University of Hawaii

What you'll study

This bachelor’s programme blends core business knowledge with specialist human resources topics. Study is typically structured around introductory business and communication courses, followed by progressive HR modules that move from foundational theory to applied practice. Typical subject areas include:

• Recruitment and Selection — strategies for sourcing candidates, interview techniques, on-boarding and employer branding.
• Training and Employee Development — instructional design, career-pathing, leadership development and evaluating learning outcomes.
• Performance Management — goal setting, appraisal systems, feedback methods and performance coaching.
• Compensation and Benefits — pay structures, job evaluation, benefits administration and total rewards philosophy.
• Employment Law and Compliance — local and federal labour regulations, workplace rights, health and safety requirements and ethical practice.
• Labor and Employee Relations — collective bargaining basics, grievance handling, conflict resolution and workplace negotiation.
• Organisational Behaviour and Workforce Analytics — understanding individual and group behaviour, diversity and inclusion, HR metrics and data-informed decision making.
• Practicum/Internship — workplace placements or project-based internships with Hawaiʻi employers or public-sector organisations to apply classroom learning.

Assessment typically mixes exams, case studies, group projects, presentations and workplace-based assessments. Electives and capstone projects allow students to focus on areas such as nonprofit HR, hospitality and tourism workforce management, or HR technology and systems.

Entry requirements

Applicants normally require completion of secondary education or an equivalent qualification. Typical admissions expectations include satisfactory grades in core subjects and evidence of English proficiency for applicants whose first language is not English. Many applicants are asked to submit a personal statement outlining their interest in HR, and some programmes may request a reference or examples of relevant work or volunteer experience.

Where applicable, mature applicants with significant workplace experience may be considered through a separate admissions route. Specific course prerequisites, assessment criteria and any required placement clearances are listed by the University and should be checked before applying.

Career prospects

Graduates enter a wide range of HR and people-focused roles across private, public and nonprofit sectors. Common entry-level positions include HR assistant, recruitment coordinator, training administrator and payroll officer. With experience, graduates progress to roles such as HR generalist, talent acquisition specialist, learning and development consultant, compensation analyst or employee relations advisor.

Because the programme emphasises practical skills and regional workplace knowledge, alumni also find opportunities in hospitality and tourism HR, government human resources, union and labour relations work, and small-business HR management. Graduates who pursue postgraduate study can move into specialist fields such as organisational development, labour law or HR analytics.

Why study at University of Hawaii

The University of Hawaiʻi offers an HR curriculum shaped by the unique economic and cultural context of the Pacific. Students benefit from connections with local employers across tourism, public administration, health services and the military, enabling relevant internship placements and applied projects. The campus environment supports culturally responsive approaches to people management, preparing graduates to work effectively in diverse and multicultural workplaces.

Smaller class sizes in upper-level HR courses allow for interactive learning and close faculty mentoring. Students also have access to career services, employer panels, and local professional networks to build practical experience and employment pathways within Hawaiʻi and the wider Asia–Pacific region.