Comments on: Bridging the HR Curriculum Gap http://upstarthr.com/bridging-the-hr-curriculum-gap/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:01:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ben http://upstarthr.com/bridging-the-hr-curriculum-gap/#comment-7551 Ben Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:20:26 +0000 http://upstarthr.com/?p=186#comment-7551 Hey, Taylor! Glad I was able to help (if only just a little bit!). Let me know if there's anything more I can do to help you as you're getting off the launch pad. Communications+HRM sounds like a fantastic combo! :-) Hey, Taylor! Glad I was able to help (if only just a little bit!). Let me know if there’s anything more I can do to help you as you’re getting off the launch pad. Communications+HRM sounds like a fantastic combo! :-)

]]> By: Taylor http://upstarthr.com/bridging-the-hr-curriculum-gap/#comment-7373 Taylor Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:31:11 +0000 http://upstarthr.com/?p=186#comment-7373 Thank's for the sound advice! Coming back to this a few months later, its so interesting to read! As I continue in the workforce and try to juggle obtaining a degree, I learn more and more every day just how important work experience is--and not the lable of your degree. (Which if anyone is interested, I've decided with Health Communication and a minor in Human Resource Management--a lovely combination! Thank’s for the sound advice! Coming back to this a few months later, its so interesting to read! As I continue in the workforce and try to juggle obtaining a degree, I learn more and more every day just how important work experience is–and not the lable of your degree. (Which if anyone is interested, I’ve decided with Health Communication and a minor in Human Resource Management–a lovely combination!

]]> By: Amanda http://upstarthr.com/bridging-the-hr-curriculum-gap/#comment-4405 Amanda Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:15:49 +0000 http://upstarthr.com/?p=186#comment-4405 Taylor: It sounds like we have similar skills. I was a public relations/communications major, but have worked in HR since graduating college (now 10+ years ago). I would suggest that you look at all the concentrations/majors and minors available within the business school, as well as the communications school. More and more schools are willing to work with students to create a hybrid program that allows students to take a mix of both types of courses. If you're concerned about majoring in HRM, you might think about a more general business major where you take the HRM courses as electives. Alternatively, you could stay in the communications program and perhaps pick up a minor in business. It might also be advantageous to talk to some of your professors, as well as co-workers about what they majored in. I think you might find that prospective employers are less concerned about your actual major and more concerned with relevant work experience and internships. Taylor: It sounds like we have similar skills. I was a public relations/communications major, but have worked in HR since graduating college (now 10+ years ago).

I would suggest that you look at all the concentrations/majors and minors available within the business school, as well as the communications school. More and more schools are willing to work with students to create a hybrid program that allows students to take a mix of both types of courses. If you’re concerned about majoring in HRM, you might think about a more general business major where you take the HRM courses as electives. Alternatively, you could stay in the communications program and perhaps pick up a minor in business.

It might also be advantageous to talk to some of your professors, as well as co-workers about what they majored in. I think you might find that prospective employers are less concerned about your actual major and more concerned with relevant work experience and internships.

]]> By: Taylor http://upstarthr.com/bridging-the-hr-curriculum-gap/#comment-4404 Taylor Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:40:57 +0000 http://upstarthr.com/?p=186#comment-4404 This post is a little old, but it really hit the mark on some information I've been trying to find out. I recently obtained a job as an HR Assistant for a Regional Health System and I'm curious into continuing a career in HR-possibly physician recruiting or recruiting for a marketing firm? I used to be a journalism major with an emphasis in advertising/strategic communications with a completed sociology minor, but as i'm finishing up I"m realizing I'd like to change my major into something more business oriented. Carrie-based on your advice this sounds like a good idea...but my creative skills are something that I"m already seeing as an asset in my job performance. Without knowing me too well, does anyone have any input on a good business emphasis? The university I'm attending has a good business school with a Human Resource Management major...but I'm hesitant. I don't want to limit my skillset with such a narrow major....but I also don't want to limit myself by going the other direction. Thoughts? This post is a little old, but it really hit the mark on some information I’ve been trying to find out. I recently obtained a job as an HR Assistant for a Regional Health System and I’m curious into continuing a career in HR-possibly physician recruiting or recruiting for a marketing firm? I used to be a journalism major with an emphasis in advertising/strategic communications with a completed sociology minor, but as i’m finishing up I”m realizing I’d like to change my major into something more business oriented.

Carrie-based on your advice this sounds like a good idea…but my creative skills are something that I”m already seeing as an asset in my job performance. Without knowing me too well, does anyone have any input on a good business emphasis? The university I’m attending has a good business school with a Human Resource Management major…but I’m hesitant. I don’t want to limit my skillset with such a narrow major….but I also don’t want to limit myself by going the other direction.

Thoughts?

]]> By: Ben http://upstarthr.com/bridging-the-hr-curriculum-gap/#comment-402 Ben Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:27:51 +0000 http://upstarthr.com/?p=186#comment-402 @Carrie Thank you for the GREAT comment. The whole conversation started with the "What are We Learning" post way back when, and it's something that always gets people talking on both sides of the issue. Thanks for stopping by! @Carrie
Thank you for the GREAT comment. The whole conversation started with the “What are We Learning” post way back when, and it’s something that always gets people talking on both sides of the issue. Thanks for stopping by!

]]> By: thealphafemme http://upstarthr.com/bridging-the-hr-curriculum-gap/#comment-390 thealphafemme Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:04:47 +0000 http://upstarthr.com/?p=186#comment-390 Ben - you are right on, with a great perspective. I have two biz degrees. Undergrad in Business Management and an MBA with an emphasis in HR... I pursued both while making my mark in corporate HR and while I hope there are some degree programs that are stepping up; I also teach at the adjunct level and am often asked to present as a guest speaker at other universities and am still amazed at: 1) the people who are teaching HR who've never practiced and 2) the curriculum is still very theory based and light on reality... (as was even the emphasis part of my MBA) At least the business management curriculum in many universities has embraced the case study, facilitation, and practical application models... and I always encourage people who are seeking an HR career to pursue a business degree vs. an HR degree... it has made all the difference in the world for me to know how my company runs, the financials, strategy, marketing, etc... ~Carrie Ben – you are right on, with a great perspective. I have two biz degrees. Undergrad in Business Management and an MBA with an emphasis in HR… I pursued both while making my mark in corporate HR and while I hope there are some degree programs that are stepping up; I also teach at the adjunct level and am often asked to present as a guest speaker at other universities and am still amazed at:
1) the people who are teaching HR who’ve never practiced and
2) the curriculum is still very theory based and light on reality… (as was even the emphasis part of my MBA)
At least the business management curriculum in many universities has embraced the case study, facilitation, and practical application models… and I always encourage people who are seeking an HR career to pursue a business degree vs. an HR degree… it has made all the difference in the world for me to know how my company runs, the financials, strategy, marketing, etc…

~Carrie

]]> By: Ben http://upstarthr.com/bridging-the-hr-curriculum-gap/#comment-345 Ben Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:25:06 +0000 http://upstarthr.com/?p=186#comment-345 @Robert I was on my way to a management degree before I decided on HRM. Our degree program seemed light on HR subjects and heavy on management subjects. Don't know whether it was a good thing or not, but I led the strategic business project in our capstone course. I had an accounting student, and HR student, and a management student acting as "yes men." :-) HR could be SO awesome if it was able to lead like that all the time. Thanks for the comment! @Robert
I was on my way to a management degree before I decided on HRM. Our degree program seemed light on HR subjects and heavy on management subjects. Don’t know whether it was a good thing or not, but I led the strategic business project in our capstone course. I had an accounting student, and HR student, and a management student acting as “yes men.” :-) HR could be SO awesome if it was able to lead like that all the time. Thanks for the comment!

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