Undergraduate study

• An interdisciplinary approach providing human resource management and industrial relations relevant to the working environment
• A critical approach to the subject which is stimulating and engaging
• Good opportunities for employment and postgraduate study for our graduates

The teaching and research conducted by staff embrace all aspects of the subject: personnel management, discrimination, work organisation, payment systems, trade unions, employers, private and public sectors, specific industries (e.g. finance, car manufacture), the economy, law, and government policy. This is located within an international and European context.

The course provides one of the few opportunities in the UK to study these subjects in-depth at undergraduate level. In combination with other Principal courses, and through the special subjects offered, it establishes a knowledge and skills base for scientists and social scientists who wish to seek a career not only in personnel management or industrial relations but also in general management or administration.

All staff are active researchers and publish a twice-yearly journal, Historical Studies in Industrial Relations, and deliver a popular postgraduate programme.

First year
An insight into the nature and scope of Management and Human Resource Management is provided and the following core modules are taken: 

Management in Context provides an introduction to management and organisations, and places them in an historical, political and economic context.

Foundations of Human Resource Management explores the nature of the employment relationship from an historical perspective identifying the principal theoretical bases for understanding the development of Human Resource Management.

Modules can also be taken from a range of electives, including:

Markets and Hierarchies
Accounting Principles
Marketing Principles
Business Law
Globalisation
Quantitative Methods
Financial and Management Accounting

Second year
Knowledge is deepened by examining the key issues affecting human resources (HR) professionals. The following core modules are taken:

Workforce Planning explores the theory and practice of employee resourcing, retention and associated managerial practices.

Managing Human Resources is central to the study of Human Resources Management covering: the process for resolving disciplinary cases and grievances, flexibility, performance management, and issues of employee representation, participation and involvement - issues and processes crucial to professional HR practice.

Modules can also be taken from a range of electives, including:

Industrial Relations
Pay and Performance
International Human Resource Management
Organisational Behaviour
Research Methods

Third year
Two core modules are studied:

Strategic Human Resource Management encourages you to critically examine the idea of Human Resources Management as a strategic function and an overview of new forms of work organisation and employment.

The Employment Relationship and the Law encourages you to critically analyse the changing role, values and limits of the law in industrial relations and HR management.

Modules can also be taken from a range of electives, including:

Employee Development
Global Labour Regulation
Discrimination and Equal Opportunities at Work
Contemporary Issues in Management
independent Study Project I & II

Study Abroad

The Management School is keen to promote the opportunity for students to spend a semester studying Human Resource Management at a partner institution in the EU, Australia or North America. Students study abroad for either the first or second semester in their second year and take a series of modules at the partner university that are equivalent to those at Keele. The Keele International's Study Abroad Office oversees the process and offers excellent support for students both as they prepare for their study abroad period and while they are away.

Dual Honours Course can be combined with:

For overseas students who do not meet direct entry requirements, we offer the opportunity to take an intensive International Year One in Business and Management leading to second year degree entry

Foundation course available:

Teaching is by a combination of lectures, classes and supervised individual and group work. While we focus on the development of written communication skills, throughout the course, we pay attention to the development of skills that students will need in whatever career they might pursue after graduating. This includes the development of communication, presentation and teamworking skills in classes.

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The course promotes, within a social sciences framework, a critical awareness of the interests, motives and rights of the parties to the employment relationship. In addition to focusing on substantive issues, tutorials seek to develop presentational and groupwork skills.

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Human Resource Management and Sociology
By combining Human Resource Management with Sociology, students will strengthen their understanding of the impact the employment relationship has on contemporary society. This includes a study of how people behave in the employment setting – as managers, as workers, and as representatives. Through this combination, students will be able to link issues such as class, gender and racism to employment, and will be more aware of the ways that conflict in the workplace is linked to conflict in the wider society. The combination provides enhanced opportunities for students considering career options in the public, private and voluntary sectors, giving students a broad understanding of work, employment, management and society more generally.

Human Resource Management and Psychology
The combination of Human Resoure Management with Psychology presents students with the opportunity to develop their understanding of the behaviour of the individual at work. This applies particularly to such issues as employee motivation, job satisfaction, payment systems, disciplinary action, training and development, and workplace health and safety. Human Resource Management provides an important outlet for practical application of the knowledge and skills gained through the study of Psychology. This combination is particularly appropriate for students considering careers in management or in any other field where an understanding of human behaviour is important.

Human Resource Management and Law
The combination of Human Resource Management with Law provides the opportunity to focus on the regulation of industry and the parties to the employment relationship. While Human Resource Management directs students to a consideration of the employment relationship and offers the opportunity to study employment law, combining this discipline with Law offers scope for specialism in areas of industrial, corporate or employment law. The study of discrimination and equal opportunities in employment is also complemented by aspects of law including discrimination law, social policy and European equality directives. This combination would be particularly appropriate for students considering careers in employment law and related areas.

The course achieved a 100% student satisfaction in the NSS Survey 2011.