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HRM Dissertation Topics

Published by Carmen Troy at January 6th, 2023 , Revised On April 16, 2024

Introduction

Human resource management studies stated that employees should be hired, retained and managed. It is an extensive field that requires an in-depth understanding of the underlying factors and concepts.

As a human resource management student, you will study many different concepts, frameworks, and theories related to employee management. However, before your graduation, you will be required to submit a dissertation on a human resource management research topic of your choice.

Even though several topics and concepts are yet to explore in the field of human resource management, you will want to make sure that your proposed topic has sufficient literature to support and justify the content of a theoretical framework , or else you might struggle with data collection .

This article provides you with a comprehensive list of HRM topics that are relevant to your field and identifies some interesting literature gaps.

Choosing from our list of topics will certainly improve your chances of submitting an outstanding dissertation. So, go ahead and choose an HRM dissertation topic of your interest. We can even customize these topics based on your project needs.

PhD qualified writers of our team have developed the proposed topics, so you can trust to use these topics for drafting your dissertation.

Note –

You may also want to start your dissertation by requesting  a brief research proposal  from our writers on any of these topics, which includes an  introduction  to the topic,  research question ,  aim and objectives ,  literature review  along with the proposed  methodology  of research to be conducted.  Let us know  if you need any help in getting started.

Check our  dissertation examples  to get an idea of  how to structure your dissertation .

Review the full list of  dissertation topics for here.

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2024 HRM Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: how human resources departments achieve equal employment opportunities.

Research Aim: The research will aim to investigate how HR departments achieve equal employment opportunity in organizations. EEO, or Equal Employment Opportunity, is the notion everybody has an equal chance to pursue a job on the basis of merit, regardless of skin color, gender, or gender identity. It is the duty of HR department to give every employee and equal right in the organization. The research will examine how HR department keep the organization environment friendly by controlling equal employment opportunities.

Topic 2: The effect of motivating strategies on employee performance

Research Aim: The research will aim to find the impact of motivating strategies on employee performance. Employee motivation plays a huge part on performance. Employee engagement cannot be substituted by anything else in order for any organisation to run efficiently and without interruption. It is critical that a company and its employees not only have a strong connection with the top management, but also have a good and healthy relationship with their colleagues. The study will also make recommendations on what further might be done to obtain optimal results utilising motivating methods for the benefit of both the company and the individual.

Topic 3: Organizational Conflicts as Antecedents of Staff Turnover: Evidence from the UK Food Sector

Research Aim: The research will aim to review recent available literature on employee turnover in order to determine organizational conflicts as antecedents of employee turnover in the UK food sector in order to close gaps in the literature and present a broader range of turnover factors and understanding of employee motivational factors in their job decision.

Topic 4: How does AI involvement in HRM provide Zara with a competitive advantage?

Research Aim: The research will aim to inspect the benefit of competitive advantage at Zara through the involvement of artificial intelligence in their HRM. AI assists the human resources department in identifying their personnel’ skill sets and recommending a training programme based on their work positions. It combines all of the data and assists the HR staff in making succinct decisions about what training to do in which sector to boost abilities. The study will also explain the importance of AI in organizations and organizations success. It will also look into strategies and policies Zara used to achieve competitive advantage.

Topic 5: The role of HR in creating a respected working environment that contributes in sustainable revenue growth

Research Aim: The research aims to examine the role of HR in creating a respected working environment and sustainable revenue growth. The study will identify current misunderstandings and disparities in understanding of topics such as sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, and the link between strategic human resource management and sustainable HRM through a comprehensive literature review. It will also identify and recognise the challenges that sustainable HRM encounters in reality, with a particular emphasis on the prevalent strategic HRM schema and the misunderstanding of corporate social responsibility.

Covid-19 HRM Research Topics

The role of managers during the pandemic.

Research Aim: In this study, the Human resource management techniques which HR managers will adopt for performing their operations during the COVID -19 will be discussed.

The management techniques for employees.

Research Aim: This study will focus on how the employees are trained during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The economic Crisis for HR Managers during Covid-19

Research Aim: This study will discuss how the economic crisis will disturb the payroll and how the managers will work.

The policies of HR for affected employees.

Research Aim: In this study, HR will design policies on how HR will manage when there is a gap between employees working. How will the ill patients be provided with support by companies through HR?

The employees' cooperation for HR

Research Aim: This study will highlight how well the employees support the decisions of the HR policymakers during the pandemic.

HRM Dissertation Topics for 2023

Topic 1: effect of employee engagement on customer loyalty in the service-based industry.

Research Aim: Employees engagement means that employees are passionate and committed to their work. In the service industry, where employees’ performance can greatly influence the quality of service, it is worth exploring employee engagement in customer loyalty in the service-based industry. Therefore, in this study, survey-based research will be conducted to identify employee engagement in customer loyalty.

Topic 2: Contingent workforce and its impact on organisation’s performance – Evaluating the IT Industry

Research Aim: Nowadays, companies hire freelancers and contractual workers, unlike permanent payroll employees. Various cost benefits can be obtained by hiring such a workforce. However, such a workforce may not have the required skills to do a job as effectively as a trained staff would have done. Thus, the present study focuses on identifying the impact of a contingent workforce on its performance in the IT industry.

Topic 3: Factors of growing mental health issues of employees at workplace in service-based industries

Research Aim: The wellness of employees at the workplace is necessary for their mental health and work performance. This study will identify the factors that can increase employees’ mental health issues at the workplace based on survey-based of employees and managers of service-based industries.

Topic 4: Analysing the importance and impact of training and development on an organisation’s sustainability during economic crises.

Research Aim: to achieve organizational objectives and milestones, leaders and business owners have realized the importance of training and developing their workforce to align with the organizational objectives. This research aims to analyze the importance and impact of employee training and development on the organization’s sustainability during economic downturns.

Topic 5: How online digital platforms have helped organisations in recruiting effectively and efficiently

Research Aim: With the advent of technology, firms have revolutionized their business operations. Under this revolution, many organizations have adopted different techniques and methods to recruit talented employees. Therefore, this research intends to determine how online digital platforms have helped organizations find employees more efficiently and effectively.

Topic 6: Analysing the factors which directly impact an employee's personal decision to leave employment

Research Aim: Employee turnover rate has always been a major concern for many organizations regardless of their size and nature. A valuable and talented employee is usually hard to find and retain. However, it has been found out that different factors motivate an employee to search for a new job. Keeping this phenomenon in mind, the current research will be analyzing the factors that directly impact the employee’s personal decision to leave employment.

Topic 7: Critically analysing the concept of workplace flexibility and how it impacts employee and organisational performance

Research Aim: In today’s modern era, the workplace environment has been transformed drastically from a strict and conventional style to a more flexible one. Therefore, this research aims to critically analyze the concept of workplace flexibility and how it impacts employee and organizational performance.

Topic 8: A comparative analysis of employees' job satisfaction and motivational factors in public versus private organisations.

Research Aim: Job satisfaction and employee motivation are regarded as the most important element of HR practices. The main aim of HR policies is to satisfy, retain, and motivate employees. Therefore, this research aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the employee’s job satisfaction and motivational factors in public versus private organizations.

Topic 9: The influence of COVID-19 on virtual employee management practices by organisations

Research Aim: This research is highly useful in the current context of COVID-19. Organisations all around the world are getting impacted by the COVID-19 and are closed at the moment. The current study will focus on using different virtual employee management practices that companies can use in the current context of COVID-19. These practices will be beneficial for organizations in almost all business sectors.

Topic 10: The role of using transformational leadership style in the improvement of organisational creativity at Morrisons

Research Aim: The aim of this research will be the benefits of using the transformational leadership style by Morrisons’ leaders to improve organizational creativity. This study will research how leaders can get the advantage of a transformational leadership style for increasing creativity at the organization.

Topic 11: The green HRM practices and their impacts on the corporate image of IKEA

Research Aim: This study will aim to study different green HRM practices and their role in improving IKEA’s corporate image and reputation. It will be researched how companies can improve their corporate image by focusing on green HRM practices and processes. The findings will be beneficial for the management, customers as well as employees.

Topic 12: Involving employees in the decision-making process and its influence on employee productivity at Subway

Research Aim: It will be researched in this study how Subway and other companies in this industry can involve the workers in the decision-making process to improve employee productivity. It will be studied that employee productivity is increased by involving the employees in the decision-making process. The findings will be useful in designing useful HR practices by Subway.

Topic 13: The impact of a flat organisational structure on the decision-making process

Research Aim: The main objective of this study is to evaluate the decision-making difficulties and issues faced by HR managers of companies with a flat organizational structure. This study will also investigate the benefits and challenges related to the flat organizational structures used by companies. A case study approach will be used.

Topic 14: The role of workforce diversity in improving organisational capability and innovation at Toyota Motors

Research Aim: To carry out this study, an innovative company named Toyota Motors will be selected. The main objective for carrying out this study will be to analyze how the organizational capability and innovation at Toyota Motors are improved due to workforce diversity. The main emphasis will be on studying the workforce diversity present at Toyota Motors and its significance in improving innovation and organizational capability. The success factors of Toyota Motors for HR will be studied.

Topic 15: The impact of digitalization on changing HRM practices at Aviva

Research Aim: The contemporary business world moves towards digitalization due to technological advancements. This research will study the different impacts of digitalization in changing various HRM practices at Aviva. Different HRM practices used by Aviva before and after the digitalization era will be discussed, and the changes will be analyzed. This study will show how digitalization has changed HRM practices in the contemporary business world.

Topic 16: The influence of employee learning and development opportunities on employee satisfaction at British Airways

Research Aim: It will be studied in this research that how employee satisfaction at British Airways is influenced by employee learning and development opportunities. Different employee learning and development opportunities at BA will be studied, along with their impact on workforce satisfaction.

Topic 17: The impact of recognizing employee contributions on employee retention at Shell

Research Aim: This study’s main objective is to analyse whether Shell can retain its employees by recognizing their contributions or not. Different strategies used by Shell for recognizing employee contributions will be studied that lead towards motivating the employees, which ultimately impact the retention of workers.

Topic 18: The role of green HR practices in employee engagement and retention

Research Aim: Green HR practices is a newly emerged concept in HRM. The study will aim to research the impact of green HR practices on employee engagement and retention. It will be studied how companies can improve employee engagement and retention by focusing on green HR practices.

Topic 19: The role of providing daycare facilities in increasing the productivity of female employees

Research Aim: This study will be focusing on the productivity of female workers. It will be studied how female workers’ productivity is increased by providing daycare facilities for their children. The impact on the satisfaction level of female employees due to the daycare facility will also be explored.

Topic 20: The impact of artificial intelligence on enhancing the human resource practices of Zara

Research Aim: For this study, the researcher will focus on the concept of artificial intelligence and use it in the HR context. It will be studied that either the HR practices at Zara can be enhanced by implementing AI. The benefits and implications of implementing AI in the HR context will also be part of this study.

Topic 21: The role of e-leadership in improving employee productivity and motivation.

Research Aim: The contemporary business world has become highly advanced due to technological capabilities. The concept of e-leadership has emerged due to advancements in technology. The purpose of this study will be to analyse the impact of e-leadership in improving the productivity and motivation level of the workforce.

Topic 22: The role of effective HR planning in a successful strategic alliance process.

Research Aim: This study will study the importance of effective HR planning for the strategic alliance process. It will be studied how HR management can mould the HR practices and focus on effective HR planning to make the strategic alliance process successful.

Topic 23: The impact of different personality traits on teamwork at Microsoft

Research Aim: The main focus of this research will be studying Microsoft’s teamwork. It will be further analyzed how Microsoft’s teamwork is influenced by the personality traits possessed by different team members. Different types of personality traits will be studied in this research that impacts teamwork positively and negatively.

Topic 24: The impact of career growth opportunities on employee loyalty at HSBC Holdings.

Research Aim: This study will aim to review different types of career growth opportunities offered by HBSC Holdings to its employees. Moreover, it will also be studied how employee loyalty is improved due to various career growth opportunities. The findings of this study will be beneficial for the banking sector.

Topic 25: The role of adapted HR practices in improving organisational performance at the international branch of DHL.

Research Aim: The study’s main objective will be to analyse companies’ changes in their HR practices for international branches. How and why the HR practices are adapted by HR management for improving the organisational performance at the company’s branch, which is located outside the country. For this, the DHL case study will be selected, and it will be assessed how and why DHL has used adapted HR practices across different countries.

HR Learning and Development Dissertation Topics

All organisational activities aimed at improving the productivity and performance of groups and individuals can be classified as HRM’s learning and development function elements. Learning and development encompass three pivotal activities, including education, training, and development.

As such, the training activities help to evaluate an employee based on his existing job responsibilities. Educational activities include those focusing on jobs that an employee can expect to carry out in the future.

Finally, the development activities are those that the employer may partake in the future. If you’re interested in exploring this human resource topic in-depth, we have some interesting dissertation topics for you:

Topic 1:The importance of appreciative inquiry with respect to organisational learning and development culture – A case study of ExxonMobil

Research Aim: This research will discuss the importance of appreciative inquiry and its impact on organisational learning and development culture with a specific focus on ExxonMobil.

Topic 2:To establish the correlation between organisation competency development and learning activities & programmes

Research Aim: This research will discuss how organisational competency development and organisational learning activities are correlated.

Topic 3:An examination of knowledge management and organisational learning for sustained firm performance. A case study of British Telecom

Research Aim: This research will examine how organisational learning and knowledge management helped British Telecom sustain their firm performance.

Topic 4:Investigating learning and development of human resources in the public sector in the UK

Research Aim: This dissertation will evaluate the different ways of achieving the learning and development of human resources in the UK’s public sector.

Topic 32:The importance of HR learning and development activities for SMEs

Research Aim: This research will focus on how SMEs utilize HR learning and developmental activities to improve their employees’ performance.

Topic 33:Human resource practices and employees’ decision to quit – Does Lack of Learning and Development play a Role.

Research Aim: This research will focus on whether or not lack of learning and development in an organization leads to employee turnover,

Topic 34:Developing organisational competitive advantage through strategic employee training in computer knowledge

Research Aim: This dissertation will explore how companies can gain a strategic advantage over their competitors through employee training.

Topic 35:The impact of various training and learning based activities on employees’ productivity

Research Aim: The main aim of this research will be to determine the impact of different pieces of training and learnings on employees’ productivity.

Topic 36: The role of HR analytics and metrics in improving organizational performance at Tesco

Research Aim: This study aims to research a new concept in human resource management, named HR analytics and metrics. Moreover, their impact on improving organizational performance will also be studied. This study will be beneficial for Tesco in using HR analytics and metrics in different HR practices that can lead to improved organizational performance.

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HR Performance Review Dissertation Topics

A performance review, also known as a career development discussion, performance evaluation and employee appraisal, can be defined as a method to evaluate an employee based on their job performance, mainly for appraisals. This might be an interesting area to focus your dissertation on. Here are some interesting topics in this area of HRM:

Topic 37:To understand the relationship between performance review and employee motivation in large and diversified business organisations

Research Aim: This research will understand the relationship between employee motivation and employee performance review. Large and diversified businesses will be the main focus of this study.

Topic 38:Effective performance appraisal – A study to establish a correlation between employer satisfaction and optimising business results

Research Aim: This research will analyse the impact of performance appraisal on employer satisfaction and how it optimises business results.

Topic 39: Investigating the efficacy of performance appraisal from the perception of employees in UK retail industry – A case study of Tesco

Research Aim: This research will analyse the efficacy of performance appraisal concerning employees, with a specific focus on Tesco.

Topic 40: Employee performance appraisal and the role of fairness and satisfaction

Research Aim: This dissertation will explore whether employees report satisfaction and fairness when performance appraisal is conducted.

Topic 41:Investigating performance review and appraisal methods employed by human resource department of any large oil and gas company

Research Aim: This research will study the human resource department of a large oil and gas company and will investigate how “performance review” and appraisals are conducted.

Topic 42: Job satisfaction and performance appraisals – Are they Interconnected?

Research Aim: This research will study in-depth whether job satisfaction and performance appraisals are interconnected or not.

Topic 43:Investigating the relationship between public sector appraisals and the spinal pay reward

Research Aim: This research will talk about the spinal pay reward system and evaluate its effectiveness in the public sector.

Topic 44:Analysing the impact of performance management on employee performance improvement

Research Aim: This research will investigate how performance management helps companies improve their employees’ performance.

Topic 45: Can HR performance drive employee engagement? Studying the UK banking industry

Research Aim: This research will talk about the different ways through which HR performance review helps in improving employee engagement. The UK banking industry will be in focus in this study.

Topic 46:The role of HR performance review in increasing employee retention and productivity

Research Aim: This research will investigate how organisations utilize performance reviews as a tool to improve employee retention and productivity.

HR Employee Motivation Dissertation Topics

Employees need objectives and goals to remain focused. The quality of work may significantly drop if they are not constantly motivated by their employers.

Business organizations employ various employee motivation methods and techniques to keep their employees motivated. Thus, this is an interesting topic to explore for your final year dissertation. Here are some HRM dissertation topics related to employee motivation.

Topic 47:To investigate the role of motivation in HRM – A study highlighting the most important motivation factors for future business leaders

Research Aim: This research will discuss the different motivation factors organisations should use to develop future leaders. In addition to this, the role of motivation throughout HRM will be discussed.

Topic 48:Employee satisfaction and work motivation – Are they both related?

Research Aim: This research will understand the relationship between motivation and employee satisfaction and the different motivation techniques companies can employ to increase employee satisfaction.

Topic 49: Evaluating the Role of Employee motivation in performance Enhancement

Research Aim: This study will discuss the role of employee motivation concerning employee performance, i.e. whether it enhances performance or not.

Topic 50:Human resource management – Motivation among workers in large and diversified business organisations

Research Aim: This dissertation will talk about motivation in large and diversified organisations and how these companies ensure that their employees are motivated at all times.

Topic 51:Effects of motivational programmes and activities on employee performance

Research Aim: This research will focus on the different motivational techniques and programs that impact employee performance.

Topic 52: Does motivation play a role in decreasing employee turnovers? A case study of British Airways

Research Aim: This research will discuss the role of motivation in decreasing employee turnover with a specific focus on British airways.

Topic 53:Motivation and performance reward – Are the two interrelated?

Research Aim: This research will talk about motivation and performance rewards and will assess whether the two are interrelated and directly related.

Topic 54: Work productivity and the role of employee motivation programmes and activities

Research Aim: This study will assess employee motivation programs’ impact on employee productivity, i.e. if it increases or decreases.

Topic 55:To discuss the role of employee motivation in relation to retention levels

Research Aim: This research will analyze employee motivation’s role to help companies retain employees.

Topic 56:Differences and similarities between traditional and contemporary theories

Research Aim: This research will discuss and compare traditional and contemporary motivation theories implemented by companies.

Topic 57: The role of employee empowerment in employee motivation and satisfaction at British Petroleum.

Research Aim: This study will aim to analyse different strategies of employee empowerment carried out by British Petroleum and their impact on workers’ motivation and satisfaction. The research will be studied that either different employee empowerment strategies improve employee motivation and satisfaction. The findings will be beneficial for companies working in the petroleum sector.

Topic 58: The impact of open communication in improving employee engagement at Zara

Research Aim: In this research, different modes of communication used by organisations will be studied and especially the impact of open communication in improving employee engagement at Zara will be analyzed. The importance of open communication for different organisations in the fashion and retail sectors will be discussed. Moreover, different communication strategies that can help improve employee engagement at Zara will be discussed based on past literature, theories, and framework.

HR Performance Management Dissertation Topics

All processes and activities to consistently meet organisational goals and objectives can be considered the HR performance management mechanism elements. Different organisations employ different performance management strategies to gain a competitive advantage. To explore this area of human resources, here are some intriguing topics for you:

Topic 59:Investigating different performance management techniques for retaining employees

Research Aim: This research will talk about companies’ various performance management techniques to retain employees.

Topic 60:The role of performance management activities in improving employees’ skills and abilities

Research Aim: This research will discuss how performance management helps employees improve their skills and abilities and how it ultimately helps companies.

Topic 61:Managing performance of workers through performance management techniques – A Case Study of Google

Research Aim: This research will explore how organisations use different performance management techniques to manage employees and their performance. A specific focus of this study will be Google Incorporation.

Topic 62:Employee performance and performance management systems – A qualitative study

Research Aim: This study will conduct a qualitative study to understand the different performance management systems for improving employee performance.

Topic 63:Performance management examinations in human resource management of profit-oriented organisations

Research Aim: This research will understand performance management in profit-oriented companies regarding how their human resource department ensures optimal performance.

Topic 64:Exploring the essentials elements of the performance management framework

Research Aim: This research will explore its vital features and performance management framework.

Topic 65:Human resource management practices and business performance – The role of environmental uncertainties and strategies

Research Aim: This research will explore whether environment uncertainties and strategies play a role in employee and business performance.

Topic 66:The efficacy of performance management systems in the UK’s retail industry

Research Aim: This research will explore the UK’s retail industry’s performance management efficacy.

Topic 67:Towards a framework for performance management in a higher education institution

Research Aim: This research will investigate performance management in the educational setting.

Topic 68:Should wages be capped through performance management – A qualitative study

Research Aim: This research will analyse whether wages should be adjusted and capped concerning performance management with a focus on its effects.

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Strategic Human Resource Management Dissertation Topics

Strategic human resource management is tying the human resource management objective to the company’s goals and objectives. This helps companies in innovating and staying ahead of their competitors by gaining a competitive advantage.

Being a relatively new concept, there are various aspects of strategic HRM that are left to be explored. Here are some interesting strategic HRM dissertation topics for you:

Topic 69:The efficacy of communication processes and employees’ involvement plans to improve employee commitment towards organisational goals – A case study of Sainsbury

Research Aim: This research will study the role and efficacy of the communication processes and employees’ involvement in order to improve employees’ commitment towards organisational goals.

Topic 70:To investigate SHRM theory and practice in a call centre – A case study of any UK call centre

Research Aim: This dissertation will discuss the various SHRM theories and how it is implemented. A UK-based call center will be focused on this study.

Topic 71: Differences and similarities between SHRM strategies and policies employed by German and Japanese automobile companies

Research Aim: This research will compare the different SHRM techniques and policies implemented by German and Japanese automobile companies.

Topic 72: A resource-based view assessment of strategic human resources quality management systems

Research Aim: This research will understand the resource-based view of strategic human resources quality management systems.

Topic 73: To understand and critically evaluate the HRM strategies employed by small and medium sized enterprises in the UK

Research Aim: This research will discuss and evaluate the different strategic HRM strategies employed by small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK.

Topic 74: Relating organisational performance to strategic human resource management – A study of small scale businesses in the UK

Research Aim: This study will analyse whether organisational performance and strategic human resource management are interconnected by assessing small scale businesses in the UK.

Topic 75: Investigating strategic human resource management in Singapore – A qualitative study

Research Aim: This research will analyse strategic human resource management in Singapore by undertaking a qualitative method.

Topic 76: The role of organisational support programmes to enhance work outcome and employees behaviour

Research Aim: This research will understand the organisational support program in order to enhance employee work outcome and their behaviour.

Topic 77: To establish the most important components of strategic HRM for SMEs in the UK to develop a competitive advantage

Research Aim: This research will talk about the relationship between the different SHRM components for SMEs in the UK in order to gain a competitive advantage.

Topic 78: To establish the significance of the relationship between organisational performance and strategic human resource management

Research Aim: This research will explore the relationship between organisational performance and strategic human resource management and how it helps companies achieve their objectives.

Human Resource Theory Dissertation Topics

The human resource theory framework consists of a soft and hard approach to human resources management. Various theories cover the different aspects of the soft and hard human resource approach.

Exploring this area of HRM will help in understanding more about the soft and hard HRM approaches. Here are some dissertation topics in this area that you can choose from.

Topic 79: A comparative analysis of various human resources theory approaches

Research Aim: This research will discuss various human resource theories and approaches and provide a comparative analysis.

Topic 80:To study human resources systems practiced by Multinationals in the UK

Research Aim: This research will discuss the various human resource systems as practised by multinational companies operating in the UK.

Topic 81:The role of human resources management (HRM) in regards to addressing workers’ concerns.

Research Aim: This research will discuss the importance of human resources in understanding and addressing worker’s concerns.

Topic 82: Can HRM have a negative influence on the performance of business organisations – A qualitative study?

Research Aim: This research will discuss a unique aspect of human resource management, i.e. whether it harms the company’s performance or not.

Topic 83: Is Human resources the only option for employees? An exploratory study

Research Aim: This study will analyze human resources’ role in solving employee issues and assess whether it is the only option for employees.

Topic 84:Exploring the contribution of human resource to the success of organisations

Research Aim: This research will aim to understand the role and contribution of the human resource department in companies’ success.

Topic 85:To investigate the most predominant human HRM and control strategies employed by business organisations

Research Aim: This research will discuss an interesting topic, i.e. the most predominant HRM strategies organisations implement.

Topic 86:To investigate the role of HR as a shared service.

Research Aim: This study will discuss human resources’ role as a shared service in the organisation.

Topic 87:Does a supervisor has a role to play in implementing HR practices – A critical study

Research Aim: This study will critically analyze supervisors’ role in implementing human resource practices in an organization.

Topic 88:The ethics of firing employees – Do companies really follow it?

Research Aim: This research will focus on how employees are fired at organizations and whether human resources follow the ethics of firing or not.

HR Organisational Culture Dissertation Topics

Organisational culture, also known as organisational climate, is defined as the process by which an organisation’s culture can be quantified. The properties of the work environment that are either considered positive or negative by the employees (and that may influence their behaviour) are the most important components of the organisational culture framework.

Studying this aspect of human resources will help you gain an in-depth knowledge of the role of culture in human resource management. Here are some interesting dissertation topics in this area:

Topic 89:The role of leadership, HRM and culture in vitalising management systems in firms

Research Aim: This research will understand the role of leadership and culture in human resource management and how it helps companies manage their systems.

Topic 90:Finding the right balance between differentiation and standardisation of HRM practices and policies – HRM of multinational companies operating within the European Union

Research Aim: There are certain human resource practices that are standardized throughout the world. This research will investigate the differences between such standard policies with respect to culture. Multinationals operating in the European Union will be focused.

Topic 91:Cross-cultural human resource management – The role it plays in the success of different organisations

Research Aim: This research will study the role of cross-cultural human resource management in the success of companies.

Topic 92:The impact of cross-cultural competencies in start-up companies

Research Aim: A lot of companies do not encourage cross-cultural human resources in the workplace. This research will analyse how cross-cultural competencies help startups grow and succeed.

Topic 93:The role of organisational cultural on HRM policies and practices – A case study of Cambridge University

Research Aim: This research will aim to understand the role of organisational culture on human resource policies and practices. The main focus of this study will be at Cambridge University.

Topic 94:The relationship between human resource management practices and organisational culture towards organisational commitment

Research Aim: This research will assess the relationship between different cultures and human resource practices with respect to organisational commitment.

Topic 95: Investigating cultural differences between the work values of employees and the implications for managers

Research Aim: This study will conduct an investigation related to the work values of employees based on their various cultural differences. It will then be concluded what this means for the managers.

Topic 96:To effectively manage cultural change without affecting work productivity

Research Aim: This research will discuss an interesting topic as to how managers should manage organisational cultural change without harming productivity.

Topic 97:Inducting new employees into the culture – Does it help organisations?

Research Aim: This research will discuss whether or not it is feasible for organisations to hire employees when the company is undergoing a cultural change.

Topic 98:Recruiting to change the culture – The Impact it has on the Profitability of the Company

Research Aim: This research will discuss whether companies should hire to lead change in the organisation, i.e. whether hiring should be done for this specific purpose, and what this new hiring means for the company in terms of profitability.

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HR Diversity Dissertation Topics

The changing corporate world has provoked organisations to develop and implement diversity management systems as part of their human resource management system. Although relatively new, diversity management is an important research area of human resource management that brings challenges and learning to employees.

With many areas unexplored and literature gaps in this subject, there are some extremely interesting dissertation topics you can select for your final year project. Some of them are listed here:

Topic 99: Investigating the difference between discrimination and diversity – How Do they Impact Organisations

Research Aim: This research will discuss the differences between the two concepts, diversity and discrimination and their impact on organisations.

Topic 100:Managing diversity through HRM: A conceptual framework and an international perspective

Research Aim: This study will discuss how the human resource department can manage diversity. The study will be conducted in an international setting.

Topic 101:Managing diversity in the public sector – How do companies manage to remain successful

Research Aim: This research will explore managing diversity in the public sector and how these companies can be successful even through diversity.

Topic 102:Managing cultural diversity in human resource management

Research Aim: As much as a human resource helps companies manage diversity, how will companies manage diversity in their main HR department. This research will answer this exact question.

Topic 103:The managerial tools, opportunities, challenges and benefits associated with diversity in the workplace

Research Aim: This research will focus on the tools available to human resources in managing diversity, and how they change it to opportunities and overcome diversity-related challenges.

Topic 104: Investigating the challenges of exclusion and inequality in organisations – Assessing HR’s role.

Research Aim: This research will first investigate the exclusion and inequality challenges that organisations face and how human resources overcome these challenges.

Topic 105:How does HRM Help in managing cultural differences and diversity

Research Aim: This research will discuss HR’s role in managing cultural differences and diversity in organisations.

Topic 106: Can HR eliminate diversity-related discrimination from workplaces? Assessing its role

Research Aim: This research will talk about HR’s role in eliminating diversity-related discrimination from organisations, and whether it will be successful in doing so or not.

Topic 107:Training managers for diversity – How difficult is it for companies and HR

Research Aim: This research will discuss and analyse the role of HR and companies in ensuring manager’s learning and development for diversity.

Topic 108:Training the newly hired staff for diversity in a large and diversified business organisation

Research Aim: This research will investigate the role of HR in training employees and staff to deal with, manage and coexist with diverse employees.

Important Notes:

As a human resource management student looking to get good grades, it is essential to develop new ideas and experiment with existing human resource management theories – i.e., to add value and interest to your research topic.

Human resource management is vast and interrelated to many other academic disciplines like management , operations management , project management , business , international business , MBA and more. That is why it is imperative to create a human resource management dissertation topic that is articular, sound, and actually solves a practical problem that may be rampant in the field.

We can’t stress how important it is to develop a logical research topic based on your entire research. There are several significant downfalls to getting your topic wrong; your supervisor may not be interested in working on it, the topic has no academic creditability, the research may not make logical sense, there is a possibility that the study is not viable.

This impacts your time and efforts in writing your dissertation , as you may end up in the cycle of rejection at the initial stage of the dissertation. That is why we recommend reviewing existing research to develop a topic, taking advice from your supervisor, and even asking for help in this particular stage of your dissertation.

While developing a research topic, keeping our advice in mind will allow you to pick one of the best human resource management dissertation topics that fulfil your requirement of writing a research paper and add to the body of knowledge.

Therefore, it is recommended that when finalizing your dissertation topic, you read recently published literature to identify gaps in the research that you may help fill.

Remember- dissertation topics need to be unique, solve an identified problem, be logical, and be practically implemented. Please look at some of our sample human resource management dissertation topics to get an idea for your own dissertation.

How to Structure your HRM Dissertation

A well-structured dissertation can help students to achieve a high overall academic grade.

  • A Title Page
  • Acknowledgements
  • Declaration
  • Abstract: A summary of the research completed
  • Table of Contents
  • Introduction : This chapter includes the project rationale, research background, key research aims and objectives, and the research problems. An outline of the structure of a dissertation can also be added to this chapter.
  • Literature Review : This chapter presents relevant theories and frameworks by analyzing published and unpublished literature on the chosen research topic to address research questions . The purpose is to highlight and discuss the selected research area’s relative weaknesses and strengths while identifying research gaps. Break down the topic and key terms that can positively impact your dissertation and your tutor.
  • Methodology : The data collection and analysis methods and techniques employed by the researcher are presented in the Methodology chapter, which usually includes research design , research philosophy, research limitations, code of conduct, ethical consideration, data collection methods, and data analysis strategy .
  • Findings and Analysis : Findings of the research are analysed in detail under the Findings and Analysis chapter. All key findings/results are outlined in this chapter without interpreting the data or drawing any conclusions. It can be useful to include graphs, charts, and tables in this chapter to identify meaningful trends and relationships.
  • Discussion and Conclusion : The researcher presents his interpretation of the results in this chapter and state whether the research hypothesis has been verified or not. An essential aspect of this section is establishing the link between the results and evidence from the literature. Recommendations with regards to the implications of the findings and directions for the future may also be provided. Finally, a summary of the overall research, along with final judgments, opinions, and comments, must be included in the form of suggestions for improvement.
  • References : Make sure to complete this following your University’s requirements
  • Bibliography
  • Appendices : Any additional information, diagrams, and graphs used to complete the dissertation but not part of the dissertation should be included in the Appendices chapter. Essentially, the purpose is to expand the information/data.

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How to find hrm dissertation topics.

For HRM dissertation topics:

  • Research HRM trends and challenges.
  • Explore workplace issues or diversity.
  • Investigate HR technology impact.
  • Analyze employee well-being.
  • Consider performance management.
  • Select a topic aligning with your passion and career path.

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Ph.D. in Human Resource Management

Program information.

The doctoral program in human resource management (HRM) prepares students for success in research universities as faculty members specializing in human resources. Doctoral students work closely with faculty to gain research and teaching expertise in the various functions and activities carried out as part of HRM, including the relationship between these practices and organizational strategies, cultures, and performance.

Many HRM scholars specialize or focus on more micro-level work, such as researching the impact of specific HR practices (e.g., selection or training techniques) on individual-level measures of satisfaction or performance. Alternatively, macro-level HR (i.e., “strategic HRM”) scholars study the effects of systems of HR policies and practices on organizational-level outcomes. KU faculty have expertise at both levels, as evidenced by publications in prestigious outlets.

Application deadlines

Priority: December 15

Final: January 10

  • Application requirements

Doctoral students work closely with faculty to gain research expertise in the various functions and activities carried out as part of HRM with a focus on the attraction, selection, retention, development, motivation, and utilization of individuals in organizations.

Part of our mission is to develop effective teachers. To that end, all doctoral students are required to teach at least two sections as independent instructors. The school and university prepare and reward doctoral students for excellence in teaching through various programs and awards.

Program details

Human resource managment core courses.

A graduate course in economics: BE 701: Business Economics OR BE 917: Advanced Managerial Economics OR ECON 700: Survey of Microeconomics

Note: BE 917: Business Economics, is preferred. Students coming into the program directly from an undergraduate degree may consider substituting BE 701: Business Economics, or ECON 700: Survey of Microeconomics. In the event a student has taken a graduate economics course prior to enrolling as a KU doctoral student, she/he may waive the requirement and substitute either an elective doctoral content course or a statistics/research methods course for this requirement.

MGMT 905:  Management Research Methods

MGMT 916: Major Management Theories

MGMT 950: Seminar in Human Resource Management I

MGMT 951: Seminar in Human Resource Management II

MGMT 953: Seminar in Organizational Behavior I OR         MGMT 954: Seminar in Organizational Behavior II

MGMT 956: Seminar in Strategic Management I OR      MGMT 957: Seminar in Strategic Management II

MGMT 998: Independent Study

MGMT 952: Special Topics in Human Resource Management (offered and required when there are 3 or more students in years 1 & 2 of the program)

Statistics/Research Methods Courses

At least four courses with advisor approval

At least two or more courses with advisor approval

For more information, view a detailed list of courses in the academic catalog.

  • Comprehensive exams
  • Dissertation proposal
  • Dissertation defense

Some students can complete the program in four years.

Program faculty

Clint Chadwick

  • Howard Fitch/Fred Ball Professor
  • Management and Entrepreneurship academic area

Patrick E. Downes

  • Associate Professor

Jill Ellingson

  • Neeli Bendapudi Professor of Management

Human Resource Management doctoral students

Kylie Hershey

  • Ph.D. Student

Ella Lee

  • Ph.D. Candidate

Kristina Tirol-Carmody

Human Resources Research Paper Topics For 2024

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Table of contents

  • 1.1 Human Resources Management Research Topics
  • 1.2 Equal Employment Opportunity HR Research Topics
  • 1.3 Career Development HR Research Topics
  • 1.4 Research Topics on Recruitment and Selection
  • 1.5 HR Risk Management Topics
  • 1.6 Workplace Safety HR Topics
  • 1.7 Trending HR Topics

Human Resources is one of the most popular and essential topics for the business minded. If you remember your basic economics, you may remember that the basic components necessary for production in any kind of economy are Land, Capital, and Labor.

Human labor is an essential resource that keeps a business running. Like any other resource, it must be managed. This is where the term “Human Resources” and Human resources research topics come in.

Having relevant data for research paper is easy if you know where to look. There are lots of online sources and books in libraries to use in your task. Make sure you spend enough time on planning before writing your task.

How to choose a Human Resources topic for your project?

Selecting research topics in human resource management is not as simple as simply choosing the title and proceeding to write it. In order to get a good grade, the paper must be original and well researched. It needs to cover all relevant aspects of the chosen HR topics. Writing a hr related research topics is a very structured and analytical process. This is true for all fields, including human resources research topics.

The first step is topic selection . This is where we can help you. This page features a list of over 90 human resources topics. If you are having problems coming up with your own ideas, please choose hr related research topics from this list instead.

These titled papers all have a great deal of material about human resource management research topics out there. They are each trending topics in hrm topics for research and have plenty of resources available out there on the internet. Each of them is also relevant to the actual field of human resources management.

So, while writing a hr related research topics is not a typical or common activity for an HR employee, it will give you a lot of insights and information. These insights could give you a leg up in the future when you have graduated from School and College.

Human Resources Management Research Topics

At most large companies, ‘Human Resources’ is an entire department of its own. Most other departments at the company typically deal with producing a good or service. Others, like the public relations department, work with the media and other external affairs. Hence, there are many ways to approach HR research topics.

  • How HR helps companies remain competitive in a global market.
  • Managing part-time, full time, and freelancing employees.
  • How much paid leave is optimal?
  • What occasions deserve raises and bonuses?
  • The simplest way to resolve interpersonal conflicts.
  • The most effective team-building strategies.
  • Organizing teams according to personalities.
  • Can an introverted employee be a good team leader?
  • How to improve productivity through a goal-oriented approach.
  • The agile method and how it helps.
  • The best way to utilize productivity metrics.
  • Methods for disciplining employees.
  • How to manage international employees.
  • Preventing workplace violence.
  • Benefits of regular psychological counseling for all employees.

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Equal Employment Opportunity HR Research Topics

  • Are women more likely to get paid less for the same position as a man?
  • Do men and women deserve the same pay?
  • How to manage equal opportunity employment?
  • The best tactics for implementing equal opportunity.
  • Recruiting as an equal opportunity employer.
  • How to recognize and manage discrimination in the workplace.
  • The glass ceiling and how to break it.
  • Best practices for mediating disputes between employees.
  • Dealing with intimate relationships between employees.
  • How to create a diverse workplace?
  • Making the workplace an inclusive and accessible place for disabled employees.
  • Preventing unfair discrimination against LGBT+ employees.
  • The costs of an unequal workplace.
  • The benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace.
  • Government requirements for equal opportunity.

Career Development HR Research Topics

Those who are interested in working in the field could take their first steps by writing a paper on human resource management topics. There is a huge variety of possible human resource topics for research papers, so it is likely that everyone will find some aspect of it they enjoy.

  • Creating leaders among employees.
  • Why does professional career development matter?
  • How career development helps both employees and organizations.
  • The best approaches to on-the-job training.
  • Should training be prioritized over completed current work?
  • Best practices for training interns.
  • Should interns be paid more?
  • Professional certification training for employees.
  • How does active professional development affect productivity?
  • Is it worth it to help an employee develop if they find a new, better-paid job afterward?
  • Skills that all employees should develop.
  • Must-have training and development for all employees.
  • Advantages and disadvantages of paying for an employee’s professional training.
  • Advantages and disadvantages of leading professional development sessions.
  • Should companies help employees pay for school?

Research Topics on Recruitment and Selection

Studying human resources is a crucial part of management studies. Whether you are a college or university student, you can buy paper online to save time and effort. There are lots of reputable services that can provide excellent assignments to boost your academic performance.

  • What does the ideal new employee look like?
  • When is the best time to recruit a new employee?
  • When is the worst time to recruit a new employee?
  • Should highly skilled but untested individuals be recruited for senior positions?
  • Best practices for improving employee retention.
  • How to attract good employees?
  • The best platforms to recruit on.
  • Is social media an effective way to recruit?
  • What kind of employees should small businesses look for?
  • What kind of employees are needed for a large company?
  • Criminal background checks – Do’s and Don’ts.
  • How to effectively assess skills during an interview.
  • How does HR evaluate a potential new recruit?
  • Is it better to recruit an employee with experience but no skill, or the other way around?
  • Recruiting university graduates directly – a good idea or a bad one?

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HR Risk Management Topics

With so many moving parts working together in one company, it is natural for confusion or conflicts to arise. In order to make sure all these departments, employees, and managers work together, Human Resources is essential. In companies with hundreds of employees, their job simply cannot be understated.

  • What kind of risks does HR have to manage?
  • What role does HR take in risk management?
  • How does HR ensure worker protection?
  • Is HR there to protect employees or protect the company?
  • Legal measures HR can take.
  • Risk management during the covid-19 pandemic.
  • How HR managed risks revolving around covid-19.
  • Reasons to carry out regular internal audits.
  • Risk management among the ‘#metoo’ movement.
  • Training the workplace to minimize potential risks.
  • Risk management when working from home.
  • Ways to ensure all your employees follow masking and social distancing rules.
  • Ways to ensure all employees get vaccinated.
  • Responding to a legal action taken by an employee.
  • When should HR take legal action?

Workplace Safety HR Topics

  • How to ensure compliance with workplace safety rules.
  • The consequences of not following workplace safety.
  • Ways to prevent osha violations.
  • How to ensure all employees follow health and safety protocols?
  • How to ensure all employees get vaccines?
  • Fines and penalties for violating workplace safety rules.
  • Consequences of violating safety rules.
  • Steps to minimize or prevent burnout.
  • Bringing dangerous weapons into the workplace.
  • Steps to take when an employee is assaulted at work.
  • How to ensure psychological wellbeing during remote work.
  • Ensuring company leadership also follows safety roles.
  • Combating sexual harassment at the workplace.
  • Monitoring employees during remote work – is it ethical?
  • Developing specialized safety standards for the workplace.

Trending HR Topics

  • Unique ways to keep morale up during the pandemic.
  • Online recreational activities to develop teamwork during remote work.
  • Use of VR and AR in the workplace.
  • Famous figures or celebrities in the workplace.
  • Analyzing and updating how much a particular job is worth.
  • Steps to take to improve long-term retention.
  • Ways to handle overqualified employees or applicants.
  • Is an HR department necessary for smaller, family-owned businesses?
  • Defusing a tense and volatile moment in the workplace.
  • DRM tools for keeping in-house training methods proprietary.
  • Use of artificial intelligence for HR topics and tasks.
  • How big data is useful to human resources.
  • Virtual and online onboarding and orientation.
  • Hiring the most talented personnel from a global marketplace.
  • Are virtual interviews better than in-person interviews?

Conducting research on human resources is essential for any business looking to enhance their staff’s productivity, skills, and management. Accessing the most effective resources is critical to achieving this goal. This is where an online essay writer can be an invaluable asset in producing high-quality research papers related to human resources. By leveraging the knowledge and expertise of an online essay writer , you can conduct thorough research and create a top-notch human resources research paper that meets your needs.

HR is one of the most dynamic fields of work currently available. It is at the crossroads of psychology, sociology, accounting, and business. In the last few years, there have been many exciting changes in how human resources are handled, due to the rise of virtual platforms and working from home.

Only time will tell if these changes are temporary or permanent. But whichever way they go, our list of HR topics for research project 2023 will always be here for perusal.

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latest topics for phd in human resource management

Human Resource Management Research Paper Topics

Academic Writing Service

Human resource management research paper topics are a critical area of study for students and professionals aiming to understand and advance the field of Human Resource Management (HRM). With the rise of complex organizational structures, diverse workplace environments, and evolving employment laws, HRM has become an essential part of any successful organization. This abstract provides an overview of the multifaceted world of HRM research and introduces a comprehensive list of research paper topics that cater to various aspects of HRM. From talent acquisition to employee retention, performance evaluation, training, and legal compliance, the following sections will offer detailed insights into these areas. Students interested in pursuing research in HRM will find these topics engaging and highly relevant to the current organizational landscape. Additionally, they will be introduced to iResearchNet’s writing services that provide expert assistance in producing custom HRM research papers, ensuring quality, depth, and adherence to academic standards.

100 Human Resource Management Research Paper Topics

Human Resource Management (HRM) is a field that delves into the multifaceted interactions between employees and organizations. The role of HRM has evolved over time to include not only the management of recruitment and employee relations but also strategic planning, legal compliance, and organizational development. Here, we present a comprehensive list of Human Resource Management research paper topics divided into 10 essential categories, each containing 10 specific topics.

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HRM is a dynamic and broad field that demands multidimensional approaches to study. As students explore various topics, they will find intricate connections between management strategies, organizational behavior, and employee satisfaction. The following list serves as an inclusive guide to inspire research and academic inquiry.

  • The role of HRM in organizational strategy
  • Integrating HRM and business planning
  • Talent management strategies
  • Outsourcing HR functions: Pros and cons
  • Technology and HRM
  • Cross-cultural HRM
  • Mergers and acquisitions: HRM challenges
  • Strategic HR planning and organizational success
  • The future of strategic HRM
  • Best HR practices in top-performing companies
  • Innovative recruitment techniques
  • Bias and discrimination in the recruitment process
  • Role of artificial intelligence in recruitment
  • Recruitment marketing strategies
  • Social media as a recruitment tool
  • Ethics in employee selection
  • Assessing the effectiveness of recruitment strategies
  • Diversity and inclusion in recruitment
  • Remote hiring practices
  • Campus recruitment strategies
  • The effectiveness of training programs
  • Employee development and organizational growth
  • The role of mentors in employee growth
  • E-learning and virtual training methods
  • Personalized training approaches
  • Training evaluation methods
  • Cross-training and skill development
  • The future of corporate training
  • Impact of continuous learning culture
  • Leadership development programs
  • Modern performance appraisal techniques
  • 360-degree feedback system
  • Employee engagement and performance
  • Performance management and job satisfaction
  • Aligning performance goals with organizational objectives
  • Challenges in performance evaluation
  • Performance-based rewards
  • Emotional intelligence and employee performance
  • Performance management in remote work environments
  • Real-time performance tracking systems
  • Building trust and collaboration among employees
  • Conflict resolution strategies
  • Impact of organizational culture on employee engagement
  • Managing generational differences in the workplace
  • Role of leadership in fostering engagement
  • Employee wellness programs
  • The psychology of employee engagement
  • Communication strategies for employee relations
  • Remote employee engagement tactics
  • Work-life balance initiatives
  • Salary negotiation techniques
  • The psychology of compensation
  • Pay equity and gender wage gap
  • The impact of benefits on employee retention
  • Flexible compensation models
  • Global compensation strategies
  • Linking compensation to performance
  • Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs)
  • Non-monetary benefits and motivation
  • Compensation transparency
  • Labor law compliance in multinational corporations
  • Whistleblowing and ethical considerations
  • HRM in unionized workplaces
  • Workplace harassment laws
  • Employee rights and employer responsibilities
  • Managing employee terminations ethically
  • Diversity and anti-discrimination policies
  • Legal aspects of employee benefits
  • Remote work and legal challenges
  • Ethical dilemmas in HRM
  • Building a diverse workforce
  • Strategies for fostering inclusion
  • The impact of diversity on team performance
  • Gender diversity in leadership roles
  • Managing cultural diversity
  • Age diversity in the workplace
  • Disability inclusion strategies
  • LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace
  • Ethnic diversity and organizational success
  • Bias reduction training
  • The role of HRM in shaping organizational culture
  • Employee behavior and organizational success
  • Workplace norms and values
  • Emotional labor in organizations
  • Organizational change management
  • Strategies for building a positive work environment
  • Employee motivation and organizational culture
  • The psychology of workplace relationships
  • Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and culture
  • The role of leadership in defining organizational culture
  • Emerging Trends in HRM
  • HRM in the gig economy
  • Artificial intelligence and HRM
  • Employee mental health and well-being
  • Sustainability and HRM
  • The future of remote work
  • Integrating HRM and corporate social responsibility (CSR)
  • Blockchain in HRM
  • Personal branding in HR
  • The role of big data analytics in HRM
  • HRM challenges in the post-pandemic world

The list of human resource management research paper topics presented above offers a rich and diverse avenue for exploration. Each category delves into core aspects of HRM, reflecting the ever-changing nature of this field. As students embark on their research journey, they will discover a world that intricately connects people, organizations, and societal values. Whether focusing on traditional practices or emerging trends, these topics provide the starting point for meaningful inquiry and the creation of knowledge that contributes to the continued growth and evolution of HRM.

Human Resource Management and the Range of Research Paper Topics

Human Resource Management (HRM) is an interdisciplinary field that integrates aspects of management, psychology, sociology, economics, and legal studies. It is the art and science of managing people within an organization to maximize their performance, well-being, and alignment with strategic goals. As a broad and multifaceted domain, HRM opens doors to a wide array of research opportunities. This article will explore the essence of HRM, its historical evolution, theoretical frameworks, practical applications, and the myriad of research paper topics it offers.

Historical Background

The history of HRM can be traced back to the early 20th century, during the rise of the industrial revolution. The scientific management theory introduced by Frederick Taylor sought to apply scientific principles to worker productivity. As the business environment grew more complex, the Hawthorne studies emerged, highlighting the importance of social factors and human relations in the workplace. The evolution from personnel management to modern HRM reflects a shift from viewing employees as mere resources to recognizing them as valuable assets.

Theoretical Frameworks

HRM is underpinned by several key theories that guide practice:

  • Resource-Based View (RBV): Emphasizes the role of human resources as a competitive advantage.
  • Equity Theory: Focuses on fairness and justice in employee relations.
  • Expectancy Theory: Explains how employees are motivated by the expected outcomes of their actions.
  • Human Capital Theory: Regards employees as assets whose value can be enhanced through training and development.

These theories offer diverse perspectives for research, ranging from organizational behavior to strategic HRM.

Key Functions and Practices

The scope of HRM encompasses various functions that address the needs of both the organization and its employees:

  • Recruitment and Selection: Designing and implementing processes to attract and hire suitable candidates.
  • Training and Development: Enhancing employee skills and knowledge through continuous learning.
  • Performance Management: Assessing and managing employee performance to align with organizational goals.
  • Compensation and Benefits: Structuring pay and rewards to motivate and retain talent.
  • Labor Relations: Navigating the legal landscape and fostering healthy employee-employer relationships.

Contemporary Challenges

Modern HRM faces several challenges that provide fertile grounds for research:

  • Diversity and Inclusion: Creating a workforce that represents various backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives.
  • Technology and Automation: Leveraging technology to enhance HR processes while considering its impact on jobs.
  • Globalization: Managing HR practices across different cultures and jurisdictions.
  • Ethical Considerations: Balancing organizational needs with ethical treatment of employees.

Emerging Trends

The ever-changing business landscape leads to new trends in HRM:

  • Remote Work: The rise of virtual workplaces and the associated management challenges.
  • Well-Being and Mental Health: Prioritizing employee health and well-being as part of HR strategy.
  • Sustainability: Integrating social responsibility into HR practices.

Range of Research Paper Topics

The complexity and diversity of HRM lead to an abundance of research paper topics. Here are examples from different areas:

  • Strategic HRM: Examining the alignment of HR practices with business strategy.
  • Employee Engagement: Exploring factors that influence engagement and its impact on performance.
  • Legal Aspects of HRM: Investigating laws and regulations affecting HR practices.
  • Organizational Culture and Behavior: Analyzing the influence of culture on employee behavior and organizational success.

Human Resource Management is a vast and dynamic field that intertwines various disciplines, theories, practices, and challenges. From historical roots to contemporary issues, HRM offers a rich tapestry of research opportunities. Whether investigating traditional functions or delving into emerging trends, students and scholars can find a wealth of topics that resonate with their interests and contribute to our understanding of human interactions within organizational contexts. The spectrum of human resource management research paper topics reflects the depth and breadth of a field that continues to evolve, shaping the way we work, lead, and thrive in an ever-changing world.

How to Choose Human Resource Management Research Paper Topics

Selecting the right topic for a research paper in Human Resource Management (HRM) is a critical step that can shape the entire trajectory of your project. The topic you choose should align with your interests, academic level, the specific requirements of the assignment, and the current trends in the field. Here’s a guide to help you navigate the decision-making process and pinpoint a topic that resonates with you.

The realm of Human Resource Management is vast and diverse, encompassing various theories, functions, challenges, and emerging trends. Choosing a suitable research paper topic within this multifaceted field requires careful consideration and strategic thinking. This section will outline ten essential tips to guide you in selecting a meaningful, relevant, and engaging topic for your research.

  • Identify Your Interests: Begin by reflecting on what aspects of HRM intrigue you. Are you passionate about organizational behavior, talent acquisition, employee welfare, or strategic HRM? Your research will be more enjoyable if it aligns with your interests.
  • Understand the Assignment Requirements: Review the guidelines and grading criteria provided by your instructor. Consider the scope, length, and expected complexity of the paper.
  • Conduct a Preliminary Literature Review: Explore existing research in areas that interest you. Identify gaps, controversies, or emerging trends that could form the basis for your study.
  • Consider the Target Audience: Think about who will read your paper. Tailoring the topic to your audience’s interests, knowledge level, and expectations can enhance its impact.
  • Evaluate Available Resources: Assess the availability of data, tools, and resources needed for your research. The feasibility of a topic depends on your ability to access relevant information and support.
  • Align with Current Trends: Consider choosing a topic that relates to contemporary issues or recent developments in HRM. This alignment can make your research more relevant and appealing.
  • Seek Guidance from Instructors or Peers: Don’t hesitate to consult with your instructor, classmates, or academic advisors. They may offer valuable insights, feedback, or suggestions.
  • Ensure Ethical Consideration: Ensure that your chosen topic complies with ethical standards, particularly if it involves human subjects, sensitive data, or controversial subjects.
  • Consider the Broader Impact: Reflect on how your research could contribute to the field of HRM. A topic with potential practical implications or theoretical advancements can add value to your work.
  • Create a Shortlist and Evaluate: Draft a list of potential topics and weigh them against the criteria outlined above. This systematic approach can help you identify the most suitable option.

Selecting a research paper topic in Human Resource Management is a thoughtful and iterative process that requires introspection, exploration, and strategic thinking. By considering your interests, academic requirements, available resources, current trends, ethical considerations, and potential impact, you can identify a topic that not only resonates with you but also contributes to the vibrant discourse in HRM. Remember that your choice is not set in stone; it’s a starting point that you can refine and adapt as you delve into your research. Embrace the journey, for the right topic is a gateway to discovery, learning, and growth in the multifaceted world of human resource management.

How to Write a Human Resource Management Research Paper

Writing a research paper on Human Resource Management (HRM) is a complex task that requires a clear understanding of the subject matter, a methodical approach to research, and strong writing skills. The following section will guide you through the process of crafting a well-structured, insightful, and academically rigorous research paper in HRM.

Human Resource Management is at the core of organizational success, shaping the way businesses attract, retain, and develop talent. As a field that intertwines with psychology, sociology, business strategy, and law, writing a research paper on HRM is both challenging and rewarding. The following guide provides a step-by-step approach to help you navigate the research, writing, and revision stages, ensuring that your paper is thorough, coherent, and impactful.

  • Understand the Assignment: Before diving into research and writing, clarify the assignment’s objectives, scope, format, and grading criteria. Ensure you understand what is expected in terms of content, structure, style, and depth of analysis.
  • Choose a Relevant Topic: Select a topic that aligns with your interests, the course objectives, and current HRM trends. Refer to Section IV for guidance on choosing the right topic.
  • Conduct Comprehensive Research: Utilize reputable sources such as academic journals, books, and industry reports to gather data, theories, and insights related to your topic. Evaluate the credibility and relevance of each source.
  • Develop a Thesis Statement: Craft a clear and concise thesis statement that outlines the central argument or focus of your paper. The thesis should guide the reader on what to expect and provide a roadmap for your analysis.
  • Create an Outline: Develop a detailed outline that breaks down the main sections and sub-sections of your paper. An outline will help you organize your thoughts, maintain coherence, and ensure a logical flow of ideas.
  • Write the Introduction: Begin with an engaging introduction that introduces the topic, provides background information, highlights its significance, and presents the thesis statement.
  • Develop the Body Paragraphs: Divide the body of your paper into clear sections and subsections. Use headings and subheadings to guide the reader. Each paragraph should have a clear topic sentence, supporting evidence, and a concluding sentence that links back to the thesis.
  • Include Practical Insights and Case Studies: Where appropriate, include practical examples, case studies, or industry insights that illustrate your points. This application of theory to real-world scenarios can enhance the depth and relevance of your paper.
  • Write the Conclusion: Summarize the key findings, restate the thesis in light of the evidence, and discuss the implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research or practice.
  • Revise and Edit: Review your paper multiple times to check for clarity, coherence, grammar, and formatting errors. Consider seeking feedback from peers or instructors, and use plagiarism check tools to ensure originality.

Writing a research paper in Human Resource Management is a multifaceted process that requires careful planning, diligent research, critical analysis, and thoughtful writing. By following the tips outlined above, you can create a paper that not only meets academic standards but also contributes valuable insights to the dynamic field of HRM. Remember that writing is a process of continuous refinement; embrace revisions, seek feedback, and strive for clarity and depth. The journey of crafting an HRM research paper is an opportunity to deepen your understanding, hone your skills, and contribute to the ongoing discourse in a field that shapes the heart of organizations around the world.

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Dr Mohammad Shafiq

PhD in Human Resource Management: The Ultimate Guide

Human Resource Management is crucial for the success of any organisation. Through effective HR practices, organisations attract, develop, and retain top talent, ultimately driving organisational performance. A PhD in Human Resource Management equips individuals to become experts in these practices and key contributors to the ongoing advancement of the field.

This doctoral program bridges the gap between academic research and practical HR applications. With cutting-edge research methodologies, students gain the ability to critically analyse existing practices and develop innovative solutions to contemporary HR challenges.

Global Overview of PhD Programs in Human Resource Management

European programs are known for their strong theoretical foundation. Universities such as the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK), HEC Paris (France), and Tilburg University (Netherlands) emphasise critical thinking and rigorous research methodologies. These programs often focus on comparative approaches to HRM, analysing how practices vary across cultures.

US universities offer a diverse range of PhD programs in HRM. Top institutions like Harvard Business School (Massachusetts), the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School (Pennsylvania), and the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business (Michigan) provide a strong balance of theory and practice. Many programs offer specialisations in talent management, compensation and benefits, or organisational behaviour.

Australian universities are known for focusing on applying HRM principles in the Asia-Pacific region. The University of Melbourne and Queensland University of Technology are prime examples. They offer programs that explore unique challenges and opportunities this dynamic market presents.

Canadian programs often combine robust research methodologies focusing on social justice and employee wellbeing. Universities like McGill University (Quebec) and the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management (Ontario) attract students interested in HRM practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within organisations.

Eligibility for PhD in Human Resource Management

Eligibility for PhD in Human Resource Management

Educational background.

  • Master's Degree: A Master's degree in HRM or a related field is the minimum requirement.
  • Academic Performance: Most programs require a strong academic record, often with a minimum GPA in your Master's program, typically around 3.0 to 3.5.

Standardised Tests

  • Entrance Exams: Some universities require entrance exams like the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or subject-specific tests to assess your quantitative and analytical skills.

Work Experience

  • While not always mandatory, relevant work experience in HR can be a valuable asset; it demonstrates your practical understanding of the field and can strengthen your application.

Other Qualifications

  • Research Experience: Research experiences, such as publications or conference presentations, can showcase your research aptitude and potential.
  • Strong Research Proposal: A well-developed research proposal outlining your intended study area and research question is often required for admission.
  • Letters of Recommendation: Strong recommendation letters from professors or former employers can demonstrate your academic ability, research potential, and professional qualifications.
  • Language Skills: For international students, demonstrating proficiency in English (or the program's language of instruction) through tests like TOEFL or IELTS might be necessary.

PhD in Human Resource Management Online

Accredited online programs.

Accreditation is crucial, ensuring the program meets rigorous academic standards. Reputable institutions like Northcentral University (USA), Capella University (USA), and Walden University (USA) offer accredited online PhD programs in HRM.

Structure of Online Programs

The structure of online PhD programs in HRM varies, but they generally follow a similar pattern:

  • Online Coursework: Courses are delivered at your own pace and convenience. Interactive modules, lectures, and discussion forums are used to facilitate learning.
  • Research Guidance: Faculty advisors provide guidance and support throughout your research journey, even online.
  • Dissertation Completion: The core of the program involves independent research culminating in a dissertation under the supervision of your advisor.

Advantages for International and Remote Students

  • Flexibility: Online programs offer unmatched flexibility, allowing you to pursue your PhD while balancing work, family, and other commitments.
  • Accessibility: International students can access prestigious programs without geographical constraints. Location becomes irrelevant, opening doors to a global learning experience.
  • Reduced Costs: Online programs can be more affordable than traditional on-campus programs, with savings on housing, relocation, and other expenses.
  • Diverse Cohort: Online programs attract students worldwide, fostering a rich learning environment with diverse perspectives.

Fully Funded PhD Programs in Human Resource Management

Funding opportunities.

  • University Funding: Many universities offer internal funding to their doctoral students through teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or fellowships. These assistantships often come with a tuition waiver and a stipend to cover living expenses.
  • External Scholarships and Grants: Numerous external organisations offer scholarships and grants specifically for PhD students in HRM. Government agencies, professional associations, or private foundations can fund these.
  • Research Fellowships: Research-focused programs may offer fellowships tied to specific research projects. These fellowships provide financial support while allowing you to contribute to ongoing research initiatives.

Navigating Funding Opportunities

The specific funding landscape varies depending on the country in which you choose to pursue your PhD.

  • USA: Universities in the US often offer a combination of internal funding and external scholarships. Funding from government agencies like the National Science Foundation is also available. Explore resources like the Department of Education's https://studentaid.gov/ website for scholarship opportunities.
  • Europe: Many European universities offer tuition-free PhD programs, with funding often coming through research grants or teaching assistantships. Explore funding opportunities the European Union (EU) offers through its research framework programs like Horizon Europe.
  • Australia: The Australian government offers scholarships like the Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) and the Doctoral Research Training Program (RTP) to support domestic and international PhD students. Explore resources like the Department of Education and Training website for details.
  • Canada: The Canadian government offers doctoral fellowships through agencies such as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Universities also provide internal funding opportunities. Explore scholarship information through the Canadian government website.

PhD in Human Resource Management in Europe, the USA, Australia, and Canada

PhD in Human Resource Management in Europe

Region University Program Highlights Funding Opportunities Contact Link
Europe University of Reading (Henley Business School) Focus on International Business and Strategy Fully funded for qualified students
Europe University of Essex PhD in Human Resource Management and Organisation Studies Funding details not specified
Europe University of Bath School of Management offers tailored PhD programs in HRM Self-funded
Europe University of Bradford Business and management focus with a strong research culture Self-funded
Europe Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg Specializes in CSR and NGO Management Fee per semester details available
Europe Pforzheim University MBA in International Management Fee-based, detailed financial information
Europe Leuphana University Lüneburg Focus on Culture and Organization Offers a free tuition option
Europe FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg Offers a Master in Management Free tuition for qualified students
Europe University of Liverpool Detailed HRM programs with research opportunities Various funding options are available

PhD in Human Resource Management in the USA

Region University Program Highlights Funding Opportunities Contact Link
USA University of Kansas Focuses on both micro-level HR practices and strategic HRM. Funding details not specified
USA Purdue University Emphasis on leadership, diversity, and workplace interventions. Funding details not specified
USA Cornell University Strong focus on strategic HRM and labour relations. Full funding and placement support
USA University of Pittsburgh Mentorship model with a focus on organizational behaviour. $37,000/year financial aid package
USA National University Detailed support in dissertation development. Funding details not specified
USA Fisher College of Business, Ohio State University Dedicated to improving HR practices through rigorous research. Funding details not specified
USA Walden University Global and multidisciplinary HRM focus. $5,000 grant available for new students
USA Capella University Online program focusing on global HRM and ethical practices. Tuition per credit with financial aid options

PhD in Human Resource Management in Australia

Region University Program Highlights Funding Opportunities Contact Link
Australia Australian National University Diverse research topics in HRM, strong publication record, recognized excellence. Details not specified; likely project-based
Australia University of Queensland Comprehensive research support, emphasis on developing broad scientific skills. Details not specified; RTP support is likely
Australia University of Melbourne Extensive training and development opportunities, strong employability focus. RTP places available, scholarships
Australia Monash University Comprehensive doctoral program with professional development emphasis. Various scholarships available
Australia Queensland University of Technology Focused on practical and international HRM knowledge. Fee details available

PhD in Human Resource Management in Canada

Region University Program Highlights Funding Opportunities Contact Link
Canada York University Offers a full-time PhD program with a focus on diverse methodological research and pedagogical training. Funding details were not specified.
Canada University of Toronto Focus on Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources with robust research training. Funding options are available, specific details should be consulted.
Canada University of Calgary Provides an intensive PhD program in Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources. Financial support details should be confirmed directly with the institution.
Canada Telfer School of Management, Ottawa Emphasizes research in human behaviour in workplaces, including recruitment, diversity, and leadership. Various funding and assistantship options are available.
Canada University of British Columbia (UBC) Offers Graduate Research and Teaching Assistantships within the Organizational Behavior and HRM fields. Research assistantships and other financial aid are available.
Canada Memorial University of Newfoundland Features a focus on various aspects of HR including strategic HRM and quantitative methods. Specific details on funding should be directly checked.

Core Research Areas and Specializations in HRM

Core Research Areas and Specializations in HRM

Core research areas.

  • Strategic HRM: This area examines how HRM practices can align with an organisation's overall strategy to achieve competitive advantage. Research explores topics like talent management, workforce planning, and performance management.
  • Organisational Behavior (OB): OB research delves into human behaviour within organisations, focusing on motivation, leadership, group dynamics, and decision-making.
  • Technology in HRM: This rapidly evolving area explores how technology transforms HRM practices. Research focuses on HR information systems (HRIS), artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment, and the use of big data in HR analytics.

Regional Variations

  • USA: Research priorities in the US often focus on leadership development, talent management, and the use of technology in HRM.
  • Europe: European research tends to emphasise social justice, employee wellbeing, and comparative approaches to HRM across cultures.
  • Australia: Research in Australia often addresses challenges and opportunities specific to the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on industry relevance.
  • Canada: Canadian research priorities often combine strong methodologies focusing on social justice, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Career Opportunities and Salaries for PhD Graduates in HRM

Academic careers.

  • Professor: The pinnacle of an academic career, professors conduct research, publish scholarly work, and teach courses in HRM at universities or business schools. Salaries vary depending on experience, institution, and location but usually range from $100,000 to $200,000 annually in developed countries.
  • Research Fellow: Research fellowships allow you to focus on specific research projects at universities , government agencies, or think tanks. Salaries typically depend on the funding source and the specific project.
  • Lecturer: You can teach HRM courses at universities or colleges, often focusing on undergraduate or introductory graduate programs. Salaries for lecturers are generally lower than for professors but can still be competitive.

Corporate Careers

  • HR Consultant: Leveraging your research expertise, you can advise companies on developing and implementing effective HRM strategies. Salaries for HR consultants vary depending on experience and the scope of projects but can range from $75,000 to $150,000 annually.
  • Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO): As the head of HR in an organisation, CHROs set the strategic direction for all HRM functions. Salaries for CHROs are high, reaching $200,000 or more annually in developed countries, depending on the size and industry of the organisation.
  • HR Business Partner: As an advisor to business units within an organisation, HR Business Partners translate HR policies and practices into actionable strategies for specific departments. Salaries for HR Business Partners typically range from $80,000 to $120,000 annually.

Scholarships and Financial Aid for PhD Students in HRM

Scholarships and Financial Aid for PhD Students in HRM

  • Fulbright Program : US citizens pursuing doctoral studies abroad can explore Fulbright grants offering funding and program support. 
  • Social Science and Humanities Research Council : Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply for SSHRC doctoral fellowships to support their research endeavours. 
  • National Science Foundation (NSF) : US students interested in research-focused PhD programs can explore NSF Graduate Research Fellowships (GRF) for funding in social, behavioural, and economic sciences. 
  • Academy of Management (AOM) Doctoral Dissertation Awards : Outstanding doctoral students in HRM can compete for dissertation awards offered by the Academy of Management.
  • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Foundation Scholarships : SHRM offers scholarships specifically for doctoral students in HRM, supporting future leaders in the field.

Application Process and Preparation for PhD Programs in HRM

Earning a PhD in Human Resource Management (HRM) is your launchpad to becoming a leader. Here's a quick guide to crafting a stellar application:

  • Research & Prepare: Find programs aligning with your goals and strengthen your profile with top grades and relevant experience.
  • Craft a Compelling Package: Write a compelling Statement of Purpose highlighting your research interests, career goals, and program fit. Include a strong CV/resume and request recommendation letters from professors familiar with your work. Take required standardised tests.
  • Interview Success: Research the program, prepare for common questions about HRM and your research interests, and project confidence during the interview.

The Future of HRM Research and Its Global Impact

The future of HRM research is likely to be driven by the ever-evolving world of work. As technology reshapes job landscapes, research will delve into areas like the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on human capital management. Additionally, globalisation will necessitate research that explores effective HRM practices across diverse cultures and demographics.

Doctoral research will play a pivotal role in shaping innovative HR strategies for the future. By investigating emerging trends and anticipating future challenges, PhD graduates can contribute valuable insights that enable organisations to develop effective talent management practices, foster inclusive work environments, and navigate the complexities of a globalised workforce.

The impact of a PhD in Human Resource Management extends far beyond your career. Your research can shape the future of HR practices, influencing how organisations attract, develop, and retain talent in a dynamic global landscape. Whether you choose an academic path or pursue leadership roles within organisations, your expertise will contribute to building effective and sustainable HR strategies for the future.

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Doctor of Philosophy in Human Resource Management (PhD-HRM)

100% online phd-hrm.

Complete your studies on your own time.

New Start Date Every Monday

Start your first course when it’s convenient for you.

38 Months to your PhD-HRM

Finish your PhD-HRM in just 20 courses.

National and Northcentral have merged, and this program is now offered by NU.  Learn more .

Doctor of Philosophy in Human Resource Management

Enhance global business environments with the 100% online Doctor of Philosophy in Human Resource Management (PhD-HRM) degree program at National University. No GRE/GMAT required. You’ll gain the expert-level knowledge you need to take on leadership positions in the private, public, and non-profit sector. Through this comprehensive doctoral degree, you’ll deepen your understanding of human resource theories and practices, including critical thinking and research skills. 

Advance Your Human Resource Career Completely Online

NU’s PhD-HRM program is centered on the evolution of human resources. You’ll explore extrinsic and intrinsic compensation concepts, how to improve organizational effectiveness, and how to motivate diverse workforces. You’ll also learn how to develop and apply quantitative and qualitative research designs and methodologies. Other focus areas in the PhD in Human Resource Management include working within a unionized environment, legal issues impacting human resources, and how to improve diversity and inclusion. 

NU’s one-to-one learning model will provide you with the guidance, attention, and support you deserve throughout your doctoral education.

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The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accredits public and private schools, colleges, and universities in the U.S.

Course Details

  • Credit Hours: 60
  • Courses: 20
  • Estimated Time to Complete: 38 months

The Doctor of Philosophy in Human Resource Management (PhD-HRM) program can be completed in 60 credits. Each foundational course runs 8 weeks, and dissertation courses run 12 weeks.

Course Sequence

This program can be completed with a minimum of 60 credit hours, but may require additional credit hours, depending on the time required to complete the dissertation research. If needed, additional courses will be added to the student degree program in alignment with the SAP and Academic Maximum Time to Completion policies. Students who do not complete their program in accordance with these policies may be dismissed.

Course Name

In this course, you will focus on the development of the human resource function in organizations. From exploring employee recruitment, motivation, performance and various forms of compensation and benefits packages, you will view the human resource function in a strategic role that enhances global business environments.

In this course, you will explore the concepts of extrinsic and intrinsic compensation in the management of today’s diverse and global workforce. The decisions made in these areas, related to compensation and benefits at the Executive and the employee level, can directly impact the strategic nature and direction of the organization.

In this course, you will explore all aspects of labor relations from a human resources perspective. This will include the history, structure, politics, processes, and relationships associated with bargaining units (unions). You will examine how unions can change attitudes and behaviors of both management and employees, as well as the benefits and challenges to working in a human resources position in a unionized environment.

In this course, you will explore how to manage human resources to optimize organizational effectiveness as well as individual outcomes in a global context. You will consider current laws, public policies, recruitment and retention strategies. In addition, you will determine how employees’ concerns and complaints are incorporated into organizational decision-making.

Prerequisites:  *Fundamental requirement in General Management

In this course, you will examine supervisory concepts, laws, regulations and HRM practices used in the 21st Century. You will explore techniques for motivating employees as a supervisor of diverse workforces and evaluate the role of supervisors in organizational planning.

This doctoral course examines the uniqueness of culture and its impact on all areas of organizational operations. This includes such aspects as diversity, global transitioning, accommodations, and cross-national teamwork. The Twenty-First century Human Resources professional must have an open mind and a willingness to suspend judgments, ask questions, and listen to answers.

In this course, you will explore multiple levels of employment, including management, full-time employees, part-time employees, temporary employees, and contracted employees based on the passage and interpretation of laws, whether at the federal, state, or local level. Policies such as employment-at-will, right to work, or termination, and other regulations can change with an act of Congress or a state legislature.

In this course, you will explore how the HRM function creates a more inclusive culture by valuing diversity of its workforce. During the course, you will review organizational decisions on diversity issues in order to learn how to avoid discrimination while improving organizational effectiveness. To gain an awareness of corporate best practices, you will examine HRM’s role in diversity and inclusion cases.

In this course, you will examine how organizational behavior is relevant to HRM. You will explore theories that support and explain causes and outcomes of typical issues in HRM. In addition to individual behaviors in organizations, team dynamics in relation to organizational structures will be discussed in consideration of organizational goals and employee well-being.

In this course, you will explore the strategic role of human resources in organizations. Through an examination of HRM functions, you will determine how these align with the strategic direction of organizations. In addition, you will consider the potential contributions and challenges that HRM might face, especially during organizational change processes. You will then develop HRM initiatives that help achieve organizational goals.

In this course, you will review policy development processes, how these are implemented and the outcomes resulting from policies being deployed. You will consider various forces that affect HR policies including the needs of global environments, organizations, and employees. You will develop policy implementation plans that include the necessary steps, resource allocations, and measurement of outcomes.

In this course, you will engage in the process of scholarly literature reviews and academic writing. With an emphasis on how to (a) conduct effective literature searches, specifically in preparation for the dissertation, (b) develop a plan for writing comprehensive, critical, and synthesized reviews of research literature, and (c) critically review and write about underlying theory/conceptual frameworks, you will develop a foundation for future research. The overarching goal of this course is for you to conduct an exhaustive search of the peer-reviewed research literature in your topic area and identify potential areas of inquiry for your dissertation.

In this course, you will cultivate a statistical mindset through learning and nurturing skills needed to perform and interpret univariate inferential statistics. The course will facilitate building your statistical confidence in assessing and performing statistics. The course will cover univariate parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, interpretation of statistical output, and introduce skills needed to select statistical tests based on quantitative research questions.

During this course, as a scholar-practitioner, you will build the skills essential for designing quantitative studies; analyzing the data collected in these studies, and interpreting the results of data analyses. You will explore designs and statistical techniques to use with their envisioned dissertation research.

During this course, you will examine qualitative methods for studying human behavior including grounded theory, narrative analysis, ethnography, mixed methods, and case studies. You will explore designs and methodologies to use with your envisioned research.

The Pre-Candidacy Prospectus is intended to ensure students have mastered knowledge of their discipline prior to candidacy status and demonstrated the ability to design empirical research as an investigator before moving on to the dissertation research coursework. Students will demonstrate the ability to synthesize empirical, peer-reviewed research to support all assignments in this course. The Pre-Candidacy Prospectus is completed only after all foundation, specialization, and research courses have been completed.

Students in this course will be required to complete Chapter 1 of their dissertation proposal including a review of literature with substantiating evidence of the problem, the research purpose and questions, the intended methodological design and approach, and the significance of the study. A completed, committee approved (against the minimum rubric standards) Chapter 1 is required to pass this course successfully. Students who do not receive approval of Chapter 1 to minimum standards will be able to take up to three supplementary 8-week courses to finalize and gain approval of Chapter .

Students in this course will be required to work on completing Chapters 1-3 of their dissertation proposal and receive committee approval for the Dissertation Proposal (DP) in order to pass the class. Chapter 2 consists of the literature review. Chapter 3 covers the research methodology method and design and to includes population, sample, measurement instruments, data collection and analysis, limitations, and ethical considerations. In this course, a completed, committee-approved Chapters 2 and 3 are required and, by the end of the course, a final approved dissertation proposal (against the minimum rubric standards). Students who do not receive approval of the dissertation proposal will be able to take up to three supplementary 8-week courses to finalize and gain approval of these requirements.

Students in this course will be required to prepare, submit, and obtain approval of their IRB application, collect data, and submit a final study closure form to the IRB. Students still in data collection at the end of the 12-week course will be able to take up to three supplementary 8-week courses to complete data collection and file an IRB study closure form.

In this dissertation course students work on completing Chapters 4 and 5 and the final Dissertation Manuscript. Specifically, students will complete their data analysis, prepare their study results, and present their findings in an Oral Defense and a completed manuscript. A completed, Committee approved (against the minimum rubric standards) Dissertation Manuscript and successful Oral Defense are required to complete the course and graduate. Students who do not receive approval for either or both their Dissertation Manuscript or defense can take up to three supplementary 8-week courses to finalize and gain approval of either or both items as needed.

Degree Requirements

The University may accept a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in transfer toward the doctoral degree for graduate coursework completed at an accredited college or university with a grade of “B” or better. The PHD-HRM degree program in the School of Business has the following graduation requirements:

  • A minimum of 48 credit hours of graduate instruction must be completed through NU
  • Grade Point Average of 3.0 (letter grade of “B”) or higher
  • Satisfactory completion of the PHD-HRM Pre-Candidacy Prospectus
  • University Approval of Dissertation Manuscript and Oral Defense completed
  • Submission of the approved final dissertation manuscript to the University Registrar, including the original unbound dissertation manuscript and an electronic copy
  • Official documents on file for basis of admission: a conferred master’s degree from an accredited academic institution
  • Official transcripts on file for all transfer credit hours accepted by the University
  • All financial obligations must be met before the student will be issued their diploma and/or degree posted transcript.

Positions  

  • Human resource manager or specialist 
  • Postsecondary teacher
  • Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialist
  • Business partner
  • Recruitment/placement specialist
  • Human resource employee relations manager
  • Business intelligence analyst
  • Compensation analyst
  • Assistant professor of management (college and university professors, faculty members) 

Work Settings

  • Public administration (Federal and State governmental agencies, VA, Forest Service Bureau of Prisons, Environmental Protection Agency, etc.)
  • Colleges and Universities seeking academic faculty members
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services (Management consulting companies like Deloitte, Accenture, or government contractors offering consulting services) 
  • Healthcare (Managed care providers, hospitals, medical facilities, residential care facilities)
  • Manufacturing (Aerospace, defense, biotech, pharma, and other large private sector corporations)
  • Large retailers like Amazon and Wayfair
  • Information Technology
  • Finance and insurance

*Positions may require additional experience, training, and other factors beyond completing this degree program. Many roles may also require state licensure, and it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all licensure requirements are met.

SOURCE: Emsi Labor Analyst- Report. Emsi research company homepage at https://www.economicmodeling.com/company/ (Report viewed: 4/13/2022). 

DISCLAIMER: The data provided is for informational purposes only. Emsi data and analysis utilizes government sources to provide insights on industries, demographics, employers, in-demand skills, and more to align academic programs with labor market opportunities. Cited projections may not reflect local or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Current and prospective students should use this data with other available economic data to inform their educational decisions.

DISSERTATION PROCESS

Faculty assist each NU Doctoral candidate to reach this academic goal through a systematic process leading to a high-quality completed dissertation. A PhD-HRM dissertation is a scholarly documentation of research that makes an original contribution to the field of study. This process requires care in choosing a topic, documenting its importance, planning the methodology, and conducting the research. These activities lead smoothly into the writing and oral presentation of the dissertation.

A doctoral candidate must be continuously enrolled throughout the series of dissertation courses. Dissertation courses are automatically scheduled and accepted without a break in scheduling to ensure that students remain in continuous enrollment throughout the dissertation course sequence. If additional time is required to complete any of the dissertation courses, students must re-enroll and pay the tuition for that course. Continuous enrollment will only be permitted when students demonstrate progress toward completing dissertation requirements. The Dissertation Committee determines progress.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a graduate of National University’s Doctor of Philosophy in Human Resource Management (PhD-HRM) program, you’ll be able to:

  • Evaluate human resource theories, concepts, and scholarly research
  • Recommend best practices in hiring, retaining, supporting, and motivating employees
  • Determine the impact of employment laws in domestic and multinational organizations
  • Contribute to the body of theory and practice in human resource management

Enrolling in a university is a big decision. That’s why our dedicated admissions team is here to guide you through the admissions process and help you find the right program for you and your career goals.

To that end, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process, so you can get enrolled in your program right away. Because we accept and review applications year round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.

Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, military, and international student admissions, plus admissions information for transfer students. You can also learn more about our tuition rates and financial aid opportunities.

To speak with our admissions team, call  (855) 355-6288  or request information and an advisor will contact you shortly. If you’re ready to apply, simply  start your application today

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Finish Your Dissertation!

Dissertation Completion Pathway (DCP) is a 100% online pathway helping students “All But Dissertation” finish their doctoral degree.

  • Block transfer of credit from your previous institution
  • Flexible monthly start dates
  • Highly trained faculty providing feedback each week on your dissertation
  • Strategic support and targeted resources to help you finish

Why Choose National University

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We’re proud to be a Veteran-founded, San Diego-based nonprofit. Since 1971, our mission has been to provide accessible, achievable higher education to adult learners. Today, we educate students from across the U.S. and around the globe, with over 230,000 alumni worldwide.

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Frequently Asked Questions

With a PhD in HR, you can pursue various career paths. These include academic positions such as teaching and conducting research in universities, research and development roles in government or private organizations, or leadership roles in HR departments in corporations or non-profit organizations.

Pursuing a PhD in HR depends on your career goals and interests. If you want to become a professor, researcher, or hold high-level positions in HR departments, a PhD from National University can be beneficial. It can also lead to higher salaries and job security.

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Program Disclosure

Successful completion and attainment of National University degrees do not lead to automatic or immediate licensure, employment, or certification in any state/country. The University cannot guarantee that any professional organization or business will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any certification, licensure, or related exam for the purpose of professional certification.

Program availability varies by state. Many disciplines, professions, and jobs require disclosure of an individual’s criminal history, and a variety of states require background checks to apply to, or be eligible for, certain certificates, registrations, and licenses. Existence of a criminal history may also subject an individual to denial of an initial application for a certificate, registration, or license and/or result in the revocation or suspension of an existing certificate, registration, or license. Requirements can vary by state, occupation, and/or licensing authority.

NU graduates will be subject to additional requirements on a program, certification/licensure, employment, and state-by-state basis that can include one or more of the following items: internships, practicum experience, additional coursework, exams, tests, drug testing, earning an additional degree, and/or other training/education requirements.

All prospective students are advised to review employment, certification, and/or licensure requirements in their state, and to contact the certification/licensing body of the state and/or country where they intend to obtain certification/licensure to verify that these courses/programs qualify in that state/country, prior to enrolling. Prospective students are also advised to regularly review the state’s/country’s policies and procedures relating to certification/licensure, as those policies are subject to change.

National University degrees do not guarantee employment or salary of any kind. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to review desired job positions to review degrees, education, and/or training required to apply for desired positions. Prospective students should monitor these positions as requirements, salary, and other relevant factors can change over time.

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Human resource management (HRM) refers to the management of an organisation’s workforce. In this modern age, efficient HRM is vital for a business's success. Research in HRM provides an exciting opportunity for students and researchers to propose viable recommendations. Thus, the selection of human resource management dissertation topics is crucial for students.

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Human resource management is vital for any organisation to remain competitive and provide an innovative, efficient, and effective work environment. The term 'human resources' was coined in the 1960s when labour relations gained attention for theories of motivation and organisational behaviour. This field aims to make employees more loyal, motivated, and productive. By studying human resource management, you can become a key player in your next employment position and build on the Hawthorne Experiments that initiated the human resources management movement.

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York University

PhD in Human Resource Management

The SHRM PhD program is designed to provide our graduates with the necessary training to become successful researchers and educators at any major educational institution around the world. Our full-time PhD program in HRM is distinguished by its diverse methodological approaches to research and emphasis on pedagogical training. Graduates of our program will acquire sophisticated skills in academic scholarship, and possess the competencies required to teach at the post-secondary level.

Why join the PhD program at the School of HRM?

latest topics for phd in human resource management

Graduate Program in HRM—PhD degree (.pdf)

Impactful.  The PhD program in the Human Resource Management at the School of HRM is designed to prepare future academics who wish to conduct impactful research and teach at major research-oriented institutions. Our students are exposed to major theories, research methods, and work-related and organizational literature.

Engaging.  You will study in a vibrant and intellectually stimulating environment designed for those wishing to develop the skills necessary for a successful academic career.

Customized.  As a PhD student you will work closely with faculty who share your research interests, are working on similar areas of research, or can provide a new perspective. Our diverse faculty members in HRM are well known for their research and scholarly insights on a wide range of topics.

Life in the PhD program:

  • Study in small classes (seminars) and form close working relationships with other students and faculty
  • Engage in rigorous scholarly training to develop high-quality research skills
  • Experience leading-edge research training
  • Participate at academic conferences that provide opportunities for doctoral students to share ideas and to network
  • Receive the academic guidance necessary to successfully complete the program in a timely manner.

Our Graduates

In an increasingly complex global economy, our PhD graduates are ideally equipped to think through the challenges of people management and contemporary business. Our PhD graduates are an extremely diverse group of scholars from many cultures and backgrounds, and are sought after by universities, government, and industry worldwide. 86% of our graduates in the last 3 years obtained reputable tenure track academic positions in Canada, the United States, and Europe.

latest topics for phd in human resource management

The Graduate Program in Human Resource Management at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.

Connect with Human Resource Management

Online PhD in Human Resources

  • Published August 31, 2018
  • Last Updated January 22, 2023

Find Your Degree!

HR-MBA-Top Online Programs

This article features the top 15 Online Ph.D. Programs in Human Resources.

An online Ph.D. in human resources is ideal for professionals in the field. On-campus doctoral degree programs require a significant time commitment. And in many cases, candidates need to relocate. However, an online Ph.D. is much more flexible. These programs are still quite rigorous. However, they allow busy working professionals to schedule their human resource studies around prior commitments. 

Human resources is a growing field, and those in HR management can expect to make an average of $126,230 annually. However, management and leadership positions require high-level training. And that’s where an online doctorate comes in. 

In this post, we’ve ranked 15 of the best online PhD programs in human resources. You will note that these programs are affordable. And they offer the same academic experience you would get on campus. Most take three to five years to complete. 

We’ve highlighted a range of online degrees. Some are entirely asynchronous and allow for maximum flexibility. Other programs are more structured and require a few campus visits each year. And a few are hybrid programs combining online and on-campus instruction. 

If you’re considering pursuing an online Ph.D. program in human resources, check out this list. 

You may also like: Top 20 PhD in Human Resources Programs (Online and On-campus)

Top 10 Online PhD Programs in Human Resources

Online Ph.D. Human Resources Methodology

To identify the top 15 online Ph.D. human resources programs, we started with a search on NCES College Navigator. From there, we created a list of colleges offering online doctoral programs in human resources.

From our list, we created a rating system (seen below) to select the best Ph.D. in human resources online programs. Where there were ties, we favored the doctoral programs with the lower graduate tuition rate. Please note that the tuition rates listed are based on in-state costs per academic year. The costs for non-residents or for online doctorate degree students may differ.

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

  • 15:1 or less= 3 Points
  • Greater than 15:1= 1 Point

Average Graduate Tuition Rate

  • Less than $15,000 per year= 5 Points
  • Between $15,000 and $20,000 per year= 3 Point
  • More than $20,000 per year= 1 Point

Overall Graduation Rate

  • Greater than 80%= 3 Point
  • 80% or Less= 1 Point

Below are 15 schools that offer the best Phd in human resources online

Summary of Top 15 Ph.D. Human Resource Online Programs:

School
Tuition
Student/Faculty RatioGradRatePoints
15Regent University$15,59021:162%5
14Sullivan University$15,8409:120%7
13Capella University$14,78432:150%7
12Bellevue University$10,98019:123%7
11Colorado State University$10,83417:169%7
10Old Dominion University$10,20716:149%7
9Indiana Wesleyan University$9,71517:138%7
8University of Southern Mississippi$9,09416:152%7
7Bowling Green State University$8,01718:162%7
6University of Arkansas$7,87519:170%7
5Liberty University$7,84717:162%7
4The University of Texas at Tyler$6,26417:142%7
3Johnson & Wales University$14,70615:163%9
2University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign$14,63521:185%9
1Northcentral University$10,26015:159%9

Ranking the Top Online Ph.D. Programs in Human Resources 

#15 – regent university – virginia beach, virginia .

Regent University: Ph.D. Human Resource Management

Online Doctorate in Human Resources:

Ph.d. in organizational leadership-human resource development .

Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $15,590 

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges 

Doctorate in Human Resources Score:  5

Regent University offers an online Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership. There are five concentrations. This allows students to personalize the program to meet their goals and interests. They include: 

  • Ecclesial Leadership
  • Entrepreneurial Leadership
  • Human Resource Development
  • Individualized Studies
  • Organizational Leadership

This human resources program requires 60 credit hours of graduate studies. This degree prepares students to influence their organizations as teachers, scholars, and leaders. They will learn to analyze the impact of cultural, political, and religious trends. And they will become influential human resource managers in the human resources field. This is a research-based terminal degree that is taught from a Christian worldview. Some of the core courses include: 

  • Organizational Theory & Design 
  • Organizational Behavior 
  • Design of Adult Learning Communities 
  • Ethical Human Resource Development 
  • Trends in Organizational Leadership Research 

After completing all coursework successfully, students of this Regent University online Phd will have comprehensive exams. They will then begin work on their dissertations. 

#14 – Sullivan University – Louisville, Kentucky 

Sullivan University: Ph.D. Human Resource Management

Ph.D. in Management – Human Resource Leadership 

Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $15,840 

Doctorate in Human Resources Score:  7

Sullivan University features an innovative online PhD in Management Program. And students can further customize the program with a Human Resource Leadership concentration. It is ideal for students planning to work in human resources departments or as human resource managers.

Sullivan uses a scholar-practitioner model. This prepares students to become both leaders and scholars in their organizations. No GRE or GMAT is required for admission. And it can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis, allowing for maximum flexibility. Students will take core management courses plus human-resource-related courses. Some of these may include: 

  • Workforce Analytics and Technology 
  • Organizations and External Environments 
  • Proposal Development
  • Human Capital Management 
  • Human Capital Effectiveness

This PhD in hr management online program is excellent for students who are currently working. And it is also ideal for those with too many commitments to attend a Ph.D. program in person. There are no residencies or on-campus visits required. So it can be completed from anywhere with an internet connection. It is also one of the few doctoral human resource programs that can be completed full or part-time. 

Sullivan features a professional and dedicated faculty that mentors students throughout the human resources program. The school has the lowest student to faculty ratio on our list. And candidates will work with peers from all over the world on research projects. 

#13 – Capella University – Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Capella University: Ph.D. Human Resource Management

Human Resource Management Specialization-PhD in Business Management 

Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $14,784 

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission 

Capella University offers an online PhD in Business Management. Students can further customize this program with a concentration in Human Resource Management. This Ph.D. in human resource management online program focuses on the practical applications of HR. Students will learn about emerging trends and new technology from diverse perspectives. And the rigorous curriculum will teach candidates to become effective human resources managers.

This top PhD in human resources features a flexible course load. This allows students to take between one and three courses each quarter. Some of the courses in this 90-credit program include: 

  • Foundations of Human Resource Theory and Practice 
  • Creating Adaptive, Innovative Workplaces 
  • Attracting and Retaining Talent 
  • Human Resource Practices for Developing Talent 

Students will complete core coursework, electives, exams, and a dissertation. There is no need to go to the Minneapolis campus. Instead, the required residencies can be completed virtually. The program is also ACBSP-accredited. Some of the skills candidates will learn in this program include: 

  • Hiring the best staff 
  • Staying current with HR trends 
  • Evaluating HR practices 
  • Using research-backed strategies in the workplace

Capella uses a GuidedPath format for this program. This format allows students to interact with their peers and faculty. There is a set schedule, and students are required to meet the deadlines. This makes it an ideal program for those who need a structured format. Online students benefit from the same rigorous curriculum as their on-campus counterparts. And they earn the same human resource management degree.

#12 – Bellevue University – Bellevue, Nebraska 

Bellevue University: Ph.D. Human Resource Management

Ph.D. in Human Capital Management 

For more information: Bellevue University  

Average Graduation Tuition Rate: $10,980 

Bellevue University features an online PhD in Human Capital Management. This executive-level program is focused on the latest knowledge in the hr management field. Students will need to complete 51 credit hours to meet the major requirements. And the HR coursework at Bellevue University is divided into easy-to-follow modules.

Students in this human capital management Bellevue program learn the skills to treat employees as valuable assets. This unique approach provides them with a deeper understanding of organizational dynamics. Additionally, candidates at Bellevue University develop strong research and analytical skills. And they collaborate with other PhD human capital management students and faculty throughout the program. This allows them to network with human resource professionals all over the country. Some of the courses in this human resource management online program include: 

  • Human Learning and Decision Making
  • Economics of Human Capital Valuation Issues
  • Research in Organizations
  • Qualitative Methods
  • Performance Management
  • Strategic Human Capital Management
  • Assessing Human Capital Effectiveness

This top online human resource management degree program also requires a dissertation and a comprehensive exam. The dissertation involves an extensive research project around human capital management. Students will address and solve a real-world HR program in an organization.

#11 – Colorado State University – Fort Collins, Colorado 

Colorado State University: Ph.D. Human Resource Management

Ph.D. in Education and Human Resource Studies 

For more information: Colorado State University  

Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $10,834 

This top HR online PhD from Colorado State University is focused on organizational performance and change. This is a hybrid human resource management degree program designed for working human resource professionals. Students will complete some work online. However, the program also requires candidates to meet biweekly on Saturday mornings. This takes place at the Colorado State University Denver campus.

Faculty are all industry experts with extensive research experience in the hr management field. And they specialize in areas like: 

  • Socialization and onboarding 
  • Constructivist inquiry 
  • Workplace learning systems 
  • Leadership scenario planning 
  • Political, social, and relational aspects of the workplace 

The curriculum features a blend of coursework. And it is designed to focus on research skills and applied expertise. Students take two courses each semester and move through the program as a cohort. This allows them to develop professional relationships with colleagues in the hr management field. Some of the courses in the online doctorate degree program include: 

  • Theory and Practice of Change 
  • Organizational Learning, Performance, Change
  • Scenario Planning in Organizations
  • Social, Cultural, and Political Foundations of the Workplace 

Candidates in this program will work on growth-oriented practical activities. This allows them to walk away with knowledge they can immediately apply to their work. This highly selective program is open to only a few applicants each year.

#10– Old Dominion University – Norfolk, Virginia 

Old Dominion University: Ph.D. Human Resource Management

Ph.D. Occupational and Technical Studies Concentration, Human Resources Training Emphasis 

Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $10,207 

ODU offers one of the top online PhD in Human Resources programs. This degree has an occupation and technical studies concentration with an HR training emphasis. And it is designed to prepare students for government, industry, and business leadership positions. Through this program, students will develop skills aligned with the following: 

  • The Association for Talent Development Standards 
  • The International Society for Performance Improvement Standards 

Candidates will need to complete a minimum of 60 credit hours. There are two residencies that require students to be on the Norfolk campus. These are each two weeks long and take place during the summer. Other than these two experiences, no additional campus visits are required. Students will complete core research, HR, and elective courses. They will also need to complete a dissertation. Some of the online courses include for this human resource management degree include:

  • Principles and Practices of Human Performance 
  • Human Performance Assessment 
  • Trends and Issues of Economic and Workforce Development 
  • Instructional Systems Design 
  • Research Design and Analysis 

Some courses meet at specific times online. However, students can complete much of the coursework on their own schedule. All students have an expert faculty mentor to guide them throughout the program. And they also have access to many online resources. This includes tutoring, the library, a writing center, career coaching, and more. 

See Also: 5 Careers for a Human Resources Ph.D. Graduate  

#9 – Indiana Wesleyan University – Marion, Indiana 

Indiana Wesleyan University: Ph.D. Human Resource Management

Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership

For more information: Indiana Wesleyan University 

Average Graduation Tuition Rate: $9,715 

Indiana Wesleyan University offers an excellent online PhD degree in Organizational Leadership. This hybrid program is delivered through a blend of onsite and online classes. IWU is a Christian university providing a Christ-centered doctoral program. And it is based on the latest research and best practices in the field. Students can earn their degrees in just 40 months. And all candidates move through the program as a cohort. 

Online PhD students complete three week-long summer institutes in person. During this time, they will attend workshops and events. And they will have plenty of networking opportunities with other human resources managers. Some of the core courses for this popular human resources online PhD program include: 

  • Organization Theory and Design 
  • Change, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship 
  • Organizational and Adult Learning 
  • Advanced Research Design 
  • Global Perspectives on Leadership 
  • Ethics and Leadership 

This program offers a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions. As a result, it is highly flexible. It emphasizes leadership through a multicultural and global lens. And it is specifically focused on integrity, inclusion, and international perspectives. The program is ideal for candidates who want to develop their skills for work in human resources departments, leadership, consulting, and more.

At under $10,000 per academic year, IWU offers one of the best online doctorate programs for affordability. The school has regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission.

#8 – University of Southern Mississippi – Hattiesburg, Mississippi 

University of Southern Mississippi: Ph.D. Human Resource Management

Doctor of Philosophy in Human Capital Development 

Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $9,094 

The University of Southern Mississippi offers a hybrid Ph.D. in Human Capital Development. This internationally-recognized program combines on-campus learning with online instruction. So students will need to live near the campus to be eligible. Faculty are all experts in the field. And they bring their experience into the classroom. As a result, candidates gain a broad understanding of topics such as: 

  • Workforce Development 
  • Performance Improvement 
  • Human Capital Analytics 
  • Organizational Culture 
  • Change Leadership 
  • Strategic Planning 

To complete the program, students must complete a minimum of 54 hours of graduate study. This includes core, elective, and research courses. Additionally, all candidates are required to complete a comprehensive examination and research dissertation. Some of the courses in this hybrid program may include: 

  • Research in Human Capital Development 
  • Change Leadership in Human Capital Development 
  • Emerging Technologies for Human Capital Development 

The partially online PhD program is offered through the USM School of Leadership. At just over $9,000 per academic year, it’s one of the best online doctorate programs for affordability. Additionally, financial assistance is available. For example, the university has over 900 assistantships available for graduate students. Assistants receive full tuition waivers and stipends. Federal financial aid, scholarships, and grants are also available for this doctoral program. 

Related: Online Master’s in Human Resources in Mississippi  

#7 – Bowling Green State University – Bowling Green, Ohio

Bowling Green State University: Ph.D. Human Resource Management

Ph.D. in Technology Management-Human Resource Development and Training 

Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $8,017 

BGSU offers a high-quality education with it’s online PhD in Technology Management. This program features several concentrations, including one in Human Resource Development and Training. This online degree is delivered in cooperation with five other nationally-accredited universities. And it is designed to teach leadership skills to today’s technical HR professionals.

Students in this program will be equipped for high level roles as training and development managers. The curriculum is rigorous, and the program requires 66 credit hours for completion. Some of the courses include: 

  • Internet Research Methods 
  • Legal and Ethical Dimensions of HRD Practitioners 
  • Management and Coordination of Training and Development 
  • Improving Human Performance in Organizations 
  • Evaluation of Human Resource Development Programs 

Candidates will also complete nine credit hours of professional studies. These can be independent study courses or electives. Or they may be projects or internships that relate to their specialization. Students will work with their instructors to design the coursework. Internships can also be designed to provide doctoral students with practical experience.

This program is unique, with students participating from all over the country. And it is ideal for students who want to earn a Ph.D. but cannot relocate due to prior commitments. Additionally, at just over $8,000 per academic year, it is one of the best online doctorate programs in terms of affordability.

Related: 10 Best Internships for Human Resource Majors

#6 – University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, Arkansas 

University of Arkansas: Ph.D. Human Resource Management

EdD in Human Resource and Workforce Development Education 

Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $7,875 

UARK offers an EdD in Human Resource and Workforce Development Education. The university has provided this top online HR doctorate degree for over seven years. As a result, the curriculum has evolved to meet current HR trends. In addition, students can complete the program 100 percent online. And there are no on-campus residency requirements. This makes it an excellent choice for busy working HR professionals and training and development specialists.

New students are admitted each fall, spring, and summer semester. Students must complete at least 96 total semester hours of graduate studies. Some of the courses in this online program include: 

  • Qualitative Research Design and Analysis 
  • Quantitative Research Design and Analysis 
  • Project and Program Evaluation 
  • History and Foundations of Human Resources
  • Organization Development 
  • Human Resource Training & Development 
  • Entrepreneurial Development 

Exceptionally promising new students to the doctoral program may qualify for financial assistance. This includes tuition waivers, assistantships, and fellowships. Additionally, some students may be eligible for a stipend. However, this is one of the most affordable human resources doctoral programs online.

Although the program is remote, it requires a significant time commitment. The university allows candidates seven years to complete the doctoral degree. An exam and dissertation are required. Additionally, students must take the GRE to be considered for admission to this workforce development education program.

Related: Online Master’s in Human Resources in Arkansas

#5 – Liberty University – Lynchburg, Virginia 

Liberty University: Human Resources Online

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Human Resources 

For more information: Liberty University

Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $7,847 

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges 

The HR Business Administration program at Liberty University is a fully remote. And it takes just three-and-a-half years to complete. HR courses are delivered in a convenient online format with optional intensives. And because the coursework is asynchronous, you can complete the human resources degree at your own pace. For flexibility, Liberty University has one of the best online HR management doctoral programs on our list. 

Students in the Liberty University program gain practical, real-world knowledge. And this knowledge is designed to carry over from the classroom to the workplace. As a result, candidates will learn to solve complex HR problems in their organizations. Some of the featured HR business administration courses may include: 

  • Workforce Planning
  • Employment Compensation Management 
  • Human Resource Development 
  • Strategic Thinking for Decision-Making 

This rigorous and challenging online doctorate human resources degree program sets candidates apart and prepares them for advanced roles in human resources departments. As with most business schools, students will gain specialized knowledge in leadership, finance, accounting, and many other areas. Graduates of this HR business administration program have found satisfying careers as: 

  • Recruitment Specialists 
  • Development Specialists 
  • Compensation and Benefits Managers 
  • Human Resources Directors

Professors keep students engaged through hands-on case studies and experiential exercises. All these experiences are designed to prepare students for high-level leadership positions. Liberty University is a leader in providing high-quality education online. As a result, the school has many support resources to help HR business administration students succeed. Liberty also offers a master’s degree in HR.

#4 – University of Texas at Tyler – Tyler, Texas 

University of Texas at Tyler: Human Resources Online

Ph.D. in Human Resource Development 

Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $6,264 

The University of Texas at Tyler features a hybrid Ph.D. in Human Resource Development. This program requires students to come to campus just five times each semester. And candidates can earn their doctoral human resources degree in only two-and-a-half years of study. Faculty includes Dr. Jerry Gilley, the author of the first textbook on HR development principles. 

Students will work alongside expert professors on a range of research projects in HR. It is offered through the Soules College of Business, one of the best business schools in the country. To be considered, applicants need a master’s degree in HR or a related field. Additionally, they should have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale on previous master’s degree coursework. Some of the online coursework includes: 

  • Talent Management and Development 
  • Proposal Development 
  • Foundations of Qualitative Research 
  • Leadership Theory and Practice 
  • Advanced Theoretical Foundations of HRD 
  • Advanced Quantitative Research in HRD 

An exam is required after completing all coursework. Then, students will work on a dissertation of original research. Candidates have five years to complete the program after admission. Transfer coursework is not accepted.

At just over $6,000 per academic year, UT Tyler offers one of the best online doctorate programs for affordability. Financial support for this human resources management online program is available. This includes scholarships, grants, loans, and Federal financial aid. Additionally, students may apply for various fellowships and assistantships. 

See also: Online Master’s in Human Resources in Texas

#3 – Johnson & Wales University – Providence, Rhode Island 

Johnson & Wales University: Human Resources Online

Doctor of Business Administration – Organization Development 

For more information: Johnson & Wales University

Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $14,706 

Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education Doctorate in Doctorate in Human Resources Doctorate in Human Resources Score:  9

Johnson & Wales offers a DBA with a concentration in Organizational Development. This is a fully remote program with no on-campus residencies. Online students will work with a small group of cohorts, generally under 18 participants. And they will have the opportunity to collaborate on various projects with faculty and other human resources professionals. The curriculum teaches students to solve complex business challenges. And it gives them the practical skills to become innovators within the human resources field. 

Online students work on one eight-week course at a time. And most courses in the human resources management online program are asynchronous. This means there are no set class times. Instead, students can complete their studies on their own schedule. This flexibility is excellent for those who are currently working. Some of the courses in this business administration HR management program include: 

  • Innovation and Change 
  • Organizational Strategy and Design 
  • Leading and Managing Large-Scale Transformation 
  • Contemporary Leadership Issues 
  • Research Design 
  • Executive Decision-Making 

The entire HR business administration program can be completed in three years. Students will also need to complete a dissertation and oral defense. However, Johnson & Wales has a unique lock-step dissertation process. This model guides students methodically through the dissertation. 

The student to faculty ratio at the school is an impressive 15:1. And all faculty at Johnson & Wales hold terminal degrees in their fields. And students will develop relationships with faculty mentors. These instructors will guide them throughout the HR business administration program. Additionally, they will develop a network of HR professionals and colleagues. And this will assist them long after they have completed the program. The college also offers a master’s degree in human resource management.

#2 – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Champaign, Illinois 

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Human Resources Online

EdD in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership with a concentration in HR Development 

Average Graduation Tuition Rate: $14,635 

Doctorate in Human Resources Score:  9

The University of Illinois College of Education features an online EdD program. This program offers a unique concentration in HR Development. The program is designed to improve individual learning and workplace development in organizations. This top online doctorate in HR management includes courses like: 

  • Principles in Human Resource Education
  • Instructional and Training System Design
  • Learning Technologies
  • Organization Development
  • Advanced Theories in Human Resource Development

Students in this program will receive a offers a high-quality education from one of the most popular colleges in the country. They will learn to design, implement, and evaluate HR programs. And they will learn to become innovative training and development managers. This online doctorate degree is ideal for those who want to pursue an academic career in employee relations. But graduates of this online education program have also found employment in health care, financial services, and more.

#1 – Northcentral University – San Diego, California 

Northcentral University: Human Resources Online

Doctor of Philosophy in Human Resource Management 

Average Graduation Tuition Rate: $10,260 

Our top choice for a PhD in Human Resources online is Northcentral University. This program is designed for individuals seeking leadership positions or work in academia. And it is one of the most flexible doctoral programs to make our list. Students can earn their degrees from anywhere in the world. There are no group assignments, scheduled lectures, or semester start dates. Faculty have all earned their doctorate degrees. And they are eager to share their knowledge and experience with their students. As a result, candidates receive one-on-one mentoring. Some of the courses include: 

  • Labor Relations
  • Human Resources Management in the 21st Century
  • Organizational Behavior in Human Resources Management
  • Legal Issues in Human Resources Management
  • Strategic Human Resource Management
  • Compensation Management

The program requires 60 credit hours and takes an average of 49 months to complete. However, some students finish in as little as 38 months. In addition, the school offers six full-tuition scholarships to incoming Ph.D. students. Federal financial aid, loans, grants, and other scholarships are also available for this online learning program.

This is a research-based degree human resources program. And it prepares students to contribute their knowledge to the HR field. The unique one-on-one learning model ensures that all students get personalized attention. Northcentral further supports its online students with a wealth of virtual resources.

The school also offers a master’s degree in human resource management.

Online Doctorate in Human Resources

The work of HR may constitute the most varied “to-do list” among all occupations. It includes a wide range of administrative tasks such as benefits and payroll. But it also involves interacting with personnel, development, and training. 

There has been strong global competition and technological advancements in the field. As a result, organizations have made allowances for inevitable changes. This planning is the backbone of human resources management. And it forms the basis for modern HR management doctoral degree programs.

Online vs. On-Campus Doctorate

Online learning provides a flexible option for professionals in the field. These programs offer the same courses of study and are taught with the same rigor. As a result, they lead to the same professional opportunities after graduation. PhD human resources online programs are ideal for students who have family or other obligations. And they are more hassle-free in regard to commuting or scheduling.

What Courses Will I Take for an Online HR Ph.D. Program?

Prospective students pursuing a Ph.D. in HR management can expect to take a range of courses. Generally, these will be online human resource courses that teach the following objectives: 

  • Global Conceptions of Leadership
  • Leadership and Individual Development
  • Application of Research Methods
  • Organizational and Adult Learning
  • Team Building

The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the top professional organization in the field. And it lists these disciplines within the industry:

  • Health, Safety, and Security of Employees
  • Employee Relations
  • Rewards, Compensations, and Benefits
  • Organizational Development

These topics will likely be covered in online doctorate in human resources programs. Additionally, some colleges and universities offer an array of concentrations. As a result, prospective online students can choose an online learning program that most closely aligns with their goals.

What Is an Accelerated Online Human Resources Ph.D. Degree Program?

An accelerated online Ph.D. program uses shorter teaching sessions. For example, instead of the traditional 16 weeks, students take online education courses in seven, eight, or ten-week increments. If you take extra credits each semester, you can earn your degree faster. Accelerated programs are ideal if your goal is to earn your Ph.D. quickly. However, additional stress accompanies such accelerated programs. So you should consider your strengths and weaknesses before enrolling in an accelerated online phd program.

Can I Still Work While Pursuing My Ph.D. in Human Resources Online?

For many students, undertaking a Ph.D. in human resources is a full-time job. However, sometimes necessity requires that you continue working while earning your Ph.D. in HR management. Ideally, you will find employment in the field. This way, you will see the day-to-day applications of your studies. The workload of traditional vs. online Ph.D. programs is the same. A good rule of thumb is to plan on spending around 40 hours a week studying for your degree. This guideline can help you determine if it will still be feasible to work while pursuing an online education.

What Are the Graduation Requirements for an Online Ph.D. in HR?

Generally, the doctorate degree requirements are between 58 and 66 credit hours. And there is typically a minimum of 20 courses. You must also pass a comprehensive examination and produce your dissertation to earn your degree in HR management.

This concludes our ranking of the best online phd programs human resources

We have 20 human resource management PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

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human resource management PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Political management: exploring the potential and limitations of applying hrm and organisational behaviour concepts to political offices, political advisers and politicians., phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Virtual Engagement: The Impact of Avatars on Metaverse Retailing

Exploring the role of hr analytics in organisational performance, phd in international business and strategy at henley business school, funded phd programme (students worldwide).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.

Business Research Programme

Business Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

Toulouse School of Management Doctoral Programme

France phd programme.

A French PhD usually takes 3-4 years and often involves additional training and courses alongside research towards an original thesis. This will be assessed by external examiners before being presented at a public examination and eventually awarded with one of three grades. Some programmes are delivered in English.

PhDs in Business and Management

The PhD opportunities on this programme do not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Doctoral Researcher at the HEiKA Graduate School on Functional Materials

Germany phd programme.

A German PhD usually takes 3-4 years. Traditional programmes focus on independent research, but more structured PhDs involve additional training units (worth 180-240 ECTS credits) as well as placement opportunities. Both options require you to produce a thesis and present it for examination. Many programmes are delivered in English.

ESSEC Business School

Leadership for sustainable public value, glasgow school for business and society (gsbs) – self-funded phd projects, optimising dynamic scheduling in smart manufacturing through reinforcement learning phd, building social-ecological resilience to human-wildlife conflict in western ethiopia, engaging, informative and innovative researching in a future-oriented environment in unnc, china phd programme.

A Chinese PhD usually takes 3-4 years and often involves following a formal teaching plan (set by your supervisor) as well as carrying out your own original research. Your PhD thesis will be publicly examined in front of a panel of expert. Some international programmes are offered in English, but others will be taught in Mandarin Chinese.

Investigating the barriers and enablers for step change in the success of the micro compact car industry.

Competition funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project is one of a number of projects at this institution. It is in competition for funding with one or more of these projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be awarded the funding. The funding is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

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