As positions within the human resources field are growing higher in demand, Concordia is taking steps to ensure that students are excited and prepared for the line of work.
Starting in Fall 2024, Concordia will be offering a human resource management minor and a business major with a human resource management concentration to students interested in the field.
Human resource management is in the top 10 programs within the business field with the highest levels of demand. With the offering of the minor and concentration at Concordia, it opens countless doors for students to move forward with their interests and passions and continue them after graduation.
“Employment positions in HR are available and needed in every city, state, and region in the country,” said Dr. Shontarius Aikens, associate professor of management and coordinator of the HRMT program. “And it is estimated that the number of jobs in the HR industry will grow by 9% over the next decade. Given this, it was important for the Offutt School of Business to offer an HR curriculum that would provide Concordia students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to be effective in the HR profession.”
This program is designed to prepare students for the workforce by providing them with the competencies required to work within the HR field. The goal of the program is to produce graduates who are able to think critically, problem solve, and learn quickly.
The concentration also provides students with the groundwork to pass the Society of Human Resource Managers first certification exam, which further provides students opportunities within the field.
“Concordia’s HR program is unique and would be of interest to employers looking to hire graduates who have the preferred combination of a liberal arts education and specialized skills and competencies in human resource management. Our goal is to produce qualified, specialized, entry-level human resource management graduates who have the pedigree to get hired and the skillset to make an impact in their field on day one,” Aikens said.
When students add the human resource management concentration to their business major, they will be required to take four courses and do an internship with an HR department in the community. The classes offered in the concentration will be taught through Rize Education, a widely renowned, online innovation program that works directly with partners of the Lower Costs Models for Independent Colleges Consortium.
From HR associate to talent acquisition, Concordia’s new human resources management program will provide countless career opportunities to students completing their business major. Students interested in adding the concentration or minor will be rewarded with lifelong skills and experiences related to the HR field.