Want to work in the "people" field?

Nichols Human Resource (HR) Management Program prepares you for a career in the growing and evolving field of human resources.

HR professionals work in dynamic environments where creativity and problem solving are the distinguishing characteristics of successful managers. Our HR curriculum covers issues in:

  • equal opportunity requirements
  • workforce regulation
  • employee rights and benefits
  • compensation and performance evaluation

Internships and hands-on class projects round-out your academic learning to prepare you for a successful and rewarding career in the HR field.

Career Opportunities

Upon graduation, you’ll be equipped with HR skills that travel across virtually every industry, including:

  • health care
  • manufacturing
  • government
  • banking
  • insurance
  • transportation

Human Resource opportunities are wide-ranging. Depending on the organization, you might work in:

  • employment and recruitment
  • compensation and benefits
  • employee welfare and relations
  • training and development

Recent Nichols HR Program graduates are employed by prestigious organizations such as:

  • Federal Reserve Bank
  • EMC Corporation
  • LEGO
  • Brown University

Experience Through Internships

Kara Buckley

Class of 2011: Kara E. Buckley Hometown: Nashua, NH
Major: Human Resource Management and Sport Management
Position: Shawmut Design and Construction; recruiting coordinator Boston, Mass.

How she did it:
In Kara E. Buckley’s senior Human Resource (HR) capstone class, Nichols alum and HR professional Stephanie Jacques Riendeau ‘07, came in as a guest speaker. She recommended Indeed.com for college students searching for entry level positions. Buckley used the website to find HR positions in Boston and came across a posting by Shawmut’s recruiting coordinator.

After applying online, Buckley received an email a week later from a senior recruiter and completed two telephone interviews. In April, she interviewed in person with four different people in Shamut’s Boston HR Department, and the next day, was offered a full-time position.

Buckley’s internship in New York City made all the difference: “In the fall semester I had completed an internship at Madison Square Garden (MSG), where I did a lot of recruiting and where the atmosphere is fast paced with a high volume,” she says. “The recruiters at Shawmut were really impressed with the work I did at MSG and thought it would be a perfect fit.”

Shawmut is a design and construction company specializing in high-end building projects, including hotels, casinos, spas, sports clubs, sporting arenas, academic buildings, and retail (Shamut builds Apple retail stores nationwide).

Read about internship experiences.

Specialization Courses

Human Resource Management majors must complete 121 credit hours (approximately 40 courses), including courses from the foundation and business core curricula, focused electives and these required specialization courses:

HRM 213
 
Human Resource Management		 3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course introduces students to the fundamental practices involved in effective human resource management, such as recruiting, performance evaluation, compensation, employment law, and employee rights. HR theory and practice is emphasized within the context of improving organizational productivity and developing employee potential.
Prerequisite: MGMT 100
HRM 305
 
Labor Economics		 3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

Labor Economics deals with labor markets, the arrangement under which firms demand workers and the workers supply their labor. Labor is demanded because of its productivity in producing goods and services. Labor is supplied for monetary as well as non-monetary reasons, such as stability of employment, job safety, and opportunity for advancement. Special course attention is given to recent developments affecting the market, including technology, international competitiveness, minimum wage legislation, union activities, income distribution, and ethical issues. 
Prerequisites: ECON 221 and ECON 222
HRM 343
 
Assessing Staffing and Employment Law		 3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

Today’s organizations must compete globally and their most important asset for success is a highly competent and effective workforce. This course focuses on how top businesses attract, hire, and retain the best and the brightest talent while respecting and protecting civil and employment rights.
Prerequisite: HRM 213
HRM 344
 
Developing and Motivating Human Potential		 3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

Hiring qualified talent is no guarantee that these employees will achieve their potential. Without nurturing, much of this talent will remain untapped and wasted. High performing workforces are the result of continuous development and effective motivational strategy. Based on sound motivational theory, this course examines why people work and what organizations should know and do in order to create winning teams.
Prerequisite: HRM 213
HRM 443
 
Compensation and Benefits		 3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This course examines the relationship between rewards and performance on the job. Students will learn about the issues that influence how organizations set pay and benefits policies including executive bonus and deferred compensation plans. They will also examine how compensation differs by job level and by job location and how these factors contribute to decisions regarding outsourcing and off-shoring of jobs.
Prerequisite: HRM 213

HRM 480
 
Seminar in Human Resource Management		 3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

This seminar is a senior-level capstone course for human resource management students. A case study approach will be used to explore the major current issues in human resource management and bring together the general concepts and ethical dimensions studied in earlier coursework in the program. Students construct a semester-long research project and are guided in developing sophisticated information resource research skills and utilizing various research methodologies. The capstone project is designed to acquaint students with current human resource management professional literature and develop critical information literacy skills.
Prerequisite: HRM 443
HRM 490
 
Internship in Human Resource Management		 3 Hours, 1 Semester
 

The Internship in Human Resource Management will afford students an opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired in the classroom to practical situations at the internship site. Students will gain an appreciation for the dynamic nature of the workplace and will have an opportunity to participate in the implementation of human resource programs. Library research and reading assignments will underscore the need for life-long professional development and learning in order to meet new challenges in this rapidly changing field of management.
Prerequisites: HRM 343 and HRM 344

 

Internships are an essential component of the HR Program, giving you the chance to explore different roles and make valuable professional contacts.

College Catalog

Review or download the college catalog for additional details and information about courses and requirements.

Key Faculty
Libba Moore
  • Libba Moore
  • Program Chair

Questions about the Human Resource Management Program? Contact Professor Libba Moore, Program Chair, at libba.moore@nichols.edu or 508-213-2123.