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B.S. in Human Resource Management Overview

 

The process of hiring, training, managing and retaining talented employees is integral to any business, and business owners rely heavily on human resource managers to assure success in those areas. Alvernia’s Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management program can help put you in the driver’s seat by preparing you for a varied and interesting career in human resources. Our award-winning and nationally recognized major has been approved for renewal as a Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)-aligned program.

SHRM

Human resource managers are responsible for areas such as recruiting and employing staff, training and development, compensation management, benefit analysis and employee assistance. The work demands analytical skills, business knowledge and the ability to work effectively with people.


Faculty members at Alvernia teach about business from both practical and ethical standpoints. This gives you the knowledge you’ll need to succeed professionally, as it develops supervisory and managerial skills necessary to advance in your career.

Careers in Human Resource Management

As the way we work changes due to technology and online resources, the demand for human resource managers is increasing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected 15.5 percent employment growth in this field between 2012 and 2022—faster than average growth for all occupations. Human resource managers are necessary for nearly all business sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, retail, construction, hospitality, entertainment, technology, durable goods and others.


Following graduation, you could look to work in one of the following positions: Workforce Diversity Specialist, Personnel Director, Director of Employee Relations, Human Resources Analyst, Human Resource Director, Benefits Analyst, Change Manager, Compensation Manager, Organization Developer, Payroll Manager, Recruiter, and Trainer.


While small companies often employ human resource generalists who are responsible for all aspects of human resource management, many larger companies seek managers who specialize in one area of human resources, such as employment, recruitment, and placement, or training and development.


Employers look for human resource managers who are innovative thinkers with a solid understanding of the business and industry in which they will be employed. Managers must be able to work with financial data and contribute to their company’s value and return on investment.


To learn more about jobs in human resource management, check out the Careers in Human Resources site. You also can research job postings for human resource management positions to get a better idea of what various jobs entail.


A sampling of employers of Alvernia human resources management graduates:

  • Penske
  • Black and Decker
  • Rentokil NA
  • Hershey Entertainment and Resorts
  • UGA Energy Services
  • First Energy
  • Fulton Bank
  • Tower Health
  • People Share
  • RKL
  • Vanguard
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Foster McKay
  • Buckeye Partner
Curriculum

All Alvernia students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credits to receive a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree.  You’ll need to complete 54-55 liberal arts core credits and complete community service hours.

In addition, Human Resource Management majors must complete 61 credits.  View all business course descriptions here.

Required Courses for Human Resource Management Degree

Business Core (33 credits)

  • BUS 101 Financial Accounting*
  • BUS 200 Managerial Accounting or BUS 250 Accounting Principles
  • BUS 206 Management Principles*
  • BUS 207 Marketing Principles*
  • BUS 315 Data Analytics & Information Systems
  • BUS 342 Business Law
  • BUS 410 Financial Markets
  • BUS 411 Financial Decision Making
  • BUS 426 Strategic Management
  • BUS 441 Cooperative Education in Business I (enrolled for at least 3 credits)
  • MAT 208 Introductory Statistics or MAT 209 Probability and Statistics

* must earn a grade of "C" or better

Related Area (6 credits)

  • ECON 248 Macroeconomics
  • ECON 249 Microeconomics

High Performer Development Series (3 credits)

  • BUS 251 High Performer Development Series I
  • BUS 351 High Performer Development Series II
  • BUS 451 High Performer Development Series III

Professional Readiness (1 credit)

  • UNIV 200 Career & Internship Preparation

Human Resource Management Courses (18 credits)

  • BUS 280 Human Resource Management
  • BUS 320 Stakeholder Relations
  • BUS 420 Employment Law
  • BUS 427 International HR Management
  • BUS 443 Compensation and Benefit Management
  • BUS 322 Current Issues in HR Management, or BUS 350 Industrial & Organizational Psychology, or BUS 450 Organizational Leadership, or PSY 350 Industrial & Organizational Psychology (Choose one)
 

Recommended Courses (Optional)

  • BUS 442 Cooperative Education in Business II

Business Minor

Students who major in another area can minor in business by earning 21 credits. Required courses for a business minor are:

  • BUS 101 Financial Accounting
  • BUS 200 Managerial Accounting
  • BUS 206 Management Principles
  • BUS 207 Marketing Principles
  • BUS 342 Business Law
  • BUS 410 Financial Markets
  • ECON 248 Macroeconomics OR ECON 249 Microeconomics
Experiential Learning 

Through internships, students have opportunities to apply theories and knowledge learned in the classroom in a variety of professional settings. In addition to providing exposure to the activities and expectations of a real-world workplace, internship experiences help students develop their network of professional contacts.

Alvernia believes that real-world experience is extremely important, as it can improve your confidence and introduce you to professionals in your intended field of employment.

You will not only benefit from experienced faculty members who have extensive experience in the business world, you’ll also get the opportunity to participate in learning opportunities in real business settings through internships and cooperative experiences.

Some of the organizations with which Alvernia business majors have had internships include:

  • The Camden Riversharks
  • Citizens Bank
  • Cott Beverage
  • Ernst & Young
  • Four Seasons Produce
  • Haines & Kibblehouse
  • InRoads
  • Morgan Stanley
  • The Philadelphia Eagles
  • The Reading Royals
  • Service And Access Management (SAM)
  • Superior Oxygen
  • U.S. Department of Finance
  • U.S. Department of Treasury
  • Walt Disney World
  • Webb Insurance

 

Research Opportunities

Research is a valuable aspect of any education. Business faculty at Alvernia conduct research in a variety of areas, including leadership, management, organizational development, strategy, market research, international marketing, time management, conflict resolution, international leadership and hiring of part-time employees.

As a business major, there may be an opportunity for you to assist in faculty research, and to benefit from the knowledge gained through faculty research.

Tuition

To determine the cost of this program, please visit our Tuition page.  For a personalized estimate, please contact an admissions counselor at 610-790-8269 or at admissions@alvernia.edu.

Financial Aid

Alvernia offers loan, grants, scholarships, and payment plans. Our admissions counselors can help you identify the aid that is available to you and for your program. For more information, visit our Financial Aid page.

Accreditation

Alvernia University’s Business Department programs – including Human Resource Management – are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business School and Programs (ACBSP) and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

All programs offered by Alvernia University are approved by the Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

 

 


Learn More

For more information about Alvernia’s Human Resource Management program, contact the Admissions Office at 1-888-ALVERNIA or 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu, or reach out directly to:

Dr. Tufan Tiglioglu
Chair of Business Department
tufan.tiglioglu@alvernia.edu
610-796-8278

 


Reading CollegeTowne featuring Enhanced Business Programs

Rendering of Alvernia University's downtown Reading location

With the launching of Alvernia’s CollegeTowne initiative and new state-of-the-art metropolitan complex at 401 Penn Street in downtown Reading, the university’s business programs take experiential learning to new heights. With world-class facilities and increased community engagement, our real-world learning opportunities will be further expanded to fully prepare students for success upon graduation.

 

A new trading floor/business lab will be used for a variety of learning experiences over a wide range of classrooms. It will be incorporated into upper level seminar classes such as Marketing Research Seminar, Marketing Management, Investment Fund Management, Accounting Information Systems, Financial Analysis and Corporate Finance. The lab will support simulations, research and a wide-variety of other business applications. It will also support the granting of Microsoft Certification for Excel.

 

The expanded curriculum will fully utilize the new facilities as well as enhanced engagement via the O’Pake Center’s business incubator. The student-run incubator provides hands-on learning for students of all disciplines, allowing students to create, collaborate and lead while they provide support to new ventures and entrepreneurs in the community. In addition, industry and community partners provide resources, internships and professional mentoring to students. It’s a win-win for both students and businesses in the region.

 

Majors

Timothy Bailey | Business | MBA | Rodney Ridley | Student | O'Pake | 2020
Master of Business Administration
Some business students pursue graduate degrees after graduation, either at Alvernia or other colleges and universities.

Alvernia offers a special program for motivated students — a MBA + 1 option. By declaring an interest in your junior year, you could be eligible to enroll in a 30-credit Master of Business Administration degree program that you complete in just one year. You would extend your stay at Alvernia for an extra year, finishing after five years with both an undergraduate and graduate degree.
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Rendering of Alvernia University's downtown Reading location
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