A human resource management major at Western Michigan University will give you the specialized skills to help organizations build a lasting competitive advantage through their most critical resource—their employees. The program provides professional and technical skills required to understand and strategically solve the challenges facing today’s changing workplace and workforce. The major prepares students for successful careers by emphasizing topics consistent with guidelines from the industry's leading professional organization, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). These include:
- Talent acquisition and management
- Total rewards (compensation and benefits management)
- Employee relations
- Organizational change
- Training and development
- Human resource analytics
Upon successful completion of the program, you may choose to work in small, mid-size, or large corporations, or non-profit organizations operating in Michigan, the Midwest, nationally or globally.
Ninety-four percent of human resource management graduates are employed or in graduate school within three months of graduation.
Beyond the classroom
The Society for Excellence in Human Resources is the WMU student chapter of the SHRM. As a human resource management student, you can join more than 60 members for professional and social events. Getting involved in the society will help you gain valuable professional development and networking opportunities with local HR professionals.
After you graduate
Recent WMU graduates with degrees in human resource management are working as human resource generalists and specialists in:
- Recruiting
- Staffing
- Compensation and benefit management
- Training
- Diversity and inclusion
- Union relations
Among the organizations they work for are:
- Adecco
- Aerotek
- BP
- Eaton
- General Electric
- General Motors
- Honeywell
- Kellogg’s
- Microsoft
- Nike
- Stryker
- Whirlpool
- Zoetis
Where is this program offered?
- Kalamazoo