UNDERGRADUATE

Management Emphases:

• General Management and Technology
• Human Resource Management
• International Management

GRADUATE

• General MBA

GENERAL MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

Reflecting the growing importance of technology in the workplace, the general management and technology emphasis offers courses in the management of information technology, management science, and total quality management. It prepares students to build skills in evaluating, planning, coordinating, controlling, and assessing the use of human, legal, and technological factors for implementing successful business processes. New electives in leadership, international management, process re-engineering, project management, and the management of technology and innovation are designed for management generalists who need a basic mastery of management and technological issues. This area offers great challenges and opportunities within a variety of businesses to enhance productivity and organizational effectiveness.  It emphasizes each student's demonstrated and potential abilities to become a leader and manager.

To develop "real world" experience and gain a more in-depth understanding of business practices, students may complete internships in a variety of business fields, including manufacturing, transportation, banking, hospitality, communications, health care, retailing, and government. Interns work under the supervision of a faculty member with cooperating businesses in the U.S. or abroad, or with governmental or civic organizations.  Faculty and staff teaching in this area have special expertise in many of the areas critical to modern business (e.g., total quality management and re-engineering). The following link takes you to the full course requirements in the undergraduate catalog (p. 187).

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The human resource management emphasis is designed for students seeking expertise in the personnel and human resource areas. The aim is to provide students with marketable skills that enable them to communicate successfully with people in organizations.

Students begin this emphasis with an introductory course that covers many topics: selecting and training new employees, the employee's career in an organization, legislation that affects employees in the workplace, and labor management relations.

After the introductory course, students go on to study a number of issues in greater depth. A course in compensation and benefits administration, for example, teaches students how to establish pay scales, how to evaluate jobs in an organization, and how legislation applies to compensation.

Other courses give students the opportunity to compare and contrast U.S. human resource practices with those in other countries, to examine labor relations from a comparative, cross-cultural perspective, and to gain experience in negotiating through simulated collective bargaining exercises. Students complete the emphasis with a current topic course. In recent years, students have examined in depth issues like affirmative action, health care, family leave, and workplace day care. To see how courses are sequenced, check out the SHRM class guide.

Human resource students may supplement their coursework with membership in the Society for Human Resource Management. The student chapter in the College has won the Superior Merit Award of the national society several times in the last five years. We have placed human resource interns in positions with the City of La Crosse, UW-La Crosse, medical centers, and a variety of local businesses. Many of our graduates have been very successful in human resource and compensation positions. The following link takes you to the full course requirements in the undergraduate catalog.

INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT

Increasing student and employer interest in international business led to the development of this specialized emphasis. It provides proficiency in the subject matter essential for managing global businesses including cross-cultural understanding, comparing, and evaluating alternative systems of management and applying behavioral skills necessary for effective international business management. Courses in international business management; comparative management and labor relations; international human resource management; and the law of international business transactions are designed to prepare students for management careers with companies that operate globally.

The Management Department has a strong emphasis in international business, with faculty who have studied and had management experience in other cultures. In addition, they are active in publishing research of international topics in peer reviewed journals.

Students planning careers in international business may choose to complement their management major with a College of Business Administration (CBA) minor in international business or the newly approved major in international business. Students electing the minor take world history, foreign language, and an international elective outside the CBA. They also may take courses in other international areas. Students majoring in international business can earn a double major in management, as the Management Department is the only business department offering an internationally-oriented focus. The CBA currently is establishing connections with business schools in Latin America and working with the Career Services Division to place students in international internships. The following link takes you to the full course requirements in the undergraduate catalog.

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