Department of Management and International Business Programs

Department of Management houses two concentrations: Management and International Business. In Management, students obtain the knowledge and skills needed to operate a small business or advance into management positions in corporations and not-for-profit organizations. The International Business concentration prepares students for careers in the global business world by focusing on three components: business administration, international business specialization, and world language.

The Human Resource Management (HRM) concentration is designed to prepare students to become effective HRM leaders in their organizations. This concentration is ideal for any student who intends to be involved in the employee management process in an organization or intends to pursue a career in HRM. The concentration was developed in line with the SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge (BoCK) and will support graduates in demonstrating to employers that they have the desired knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) to fulfill employer demands and provides graduates with a solid foundation in HRM.

As of February 2022, Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) aligned its Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (HR concentration) with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates. Throughout the world, over 500 programs in approx. 425 educational institutions have been acknowledged by SHRM as being in alignment with its suggested guides and templates. The HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates were developed by SHRM to define the minimum HR content areas that should be studied by HR students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The guidelines -- created in 2006 and revalidated in 2010, 2013 and 2017 -- are part of SHRM’s Academic Initiative to define HR education standards taught in university business schools and help universities develop degree programs that follow these standards. At the same time, SCSU, with approved HR programs that are aligned with SHRM’s HR curriculum, can award PDCs for professional development activities/events provided to SHRM Certification credential-holders.

The concentration in international business is designed to provide you with a global perspective. The program of study has three parts, with course requirements in business administration and international business and demonstration of proficiency in a world language at the second-year college level. To gain cultural exposure to a foreign country or region, you'll take a 6-credit cognate course in cultural studies drawn from the departments of anthropology, art, interdisciplinary studies, political science, geography, history, world languages, or literature. We also encourage you to take a summer session or semester in a foreign country, both excellent preparation for a career in international business.

The management concentration allows you ample flexibility to obtain foundation knowledge and skills that are suitable for operating a small business or advancing into a wide variety of middle- and upper-level management positions within corporations and not-for-profit organizations. The concentration also helps students prepare for graduate study in business and law. By highlighting successful organizational processes and practices, this concentration will help you understand a wide variety of managerial concerns as well as analytical and administrative techniques commonly used to address them.

The nature of public utility operations is rapidly changing, as the industry faces the common challenges of an aging workforce, looming retirements, outdated infrastructure, additional regulations, and heightened financial burdens. The specialization in public utilities management includes 30 credits that focus on management of public utilities, such as water, gas, electric and wastewater. New courses in asset and infrastructure management, green energy and environmental sustainability, crisis/rick management and workforce safety, and industry regulatory codes will be part of the program. The business curriculum applies theory to real-world problems so that students develop the skills and knowledge for in-demand careers in the region’s utility companies.

Read more about this program.

The Master of Business Administration (management concentration) prepares individuals for leadership positions in business, nonprofit, or governmental organizations. The program is multidisciplinary and follows a systems approach to understanding the internal and external forces that influence the development of an organization.

The Human Resource Management (HRM) minor is designed to prepare students to become effective HRM leaders in their organizations. This minor is ideal for any student who intends to be involved in the employee management process in an organization or intends to pursue a career in HRM. The minor was developed in line with the SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge (BoCK) and will support graduates in demonstrating to employers that they have the desired knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) to fulfill employer demands and provides graduates with a solid foundation in HRM.

As of February 2022Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) aligned its Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (HR concentration) with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates. Throughout the world, over 500 programs in approx. 425 educational institutions have been acknowledged by SHRM as being in alignment with its suggested guides and templates. The HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates were developed by SHRM to define the minimum HR content areas that should be studied by HR students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The guidelines -- created in 2006 and revalidated in 2010, 2013 and 2017 -- are part of SHRM’s Academic Initiative to define HR education standards taught in university business schools and help universities develop degree programs that follow these standards. At the same time, SCSU, with approved HR programs that are aligned with SHRM’s HR curriculum, can award PDCs for professional development activities/events provided to SHRM Certification credential-holders.