The Department of Management offers a B.S. degree with a major in management.
Students pursuing the B.S. degree in management will select an emphasis in either Human Resource Management or Organizational Management. Students in the human resource management area will be prepared for entry-level positions as human resource generalists or specialists in a variety of firms. The curriculum includes topics such as performance appraisal, recruitment and selection, training and career development, compensation and benefits, and employment law.
Students in the organizational management area will be prepared for management trainee, first-level supervisory, or other entry-level management positions. The emphasis may also prepare students for entrepreneurship. The curriculum includes topics such as leadership, decision-making, competitive dynamics, and multinational management.
Many management students prefer the focused perspective of human resource management. Human resource specialists and managers interact with employees, potential employees, and managers to select, train and develop people in a way that maximizes performance. These professionals recruit and interview employees and help managers make hiring decisions based on company policies. These specialists match potential employees to the jobs for which they are best suited. They provide training to sharpen employee skills, improve morale and productivity, and limit job turnover. Other responsibilities can include defining job responsibilities and fair salary compensation and benefits. Some professionals help resolve disputes between workers and management, while others negotiate labor contracts and end impasses and worker strikes.
The human resource area provides a variety of employment possibilities for management students. Some sample positions might be a wage and salary analyst, labor relations specialist, safety specialist, personnel specialist, personnel recruiter, industrial trainer, and staff training specialist. These positions require knowledge of state and federal laws and an understanding of the business (e.g. retailing or hospital administration), as well as more basic business skills.
Human resource management majors' starting salaries for recent baccalaureate degree graduates ranged from $17,000-$70,000 with an average of $45,950. Firms hiring human resource majors included: Deluxe Corporation, Waubonsee Community College, Pinkerton Security, DeVry Inc., H.T. Associates, Inc., Baxter, Cintas, Enterprise, Jewel, Pella, Penske, Menard's, Target, Abercrombie & Fitch, Sears, Steak & Shake, Marshall Field's, Bank One, and Equity Office Properties Trust. Additional information about firms hiring NIU graduates may be located at NIU's Career Services website: www.niu.edu/CareerServices/.
Many management students pursue a management degree in organizational management which helps them develop the skills and abilities necessary for a successful career in management. Successful managers understand and motivate employee behavior, make good decisions and resolve conflicts, and help their organization respond to dynamic competitive environments domestically and internationally.
Entry-level managers can expect to spend one to three years as a first-line supervisor, learning the business, the customers, and the career opportunities. During this period, sample positions might be management trainee, an assistant to a manager, or a supervisor. After this initial period, the position of general supervisor or area manager becomes a realistic goal. These positions are well compensated because of the increased responsibility and commitment required. Every organization has supervision and management positions.
Organizational Management majors' starting salaries for recent baccalaureate degree graduates ranged from $17,000-$70,000 with an average of $45,950. Firms hiring management majors included: Mercedes Benz Credit Corporation, Experian, Walgreens, Target, Sears, Steak and Shake, Abercrombie and Fitch, Ernst & Young, Pillsbury, UIC, Webaun Group Inc., IPC, JM Neil for USPS, Marriott, World Com, ABMI, Menards, Cintas, Enterprise, Jewel, Pella, and Penske. Additional information about firms hiring NIU graduates may be located at NIU's Career Services website: www.niu.edu/CareerServices/.