Human resource management

The Bluffton cohort-based human resource management program is an intensive, accelerated adult bachelor degree-completion program which provides qualified students currently working in business, industry, health and public service sectors the opportunity to complete their degree in as few as four 18-week semesters.
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Objectives

  1. Prepare students for positions of leadership that address the needs of the organization and its employees;
  2. Enhance the skills of students currently involved with human resource responsibilities;
  3. Enable students to capitalize on their work and life experience;
  4. Help working adults finish their degree through a program that is convenient, structured and tailored to meet their needs; and
  5. Introduce students to the resources available through their student membership in the Society of Human Resource Management.

Features

  1. Curriculum designed to apply current principles of adult learning;
  2. Utilization of students’ experiences and skills learned on the job;
  3. Current, integrative, comprehensive approach to management;
  4. Opportunity to investigate areas of special interest through the development of two research projects;
  5. One evening per week classroom sessions at one of our convenient off site locations, and periodic Saturday (seminar style) classes on the Bluffton campus that are supplemented by online learning.
  6. Evening classes meet from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday classes meet from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  7. Students will complete one course at a time throughout most of the program of study.

Admission requirements
Admission requirements address the applicant’s ability to perform well in a demanding academic environment, to apply classroom learning in an appropriate work setting and to contribute to the classroom experiences. The following criteria must be met:

  1. Applicants must have at least 60 semester or 90 quarter hours of transferable college work;
  2. Applicants must be at least 23 years of age;
  3. Applicants must be regularly employed or actively involved in the human resource function of an organization;
  4. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in writing skills; and
  5. Applicants must have a minimum G.P.A. of 2.0.

Major (48 hours)
HRM 301 Group and Organizational Behavior (3)
HRM 303 Organizational Theory and Design (3)
HRM 304 Principles of Management and Leadership (3)
HRM 306 Business Communication (3)
HRM 310 Employment Policies and Practices (3)
HRM 315 EAP and Occupational Safety, Health, Security (3)
HRM 320 Information Management and Use (3)
HRM 407 Faith and Community (3)
HRM 409 Personal Values and Business Ethics (3)
HRM 410 Living in the Global Community (3)
HRM 415 Financial Analysis and Decision Making (3)
HRM 420 Compensation and Benefits (3)
HRM 425 Research Project I (2)
HRM 430 Human Resource Development (3)
HRM 435 Labor Relations (3)
HRM 440 Strategic Human Resource Management (3)
HRM 445 Research Project II (1)

Liberal arts and sciences core program
The liberal arts and sciences requirements listed below must be met to graduate. This can be done through course work at Bluffton, transfer credit, DSST, CLEP or academic credit by examination. An advisor will work with you to determine the best option. The completion of English composition is required before beginning HRM. It is recommended, but not required, that the remaining liberal arts and sciences core be completed before beginning the program as well.

 

semester hours

English composition

3

Humanities

6

Fine arts appreciation (art, music or theatre)

3

Natural science (must be in two areas of science, one must be a lab course)

6

Other objectives of the Bluffton liberal arts and sciences core program, including studies in religion and theology, cross-cultural experience and the social sciences, are met through the human resource management sequence of courses.

Courses

HRM 301 Group and Organizational Behavior (3)
Students will study group and team behavior in organizations. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how the organization context and internal team dynamics impact team and organizational effectiveness.

 HRM 303 Organizational Theory and Design (3)
 An examination of the formal and informal functions of organizations and problem solving within an organization, using a systems model.

HRM 304 Principles of Management and Leadership (3)
Students examine motivational theory and its application to individual and group functioning in work situations. Leadership styles related to particular circumstances are analyzed. Negotiation is studied through reading and class practice, with an analysis of the effect on productivity.

HRM 306 Business Communication (3)
Students will be introduced to the communication process with special attention given to building skills in listening, verbal and nonverbal communication, public speaking and written expression.

HRM 310 Employment Policies and Practices (3)
An examination of employment polices and practices, including job descriptions, hiring, performance appraisals, workplace behavior problems, legal and regulatory factors, termination and downsizing.

HRM 315 EAP and Occupational Safety, Health, Security (3)
The course will cover employee assistance plans, safety issues and occupational health and security.

HRM 320 Information Management and Use (3)
An overview of the critical role that knowledge management plays in an organization and how HR information assists people in the organization to achieve organizational goals. Students will learn to use computer software for data analysis and presentation.

HRM 407 Faith and Community (3)
Students will discover the historical and biblical roots of faith, articulate the claims of faith and analyze the role of faith in their lives. The role of the Christian community in developing moral values and assisting in the decision-making process will be explored.

HRM 409 Personal Values and Business Ethics (3)
Students explore the intricacies of business and personal ethics through the study of the basic philosophical theories of ethics. Application is made to business and personal situations through case study analysis.

HRM 410 Living in the Global Community (3)
An interdisciplinary examination of issues concerning the economic, environmental and social sustainability. Students relate their own lives and actions, and those of their organizations, to the global context and understand some implications of their global citizenship.

HRM 415 Financial Analysis and Decision Making (3)
Students will develop analytical and critical thinking skills in financial decision making.

HRM 420 Compensation and Benefits (3)
Students will analyze, develop, implement and evaluate the total compensation and benefits system for employee benefit programs.

HRM 425 Research Project I (2)
Students identify and research a human resource problem that exists in an organization with which they are familiar. Course products are an oral report and an eight to ten page paper that includes problem identification, review of literature and recommendations for action.

HRM 430 Human Resource Development (3)
This course will cover employee education topics, including developing a needs analysis, basic learning principles, designing and delivering effective training, evaluating training, and developing, implementing and evaluating change management programs.

HRM 435 Labor Relations (3)
An examination of labor relations issues, including dispute resolution; union representation of employees; union relations; collective bargaining process; unfair labor practices; labor negotiations; and history of labor relations.

HRM 440 Strategic Human Resource Management (3)
Through this course, students will learn to develop HR strategies to support organizational needs. They will participate in an organizational strategic planning process. Considered in the course are topics related to HR's role as a strategic partner, the fundamentals of SWOT analysis, different types of strategy, implementation and action planning, mergers and acquisitions, and developing a strategic mind-set.

HRM 445 Research Project II (1)
Students perform a human resource-related needs assessment of an organization and develop a one hour employee training plan related to one of the needs identified. Course products are a four to five page report of the needs assessment, an employee training lesson plan and a class presentation of the assessment and plan.

Sept. 2011