Business and Human Resource Management BA (Hons) with foundation year

Course overview

Why you should study this course

Foundation year

• Supports you in gaining the academic skills required for degree-level study.
• Provides a grounding in key areas of business and management.

Degree

• Practice your skills – develop your business skills through a variety of international case studies, problem-based learning, simulated business and human resources activities in our Business Simulation Suite⁴. The simulation suite is equipped with modern technology, from inter-communication, built-in mics, cameras and the use of virtual reality headsets.
• Real-world exposure – industry field trips² to organisations within a range of sectors and diversified HR functions, past visits include Jaguar Land Rover, Ironbridge, Warwick Castle, Cadbury’s and Coventry City Council. You might also be able to attend events to build your professional network².
• Industry insight and professional network development - learn from experienced staff, whose consultancy, training and research links with organisations are deep and wide-ranging (staff are subject to change).
• Lecturers at the forefront of HR developments – our research-active staff aim to be able to share the latest thinking, new developments and specific challenges of a changing work environment. We have lecturers who focus on areas such as new ways of working, diversity management, multi-cultural teams, identity, HR professionalisation, the organisation of change and the changing nature of management, social network analysis, shared perceptions, organisational psychology and organisational behaviour (staff subject to change).
• Career ready – upon graduation, you should be well prepared to begin your career in HR or to pursue further professional human resource management (HRM) or human resource development (HRD) qualifications, such as the Advanced Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) Level 7 or an MA/MSc in Human Resource Management.

Careers and opportunities

The course aims to equip you with varied business knowledge and associated expertise, enabling you to be an effective HR manager and leader in public, private or voluntary organisations, and to pursue an international management career in an HRM or business role.

Upon successful completion, you will:

• have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the function of and context in which Human Resource Management operates
• understand best practice approaches, contemporary theories and empirical evidence concerning the effective management of people within a business environment
• have the ability to evaluate and present reasoned arguments for adopting different approaches to effectively manage people within various business contexts
• be able to design a range of human resource processes and procedures e.g. recruitment and selection, performance appraisal, grievance and disciplinary
• have experience in conducting a range of interviews associated with managing people, including selection, appraisal, counselling, grievance, and exit interviews
• have developed a broad range of transferrable professional skills, e.g. Individual initiative and enterprise, effective performance within a team environment and interpersonal skills of effective listening, negotiating, persuasion and presentation
• demonstrate intellectual independence including addressing and resolving legal and related questions, identifying gaps in your own knowledge and acquiring new knowledge, tolerating ambiguity and engaging in critical analysis and evaluation.

This degree aims to provide you with a critical and reflective understanding of HRM and its relationship with the wider international business environment. It could lead to specialist careers in HRM, human resource development and workplace psychology, as well as more general business roles in business analysis, project management or marketing.