The Human Resources area of interest provides the strategic and technical tools needed to effectively manage human resource processes and procedures within an organization. Study groups are formed each year to prepare for the PHR (Professional in Human Resource Management) and GPHR (Global Professional in Human Resource Management) certification exams.
Experiential HR courses apply knowledge to real world client projects and offer valuable, resume-building skills. HR students also benefit from the professional, leadership and networking opportunities available through participation in our student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and from the ability to take courses in employment law, etc. from the Willamette University College of Law as part of their MBA elective coursework.
Job titles of alumni in human resource careers include human resource director, training and development manager, compensation analyst, personnel analyst, labor relations specialist, recruiting manager, and human resources consultant.
Students may choose to pursue a formal concentration in Human Resources. To complete the HR concentration, students must have been enrolled in the Atkinson School during the 2019-20 academic year, declare HR as a concentration, complete a minimum of three (3) courses from the following list of elective courses with a grade of B (3.0) or higher, and meet all other requirements for graduation. The final MBA transcript of students who meet all of the above requirements will list HR as an area of concentration.
- GSM 6211 - Managing Organizational Change
- GSM 6218 - Global Human Resource Management
- GSM 6236 - HR Principles and Practice
- GSM 6249 - Project Management
- GSM 6268 - Leadership
- GSM 7251 - Internship (must be an internship in HR)