Human Resource Management Program
Why study Human Resource Management?
Learn how to determine an organization’s human resource needs and guide others through the demands of economic and societal changes with a major in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations. You can choose this major within the Bachelor of Commerce program at the Sobey School of Business.
The Saint Mary’s approach
This program of study encompasses staffing, training and development, compensation management, labour relations, unions, managing diversity, and workplace health and safety. You will learn to develop procedures for analyzing jobs and identifying job applicants best matched with the job requirements, conduct the recruitment process, select the best candidate, train and motivate employees, operate in a workplace with a union and collective agreement, manage compensation and benefits and deal with organizational change.
Hands-on learning
Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations students have travelled to Hong Kong on an international exchange. There are many ways for students to get involved on campus, such as joining the Sobey School of Business Commerce Society.
By providing educational opportunities and social events, the society helps students to develop business skills and to build a network of business contacts.
Sample courses offered
- Human Resource Management: A study of the conceptual and practical aspects of the human resource management function in organizations, with a special emphasis on business organizations. The course focuses on the major issues, procedures and problems involved in human resource planning, recruitment and selection, compensation, training and development, and maintenance of human resources.
- Industrial Relations: This course focuses on the impact of collective bargaining in management/labour relations. Topics covered include the historical development, structure, and operation of labour unions, the process and contents of negotiations and the settlement of union/management disputes.
- Staffing and Selection: This course examines the issues involved in recruiting applicants for job vacancies and the procedures for assessing the match between candidates and the requirements of the position. The examination of the topic will include consideration of statistical and scientific issues and the practical implications.
- Human Resources in Sports: Examine the application of human resource management concepts and principles to amateur and professional sports. Key topics include talent identification and selection, training and athlete development, human rights, safety, compensation, and employment law.
Future career opportunities
- Affirmative action co-coordinator
- Training and development officer
- Employee satisfaction researcher
- Employment development officer
- HR consultant
- Labour relations representative
- Organizational development manager
What our students are saying
“During my co-op work terms, I was able to apply my classroom learning to real work situations specific to the HR field, which helped me to confirm the direction I wanted to take with my career. I have subsequently obtained employment from my co-op work term employer. I would recommend co-op to all Commerce students because it gives them a jump start on their career!”
- Elizabeth Elliott BComm'09, Human Resources Management