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Undergraduate Minor inLabor and Human Resources

Program summary

Gain a broad base of knowledge about work, the employment relationship, and human resource management. This interdisciplinary minor can help you understand your role in the workplace and can be a valuable enhancement to a variety of majors.

Credits and costs

18 Credits$626/$671 per credit

Enhance Your Penn State Degree

Add a minor to get even more value out of your education.

Gain Specialized Knowledge

Earning a minor enables you to complement your major, pursue a personal interest, or explore a different field of study.

In order to succeed in today’s work environment, it is important that you understand the most current issues related to human resources and employment relations. To help you gain knowledge in this field, Penn State World Campus has partnered with the College of the Liberal Arts to offer an interdisciplinary minor in labor studies and human resources (LHR).

The LHR minor is beneficial to students from a wide range of study areas and provides a broad background in the issues of work, employment, the employment relationship, and human resource management. By obtaining an LHR minor, you can have a better understanding of your role in the workplace while you gain a more flexible career path.

This minor is open to all interested undergraduate World Campus students who meet the prerequisites; it can be most useful if you are majoring in psychology, organizational leadership, or business.

In this program, you will have the opportunity to study with highly regarded faculty from Penn State's College of the Liberal Arts, one of the premier institutions in the world to study and work in the liberal arts disciplines.

Courses

This 18-credit minor is available completely online. Your course work will include 9 to 12 credits from labor and human resources, along with 6 to 9 credits from business administration, economics, management, political science, psychology, or sociology. Six of your 18 credits must be at the 400 level.

Convenient and Flexible

Each course is taught using a blend of web technology, print, and other media to maximize flexibility while maintaining teacher and student interaction. As a Penn State World Campus student, you have the opportunity to learn when and where it's most convenient for you.

Prescribed Courses (9 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    Introductory analysis of the employment relationship and the interrelated interests of management, workers, unions, and the public.

  • 3
    credits

    The course surveys the main elements of modern labor and employment relations systems in the U.S. and beyond.

  • 3
    credits

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to understand and apply important concepts concerning human resources in the workplace.

Additional Courses (select 3 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    Examination of basic legal principles underlying the employment relationship, and their social, political, and economic bases.

  • 3
    credits

    Development of Anglo-American law regulating collective bargaining, with emphasis on American labor-management relations under Wagner, Taft-Hartley, and other acts.

400-Level LHR Courses (select 3 credits)

Take 3 credits of any 400-level LHR course during semesters 5 through 8.

Related Courses (select 3 credits)

  • Take 3 credits of any 400-level AFAM, CAS, ECON, HIST, LTNST, MGMT, PHIL, PSYCH, SPAN, SOC, or WMNST course during semesters 5 through 8;
  • or select 3 credits from the following list in consultation with an adviser:
  • 4
    credits

    Introduction to the role of accounting numbers in the process of managing a business and in investor decision-making.

    • Prerequisite

      MATH 21 or 1.5 units of high school algebra

  • 3
    credits

    Explore what it means to be Black in America by engaging with questions about identity and authenticity, freedom and unfreedom, radicalism and reform, gender and sexuality, and the role of music in African American life.

    • GS and US

      The credits earned in this course may be applied toward the Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) requirement and the United States Cultures (US) requirement.

  • 4
    credits

    Explores the ethical, political, social, legal and regulatory, technological, and demographic diversity environment of business.

    • Note

      A student may not receive credit toward graduation for both BLAW 243 and BA 243.

  • 3
    credits

    This class is designed as an opportunity to explore the complexities of interpersonal communication and to develop a repertoire of interpersonal communication skills.

  • 3
    credits

    Examines the function and structure of communication in both formal and informal situations.

  • 3
    credits

    Focuses on the study of markets with imperfect competition.

  • 3
    credits

    This course examines major developments in the history of modern American business and industry from the colonial period to the present.

    • GH and US

      The credits earned in this course may be applied toward the Humanities (GH) requirement and the United States Cultures (US) requirement.

  • 3
    credits

    Introduction to organizational factors relevant to management processes, including leadership, motivation, job design, technology, organizational design and environments, systems, change.

  • 3
    credits

    Study of fundamental principles and processes available to the understanding of management.

    • Prerequisite

      (ENGL 15 or ENGL 30) and (ECON 102 or ECON 104) and (MATH 021 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination)

  • 3
    credits

    Applies organizational behavior theories, concepts, and skills to leading and motivating individuals and groups.

  • 3
    credits

    This course introduces key leadership concepts and practices based on current theory and research. It is designed to help students to discover the knowledge and skills that are characteristic of effective leaders.

  • 3
    credits

    The course examines the continuing influence of social and environmental factors in shaping leadership and leadership development.

  • 3
    credits

    Theory- and research-based communication skills for leaders dealing with work-related problems in contemporary groups and organizations.

  • 3
    credits

    Application of theories of decision-making to work-related issues in groups and organizations requiring collective resolution and action.

  • 3–4
    credits

    Focuses on historical patterns and current status of racial, ethnic and cultural groups and issues locally, nationally, and internationally.

    • GS and US

      The credits earned in this course may be applied toward the Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) requirement and the United States Cultures (US) requirement.

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.

Costs and Financial Aid

Undergraduate Tuition

Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register and the number of total credits you have accrued at or transferred to Penn State.

Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.

2023–24 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2023, spring 2024, and summer 2024 semesters.

How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$626 per credit$671 per credit
12–19$7,602 per semester$8,206 per semester

Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19. 

2024–25 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 semesters.

How many credits do you plan to take per semester?If you have 59 or fewer creditsIf you have 60 or more credits
11 or fewer$632 per credit$678 per credit
12–19$7,678 per semester$8,288 per semester

Undergraduate students taking more than 19 credits will be charged the flat tuition rate plus the regular per credit hour rate for each credit above 19. 

Financial Aid and Military Benefits

Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.

How to Apply

Admissions Help

Please work with your adviser if you have questions about adding a minor. You can find your adviser's contact information in your student portal or by calling advising at 814-863-3283.

 

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admittance into the labor and human resources minor, you must:

  • be a current Penn State undergraduate student in your fifth semester and be in a bachelor's degree major
  • maintain a grade of C or better in all courses for the minor
  • the minor code and major code cannot match

Adding a Minor

If you have achieved fifth-semester standing (60 credits completed), you can apply for admission to the minor. To begin, please follow these steps:

  1. Talk with your academic adviser about incorporating the minor into your major and to develop a semester-by-semester plan for meeting requirements.
  2. You can apply for the minor by adding it in LionPATH. You should do this as early as possible, but you can apply up to the late drop deadline of your graduating semester.
  3. You will receive a confirmation email once you declare the minor in LionPATH.

Technical Requirements 

Review the technical requirements for this program.

 

Contact Us

To learn more about the Labor and Human Resources Minor, offered in partnership with the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts, please contact:

World Campus Advisers
Phone: 814-863-3283
Email: [email protected]

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