Human Resource Management and Employment Relations - Bachelor of Business
Interested in diversity and organisational culture, and want to influence people at all levels of an organisation? Study human resources and employment relations as part of the Bachelor of Business degree.
Human resources professionals are the oil between management and employees, ensuring that staff are productive, safe and developing as valued and skilled workers. Careers in human resources and employment relations encompass planning, recruitment, learning and development, health and safety, commercial law and employer/employee relations. A key aspect of this work is change management, as companies are constantly adapting to and influencing the environment in which they operate.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Business.
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As a human resource management and employment relations student, you'll learn about leading, managing and developing in a diverse workplace. You'll become familiar with stakeholder management to manage change and enhance organisational performance; occupational health, safety, resilience and wellbeing; and the power dynamics in employment relationships.
Year 1
In the first semester, you take four core courses that cover fundamental business concepts:
- BUSS505 Consumer and Organisational Behaviour
- BUSS507 Financial Decision Making and Information Systems
- BUSS508 Economics and International Business
- BUSS509 Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability
In Semester 2, you study:
- MGMT501 Managing and Organising
You may also take another course related to human resource management and employment relations, and also start to take the first courses from your second major, minor(s) or elective courses.
Year 2 & 3
You gain an understanding of current employment issues including the complex relationships between employees, employers, government and trade unions, and internal and external factors that influence organisational behaviour.
Human resource management and employment relations courses may include:
- EMPL601 Employment Relations
- HRMG601 Human Resource Management
- HRMG602 Learning and Development
- EMPL702 Workplace Health, Safety and Conflict Management
- EMPL704 The Dynamics of Employment Regulations
- HRMG701 Diversity at Work
- HRMG703 Global Mobility
You also continue to take courses from your second major, minor(s) or elective courses.
Workplace experience
The capstone project is the final part of your degree and takes place in your final semester. You can choose to do a placement in an organisation of your choice, start your own venture or complete an applied project, bringing together your learning and gaining valuable experience.
Recent placements included:
- DB Breweries
- Farmers Trading Company
- Fletcher Construction
- Nestlé NZ Ltd
- Progressive Enterprises
- SKY TV
- Waitemata District Health Board
- Warehouse Stationery
Want more info about work integrated learning at AUT?
Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it’s so beneficial when you start your career.
Workplace experience in AUT programmes
Build your degree
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.
Skills you will develop
The outcomes for graduates of this major are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.
Current students looking for specific requirements for business majors should refer to Canvas.
- Employment relations specialist
- Human resource manager
- Industry training advisor
- Recruitment consultant
- Talent manager
- Health and safety manager
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Business
- Key areas for any organisation
- Can open up a wide range of career opportunities
- Valuable workplace experience in an organisation of your choice
- Option to include subjects from outside of business
- Offered at the City or South Campus
- Committed to productive employment relationships
- Interested in talent management
- Able to build inclusive organisations
- A strong negotiator
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.