By: The Capella University Editorial Team
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Capella University has built competency-based learning into every corner of the university, including the School of Business, Technology and Health Care Administration. Here’s a closer look at what that means for HR professionals and their future employers.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), a competency is "a cluster of knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics (KSAOs) needed for effective job performance."
CBE builds learning around those defined competencies, tracking whether students can demonstrate mastery of them rather than measuring credit hours or completed courses. That’s a meaningful shift – one that can give employers a clearer, more direct signal of what a graduate can actually do on the job.
Employers need new hires who can contribute right away. Long before they even start the hiring process, most have already mapped out the exact knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics (KSAOs) they’re looking for in a candidate. In short, they’re hiring for competencies.
Every HR Management program and course at Capella is built around defined competencies. Students track their progress through course dashboards and competency maps, giving them a clear, documented way to show potential employers exactly what they’ve developed. In the MS in Human Resource Management program, HR challenge assignments push that knowledge and skill directly into real-world scenarios.
Each course breaks down into units built around specific HR skills and knowledge. Students apply those concepts to real workplace situations, connecting HR theory directly to business practice.
Capella offers FlexPath, a self-paced, direct assessment format that lets students demonstrate competencies on their own timeline. FlexPath availability varies by program, so prospective students should confirm the format for their selected program.
Capella also offers a more structured GuidedPath format. GuidedPath students who’ve already picked up competencies through work experience can petition for credit through Capella’s Credit for Prior Learning process, which may apply toward their degree.
Professional certifications may translate into credit, too. Students who’ve passed professional HR exams through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) or the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) can apply those certifications toward their degree, since Capella’s HR curriculum is built to align with SHRM standards.
Students start with the theory behind strong HR practice, then put it to work through Capella’s CapraTek simulations, where they apply what they’ve learned to real HR functions as though they were already on the job.
Students build knowledge in core HR functions, including:
In a graduate course in sourcing and talent management, one competency is developing recruiting approaches and selection methods that support an organization’s talent goals. In a related scenario, students assess recruiting needs for a senior leadership role in a division with high turnover. They then write a memo that recommends solutions to senior leaders. The assignment gives students an example of competency evidence they can discuss with current or prospective employers.
Capella offers five online human resources degrees:
Yes, when it’s used to show what you can do. CBE ties learning to demonstrated competencies, giving students real evidence to point to when making the case for a new role, a promotion or a shift into HR from another field, not just a transcript. Outcomes vary by individual, but this approach makes the connection between education and workplace skill much clearer.
Yes. Employers already build hiring criteria around specific knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics, the same competencies CBE is designed to develop and document. It uses language employers already use to evaluate candidates.
An HR degree builds a broad foundation across HR theory, business context and applied skills. SHRM certification validates a specific set of competencies at a point in time. The two complement each other: Capella’s HR curriculum aligns with SHRM standards, and students who’ve already passed a SHRM or HRCI exam may apply that credit toward their degree.
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