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School of Business & Entrepreneurship

Human Resource Management Program

Why pursue a human resource management degree at North Central College?

Human resource professionals are responsible for a variety of tasks that attract, retain and motivate employees and meet business goals. Our human resource management program is designed to give you a comprehensive business core and crucial skills in staffing and recruiting, compensation and benefits, employee training and development, labor law and regulations, employee relations, and employee wellness and safety responsibilities. At North Central, you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in HR training. This will prepare you to work in private organizations, the government sector, or attend graduate school. Every human resource professional is critical to an employee-oriented, productive, and safe workplace, making HR a crucial function of every organization.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN

  • Recruiting new talent for organizations
  • Leading training and development efforts
  • Managing compensation and benefits for employees

then a degree in HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT degree might be for you. 

Why study human resource management at North Central College? 

In the Classroom

Coursework topics: 

  • 11-course comprehensive business core (including Corporate Finance, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting)
  • Business law
  • Compensation and performance management
  • Ethics
  • Human resources management
  • Industrial psychology
  • Intercultural communication
  • International human resource management
  • Management of organizations
  • Market research
  • Personality
  • Staffing and employment law
  • Training and development

Beyond the Classroom

As a human resource management major, you can: 

  • Simulate trading and access thousands of proprietary reports in the Bloomberg Finance Lab, equipped with ten dual-monitor workstations, Bloomberg Terminal software, and Bloomberg’s unique keyboards.
  • Become “Bloomberg certified” by completing a series of advanced financial modules in our Bloomberg Finance Lab.
  • Get involved in a variety of business organizations.
  • Travel, study and work internationally through our education abroad and international internship programs.
  • Apply for internships and jobs through robust faculty and alumni networks or the Center for Career and Professional Development

More Department information

Human Resource Management, B.B.A.

Human Resource Management prepares students to manage the employees of organizations in the private or government sectors. Students learn the legal, theoretical and practical aspects of staffing, motivating, rewarding, assessing performance and disciplining employees in union and non-union settings. Those interested in graduate studies may pursue the MBA, MA of Industrial Relations or the MA of Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Management and Marketing.

Common SBE Core

  • SBEN 100 - Globalization and Society

    SBEN 100 - Globalization and Society

    4.00 credit hours

    An introductory course identifying the role of the business institution in our society, how business behavior is shaped and influenced by its stakeholders-managers, consumers, employees, government and community members. Key topics include: business systems, corporate governance, the business and society relationship, business and public issues, ethical dilemmas in business, corporate social responsibilities in relation to stakeholders, globalization, ecological and sustainability issues and the influence of technology on business and society.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ACCT 201 - Financial Accounting

    ACCT 201 - Financial Accounting

    4.00 credit hours

    An introduction to accounting principles and procedures as they are employed in the communication of financial information to various users, such as management, stockholders and government agencies. Topics include accounting for assets, liabilities, owner's equity and other reporting issues.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ACCT 202 - Managerial Accounting

    ACCT 202 - Managerial Accounting

    4.00 credit hours

    Analysis of accounting for managerial decision-making, planning and control. Topics include budgeting, variance analysis, traditional and nontraditional product costing methods and cost-volume profit analysis.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • BUSN 205 - Business Law and Ethics

    BUSN 205 - Business Law and Ethics

    4.00 credit hours

    Surveys the major aspects of the law governing business and commerce including the domestic and international legal environment, the range of dispute resolution processes, legal liability including torts and negligence, contracts, employment law including employment discrimination, business entities, commercial transactions and intellectual property—all with particular emphasis on business ethics and ethical decision making.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • BUSN 265 - Business and Economics Statistics

    BUSN 265 - Business and Economics Statistics

    4.00 credit hours

    Provides an overview of basic statistics as it applies to business. The focus is on learning statistical concepts by applying analytical reasoning to business applications. Examples illustrating the relevance of statistics to broad areas of business are used. The course requires students to use spreadsheet programs, statistical programs, the Internet and other computer tools in analyzing statistics. The focus is on application of the material and on solving problems. Only one of BUSN 265 and PSYC 250 may be taken for credit.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • BUSN 485 - Business Strategy

    BUSN 485 - Business Strategy

    4.00 credit hours

    The capstone course requirement for all business majors. As befits a capstone, student skills in business strategy are developed in a highly integrative manner such that students use knowledge and frameworks from all functional areas of business to develop a holistic perspective of firms and competitive advantage. The knowing component of this course is focused on theoretical knowledge and frameworks applied in the critical analysis of business case studies. The doing component of this course centers on an online simulation where students compete to run a successful business.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ECON 200 - Principles of Microeconomics

    ECON 200 - Principles of Microeconomics

    4.00 credit hours

    Introduction to the theory of consumer choice, social and individual welfare, the behavior of business firms and market structure, and other applied microeconomic topics.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ECON 205 - Principles of Macroeconomics

    ECON 205 - Principles of Macroeconomics

    4.00 credit hours

    Introduction to macroeconomic theory, with emphasis on factors which explain changes in national income, unemployment and inflation. Other topics include money and banking, fiscal and monetary policies, distribution of income and economic crises.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • FINA 350 - Corporate Finance

    FINA 350 - Corporate Finance

    4.00 credit hours

    An introduction to corporate financial management. Topics include financial statement analysis, discounted cash flow analysis, bond and stock valuation, common stock/debt financing, risk and return, cost of capital, and capital budgeting.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 305 - Management and Organizational Behavior

    MGMT 305 - Management and Organizational Behavior

    4.00 credit hours

    Provides a formal overview of why organizations exist and how they operate within the context of society. Basic management issues such as the structure of organizations are explored. In many cases management topics are covered in a generic manner that can be applied to any organization. Other issues are addressed with specific applications to certain firms. This course examines our role as individuals as it pertains to organizations. It is generally meant to provide a framework to analyze organizations that exist in the U.S. but will also cover some international topics.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MKTG 300 - Principles of Marketing

    MKTG 300 - Principles of Marketing

    4.00 credit hours

    Presents an overview of Marketing as a principle, a discipline, and as a profession. Students examine all elements of Marketing including integrated promotional strategies, consumer behavior, and ethics and social responsibility. Emphasis is placed on the Marketing Mix (Product, Place, Promotion and Price) as students design and implement a comprehensive marketing plan.

    Schedule Of Classes

Human Resource Management Courses

  • MGMT 345 - Human Resource Management

    MGMT 345 - Human Resource Management

    4.00 credit hours

    Examines the basic functions of personnel and labor relations. Discussions focus on valuing, employing, developing, motivating and maintaining human resources in organizations. The history of the American labor movement and the collective bargaining process is also examined.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 355 - Training and Development

    MGMT 355 - Training and Development

    4.00 credit hours

    This course provides a perspective of how training and development fits within the broader context of human resource management and introduces theories of learning. It addresses the key elements of training and development: analyzing employee training and learning needs; program design and implementation; program administration; and measurement and evaluation of program effectiveness.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 445 - Staffing and Employment Law

    MGMT 445 - Staffing and Employment Law

    4.00 credit hours

    An in-depth analysis of the economic, psychological and management theory and legal concepts related to the staffing of public and private sector organizations. The course includes a review of employee assessment techniques currently practiced.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 455 - Compensation and Performance Management

    MGMT 455 - Compensation and Performance Management

    4.00 credit hours

    Studies the historical development of compensation theory and its application to the design and implementation of reward structures in modern organizations. An examination of method and practice in management of employee performance is discussed in this course.

    Schedule Of Classes

One of the following:

  • COMM 317 - Intercultural Communication

    COMM 317 - Intercultural Communication

    4.00 credit hours

    A study of the basic components involved in intercultural communication. Topics considered include, but are not limited to: cultural biases, cultural determinants of experiences and backgrounds, social perception, verbal interaction, nonverbal interaction and opinion leadership.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 465 - International Human Resource Management

    MGMT 465 - International Human Resource Management

    4.00 credit hours

    Examines issues from the perspective of the multinational organization. Topics addressed include globalization and human resource strategy, management within the structure of the multinational organization, cultural and legal influences on managing employees, selecting employees for international assignments, training and developing, evaluating the performance of and retaining expatriate employees and labor/management relations in international organizations.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MKTG 370 - Marketing Research

    MKTG 370 - Marketing Research

    4.00 credit hours

    Studies all stages of the marketing research process. Student teams work with clients from the business community who are in need of quantitative and qualitative research before making important managerial decisions. Students learn how to: design a survey instrument, collect and analyze primary data using various statistical tests, draw viable conclusions and propose solid recommendations. Emphasis is placed on writing a comprehensive research document and making a final oral presentation to a client at the end of the semester.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • PSYC 270 - Industrial/Organizational Psychology

    PSYC 270 - Industrial/Organizational Psychology

    4.00 credit hours

    The scientific study of human work in which theory and research are integrated to understand issues facing individuals, teams, and organizations. The focus is on the organizational and social context of human work, including work and identity issues, personnel selection and placement, motivation, job satisfaction, happiness, stress and health, organizational justice, and other relevant workplace topics.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • PSYC 320 - Personality

    PSYC 320 - Personality

    4.00 credit hours

    A survey of major models of personality, including psychodynamic, biological and trait, behavioral, and humanistic-existential paradigms. Each paradigm is discussed by addressing its unique assumptions about human nature, methodological approaches, assessment techniques, and use of evidence. Special emphasis is placed on applications in clinical/counseling, educational, industrial/organization, and other relevant settings.

    Schedule Of Classes

Human Resource Management Minor

Human Resource Management prepares students to manage the employees of organizations in the private or government sectors. Students learn the legal, theoretical and practical aspects of staffing, motivating, rewarding, assessing performance and disciplining employees in union and non-union settings. Those interested in graduate studies may pursue the M.B.A., M.A. of Industrial Relations or the M.A. of Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Management and Marketing.

A minimum 24 credit hours, including:

  • BUSN 265 - Business and Economics Statistics

    BUSN 265 - Business and Economics Statistics

    4.00 credit hours

    Provides an overview of basic statistics as it applies to business. The focus is on learning statistical concepts by applying analytical reasoning to business applications. Examples illustrating the relevance of statistics to broad areas of business are used. The course requires students to use spreadsheet programs, statistical programs, the Internet and other computer tools in analyzing statistics. The focus is on application of the material and on solving problems. Only one of BUSN 265 and PSYC 250 may be taken for credit.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ECON 200 - Principles of Microeconomics

    ECON 200 - Principles of Microeconomics

    4.00 credit hours

    Introduction to the theory of consumer choice, social and individual welfare, the behavior of business firms and market structure, and other applied microeconomic topics.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 305 - Management and Organizational Behavior

    MGMT 305 - Management and Organizational Behavior

    4.00 credit hours

    Provides a formal overview of why organizations exist and how they operate within the context of society. Basic management issues such as the structure of organizations are explored. In many cases management topics are covered in a generic manner that can be applied to any organization. Other issues are addressed with specific applications to certain firms. This course examines our role as individuals as it pertains to organizations. It is generally meant to provide a framework to analyze organizations that exist in the U.S. but will also cover some international topics.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 345 - Human Resource Management

    MGMT 345 - Human Resource Management

    4.00 credit hours

    Examines the basic functions of personnel and labor relations. Discussions focus on valuing, employing, developing, motivating and maintaining human resources in organizations. The history of the American labor movement and the collective bargaining process is also examined.

    Schedule Of Classes

Elective

Two of the following:

  • MGMT 355 - Training and Development

    MGMT 355 - Training and Development

    4.00 credit hours

    This course provides a perspective of how training and development fits within the broader context of human resource management and introduces theories of learning. It addresses the key elements of training and development: analyzing employee training and learning needs; program design and implementation; program administration; and measurement and evaluation of program effectiveness.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 445 - Staffing and Employment Law

    MGMT 445 - Staffing and Employment Law

    4.00 credit hours

    An in-depth analysis of the economic, psychological and management theory and legal concepts related to the staffing of public and private sector organizations. The course includes a review of employee assessment techniques currently practiced.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 455 - Compensation and Performance Management

    MGMT 455 - Compensation and Performance Management

    4.00 credit hours

    Studies the historical development of compensation theory and its application to the design and implementation of reward structures in modern organizations. An examination of method and practice in management of employee performance is discussed in this course.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 465 - International Human Resource Management

    MGMT 465 - International Human Resource Management

    4.00 credit hours

    Examines issues from the perspective of the multinational organization. Topics addressed include globalization and human resource strategy, management within the structure of the multinational organization, cultural and legal influences on managing employees, selecting employees for international assignments, training and developing, evaluating the performance of and retaining expatriate employees and labor/management relations in international organizations.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MKTG 370 - Marketing Research

    MKTG 370 - Marketing Research

    4.00 credit hours

    Studies all stages of the marketing research process. Student teams work with clients from the business community who are in need of quantitative and qualitative research before making important managerial decisions. Students learn how to: design a survey instrument, collect and analyze primary data using various statistical tests, draw viable conclusions and propose solid recommendations. Emphasis is placed on writing a comprehensive research document and making a final oral presentation to a client at the end of the semester.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • PSYC 255 - Research Design and Experimentation

    PSYC 255 - Research Design and Experimentation

    4.00 credit hours

    Students further their understanding of the scientific research process through lectures, activities and laboratory experiences. Students are introduced to various research designs, including naturalistic observation, case studies, correlational research and experimental research. Students use their knowledge of the research process to collect, analyze and critically think about original data. This course is writing intensive and requires working with a team to complete a significant research project. Laboratory required.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • PSYC 270 - Industrial/Organizational Psychology

    PSYC 270 - Industrial/Organizational Psychology

    4.00 credit hours

    The scientific study of human work in which theory and research are integrated to understand issues facing individuals, teams, and organizations. The focus is on the organizational and social context of human work, including work and identity issues, personnel selection and placement, motivation, job satisfaction, happiness, stress and health, organizational justice, and other relevant workplace topics.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • PSYC 320 - Personality

    PSYC 320 - Personality

    4.00 credit hours

    A survey of major models of personality, including psychodynamic, biological and trait, behavioral, and humanistic-existential paradigms. Each paradigm is discussed by addressing its unique assumptions about human nature, methodological approaches, assessment techniques, and use of evidence. Special emphasis is placed on applications in clinical/counseling, educational, industrial/organization, and other relevant settings.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • COMM 317 - Intercultural Communication

    COMM 317 - Intercultural Communication

    4.00 credit hours

    A study of the basic components involved in intercultural communication. Topics considered include, but are not limited to: cultural biases, cultural determinants of experiences and backgrounds, social perception, verbal interaction, nonverbal interaction and opinion leadership.

    Schedule Of Classes

Human Resource Management Internships and Jobs

A North Central education integrates career preparation with rich academic study. Our Human Resources Department encourages you to refine and apply your knowledge while pursuing your bachelor’s degree. Here you'll learn to think independently and work globally to solve an organization's problems concerning employee relations and leadership.

Internships

Students interned at the following organizations:

  • Arete Event Staffing
  • District 228
  • DuPage Children’s Museum
  • Fastenal
  • Flavorchem Corporation
  • Geneseo
  • Good Samaritan
  • Genesis Healthy Systems
  • Hammond Henry Hospital
  • Hendrickson Bumper and Trim
  • Johnson Service Group
  • Jonathan Wesley Inc.
  • Northwestern Medicine
  • State Farm Insurance
  • Toys R Us Warehouse
  • Village of Schaumburg HR Department

Careers

HR Management Graduates employed with the following companies:

  • Aquilon Energy Services, Inc.
  • DeVry Education Group
  • Eclipse Telecom, LLC
  • Flavorchem Corporation
  • Genesis
  • Johnson Service Group, Inc.
  • JRi Shocks/MSI Defense Solutions
  • Kohl’s
  • Military Deli & Bakery Services
  • Motorola Marketing Solutions
  • Northwestern Medicine

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