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Human Resource Management

Human resource professionals play a vital role in an organization’s future as well as in employees’ lives. By enhancing a strong business foundation with a broad understanding of personnel functions, HR professionals influence traditional talent recruitment and development activities as well as organizational planning, design and management.

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The major in Human Resource Management develops the skills needed to administer the personnel functions of organizations. It is designed primarily for students who intend to pursue careers in administration, personnel management, labor relations or wherever the management of people at work is a central concern. Emphasis is placed on developing an intensive understanding of the concepts and techniques needed to acquire, develop and utilize an organization’s human resources. The program includes broad coverage of such topics as personnel psychology, personnel administration and labor/management relations, in addition to providing basic knowledge of organizational behavior.

Oakland University’s Human Resource Management program is certified by the National Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). SHRM also recognizes OU's HR Management degree program as an academically aligned partner, indicating it as a top choice for students seeking a career in human resources.

Courses in this program are also available in an accelerated 8-week format at the Macomb University Center in Clinton Township.

Major Requirements


Contact Us

Caitlin A. Demsky
Faculty adviser - major
(248) 370-2122
[email protected]

Kenneth M. York
Faculty adviser - minor
(248) 370-3272
[email protected]

Human Resource Management is a minor designed to prepare students for careers in business.  The minor is tailored with courses to maximize students’ abilities to gain knowledge and skills in a concentrated timeframe.  Students looking to minor in Human Resource Management can pair this concentration with a variety of other business and non-business majors.

Just like Human Resource Management majors, students who minor in Human Resource Management have access to several different student organizations on OU’s campus.  Some student organizations are SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management and Alpha Kappa Psi, the professional business fraternity.  These organizations give students the opportunity to become more involved with the student body, develop leadership skills, open doors for internships and jobs, and cultivate friendships that can last a lifetime.

The career opportunities for Human Resource Management minors are plentiful and varied.  Some examples of employment OU students may find with a Human Resource Management major or minor include recruiting managers, payroll managers, staffing managers, employee relations managers, and compensation and benefits managers. Career services can help students narrow their career focus.

Oakland University’s Human Resource Management program is certified by the National Society of Human Resource Management.

Minor Requirements


Contact Us

Kenneth M. York
Faculty adviser - minor
(248) 370-3272
[email protected]


Caitlin A. Demsky
Faculty adviser - major
(248) 370-2122
[email protected]

The OU Pledge is Oakland University’s commitment to provide undergraduate students with opportunities for meaningful, hands-on learning. This commitment seeks to enhance students’ academic knowledge with experiential learning, internships and/or research experiences that empower them to make substantive professional contributions.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • Performance assessment and evaluation
  • Compensation and benefit management
  • Organizational change facilitation
  • Knowledge of employment law and its approach
  • Human resource planning
  • Applied research

ORGANIZATIONS THAT COMMONLY EMPLOY HRM MAJORS

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
  • Detroit Sports
  • DTE Energy
  • Faurecia
  • Stellantis
  • Kelly Services
  • Lear Corporation
  • Meritor
  • United Wholesale Mortgage

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
For more information on careers, please visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics or O*Net.

CAREER CHOICES

  • Compensation and Benefits Manager
  • HR Specialist
  • Job Analyst/HR Generalist
  • EEO Representative
  • Labor Relations DirectoR
  • Recruiter
  • Training Director
  • Human Resources Manager

JOB OPENINGS
Access thousands of job and internship postings on Handshake. Handshake also provides the latest news from OU Career and Life Design, exclusively for OU students and alumni.

HRM ORGANIZATIONS AT OU
SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management)
Student Organizations

CAREER OUTLOOK*
Wage Range | $37,710 - $109,350
Median Annual Wage | $63,490
National Growth | 10% from 2020 to 2030

*Data from the National Bureau of Labor and Statistics

School of Business Administration

Elliott Hall, Room 427
275 Varner Drive
Rochester, MI 48309-4485
(location map)