BSc in Human Resource Management

FIRST YEAR:

It examines organisational behaviour, HRM, employee relations and employee development. The course moves on to debate the importance of the HR function and whether HR needs to be linked directly to organisational strategy to work efficiently. The impact of culture and the international context is also considered before the course concludes with a short case study of one of the issues covered in your own workplace setting.

Aims and Objectives: Upon completion you will be able to:

• compare and contrast formal and informal learning and discuss the merits of the two.
• discuss how effective employee development can impact upon an organisations’ performance.
• assess the theory and practice of management, considering the importance of leadership and the HRM function.
• demonstrate how an understanding of the issues involved in HRM can assist the HR manager in managing staff effectively.
• construct an argument concerning the impact of globalisation on organisations and culture.
• apply the theories and knowledge gained in studying the Diploma to a workplace setting.

Modules

Mod 1: Workplace Learning & HRM

Mod 2: Organisational Behaviour & Employee Development

Mod 3: Management in Organisations

Mod 4: Personnel and HRM

Mod 5: Culture & the International Context

Mod 6: Case Study

Assessment

Students must first complete a non-assessed Academic Writing Skills – Undergraduate (AWS-U), a series of exercises designed to help develop the study skills required on the course.

The first five modules of the first year are examined using 3,000-4,000 word assignment. The Case Study (Module 6) requires a shorter research report of 2,000-3,000 words.

SECOND YEAR (Honours Year):

It aims to build on the theories and topics covered in the first year and allows you to focus in depth on some of the key issues in HRM today. You choose to study current topics such as e-learning, high performance work practices, developments in industrial relations and trends in labour market analysis before moving on to complete a dissertation.

Aims and Objectives: Upon completion you will be able to:

• identify recent trends and issues concerning flexible learning in the workplace.
• discuss possible explanations of organisational fragmentation.
• evaluate the impact of outsourcing, etc. on trade union organisation and bargaining.
• understand the key principles of high-performance working and critically review the links between performance and HRM practices.
• evaluate the tensions between the interests of employers and employees in the management of performance.
• prepare a research proposal having identified an appropriate topic, research question and method for dissertation study.

Modules

Module 1: One of Option Module

Module 2: One of Option Module

Module 3: One of Option Module

Module 4: Research Methods

Dissertation

Choose Three out of FIVE Options (subject to availability):

1: E-learning

2: Labour Market Themes, Issues and Controversies

3: Industrial Relations in a Changing Economy

4: High-Performance Work Practices

5: Equality and Diversity

Assessment:

The module options are examined using 3,000-4,000 word assignments. The research methods module requires you to put together a portfolio which will form your research proposal, leading to a dissertation of 9,000 words based on independent supervised research.

The programme is delivered in the supported distance learning mode. In addition to the self study materials and Leicester teaching support, HKU-SPACE will arrange 100 hours of local teaching – 50 hours per year of tutorials and/or lectures.