Kent State University at Kent Human Resources Degree Programs

Human Resources Degree Program at Kent State University at Kent

The Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Human Resource Management at Kent State University at Kent, offered through the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship, is designed to develop skills for a career in HR. The program aims to provide students with both practical experience and theoretical knowledge, preparing them for leadership positions and the ability to establish and advance organizational policies while fostering transformational work environments.

The curriculum is comprehensive, covering essential areas such as compensation and benefits, human resource planning, training and development, performance management, staffing, analyzing and designing jobs, analytics and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, global human resource management, employee relations, and strategic HR. The program is aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) certification standards.

A key feature of the program is the required internship or human resource business consulting project (Experiential Learning Requirement – ELR), providing students with valuable work experience. The program also enhances learning through the HR Forum Series, where HR leaders share knowledge and expertise on campus twice each semester. Students develop critical business skills including core business knowledge, analytical skills, digital technology proficiency, written and oral communication, teamwork, business ethics, and global perspectives.

The degree requires a minimum of 120 total credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours. Specific minimum grades (typically a minimum C grade) are required in many foundational and major courses, including COMM 15000, ENG 21011, MATH 11010, and all major requirements like HRM 34180 HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, HRM 44183 DEVELOPING AND TRAINING HUMAN RESOURCES, HRM 44185 STAFFING HUMAN RESOURCES, HRM 44445 GLOBAL HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (WIC), HRM 44492/44499 Internship/Consulting (ELR), HRM 44660 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND COMPENSATION SYSTEMS, and HRM 44763 HUMAN RESOURCE ANALYTICS AND ERP SYSTEMS. Progression and graduation require a minimum 2.000 overall GPA and a minimum 2.000 major GPA. There is also a residency requirement that at least 50 percent of business and major credit hours must be completed in-residence on a Kent State University campus.

Admissions vary by applicant type: First-Year (Kent Campus is selective, Regional Campuses are open with high school diploma), International (proof of English proficiency required, e.g., 525 TOEFL / 71 Internet-based, 75 MELAB, 6.0 IELTS, 48 PTE Academic, or ELS level 112), Transfer (minimum 2.000 overall GPA, minimum C in specific foundational courses), and Former Students (reenrollment/reinstatement process). High-achieving incoming undergraduate students may be eligible for direct admission into a combined B.B.A./M.B.A. program, potentially completing both degrees within five years.

The program is delivered in person on the Kent Campus. Career outcomes data based on the Class of 2022 indicates an average annual starting salary range of $51,000-$59,000 and an average internship wage of $14/Hour. Graduates are prepared for roles such as HR Managers, Compensation and Benefits Managers, Training and Development Managers, Compliance Officers, and HR Assistants, with examples of past employers including Beacon Hill Staffing Group, Key Bank, Morgan Stanley, and Target.

Kent State University at Kent Human Resources Degree Program Highlights

• Gain practical experience and theoretical knowledge in the dynamic field of HR.
• Curriculum is aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) certification.
• Features an HR Forum Series bringing industry leaders to campus.
• Includes a required internship or business consulting project (Experiential Learning Requirement).
• Opportunity for direct admission into a combined B.B.A./M.B.A. program for high-achieving students.
• Develops skills in key HR areas including analytics, global HR, performance management, and strategic HR.
• Prepares graduates for leadership positions in human resource departments.

You can view detailed information about the programs or certificates available at Kent State University at Kent on the NCES website.