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There are many reasons you may decide to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA). One is that this degree gives you a stronger foundation in the theories and practices of business. This prepares you to serve in higher-level roles in both emerging and well-established companies.

Another benefit of earning your MBA is that some positions actually require this level of education before you can even apply. In cases such as these, getting your master's degree in business is the bridge that can take you from where you are now to where it is you want to be in your career.

Regardless of your reason, when working toward your MBA, some universities offer the ability to specialize in an area of business that interests you most. For instance, Saint Leo's MBA students have the option of specializing in Human Resources (HR) Management if they wish.

What can you do with this particular degree? Here are six options to consider.

1. Human Resources Manager

Human resources managers oversee a company's HR department, ensuring that it runs as smoothly and as effectively as possible. This involves hiring qualified and efficient HR staff as well as acting as a liaison between these employees and the company's upper management. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shares that individuals in these positions earn a median pay of $110,120 per year.

2. Human Resources Director

Another option for MBA graduates specializing in HR Management is becoming a human resources director. How is this role different than that of a manager? As the Houston Chronicle explains so succinctly, "HR directors are less involved in the day-to-day operations and more involved in creating and enforcing HR policies and programs and curating an employer's culture." As an HR director, you are likely to be one of the company's top leadership members. Having an MBA in HR Management can suit you well for such a high-ranking position within an organization.

3. Executive Recruiter

If you love connecting companies with the employees most suited to work for them, you may want to consider using your MBA in HR Management to work as an executive recruiter. In this role, you are tasked with finding qualified prospects to fill a company's highest-level positions. Additionally, this can be a service you provide on behalf of a recruiting firm. Or, you may decide to pursue entrepreneurship and offer these particular services on your own.

4. Human Resources Consultant

Speaking of services you offer yourself, MBA in HR Management grads can also choose to act as a consultant, providing companies guidance when it comes to structuring the human resources portions of their businesses. HR consultants' job duties include acting as an advisor who provides input on a company's current HR policies and procedures, developing new policies and procedures if needed, and offering training for all new and updated HR programs. HumanResourcesEDU.org adds that individuals who are self-confident, have strong communication skills, are able to improvise, and are trustworthy often excel in this specific career track.

5. Safety Director

Maybe your favorite part of working in HR is ensuring the safety of the employees while, at the same time, minimizing any potential negative impact the company could have on the environment. If you're shaking your head "yes" as you read this, then becoming a safety director may be the perfect role for you. In it, you will spend your days identifying any potential hazards in the workplace, then coming up with a plan as to how to reduce them as much as possible in an effort to avoid injury or damage. It also means ensuring that the company's practices are well within the confines of safety-related laws.

6. Small Business Owner

While you certainly don't need an MBA in HR Management or an MBA in general to run a successful company, having a higher-level education in business can definitely help. And when that higher-level education involves a specialization in HR Management, it can also give you an advantage when it comes to your most important asset—your employees. In fact, U.S. News & World Report states that all future small business owners "need" an MBA because it enables you to hone your business model before you even open your doors (reducing your risk of failure), gives you access to other students who may wind up becoming part of your business team, and you'll also learn invaluable skills about how to build your company well past your startup years.

Ready to Get Started on Your MBA in HR Management?

One of the best things about earning your MBA degree is that it not only prepares you for a few higher-level business roles, but some career tracks actually require this advanced education before you are able to function in that particular position.

Regardless of which situation applies to you and your professional goals, Saint Leo's accredited Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resource Management can help you get where you want to be.

With classes such as HR Strategic Training and Development and Recruitment, Selection, and Placement, you'll gain the knowledge necessary to make the most out of your business career, no matter which path you choose.