Peru, Nebraska- Peru State College’s School of Professional Studies has added two options to the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program. The new options in Human Resources and Public Administration will allow students to add important professional focuses to their core business classes.

The core courses in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BS/BA) degree program provide students with the knowledge and ability to analyze complex business scenarios and cases.  Students also build skills in accounting, communications, finance, marketing, operations management, human resources and leadership.

Dean of the School of Professional Studies,  Dr. Greg Galardi, said, "We added the in-depth option in Human Resources due to interest from students and the demand for entry-level human resources professionals in Nebraska."

Dr. Christy Hutchison, professor of business, writes, "Human resources is a dynamic and growing field. Businesses in every industry have a need for recruiting, training and supporting their workers in the most effective manner possible."

"This is an area of mounting sophistication and employers are looking for knowledgeable managers who understand human resources methods, technologies, policies and laws. We expect this to be a popular option for students who excel in business and are attracted to a profession that is essential to every organization in every industry."

Galardi writes, "Adding new curriculum requires faculty to possess the necessary knowledge, experience, and teaching skills to maintain the new programs.  Dr. Sheri Grotrian-Ryan and Dr. Christy Hutchison strongly supported the efforts to create the new Human Resources curriculum."

"We have added two exciting courses to support this area of specialty," Hutchison continues. "Employment Law explores court decisions and regulatory actions relating to hiring, firing, and managing employees.  Compensation and Benefits covers how to design total compensation systems that assist in recruiting and retaining a highly qualified, motivated, and productive workforce. With the addition of these courses, the program will prepare a student to be a valued member of a human resources team."
Hutchison writes, "As an added benefit, we plan to charter a college chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) – the premier professional organization in this field."

"By affiliating with SHRM, students will have access to professional conferences, scholarly materials, expert career advice, internships, job networking, and opportunities to compete against other college chapters."

 In addition to an option in Human Resources, the BS/BA program added an option in Public Administration. Dr. John Tiner, a Peru State business professor, and Dr. Sara Crook, a Peru State political science/history professor, have collaborated together to create the curriculum for the Public Administration option.

Dr. Crook, professor of history, writes, "The Public Administration option was possible by combining selected classes in business with political science courses already offered at Peru State College."

"We thought this combination of classes would benefit our students as they pursue careers in public service at the local, state and national levels. This option highlights the nexus of business and politics by noting the similarities and differences between private and public entities."

Galardi adds, “Students majoring in Business Administration with an option in Public Administration will have a strong business background along with an in-depth understanding of public entities.”

For more information about the School of Professional Studies, visit www.peru.edu/professionalstudies or contact Dr. Greg Galardi at ggalardi@peru.edu.