Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management)

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) course allows students to develop a broad understanding and appreciation of the human resource function and the skills and knowledge required to manage an organisation's people to deliver on strategic goals.

About the course

The innovative structure and flexibility of the course offers an optimum blend of theory and practice, and effectively prepares students for careers in both the private and public sectors.

The structure of the course is designed to be flexible and yet incorporates a holistic approach that integrates and aligns various specialisations. It features a broad range of subjects that will equip students with both soft skills for working with people and the ability to design and implement strategies and policies that contribute towards organisational performance.

Beginning with subjects that provide the groundwork for an appreciation of all managerial functions within an organisation, the human resource function will be examined in detail before studying advanced subjects that offer a more strategic perspective to help shape an organisation or business through staff planning, job analysis and design, appraisal of staff performance and assessment of training needs. These will be complemented by other subjects that relate to the human resource function such as industrial relations, and legal and ethical issues in employment.

The flexibility of the course offers the opportunity for students to select additional subjects that would help realise their career aspirations or meet specific industry needs. Three workplace learning subjects designed to facilitate integration between university learning and practice in a real work context further ensures that graduates are highly sought by employers. 

A principal advantage of the Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) is the opportunity to specialise in a second area. Referred to as a joint study, a wide range is available and this includes Accounting, Banking, Finance, eCommerce, Information Systems, Legal Studies, Tourism Management, or non-business areas such as Ecotourism or Psychology.

Professional recognition        

The Australian Human Resources Institute most recently renewed the accreditation for this specialisation in late 2010.

Workplace learning

Industry requires graduates who are better equipped for the workplace and students are looking for greater flexibility in subjects studied while retaining the ability to specialise in core discipline areas.

Three workplace learning subjects provide students with the opportunity to undertake a business placement in each of their three years of study (or six years equivalent).  The expectations and outcomes associated with these subjects increases each year (for example, the length of placement will increase from 35 hours in Year 1, to 70 hours in Year 2, and 120 hours in Year 3).  Placements may occur in practicum blocks or a dedicated regular time through the session. Students will be expected to make a meaningful contribution that will benefit the business and the student's key employability skills.  The focus of each of the workplace learning subjects will be the nexus between theory (what the student will be learning in their studies) and practice (what actually happens in the workplace).

There may be ancillary costs associated with your workplace learning subject (for example, travel costs to reach the workplace). These costs may vary depending on the location of the work placement.

Work placements are not available to international students due to current Australian Government visa regulations.

Flexible offering

This course is available by distance education or on campus at the CSU Study Centres in Sydney and Melbourne. It can be studied both full and part-time and has a minimum full-time duration of six sessions.

The degree is programmed over sessions 1 and 2 with a number of subjects offered in session 3 allowing students to fast track their degree if desired.

International students may study the Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) through the CSU Study Centre Sydney or Melbourne. An intake in Session 3 is available for CSU Study Centres only.

While this course does not articulate with other courses, students who wish to terminate their study at an earlier stage may be eligible to receive one of three lower level awards, the Associate Degree in Business Studies, University Certificate in Business, or the University Certificate in Business Studies.

Students will be eligible to graduate with the award Associate Degree in Business Studies (AssocDegBusStud) if they have completed 128 points in the Bachelor of Business, of which at least 88 points must be business or business related subjects, thus meeting the requirements of the Associate Degree.

Students will be eligible to graduate with the award University Certificate in Business Studies (UnivCertBusStud) if they have completed 64 points in the Bachelor of Business, of which at least 48 points must be business or business related subjects, thus meeting the requirements of the University Certificate. However, the students must meet the University Certificate criteria (i.e. no credit granted in the course) to be able to exit with the award.

Students in the Bachelor of Business programs may use the University Certificate in Business as an exit point should they decide to withdraw from the Bachelor of Business Studies or Bachelor of Business program. However, the students must meet the University Certificate in Business criteria (i.e. complete the three core subjects plus five of the available foundation subjects and no credit granted in the course) to be able to exit with the award.