Human Resources Management
About the Program
The human resource management (HRM) major, offered by the Management Department in the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics, was developed in response to the expressed needs of employers. The program undergoes continuous revisions to remain current with the changes in society and management. The undergraduate program is integrated with the UW-Whitewater general studies curriculum, culminating in a bachelor\'s degree in business administration.
The HRM major offers an array of courses covering the functional areas of HRM. It is recommended for students interested in pursuing a career in one of the specialized areas of HRM or as an HRM generalist. A minor is not required.
An extensive internship program provides students with practical work experience to supplement classroom experience. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to take the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification examination. In addition, five HRM courses are available in the UW-Whitewater graduate program. An emphasis in HRM is available to MBA students. Graduate HRM courses are currently offered on-line on a regular basis, allowing students to take courses without having to travel to campus. Students who successfully complete five graduate HRM courses can earn a certificate degree in HRM. This certificate can be earned separately from the MBA, or in conjunction with it.
Accreditation
The College of Business and Economics is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International). This accreditation applies to both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Career Opportunities
HRM graduates usually begin their careers with an entry-level position in one of the functional areas such as staffing, compensation, training, employee benefits, labor relations, or as a generalist dealing with a broad range of human resource issues. Promotion opportunities include various managerial and professional-level positions within the functional areas or an HRM generalist position responsible for broad-based HRM activities.
Suggested Course of Study
Undergraduates take 15 to 18 credits per semester, including basic general education requirements and the lower division business core requirements.
Upper division College core requirements:
- Career Information
- Organizational Behavior
- Operations Management
- Business and Commercial Law
- Marketing Principles
- Business Finance
- Business Communication
- Administrative Policy
HRM major requirements:
- Human Resource Management
- Compensation Management
- Staffing
- Training and Development
- Employee Benefits
- Labor-Management Relations
Plus two elective courses from:
- Seminar in Human Resources
- Labor Law
- Industrial Accident Prevention
- Cooperative/Internship in Management
- Special Studies
- Independent Studies
Faculty
All faculty members in the HRM area hold doctoral degrees. No teaching assistants teach classes. Faculty are committed to teaching, but they are also involved in research, service and business consulting activities. Faculty in HRM have numerous areas of specialization, including employment, compensation, employee benefits, labor relations, employment law, and training and development.
High School Preparation
Preparation for the degree should begin in high school and continue with lower division university courses that develop skills in mathematics, communication, and social sciences. Students should be able to successfully integrate coursework from English, mathematics, computer courses, and the behavioral and social sciences.
Honors and Awards
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has granted the UW-Whitewater student chapter the Outstanding Merit Award (highest award given by SHRM) every year since the chapter\'s inception in 1981. The objective for student chapters is to provide individuals interested in the profession with opportunities for active participation in HRM, career development and education, service to the profession, an understanding of the profession, and encouragement to take the Professional Human Resource certification examination.
Internship Opportunities
Internships are an integral part of the HRM program, and opportunities are readily available. Students may participate in internships during the school year on a part-time basis or during the summer on a full-time basis. Internships enhance the academic curriculum by exposing students to different real-life work environments. Employers place a high value on internship experience in graduates.
Placement
The average starting salary of HRM undergraduates generally exceeds $30,000, and placement remains consistently high at over 90 percent. A sampling of recent employers includes:
- AON Consultants
- Stoughton School System
- Northwestern National Insurance Company
- Swiss Colony
- Allen-Bradley
- Wisconsin Electric
- Norwest Bank
- State of Wisconsin
- Kimberly-Clark
- Trek Bicycle
- Menasha Corporation
- West Bend Company
- Newell, Inc.
- Modine Manufacturing Company
Students enrolled in the human resource management major complete the requirements for a bachelor's degree in business administration.
Student Organizations
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has an active student chapter at UW-Whitewater. It provides professional speakers, field trips, interview workshops, and the opportunity to attend professional meetings with human resource executives in Madison, Milwaukee, Janesville-Beloit and other cities. SHRM also offers its members individual leadership and networking opportunities.
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