BS Business, Human Resource Management Domains of Study

Areas of Study Within the
Bachelor of Science in Business—Human Resource Management Program

The WGU Bachelor of Science in Business—Human Resource Management program content is based on the knowledge and skills that provide expertise in the management of people at work. The emphasis of the Human Resource program is to develop more effective managers and staff specialists in the human resource management field. It provides the knowledge and skills that enable human resource managers to work in a variety of careers in business, industry, government and civil service. Students have the opportunity to gain an industry achievement based on their professional HR work experience: either HRCI’s PHR Certification or SHRM’s Assurance of Learning Certificate. HRCI requires that candidates have four years exempt-level HR work experience to be eligible for the PHR Certification. Those not yet eligible for the PHR will take the SHRM Assurance of Learning assessment.

The following section includes the larger domains of knowledge, which are then followed by the subject-specific subdomains of knowledge.

Organizational Behavior and Management Domain

Understanding how to lead and manage in the business environment is critical to a business graduate’s success in the workplace. This domain includes two objective assessments: Principles of Management and Fundamentals of Organizational Behavior and Management. Students are asked to demonstrate the ability to apply these concepts in a series of scenario-based problems in the leadership concepts and applications tasks. Prior coursework does not transfer to meet the requirements of this domain.

Organizational Behavior and Management

Focuses on management and leadership concepts and applications.

Foundations Domain

The Foundations domain focuses on basic subject matter knowledge that is typically required for baccalaureate level study.

Foundations
Focuses on application of grammatical standards, reading skills, basic numeracy and calculation skills, basic algebra skills, basic geometry principles, and basic data and probability skills.

Business Law and Ethics Domain

WGU believes business graduates should be able to demonstrate the ability to understand and apply legal concepts in the business environment and to understand how to be ethical leaders in today’s business world. To demonstrate competency in the Business Law and Ethics domain, students complete an objective assessment, a Business Law performance task, and develop an Ethics plan. Evaluation of your previous college transcripts may clear assessment requirements for this domain.

Business Law and Ethics
Focuses on understanding and application of business law concepts and ethical considerations for business.

Liberal Arts Domain

The liberal arts domain focuses on basic subject matter knowledge that is typically included in baccalaureate level programs. Evaluation of your previous college transcripts may clear assessment requirements for some areas of the liberal arts domain, which could shorten your program of study by removing assessments. To waive or clear a subdomain, the transcript must show that you have taken equivalent classes in the subdomain content areas and passed those classes with a "C" grade or higher at an accredited institution of higher education.

Language and Communication
Content focuses on collegiate reading skills, basic information retrieval skills, writing skills, and speaking and writing skills.

Natural Science
Content focuses on scientific concepts and inquiry as well as key concepts across and within disciplines of natural science.

Quantitative Literacy
Content includes numeracy, algebraic concept, geometry, measurement, statistics and probability, mathematical reasoning, and mathematical problem solving.

Geography
Content includes fundamentals of geography, places and regions, physical and human systems, and the environment.

Literature, Arts, and the Humanities
Content focuses on content, concepts, terminology, methodology, models, and issues within and across the disciplines of the humanities.

Collegiate Level Reasoning and Problem Solving
Content includes problem identification and clarification, planning and information gathering, identifying assumptions and values, analysis and interpretation of information and data, reaching well-founded conclusions, and identifying the role of critical thinking in the disciplines and professions.

Economics, Global Business and Quantitative Analysis Domain

The Economics, Global Business, and Quantitative Analysis domain covers three subdomains and includes three assessments. The quantitative analysis for business task includes a series of quantitative problems. The economics and global business applications performance assessment asks students to apply what they have learned about economics and global business in a series of tasks. Evaluation of your previous college transcripts may clear assessment requirements for this domain.

Economics, Global Business, and Quantitative Analysis
Focuses on understanding and application of macroeconomics, microeconomics, global business, and quantitative analysis for business.

Marketing and Business Communications Domain

The marketing and business communications domain focuses on two distinct and interrelated business topics. Marketing focuses study on consumer behavior, marketing strategies, and development of marketing plans. Business communication focuses on organizational communication, the communication process, and business research and writing. To demonstrate competency in the marketing and business communications domain, students complete a multiple-choice objective assessment, develop a marketing plan, and write a research paper on a business topic.

Marketing and Business Communications
Focuses on understanding and application of marketing concepts and business research and writing.

Finance, Accounting, and Information Technology Domain

Business graduates need an understanding of the fundamentals of finance, accounting, and information technology to succeed in the world of business. To demonstrate competence in the three areas covered by this domain, students complete two assessments that integrate the concepts in all three subdomains. Students complete a series of finance and accounting problems with information technology components for the performance assessment. Students demonstrate an understanding of fundamental concepts in these areas on the objective assessment.

Finance, Accounting and Information Technology
Focuses on understanding and application of finance, accounting, and information technology concepts.

Systems Administration and Management Domain

This domain covers operating systems, project management, networking, and information security.

Project Management
Focuses on skills and concepts students need to know to plan and implement projects. The project initiation and planning process is covered in-depth, culminating in the creation of a project schedule. Learning how to manage business concerns such as cost and risk is balanced by thorough the coverage of best practices in managing people and resources. Students will also learn how to manage change and the steps necessary in closing a project.

Human Resource Management Domain

Graduates in the Human Resource Management degree program should be able to demonstrate competency in the following areas: compensation and benefits, core knowledge required for human resource professionals, employee and labor relations, human resource development, occupational health, safety and security, strategic management, workforce planning and employment. Students demonstrate a thorough understanding of these concepts by successfully passing the HR industry assessment that matches their professional HR work experience: HRCI’s PHR Certification exam or SHRM’s Assurance of Learning assessment.

Graduate Level Business Core Domain

The graduate level business engages students in an integrative, project-based approach to developing managerial competence through direct application of concepts in complex, problem-solving scenarios. Students demonstrate mastery in the following subject matter: leadership and organizational management, innovation, financial analysis, and products and customer relationship management.

Human Resources
Focuses on understanding the legal and ethical strategies for managing the human resources in an organization.