Advice to Undergraduates with an Interest in
Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior
The Management major at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse offers students the flexibility to pursue their own interests. If you are a student who is interested in Human Resource (HR) Management (also called "talent management" or "Personnel Administration") and Organizational Behavior, there are several Management courses that you will find interesting and relevant:
It is recommended that 300-level courses be taken your Junior year and 400-level courses be taken your senior year. All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted. Not all MGT courses are listed below; just some of the ones of particular interest to HR & Org. Beh. students.
MGT 301 Business Communication (CBA requirement; offered each semester) & MGT 302 Advanced Business Comm. (offered once a year).
MGT 303 Principles of Labor-Management Relations (usually offered once every two years; recommended as a "survey" course).
MGT 308 Behavior and Theory in Organizations (required for the CBA; offered most semesters)
MGT 385 Human Resources: Employment (required in the major; offered yearly; highly recommended as an "overview of HR" course)
MGT 386 Compensation and Benefits Administration (usually offered once every two years)
MGT 400 Management Forum (offered occasionally -- a "topics" course whose topic varies across semesters and instructors)
MGT 408 Change and Changing Contexts of Management (required for the Management major; offered most semesters)
MGT 412 Emergent Leadership and Team Development (usually offered once a year)
MGT 431 Business, Labour, and Human Rights (offered once every two years)
MGT 450 Internship (highly recommended for those planning to work in the HR field; consult Career Services for available opportunities)
MGT 452 International Internship (recommended for those planning to work in the international HR field)
MGT 483 Human Resource Development (offered once every two years)
MGT 484 International Human Resource Management (offered once every two years)
MGT 485 Collective Bargaining & Negotiation Skills for Managers (usually offered Fall semester every other year)
MGT 486 Human Resource Management: Current Issues and Policies (usually offered in the Spring every other year; highly recommended)
MGT 487 Male/Female Relationships in the Business Environment (offered once every two years)
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A typical schedule for someone interested in HR and Org. Beh. their junior and senior years (HR and Org. Beh. courses are listed in bold). This schedule includes additional required courses for MGT major (e.g., MGT 360 and MGT 328) and for the College of Business Administration (e.g., FIN 355):
Fall, Junior Year: Spring, Junior Year: Fall, Senior Year Spring, Senior Year
MGT 308 MGT 303 MGT 483 MGT 486
MGT 328 MGT 393 MGT 485 MGT 431
MGT 385 MGT 386 MGT 484 MGT 408
FIN 355 MGT 360 MGT 450 MGT 449
MKT 309 BUS 305 Other elective Other elective (e.g. MGT 412) or Internship or Independent Study
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Other Possible Courses of Interest
Courses exist in many departments at UW-L that students interested in Human Resource Management & Organizational Behavior may wish to consider as general electives. While most of these will not count toward the Management major (with the exception of the business law courses, designated as BUS), they will count toward the 120 credits to graduate. Note that many of these have prerequisites which are not listed here. Please check your catalogue for prerequisites and WINGS for course availability.
BUS 305 Business Law
BUS 415 Current Topics in Law (rarely offered; see appropriate faculty re taking the course via 'independent study' if interested)
CST 260 Professional Communication
CST 351 Interviewing
ECO 310 Managerial Economics
ECO 330 Labor Economics
ECO 336 Women in the U.S. Economy
EDM 319 Technology for Teaching & Learning (2 cr.)
ENG 307 Writing for Management, Public Relations, and the Professions
ENG 308 Technical Writing
ESS 201 Safety, First Aid, & CPR (1 cr.)
ESS 452 Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (2 cr.)
FIN 360 Principles of Insurance
FIN 361 Life Insurance
HED 436 Alcohol, Health, & Behavior (1 cr.)
CHE 466 Worksite Health Promotion
PHL 340 Business & Professional Ethics
POL 211 Introduction to Public Administration
POL 311 Public Personnel Administration
PSY 317 Individual Differences
PSY 341 Social Psychology
PSY 376 Industrial & Organizational Psychology
REC 302 Recreational Leadership & Supervision
SOC 314 Industry and Society
SOC 334 Sociology of Small Groups
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