Organizational Behavior &
Human Resource Management

Career potential

The field of human resources has advanced far beyond its early years when it consisted primarily of clerical functions such as interviewing and hiring of new employees and managing payroll and benefits.

Top executives increasingly recognize the importance of human resources to advance/increase their bottom line. You can help an organization develop a strong competitive advantage in its field by attracting, hiring and retaining qualified, productive employees. Human resource professionals often work closely with an organization's senior management to set, develop and implement a wide variety of policies which affect the workforce.

In addition to traditional human resource positions in managing benefits and payroll, you may find employment opportunities in general management, management consulting, industrial/organizational development and leadership. With a bachelor's degree in organizational behavior and human resource management from the University of North Texas, you will be prepared for many possible career options, including:

• HR generalist
• compensation manager - establishing and maintaining a pay system for a company
• coordinator of retirement or health insurance benefits
• education/training manager - planning and coordinating professional development programs for employees
• equal employment opportunity officer - investigating discrimination complaints
• recruiter - traveling to colleges and universities to provide students with information about job opportunities with your company
• industrial relations manager - negotiating collective bargaining agreements, handling contract disputes and acting as a liaison between unionized employees and managers

Master's degrees are increasingly preferred for upper-level positions in this field. For more information, check with UNT's Graduate School and your primary employer.

UNT's Career Center can help you prepare to pursue your career. The center has information about jobs and employers, and the staff can help you with resume and letter writing, job search strategies, and interview preparation.

Majoring in organizational behavior and human resource management

As an organizational behavior and human resource management major, you may study:

• employee benefit programs
• employee and labor relations
• employee health, safety and security
• ways to organize training and development programs
• leadership theory and techniques
• wage and salary administration
• current legislation and its impact on human resource policy and practices
• research methods helpful in employment decisions

Faculty members in the Department of Management have a strong commitment to high-quality teaching. One OBHR faculty members was named SOUTHWEST Educator of the Year in 2007 for her impact on students academically and professionally. Faculty members have also been named Regents Professors, the university's highest teaching honor, for their outstanding teaching and research. Others have earned the President's Council University Teaching Award and the Shelton Excellence in Teaching Award. The faculty's commitment to high-quality teaching is also reflected in consistently high marks given by students in their instructor evaluations.

UNT has an exceptional student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. Through this organization, you can meet professionals in organizational behavior and human resource management from the Dallas-Fort Worth region. The chapter also competes in several annual events that test students' knowledge of human resources. These HR games are an important step for the student chapter to be recognized as a "top SHRM chapter".

Our new Business Leadership Building will heighten your learning experience. Scheduled for completion in 2011, the 180,000 square-foot facility will contain 24 classrooms, team study rooms, and a state-of-the-art general access computer lab. This building will help distinguish UNT as a leader in business education for students and executives.

Getting hands-on experience

Upon completion of 12 semester hours at UNT with at least a 2.5 GPA, you may work in a job related to your field through UNT's Cooperative Education and Internships office. All co-op employers positions are paid, and the jobs often can be extended for several semesters, sometimes until graduation.

More than 1,800 employers work with the co-op office to provide excellent learning opportunities, many of which become permanent, full-time positions upon graduation.

Preparing for UNT: High school students

If you are a high school student, we suggest you prepare for college by becoming computer proficient and taking:

• English … 4 years
• Math … 4 years
• Social science - economics, geography, government, history … 4 years
• Science … 3 years
• Foreign language … 3 years
• Fine arts … 1 year

You will need to take courses in most of these subjects under the university core curriculum required of all undergraduates, in addition to courses for your major. It is also recommended that you take as many communication courses and courses that focus on problem solving as you can.

Talk with your high school counselor about preparing for college, including the entrance exams (SAT or ACT) that you should take during your junior year.

Preparing for UNT: Transfer students

As a benefit for transfer students, UNT participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System. This system makes it easier to transfer credits for general academic courses from one Texas institution to another.

If you're attending a Texas community college, you should consult the UNT Transfer Guide, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor/advisor to discuss your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

UNT's Transfer Center will help you make a successful transition to college life at UNT by connecting you to a peer mentor and other valuable campus resources. Each year, we welcome more transfer students than any institution in the state. The center is in the University Union, Room 320. More information is at www.unt.edu/transferprograms.

Charting your path with academic advising

Full-time staff advisors in the College of Business and faculty members in the organizational behavior and human resource management program will help you each semester to select the courses necessary to earn your degree. Your professors also can give you career advice. The Department of Management office is in the Business Building, Room 315.

Curious about courses and other features of this major?
See the current catalog.