Human resource professionals operate in a dynamic and changing world, managing the organization’s relationship with its employees. They develop and manage people, practices, and policies to ensure that they produce employee attitudes, skills, behaviors, and performance that companies need to achieve their strategic goals. They are commonly responsible for recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training and developing, evaluating performance, compensating, providing benefits, counseling, and terminating employees. 

HR Professionals are employed in every industry and are an essential partner in an organization’s strategic vision for the future and for ensuring the right people are in place. It is essential that an HR professional learn and master key knowledge, skills, and abilities including critical thinking, confidentiality, change management, communication, negotiation and conflict management, business acumen, interpersonal skills, organizational skills, and fairness. In addition to the All-University Core Curriculum, course work for a concentration in Human Resource Management includes the College of Business Core and various management electives that allow the student to structure a program around his or her educational and/or career interests.

Learning Outcomes

Students in the  major at  will demonstrate:

• Knowledge and skills necessary to assume entry-level HR positions in preparation for pursuing careers in a wide variety of organizations and industries
• Knowledge and skills to develop and implement HR practices in a strategic, legal, and ethical manner
• Understanding of HR’s role in the efficient and effective operations of organizations and their human resources
• The ability to create and manage HR practices that respect and encourage diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Potential Occupations

Some examples include, but are not limited to the following: Human Resource Assistant, Recruiter, Labor Relations Specialist, Human Resource Manager, Employee Benefits Manager, Training and Development Manager, Employee Relations Manager, Compensation Analyst, Human Resources Consultant, Job Analyst.