Residents enjoy an abundance of natural resources with extensive park, cave, and waterway systems, and students benefit from an abundance of human resources through Bachelor’s in Human Resources degree programs in Kentucky. The “Bluegrass State” is known for many spectacular assets such as horse breeding and racing, fertile ground for excellent farming, automobile assembly, bluegrass music and Kentucky fried chicken.
The following eight institutions of higher learning are among the top-tier schools offering curricula configured to follow guidelines established with the Society for Human Resource Management’s exceptional standards. Students seeking leadership positions in human resource departments in business will be well-prepared through baccalaureate programs at these fine colleges and universities.
Lindsey Wilson College
Business and CIS Division
Located on a partially wooded hilltop in a small town in South Central Kentucky, Lindsey Wilson College has seen continued growth as a Baccalaureate College-Liberal Arts. LWC is affiliated with the Kentucky Conference of The United Methodist Church and offers fully accredited undergraduate, graduate and professional certification programs. As one of the fastest-growing colleges over the last two decades, Lindsey Wilson College is also one of the most diverse with more than 15 percent of its enrollment comprised of minority students. Offering a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with several concentration areas, students are well-prepared for employment in a variety of business career opportunities.
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resource Management
The BA in Business Administration degree is structured with an emphasis in Human Resource Management in preparation for professional managerial positions or graduate-level degree programs. Prerequisite and core classes require 39 credit hours and include subject matter such as writing, computer concepts, statistics and other math, micro and macroeconomics, accounting, business law and management skills. Human Resources Management provides specialized instruction relating to administration in a business setting and stresses key aptitudes in business communication, finance, employee and labor relations, workforce acquisition, marketing principals, business operations on an international level, benefits and compensation, business ethics and record-keeping methods. The concentration area credits must total 30. An exit assessment and ETS Major Fields Test in Business must be taken prior to graduation.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- International Assembly of College Business Education (IACBE)
Contact
210 Lindsey Wilson Street
Columbia, KY 42728
(270) 384-2126
(800) 264-0138
[email protected]
Program Website
Midway College
Business Division
Founded in 1847, the institution now known as Midway College was the first establishment to educate orphaned and disadvantaged women. As was common for decades after the United States was formed, women rarely received more than basic reading skills and orphaned women received even less education. The school evolved through great need and became a high school, then a junior college and ultimately, Midway College. It is still focused on women’s education and is the only such institution of higher learning for women in Kentucky. The school offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in the fields of Business, Equine Studies, Nursing and Teacher Education.
Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management
By earning a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management at Midway College, graduates are prepared for the continual changes and conflicts in business. The human resource program teaches students the skills needed to become a professional in the industry. The program develops skills related to relevant topics in today’s workplace and follows standards from the Society for Human Resource Management. Subject matter includes the ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel, be aware of regulations on federal, state and local levels, and interoffice behaviors and relationships. The BA curriculum is designed as an accelerated evening program for flexible scheduling for working adult students.
Students must complete 124 total credits to finalize the program. Graduates are eligible for human resource positions as: HR Manager, Health and Safety Supervisor, Records Manager, Workers’ Compensation Manager, Benefits Manager, Executive Recruiter or Employee Assistance Program Coordinator.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Contact
512 E. Stephens Street
Midway, KY 40347
(800) 755-0031
(859) 846-4421
Program Website
Murray State University
Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business/Department of Management, Marketing, and Business Administration
Nationally ranked among U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges” for 23 consecutive years, Murray State University is proud to offer high-quality academic degree programs to students in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and surrounding communities. Fields of study available through this public, comprehensive institution include business, teacher education, arts and sciences, engineering and applied technologies, and nursing.
By utilizing collaborative resources through outreach, alumni, business, government and international organizations, Murray State students gain real-world experiences and broaden their networking base for enhanced career opportunities. Murray further differentiates itself as a world-class institution through top honors as Forbes’ “Top Colleges,” “America’s Top 100 Best Buy” and G.I. Jobs magazine’s “2014 Military Friendly School.”
Bachelor of Arts in Business, Area in Management/Human Resource Track
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts in Business undergraduate degree program who are pursuing the Area in Management/Human Resources Track must complete 48-49 hours of university studies plus business core and electives for a total of 120 credit hours. The HRM track is SHRM certified for its standards of excellence. A career in this field requires human resource professionals to manage staffing in the key areas of compensation, training, benefits, hiring and firing and various other industry-specific responsibilities.
Business Core includes classes such as financial and managerial accounting, communication, information systems, strategic management, business ethics and marketing. The Human Resources option provides additional focus areas such as Labor-Management Relations, Labor Law and Public Policy, Occupational Safety and Health, Compensation Management and a Cooperative Education/Internship. The program is primarily completed on campus but some classes are also available online.
Bachelor of Science in Business, Area in Management/Human Resource Track
The Bachelor of Science in Business program includes a specialization track for Area in Management/Human Resources. The major in business administration focuses on practice in Human Resources with hands-on instruction through business ventures and lab work. Students are required to complete additional math, science and information technology coursework consistent with the B.S. degree program. Total credit requirements are 120 which include 12 hours for the Human Resources Option and internship.
Many Murray alumni have become managers soon after graduation. However, most pursue opportunities at lower-level positions that lead to advancement in the human resources field such as:
-Human Resource Manager
-General Manager
-Training and Development Manager
-Labor Relations Manager
-Compensation Manager
-Operations Research Analyst
-Production Planner
-Human Resource Recruiter
-International Business Manager (in chosen areas of specialty)
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
Contact
102 Curris Center
Murray, KY 42071
(800) 272-4678
Program Website
Northern Kentucky University
Haile/US Bank College of Business/Department of Management
Northern Kentucky University boasts a safe, energetic learning environment in a quiet suburb of Kentucky. With over 15,000 students and close proximity to Cincinnati, this thriving, private university is ready to serve both Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati regions at an affordable cost. NKU has been identified as one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the state and yet proudly note it still provides the small-town feel where everyone knows your name.
The University offers 78 undergraduate degree, 24 graduate and several doctoral degree programs as well as 28 graduate certificates over six colleges: Salmon P. Chase College of Law, College of Arts and Sciences, Haile/US Bank College of Business, College of Education and Human Services, College of Health Professions and College of Informatics. Northern Kentucky University is highly respected across the nation and among graduating seniors with 95 percent indicating they would recommend the institution to others.
Bachelor of Science with a major in Human Resource Management
A major in Human Resource Management gives Bachelor of Science students important professional skills for handling today’s workforce challenges. Curriculum content is intended to cover the key areas of human resource management such as wages and benefits, staffing, communications, employee training and development. All students are exposed to practical experience through a required internship in a human resource environment.
Northern Kentucky University’s HRM program is one of a small selection worldwide in alignment with standards established by the Society for Human Resource Management. The program offers flexible scheduling with evening classes to accommodate working professional students. The B.S. degree with major in HRM provides key proficiencies for a career as a Human resource management generalist, Employee and labor relations manager, Benefits specialist, Recruiting specialist, and a Training and development manager.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
Contact
400 Nunn Drive
Highland Heights, KY 41099
(859) 572-5100
Program Website
Spalding University
School of Business
When the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth founded the Nazareth Academy in 1814, they were guided by a goal to meet the educational needs of a diverse student body and community through quality, practical studies. Today, as Spalding University, that tradition continues with real-world learning through a co-educational, accredited institution to all qualified students.
Spalding University offers a variety of unique programs geared to meet the needs of working professionals, adult learners, traditional and non-traditional students. Innovations such as the Adult Accelerated Program and MSBC program – a blend of business and communication skills – are just two of the first and only such programs available in the state. In addition, an exclusive delivery design varies significantly from the traditional two-semester format. Classes are divided into seven points allowing students to begin classes according to their personalized curriculum.
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Human Resource Management
Spalding’s School of Business has designed a Human Resource Management degree option that is fully aligned with curriculum standards dictated through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM.) The B.S. in Business Administration provides focus for problem solving, group work and simulations in a hands-on structure. Training for all sizes of organizations, HRM students are trained in key areas such as: talent recruitment, staff development and training, compensation and benefits, strategic planning and information technology.
The HRM concentration of the Bachelor of Science degree requires 120 credit hours and an internship experience. Graduates are eligible for immediate human resource management opportunities in large and small organizations in the areas of recruitment, compensation, training, employee relations and general human resources.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
845 South Third St.
Louisville, Kentucky 40203
(502) 585-9911
Program Website
Sullivan University
School of Business
In 1962, Sullivan Business College was formed with a vocation-based structure to prepare students for successful careers. Through the changes that came – mergers, moves and expansions – that key mission has remained constant and Sullivan University has evolved into Kentucky’s largest private university. Each program promotes critical thinking skills combined with effective verbal and written communication. In addition, the importance of teamwork, computer literacy, lifelong learning and community service are stressed for well-rounded, professional graduates.
Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Leadership
The BS in Human Resource Leadership through Sullivan University can provide a strong foundation for new to the field of human resources or for managers seeking advanced knowledge on the job. Professional managers can enter the program at the junior level with an associate degree. Following the recommendations of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the program focuses on strategic management, human resource development, workforce planning and employment, risk management, and employee and labor relations. Additionally, Sullivan University has initiated the country’s first HR analytics course to keep pace with future SHRM requirements.
Graduates are eligible for PHR or SPHR certification to improve marketability as Human Resource Managers, Specialists or Directors in various settings. The majority of opportunities lie in employment, recruiting, compensation, benefits, training and development.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Contact
3101 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY 40205
(502) 456.6505
Program Website
Western Kentucky University
Gordon Ford College of Business
In 1906, through legislation approval by the Kentucky General Assembly, the Western Kentucky State Normal School was established as a teacher training institution. The school followed a path similar to others of its time by establishing a strong foundation for student growth and responsibility. Today’s Western Kentucky University has expanded its facilities and standards to provide nationally-recognized programs to a diverse student body. KSU’s reach has extended beyond the United States and also provides international studies through a collaboration with Harlaxton College in Grantham, England. The Semester at Sea program provides students the unique life experience of navigating by ship to destinations around the world.
In the U.S. students can choose undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degrees or professional certification programs in fields of study such as business administration/human resources, nursing, electrical engineering, physical therapy or educational leadership to mention a few.
Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management
The Human Resources track of the Bachelor of Science in Management degree adds proficiencies necessary for successful leadership in the field. By developing skills for employee management, students will be better prepared to handle the most vital resource in any company. The HR curriculum is designed to teach methods for improved productivity which will qualify graduates for top-level negotiations and collaboration in the workplace. Coursework is approved by the SHRM and includes instruction in key areas such as business communications, critical thinking, compensation administration, effective staffing practices, organizational behavior, labor economics, strategic resource management, business training and senior assessment. Available electives provides special training in employment law, human resource information systems, conflict management or labor relations.
Accreditation
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International
Contact
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11056
Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101-1056
(270) 745-6311
Program Website
In today’s highly-competitive business environment, it is even more critical that companies manage their personnel as efficiently as possible. By aligning their programs closely with the rigorous standards established by the SHRM, Bachelor’s in Human Resources degree programs in Kentucky offer students the edge needed for successful careers in this field.
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