Butler, Coloradoi

Answer: The issue is not what is the best type of graduate program for teaching HRM but which one is the best for you depending on your interests, background, prior experience and what you want to focus on as a HRM Professor. People come to HR academia from various work and expertise and educational background.

Since you have had no formal education in training/HRD and want to teach within that academic department, I think a masters program focused on the HR field would be the most useful to you in establishing your credentials. Graduate programs in teaching are housed in a school or college of education within a higher education institution.

Some questions to consider as you review and evaluate graduate programs are:
· Will it provide you with the skills or knowledge you are seeking?
· Does the program fit your schedule, timeframe, and budget?
· What are the qualifications for acceptance?
· Do you need to stay within your present geographic location for graduate work?

You will mostly likely start out teaching basic HRM, business leadership or business communications courses in an undergraduate business college. If you are serious about making a career change to teaching, then you will eventually need to strongly consider continuing on for your doctorate, especially if you want to teach on a graduate level and to qualify for tenure or full professorship.

--AR