Undergraduate Human Resource Management Honors Program

The Human Resource Management Department offers a Departmental Honors Program for those students who excel in the HRM Major core courses. The Departmental Honors Program is a separate curriculum from the general HRM Major and requires students to carefully plan their schedules in advance of their application to the program. Requirements within the elective and quantitative sections of the HRM Honors Curriculum vary from the general HRM Major curriculum (for an overview of the requirements see the HRM Departmental Honors Program checklist. Students must first have declared the general HRM Major in order to apply for the Honors Curriculum. HRM Honors students will conduct an original research project under the supervision of a faculty advisor and a senior thesis committee.

Application & Eligibility

Application to the HRM Honors Program occurs during the spring semester or subsequent summer term of a student's junior year. Students must secure an HRM faculty adviser and submit a thesis proposal no later than August 1 of the student's senior year. Eligibility to apply to the program is based upon the following:

  • Completion of 85+ academic credits by the end of the junior year.
  • Completion of five of the core HRM courses with a GPA of 3.5 or better within the HRM Major.
  • Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
  • Must take and complete one of the designated research methods courses, with a "C" or better.
  • Must take and complete HRM & Statistics, 37:533:440, as a quantitative course or must take one of the equivalent statistics courses listed in the quantitative section of the HRM Honors Curriculum. Students must achieve a "C" or better in this course.

The HRM Honors Program application must be accompanied by a 1-2 page description of the proposed thesis (approved by thesis advisor) and must include a copy of the student's transcript.

Process

Students who wish to apply to the HRM Honors Program must first meet with the HRM Student Counselor to discuss eligibility and to go over program details. Once eligibility is established it is the student's responsibility to find a member of the HRM faculty who is willing to serve as supervisor for the project.  Students work with their supervising professor to develop the focus of their thesis and establish a research plan.  The HRM faculty member will propose faculty within the department who may act as members of the thesis committee. There must be at least two HRM faculty members assigned to the thesis committee, in addition to the thesis supervisor.  The following must be sent to the Office of the HRM Undergraduate Programs:

  • Completed HRM Honors Application (due August 1st).
  • Copy of most recent transcript.
  • 1-2 page, double-spaced, typewritten description of proposed thesis.

Upon acceptance into the program, students will be removed from the general HRM Major program and placed into the Honors Curriculum, 37:533H. Students accepted into the program will also be given a special permission number to register for 37:533:498, Honors in HRM Part I, for the fall semester of their senior year. The fall semester will be dedicated to research necessary for the resulting thesis. Students must maintain and adhere to a set schedule with their supervising Professor.

For the spring semester of the senior year, students will be given a special permission number to register for 37:533:499, Honors in HRM Part II. The focus of the second semester is on the production of an original research thesis due before March 15.  Defense of the thesis must take place no later than April 10.

Overall Requirements
  • Produce an original research thesis.
  • Defend thesis to the HRM Undergraduate Honors Committee.
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
  • Maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher within the HRM Honors Curriculum.
  • Complete the HRM Honors Curriculum.

It is advisable for those who undertake the HRM Honors Program to reduce their course load during the semester in which they are registered for the thesis courses. Students who do not show progress or who do not meet the above requirements for good standing within the HRM Honors Curriculum will be removed from the honors thesis course and placed into the general HRM Major Program.

Project Ranking

The Undergraduate HRM Honors Program is separate from the SAS honors program which is a formal program offered to incoming students. The distinction of Departmental Honors must not be confused with honors given at time of graduation for overall GPA. Such distinction is issued only by the school of registration. A majority of HRM Majors are within the School of Arts and Sciences, SAS, and as such honors based upon overall GPA are likewise handed out by SAS. The project ranking for the Undergraduate HRM Honors Program is given by the School of Management and Labor Relations, HRM Department. The designations for such honors are as follows:

Highest Honors - Maintains GPA within the HRM Honors Curriculum of 3.75 or higher

High Honors - Maintains a GPA within the HRM Honors Curriculum from 3.5 to 3.74

Honors - Maintains a GPA within the HRM Honors Curriculum from 3.2 to 3.49

Master's Program Advantage

Students who have successfully completed the HRM Major with Honors will upon application, be assured of acceptance into the Masters' in Human Resource Management Program. Further, the GRE/GMAT requirement is waived for those who have completed the Undergraduate Honors Program. It should be noted that students must apply to the MHRM Program within five years of receipt of their Undergraduate Degree.

Up to 18 credits from the HRM courses can be transferred toward the Master's Program provided:

  • Courses are from the list of transferrable courses.
  • Student receives a "B" or better in each course transferred.

The published list of courses that can be transferred into the Master's Program can be found under the 5-Year Master's Page on the HRM Website.