Human Resource Management Concentration
Human resource management is a growing and well paid occupation.
What is human resource management (HRM)?
Human resource management is focused on the effective and efficient use of human talent to accomplish the strategic objectives of the organization. In the past, human resource management often involved administrative tasks such as handling employee benefits questions, recruiting, interviewing, and hiring new staff, and ensuring that organizational policies and procedures were established and followed in compliance with relevant employment law. Today's human resource professionals manage those tasks and, increasingly, consult with top executives regarding strategic planning. They have moved from behind-the-scenes staff to leading the company in suggesting and implementing organizational change policies. Increasingly, top management is recognizing that a competitive advantage can be gained through strategically managing their human resources.
Where is human resource management used?
Graduates of the program are prepared to begin their careers in the human resource departments of corporations, government agencies, unions, and other private and public organizations. They are employed as specialists in employment/recruiting, staffing, training and development, HR information systems, employee and labor relations, worker's compensation, safety/OSHA, diversity, EEO/affirmative action, benefits, and compensation. Other students find employment as human resource generalists. A HR generalist is a person responsible for performing a variety of HR activities. Typically, larger firms employ specialists and smaller firms tend to hire generalists.
What is the job outlook?
According to various publications including those of the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment in the field of Human Resource Management is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through 2014.
Demand is expected to be particularly strong for certain specialists, such as labor and employee relations staff, specialists in international human resources management and human resources information systems, training and development specialists, and employment, recruitment, and placement specialists.
Firms involved in management, consulting, and employment services offer many job opportunities, as businesses increasingly contract out human resources functions or hire human resources specialists on a temporary basis in order to deal with the increasing cost and complexity of training and development programs. Demand also should increase in firms that develop and administer complex employee benefits and compensation packages for other organizations.
What is the human resource management program at Shippensburg?
HRM is a four-year, interdisciplinary program of the Department of Management and Marketing in the John L. Grove College of Business, leading to a B.S.B.A. degree. This program of study shows the interrelationship of management and labor through the study of theory, principles, techniques, and applications of strategically linked human resource practices. The program is designed to provide students with a solid understanding of the broad range of knowledge in the field, with an emphasis on the practical skills needed for success in the field.
The program stresses the strategic nature of human resource management. Through course work, case studies, and simulations the students receive a realistic insight into human resource management and planning, staffing, training and development, compensation and benefits, and employee and labor relations. Students will become versed in the pertinent laws that human resource professionals work with on a daily basis such as: Title IV of the Civil Rights Act; the Family Medical Leave Act; the Americans with Disability Act; Worker's Compensation; the Fair Labor Standards Act; Age Discrimination in Employment Act; and various executive orders.
What kinds of courses will I take?
Students in the HRM program take the core curriculum required of all John L. Grove College of Business administration students. The courses include accounting, finance, information systems, marketing, economics, business law, production, organizational behavior, and others to give you a broad business background.
In addition to those courses there are both required courses and electives in the major. The required courses include:
- MGT 340 Human Resource Management
- MGT 342 Labor Relations
- MGT 346 Human Resource Management Law
- MGT 348 Compensation Management
The elective courses allow the student to tailor his or her interest in specific areas or to select a broad sampling of courses to further explore the field. Students must select a total of six credit hours from the following courses. The elective courses include:
- MGT 337 Issues in Entrepreneurship (3 s.h.)
- MGT 349 International Human Resource Management (3 s.h.)
- MGT361 Employment Interviewing (3 s.h.)
- MGT 368 Senior Seminar I (3 s.h.)*
- MGT 369 Senior Seminar II (3 s.h.)*
- MGT 370 International Business (3 s.h.)
- MGT 394 Leadership & Decision-Making (3 s.h.)
- MGT 431 Corporate Entrepreneurship (3 s.h.)
- MGT 432 Entrepreneurship (3 s.h.)
- MGT 433 Small Business Management (3 s.h.)
- FIN 324 Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits (3 s.h.)
- ISM 300 Information Technology & Business Operations (3 s.h.)
* Senior Seminar courses are faculty designed electives covering specialized topics, such as training and development, employment and staffing, and diversity management. The courses are intended for seniors.
Can other majors take those courses?
Because of the universal applicability of the nature of the courses, they make excellent free electives. All individuals working in organizations will benefit from an understanding of human resource practices, employee rights and responsibilities, employee development, and organizational dynamics. HRM courses provide the student with such opportunities for learning.
Where can I get more information?
For specific program information, contact:
Dr. William Oberman, Chair
Department of Management and Marketing
224 Grove Hall
Shippensburg University
1871 Old Main Drive
Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299
717-477-1439
Fax: 717-477-4068
E-mail: wdober@ship.edu
John L. Grove College of Business
717-477-1435
E-mail: business@ship.edu
Website: http://www.ship.edu/business/
The John L. Grove College of Business is accredited by the AACSB International.