Degree Rationale: Human Resource Management - Admission/Application Essay Example

Degree Rationale Introduction As a child, I was completely unaware of the value of education. My parents, despite all good intentions, had not impressed upon me how education may improve my life or livelihood, let alone its impact on the wider sphere of human development and the national economy. I had never completed high school, but later in life I realized that obtaining my General Education Diploma would allow me to obtain full-time work so I would be able to financially provide for my son and myself. Over the years, I went from job to job, realizing I needed something more career-orientated. It was not until one of my dearest friends encouraged me to attend college that I found an interest in a definite career. This eventually led me to Corning Community College which I attended classes full of hope and enthusiasm. However, the stress of working full time, attending college full time, and being a mother, was so physically taxing that I was not accomplishing any of these tasks satisfactorily. Eventually, convinced that I had no other choice, I was compelled to give up my studies and devote my time to remain gainfully employed in order to take care of my son. For years, I struggled with trying to decide exactly what it was I wanted to do with my life. My past job led me to realize that I was “smart” enough and that I had potential to become whatever I wanted in life. My supervisor taught me that education will provide me with the tools and knowledge I need to understand and participate in today’s world. This is what motivated me into returning to Corning Community College. Here I found the means of fulfilling my desire for learning. Although I still was undecided of what I wanted to do, my hard work and determination paid off by uplifting my self-esteem, which I struggled with all my life. During my last semester at Corning Community College, I felt honored to be included in the Dean’s list. For me that was an academic achievement, but also a personal accomplishment. It was not until attending some of my supervisor’s meetings at work and working by her side that I found an interest in Human Resources. At that very moment, I set a goal for my future to become a human resource generalist. I want to be able to help a company staff their organization and provide employees with the best resources to guide them through their employment. A friend advised me that Empire State College not only provides flexibility, but also a way to earn my bachelor’s degree and help provide me with the tools and knowledge I need to embark on my career. My Professional Goals My professional goal is to acquire a job in the human resources field to help the organization increase performance and improve business results. This will also allow me to become more self-reliant and aware of the rights of and opportunities open to all employees. I would like to be instrumental in providing training and development for workers, to help them improve on their skills and acquire new ones. Above all I would relish the prospect of helping employees find satisfaction in their jobs and working conditions. Looking at the big picture, I especially would find fulfillment in knowing I contributed to the positive impact of the globalization of private and public organizations and the growing importance of diversity in the workforce. In my degree program, I want to take courses that will help me secure a job in recruiting as well as to gain an understanding of people in the workplace, employees’ rights, and the laws that employers must adhere to. Some courses that I will incorporate into my degree plan that will help me achieve this goal are Staffing the Organization and Organizational Behavior. Within a few years of working in the human resources field I plan to go back to school for my Masters Degree. I know that with continuous education comes more opportunities and I look forward to flourishing in this line of work. My Personal Goals A bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management form Empire State College will enable me to continue my academic education and will allow me to achieve my goals as a human resource generalist. It is essential to have a degree in today’s market place. Success can be identified many ways. A more focused goal-orientedness, the opportunity to obtain more knowledge, to eventually become financially stable, and to reach some degree of success, professionally or otherwise are the primary objectives to pursue further education. Working toward my degree will provide me with a sense of awareness when dealing with people who may not have the same values or may not have had the same type of upbringing. In order to learn to walk one has to be taught to take the first step. The knowledge I seek to acquire is to learn about different types of people and different personalities. Due to the limitless opportunities available after receiving a degree, for me, completing a degree in higher education provides the ultimate degree of success. In the next five years, I would like to relocate to West Virginia, take better care of myself, and work on completing my Masters Degree. Those are my long-term goals which I have set at this time. Completion of this degree will be the first step in realizing these long standing personal, academic, and professional goals. Foundation Skills My area of study guidelines indicate that as a labor studies student, I should have sufficient skills to address the methodologies used in the social sciences and humanities. And although it does not mention it, a facility in writing and communicating skills is also needed so that I would be able to develop well rounded reports and express insights I may have on the topic. In order to gain communication skills, I took the course College Composition, College Writing, and Communications for Professionals, which prepared me for the various levels of communications a person working in my field will have to master. Furthermore, in order to familiarize myself with methodologies in the social sciences and humanities, the courses Exploring Place: Humanities, Achievement Motivation (that provided insights into motivating people), Foundations for Personal Health, Algebra (to tackle quantitative methodologies in research), and Business Ethics (to set the foundation for some knowledge in dealing with persons). Also, since part of the skill is determined by fundamental principles found in the basics, courses such as African History and Culture, Introduction to Public Administration, and Thinking About Race, Class and Gender, provided me with an understanding of how problems and issues in these areas could be properly appreciated squarely addressed. And to enhance my skills in training and conveying skills and knowledge to others, Reflective Learning was helpful in helping me understand the mechanics and rudiments of approaching the learning process from a novel viewpoint. As for administrative skills, Introduction to Public Administration gave me some grounding on how the government is run and principles that could be adopted in the development of good citizenship. Principles internalized here complement those I learned from Management Principles where management skills in the private sector are more closely examined. Other basic knowledge requirements I needed were addressed by courses in General Learning, discussed later in this paper, so that I could achieve a well-rounded approach to my chosen field, Labor Studies. Course selections for my concentration After reviewing the Area of Studies Guidelines for my chosen concentration, I decided to incorporate the following courses into my degree plan to assist me in my chosen field, starting with Staffing the Organization that are very much needed for the line of work I am going in.  Human Resources Management and Development will give me the knowledge I need involving the organization in the recruitment and hiring of competent employees who possess the skills needed to support the mission of the organization. Compensation, Organizational Strategy and Performance teaches me the alignment between employees’ pay and incentives, and the attainment by the organization of its goals and objectives. Strategic Human Resources Management is also part of my program, addressing organization staffing at a higher level. This course will help me understand and address the need for planning future staffing requirements based upon current and projected organizational activities and plans. International Human Resources Management brings to my awareness the role of people and workers in a global workplace, the intricacies of cross-cultural work coordination, and the problems of compensation and benefits equality across borders. Employment Law and Dispute Resolution in the Workplace will give me the proper tools in exploring federal statutes, and regulations that affect the employer/employee relationship, as well as appreciate and develop negotiation skills in the resolution of disputes.  This will help me understand, analyze and apply employment related laws, including those relating to civil rights, occupational safety and health, disabilities, and conditions of employment.  In addition, this will help me learn how to comply with employment laws to avoid unnecessary litigation, and the importance of employment laws in helping to maintain a productive and satisfied work force.  These courses will provide me with specific knowledge within my human resource concentration. Course selections in General Learning While I attended Corning Community College, I met some of Empire State's General guidelines for my degree in Business, Management and Economics.  Basic communications were met with College Writing and College Composition I.  I met Economics with Elements of Economics.  Quantitative skills were met with Introductory Algebra.  My Social Science was met with General Psychology. I have taken American History II to meet American History, History West Civilization II was met with Western Civilization, and because I have a great love for my African American culture, I have taken The African American Experience to meet Other World Civilization.  I have met Humanities and An Introductions to Philosophy with Basic Humanities as well as Humanities through the Arts for personal reasons as well as to meet the general guidelines in The Arts.  I enjoy going to see live production, however with my hectic schedule I rarely find the time to do so.  While taking this course I was able to attend a few plays, as well as get a basic history and knowledge of theater.  While at Empire State, I plan to take a course in Introductory Spanish:  Language and Culture to meet Foreign Language.  My past work experience has afforded me the opportunity to utilize the most essential software programs required for business operation today.  However, I plan to take a course in Information Management to enhance my research techniques from a variety of sources. Research I researched business degree requirements at West Virginia State, Walden University, and Fisher College for Business as well as Salem State College in search of any difference and similarities.  In reviewing the business curriculum at West Virginia State University, I found that they require 47-49 hours for general learning.  They require 30 hours for Business Core courses and anywhere from 18 to 27 hours in the concentration.  There were not any differences I could see in the curriculum for Empire State and West Virginia State.  In comparison with Walden University it was also very similar to Virginia State as it requires that students take 31 credits in foundation and core courses, 40 credits in major courses, a mere 15 for the concentration as well as 5 elective courses.  I read about what they expect the student to learn and the knowledge that should be obtained while at the college, which was also very similar to what is expected at the others school I researched.  I also researched the job outlook for Human Resource Management at the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics and to my delight; I found that there are many job openings in this field from entry level to advance positions. Conclusion I believe that my degree plan meets all the requirements of ESC guidelines to earn my Bachelor's degree, which will guide me toward reaching my academic, personal, and professional goals at the same time allow me to pursue my general interests.  Taking these courses not only meet the ESC requirements, but also will enhance my learning experience which I can use in my professional career as well as my personal life. Analyzing my degree plan and rationale essay I have listed my academic, personal, and professional goals and included courses that will assist me in achieving these goals.  These courses provide the necessary studies that will be beneficial in learning once employed in the human resource field.  I am very happy with my decision to attend Empire State as it allowed me flexibility to work, attend school full time and care for my family.  Returning to college has been the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. For me, learning enriches life in a way that money never can. Read More