Human Resource Management

Video of Craft your career at WMU Haworth: Human resource management major

Craft your career at WMU haworth

At the Haworth College of Business, students craft their careers with experiences that take them outside the classroom and their comfort zones, leading to increased confidence and job opportunities. Hear from Ambika—in her own words—about how WMU Haworth has supported her.

Human resource management

A human resource management major at Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business will give you the specialized skills to help organizations build a lasting competitive advantage through their most critical resourcetheir 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:

  • SHRM Academically Aligned LogoTalent 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, students may pursue human resource generalist positions as well as specialist positions in recruiting, staffing, compensation and benefit management, training, diversity and inclusion, union relations, and more. You may choose to work in small, mid-size, or large corporations, or non-profit organizations operating in Michigan, the Midwest, nationally or globally. 

Ready to learn more about the human resource management major at WMU Haworth? 

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pride in our program

Our faculty are Ph.D.-level experts in the field of human resources with years of hands-on industry experience. In addition, many of them work together with students to provide cutting-edge, practical, experiential learning opportunities through research activities. Faculty members serve as mentors who personally connect with students to help them successfully launch their careers in a variety of workplaces. What does our human resource management degree offer?

  • We are one of a few programs in the state of Michigan recognized by the Society for Human Resource Management as having a curriculum consistent with their Body of Competency and Knowledge guidelines.
  • Our student organization, Society for Excellence in Human Resources, has repeatedly earned the Superior Merit award for top national student SHRM chapters.
  • Several of our students earn scholarships through the Department of Management each year. Top students may choose to pursue graduate degrees at the best HR master’s programs in the country, earning thousands of dollars in scholarships at universities such as Minnesota, Illinois, Cornell, Rutgers and Michigan State, and doubling their starting salaries through offers from Fortune 500 companies.

Getting involved

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, some of which count toward the business college's Student Professional Readiness Series requirements. Getting involved in the society will help you gain valuable professional development and networking opportunities with local HR professionals while forming lifelong friendships.

Major coursework

The human resource management major consists of six required courses (18 hours) and two electives (6 hours), in addition to the BBA requirements.

Required courses

  • ECON 2010—Principles of Microeconomics
  • ECON 2020—Principles of Macroeconomics
  • MGMT 2520—Human Resource Management 
  • MGMT 3540—HR Analytics 
  • MGMT 3560—HR Training and Development 
  • MGMT 3580—Labor and Employee Relations 
  • MGMT 4070—Change Management 
  • MGMT 4100—Global Human Resource Management 
  • MGMT 4320—Total Rewards 
  • MGMT 4510—Staffing Organizations 

Electives (one required)

  • FIN 3730—Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
  • MGMT 2140—Exploring Entrepreneurship
  • MGMT 3010—Leadership and Business Strategy I
  • MGMT 3500—Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations 
  • MKTG 2750—Global Negotiation

View more information on course requirements in the WMU catalog.

Careers with a Human Resource management degree

9 of 10 human resource management graduates from WMU Haworth are actively engaged within three months of graduation. 

Some of our employers

Questions?

If you have questions related to your coursework or seek career advising, contact:

Dr. Christina Stamper
Office: 3228 Schneider Hall | (269) 387-6139
Email Christina Stamper