I certainly think that having a business background helps. I would say that courses that deal with managing people not just the financial but the psychological aspects are key. It adds diversity to your educational background. Examples of courses (from Florida State University) include Foundations Adult Education & HRD; Analytical Applications Human Resource Management, Training, and Development; Program Leadership Development; and Adult Learning and Development. I think just about coursework in the realm of Education and/or Policy are definite pluses.

I agree with LaToya in that it is important to understand the psychological aspects of HR. My suggestion would be to research a master's degree in I/O (Industrial/Organizational) Psychology. This field deals with courses that address performance appraisals, motivation and training, legal and organizational issues, job descriptions, personnel selection and testing, work attitudes, and leadership. One word of caution - this will be a very rigorous program that requires a thesis (especially difficult if you do not have a background in psychology) but it is typically less than a 40 hour degree program and you will be extremely prepared to handle HR and consulting work.