South Texas College Human Resources Degree Programs

Human Resources Degree Program at South Texas College

South Texas College offers a comprehensive Human Resources program designed to prepare students for various roles within the field. The program is structured into multiple levels, including an Occupational Skills Award, several specialized Certificates, and an Associate of Applied Science degree.

The **Human Resources (HR) Clerk Occupational Skills Award** provides foundational knowledge in workplace communication, human resource management, and selection/recruitment processes, focusing on interpersonal relationships, managing work effectively, and staffing strategies.

Specialized Certificates include the **Payroll Assistant Certificate**, equipping students with knowledge and skills for payroll administration, covering business tax accounting, processes, laws, regulations, and software applications. The **Recruiting Assistant Certificate** focuses on the staffing office function, teaching processes and strategies to attract, hire, and retain employees, including sourcing, screening, and hiring best practices. The **Human Resources Assistant Certificate** offers a broader curriculum, encompassing courses from both the payroll and recruiting specializations, covering fundamental principles of operational and transactional administrative support, compliance with labor laws, HR information systems, and general HR administrative tasks.

The **Human Resources Specialist Associate of Applied Science** is the most in-depth program, providing current knowledge and specialized skills beyond the basics. This degree prepares students for roles requiring deeper expertise in areas such as payroll processes, recruitment, organizational development, compensation and benefits, HR legal compliance, workplace investigations, HR information systems, and management/labor relations. The AAS degree plan includes general core courses alongside HR and business-related courses.

Across all programs, the curriculum emphasizes a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills relevant to success in HR roles across various industries. The Certificates and the Associate of Applied Science degrees are offered as **100% Online** programs.

A significant benefit for Associate degree graduates is the potential to apply a select number of successfully completed course credits towards the undergraduate **Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Organizational Leadership** or the **Bachelor of Applied Technology degree in Operations Management**, offering a pathway for continued education and degree completion.

Example courses mentioned in the degree plans include **HRPO 1311 Human Relations**, **HRPO 2301 Human Resources Management**, **HRPO 2303 Employment Practices**, **ACNT 1303 Introduction to Accounting I**, **HRPO 2305 Human Resources Information Systems**, **HRPO 2306 Benefits and Compensation**, and **HRPO 2371 Human Resources Laws**. The Associate of Applied Science degree requires **60 total credit hours**.

South Texas College Human Resources Degree Program Highlights

• Offers multiple program levels: Occupational Skills Award, Certificates, and an Associate of Applied Science degree.
• Provides focused training for entry- to mid-level roles such as HR Clerk, Payroll Assistant, Recruiting Assistant, and HR Assistant.
• The Associate of Applied Science prepares students for specialized HR roles requiring deeper expertise.
• Select courses from certificates can be applied towards other Human Resources degree plans, offering flexibility.
• Graduates from the Associate degree may apply credits towards a Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership or a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Operations Management.
• Curriculum combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills relevant to various industries.
• Certificate programs and the Associate degree are offered 100% online.

You can view detailed information about the programs or certificates available at South Texas College on the NCES website.