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B.A. in Human Resource Management: Curriculum

Curriculum Details

120 Total Credits Required

To receive a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University, St. Paul, all undergraduate students must complete the general education requirements. The online bachelor’s degree in human resource management also requires 39 credit hours of coursework covering business fundamentals, marketing principles, employment law, compensation systems, strategic human resources, and more.

The program core can be completed in five semesters, although your transfer credits and general education coursework will vary the time it takes you to finish.

Required Courses

Learn what it means to be an entrepreneur while exploring foundational concepts in management, marketing, economics, and finance/accounting. Create a full business plan for a small business in class, making daily decisions about the business in a dynamic environment.

This course examines the administrative and common law regulation of business. Constitutional Law, Title VII and product liability are covered. Students also examine contract law and the Uniform Commercial Code provisions on sales and secured transactions.

Students are introduced to the principles of financial accounting. Topics explored include the accounting cycle, transaction analysis, journal entries, adjustments, financial statement preparation and analysis, and closing entries. Students learn the basics of common financial statement accounts, including current assets, fixed assets, current liabilities, long-term debt, equity, revenue, and expense are covered. (Students must earn a minimum grade of C in order to progress to ACC 202 and ACC 311

Explore the fundamental concepts of accounting and finance within an organizational context, including terminology, financial statements, ratio analysis, budgeting, time value of money, along with ethical and global considerations. Apply standard financial and accounting tools to make business assessments and financial decisions important for managers in any organization.

This course provides an introduction to the study of marketing in business and other organizations. Topics that will be addressed in this course include the marketing environment, marketing ethics, information gathering, product development, pricing strategies, distribution strategies, the promotional mix, decision making, nonprofit marketing, social marketing and international marketing. (Prerequisite: junior standing)

Gain insight into the pivotal role Human Resources plays in helping organizations be successful, and the competencies that drive HR leadership accomplishment. Learn the essential functions of HR and their relationship to employee and manager effectiveness. Examine the role of HRIS systems and the technology that supports HR. Explore the historical underpinnings of HR and the evolution of employment law. Understand the application of employment law to the present-day workplace – including interviewing, selection, compensation, performance management, and workplace interactions.

Describe workforce forecasting, recruitment, selection, onboarding, employee relations, and retention – and how they contribute to human capital differentiation. Identify contemporary approaches to internal and external recruiting, candidate tracking, and employment laws associated with recruiting. Explain job analysis within the context of selection, and the employer’s legal responsibilities in the selection process. Formulate best practices for new hire organization entry, socialization, and onboarding that fosters diversity and inclusion. Articulate the positive performance implications related to successful candidate onboarding. (Prerequisites: Minimum Grade of C- in HRM 382

Study the fundamentals of employee compensation and benefit systems. Examine all aspects of compensation system design and administration – including initial strategy-setting, addressing internal equity/external competitiveness, and pay communication. Identify compliance and regulatory issues that affect pay and the employment laws that govern compensation. Determine the basic elements of employee benefits including the difference between statutory and voluntary benefits and best practices for managing employee benefits. Discover how to design competitive compensation approaches that support organizational strategy and objectives. (Prerequisites: Minimum Grade of C- in HRM 382

Explain diagnosis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of OD initiatives. Determine what drives change, how organizations transition through change, and manage resistance to change. Explore the differences between Human Resource Development and Organization Development, specifically as they pertain to learning and change, and apply them to real life examples. Apply the ADDIE model (assess, design, develop, implement, evaluate) and best practices for conducting and evaluating training and measuring ROI. Describe how technology has expanded learning opportunities, the potential it represents for organizational improvement, and how it impacts HRD and OD. (Prerequisites: Minimum Grade of C- in HRM 382

Practice proactively solving complex Human Resource issues through data-driven planning, research, solution identification, and performance management. Describe the planning process and how it is fueled by individual, team, and organizational data analytics. Examine human capital measurements including leading and lagging indicators that inform good decision-making and minimize biases. Create a Human Resource scorecard using multiple data points determine how to convey the importance to organizational leadership and employees. Practice the role of a results-driven HR leader through clear communication of performance expectations and results. Explain how to manage when performance standards are not met at the individual, team, and organizational levels along with relevant laws that govern the process. (Prerequisites: Minimum Grade of C- in HRM 382

Examine how HR professionals work as strategic partners within organizations. Explore the differences between the administrative Human Resource professional and the strategic Human Resource professional. Identify skills and competencies needed to perform at the strategic level. Recognize the strategic strengths and challenges of organizations and how HR can contribute to competitive differentiation. Describe the importance of partnering with business leaders across the organization to improve organization efficiencies and effectiveness. Discover the role Human Resources has in adapting to the changing face of organizations as it relates to globalization, sustainability, and social responsibility. Gain perspectives on employment laws that govern global workforces and best practices for building multi-cultural acceptance. (Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in HRM 382, HRM 410, and HRM 440

Learn the key aspects and best practices of data analysis by exploring the fundamentals of gathering and analyzing data. Create visualizations and dashboard reports utilizing large data sets associated with an industry of choice, such as, finance, health, sports, criminal justice, among others. Microsoft Excel and Tableau will be utilized throughout the course for data visualizations while a basic understanding of the R and Python languages will be explored. A basic understanding of statistical measures may be helpful for this course but not mandatory for successfully mastering these concepts.

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