Person in suit giving a classroom presentation.

Human Resource Management

Bachelor of Arts

A Human Resource Management degree qualifies you to work in virtually every industry since every business needs strong human resource leaders. Every organization needs strong human resource leaders to administer and oversee programs that benefit employees, as well those to manage the fast-changing, complex employment laws. From determining staffing needs, to recruitment and training, to keeping employee records, overseeing benefits, and managing compensation, HR managers play an integral role in business. As the demand rises for HR managers, so does the competitive nature of these positions. That’s why the people best poised to land these types of jobs are college graduates, especially those with bachelor’s degrees in human resource management. Students who graduate with a major in Human Resource Management will be able to provide their skills, knowledge and understanding of human resource functions to organizations in the for-profit, nonprofit, and public sectors of the workforce.

 

Fast Facts

  • Mercyhurst's Human Resource Management program is aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) through 2025. This connection ensures the program stays current with industry changes and provides students access to valuable resources. Moreover, students in this program can apply for the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) exam while still students vs. waiting until they are in industry.
  • According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for human resource managers will grow faster than the average for all occupations — by 5% each year for the next decade. The bureau reports a median salary of $130,000 per year for human resource managers. Human resource managers and specialists are the fastest growing jobs in Human Resources for recent years.

Human Resource Management students have held internships at corporations and organizations such as Modern Industries, Country Fair Corporate Headquarters, Chautauqua Institution, and Peek n’ Peak Resort, Federal Resources Corporation, Erie Homes for Children and Adults, Constellation Brands, Westlake Woods Assisted Living, MacLean-Fogg Company, Scott Enterprises, Caplugs, and Aramark.

As per Business Insider’s report in September 2023, Human Resource Specialists rank among the top high-paying and rapidly expanding occupations for the upcoming decade.

Program Overview

The Human Resource Management program at Mercyhurst offers an environment with smaller class sizes that encourages more discussion and engagement between students, allowing for more individual attention and the opportunity to complete more involved exercises and projects. Some examples of the projects that are undertaken by students in Human Resource Management classes include:

  • Students create job descriptions for different roles, specifying tasks, duties, responsibilities, and the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Following this, they craft authentic recruitment advertisements, ensuring compliance with current legal language, avoiding discrimination, and promoting them effectively.
  • Creating a personal LinkedIn profile following preset requirements to join groups, connect with others, and network.
  • Planning and writing a training program which includes selecting the topic of the training, choosing presenters/speakers for the keynote and break-out sessions, picking a training facility, and planning each event, including the type of seating and training materials to be used. 
  • Forming a budgeted training event at a specific facility for their given firm’s employees, with selections of real-world facilities such as the Marriott City Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, or the Kimpton Hotel Wilshire in Los Angeles, California. Students plan all aspects of the training from obtaining nationally recognized speakers, planning general and break-out sessions, and organizing seating and food arrangements. 

Students in the program are also given the opportunity to attend conferences with faculty, including recently the Society for Human Resource Management Conference, the Women in Leadership Conference, and the Diversity in Leadership Conference.

Business Core Curriculum

The defining element of a Mercyhurst business degree is a series of core courses that all business majors take, which provide a curriculum designed to foster well-rounded business leaders through hands-on learning in a variety of disciplines. Business students will build a foundation in six different areas of study, which prepares our graduates to be adaptable, collaborative leaders that are ready for today’s market. Adding a double major or minor in another area can also add marketability across industries! 

 

In the Classroom

Image
Four female Human Resource Management students at conference dining table

To connect classroom concepts with real-world experiences, Ms. Zacherl takes students to conferences, including Society for Human Resource Management, Women in Leadership, and National Diversity. Included are some photos of Ms. Zacherl and the students.

Additional Photos

1 /  
  • Human Resource Management students posing for a photo in a conference hall
  • Four female Human Resource Management students posing for a photo in conference badges
Minors

    The minor in business administration is open to non-business majors only. This minor includes eight courses (24 credits) designed to prepare students with general knowledge of the world of business, along with the communication skills and decision-making tools needed to succeed in business.

    No minor course may be taken on a pass-fail basis, and students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.75 in the required business courses to meet minor program requirements.

    Minor Requirements

    • ACCT 101: Principles of Accounting I/Financial
    • ACCT 102: Principles of Accounting II/Managerial
    • BADM 310: Business Law I
    • ECON 105: Macroeconomics
    • ECON 106: Microeconomics
    • FIN 280: Financial Management
    • MGMT 120: Principles of Management
    • MKTG 162: Principles of Integrated Marketing
       
    • HRMG 206: Human Resource Management (3 credits)
    • HRMG 300: Compensation and Benefits (3 credits)
    • HRMG 316: Labor and Management Relations (3 credits)
    • HRMG 340: Recruitment and Selection (3 credits)
    • HRMG 345: Training and Development (3 credits)
    • MGMT 120: Principles of Management (3 credits)
       

    Choose one (1) additional course:

    • BADM 310: Business Law I (3 credits)
    • BADM 325: Business Law II (3 credits)
    • MGMT 226: Human Behavior in Organizations (3 credits)
    • HRMG 475: Human Resource Management Internship (3 credits)
    • PSYC 294: Industrial Organizational Psychology (3 credits)