Human resources professionals play a crucial role in an organization’s success: They attract, motivate, develop and retain employees. If you enjoy a high level of personal interaction and have a healthy amount of empathy and patience, advancing in this field is for you.
In the UW–Madison Online BBA in Human Resources you will learn about leadership, strategy, and decision-making that will land you in a demanding yet rewarding field. Through the highly ranked School of Business, you will gain valuable skills in communication, collaboration, problem solving, research and planning. You will learn to analyze an organization’s compensation strategy, discern the best staffing techniques, address challenges facing labor and employment relations, use the best negotiation tactics and design work systems that help employees contribute to an organization’s performance.
After you graduate, you’ll attract top national employers in a variety of industries, such as finance and insurance, health care and social assistance, professional/scientific/technical services and manufacturing. The BBA in Business Administration: Human Resources offered through UW–Madison Online will equip you for a broad array of careers, from human resources manager to compensation analyst or compliance manager.
How to Get in
Students applying to the BBA in Business Administration-Human Resources program apply through UW-Madison Online. UW–Madison Online undergraduate programs are for those applying as transfer students (i.e., those transferring at least 12 college credits). UW-Madison re-entry students may also be considered. For more information, visit the UW-Madison Online admissions website.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
Requirements
The Wisconsin Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree program is based on a broad educational foundation combined with courses in business and economics. This curriculum is designed for those students who wish to prepare for careers in business.
Pre-Business Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Communication Part A | ||
| Complete one course designated Communication Part A, preferably: | 0-3 | |
| Introduction to Speech Composition | ||
| Introduction to College Composition | ||
| Academic Writing II | ||
Completion of Communication Part A based on UW Placement Test | ||
| Economics | ||
| ECON 101 | Principles of Microeconomics | 4 |
| or ECON 111 | Principles of Economics-Accelerated Treatment | |
| Psychology | ||
| PSYCH 202 | Introduction to Psychology | 3-4 |
| Math | ||
| Three credits satisfied by placement exam or one of the following courses: | 3 | |
Math 112, 113, 114, 171, 211, 213, 217, 221, or 222 | ||
| Total Credits | 10-14 | |
Liberal Studies Requirements
Liberal studies requirements must be completed prior to graduation. Students may not use courses offered by the Department of Economics or by the School of Business to fulfill liberal studies requirements. In addition, a single course may not be used to fulfill multiple liberal studies requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Literature | ||
| Select one 3 (or more) credit course designated Literature (L) | 3 | |
| Science | ||
| Select six credits designated Biological, Natural or Physical Science. Courses that MAY NOT COUNT include: Courses in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics or Economics. | 6 | |
| Ethics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Introductory Ethics | ||
| Ethics in Business | ||
| Contemporary Moral Issues | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Humanities | ||
| Select one 3 (or more) credit course designated Humanities (H or Z) 1 | 3 | |
| Ethnic Studies | ||
| Select one 3 (or more) credit course designated Ethnic Studies (e) | 3 | |
| Social Science | ||
| Select one 3 (or more) credit course designated Social Science (S or Z) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 21-22 | |
- 1
Note: If a student completes an additional Literature (L) course, this requirement will be satisfied.
Business Foundation Requirements
All BBA degree candidates are required to complete foundation courses in business and economics. The foundation courses, in conjunction with a broad educational base, are designed to integrate the student's specialized training with an understanding of the structure and functions of business and its role in the larger social system. Business foundation courses make up the business preparatory, core, and breadth requirements. Sequencing of courses in business preparatory, core, and breadth sections may vary based on a student’s academic plan or major. Consult with your academic advisor for specific recommendations.
Business Preparatory Requirement
All students must take the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEN BUS 110 | Personal and Professional Foundations in Business | 1 |
| GEN BUS 106 | Foundational Skills for Business Analysis | 1 |
| GEN BUS 206 | Beginning Data Analysis for Business | 3 |
| GEN BUS 207 | Intermediate Data Analysis for Business | 3 |
| GEN BUS 360 | Workplace Writing and Communication | 3 |
| ECON 102 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3-4 |
| or ECON 111 | Principles of Economics-Accelerated Treatment | |
| ACCT I S 100 | Introductory Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT I S 211 | Introductory Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| Total Credits | 20-21 | |
Business Core Requirement
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FINANCE/ECON 300 | Introduction to Finance | 3 |
| MARKETNG 300 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| M H R 300 | Managing Organizations | 3 |
| OTM 300 | Operations and Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Business Breadth Requirement | ||
| GEN BUS 301 | Business Law | 3 |
| Business Breadth Course 1 | 3 | |
| Business Breadth Course 1 | 3 | |
| Total Credits 2 | 3-9 | |
- 1
Students must complete two business courses (3 credits each) that are outside their major from two separate School of Business departments. Courses taken to satisfy this requirement may not include preparatory or core courses, courses required by or cross- listed with the student's major, general business courses, any 399 (Readings and Research) course, or business courses cross-listed with foreign language departments. Courses taken at another institution must be directly equivalent to a UW-Madison business course and title (i.e. not elective credit which is sometimes given an X10 course number).
- 2
Students with two majors in business or students with one major and a business related certificate need only one course (3 credits) outside their majors/certificate to satisfy this requirement. Students with three or more business majors or two majors and a business related certificate are not required to take additional breadth courses.
Credits for BBA Degree
Credit Requirements
Candidates for the BBA degree must meet all of the following credit requirements in addition to completing the required coursework.
120 Degree Credits
All students who plan to graduate from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a bachelor's degree must complete a minimum of 120 degree credits.
BBA in Business Administration - Human Resources Major Requirements
The BBA in Business Administration - Human Resources major is a total of 12 credits consisting of the following 4 required courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M H R 305 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| M H R 423 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| M H R 610 | Compensation: Theory and Administration | 3 |
| M H R 611 | Strategic Talent Management | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand that the management of human resources is vital to a successful business strategy and organizational effectiveness.
- Analyze organization compensation strategy to identify problems and develop solutions that support the organization's strategy.
- Discern which staffing techniques are poor, fair, and good predictors of employees' future job performance.
- Identify and address the various challenges currently facing labor and employment relations.
- Apply appropriate tactics in competitive and cooperative negotiations individually and as part of a negotiation team.
- Design work systems and roles that allow employees to contribute to organizational performance.
Four-Year Plan
This program is designed for transfer students, most of whom will enroll on a part-time basis. As such, there is not a four-year plan for this program. Please refer to the Requirements tab for more information about the curriculum and program plan.
Advising and Careers
Accessing Advising
Each UW-Madison Online student is assigned an academic and career (AC) advisor. The AC advisor will support the academic and personal success of each student by partnering with current School of Business advisors in the Wisconsin BBA Advising Center to assist students as they identify and clarify their educational goals, develop meaningful academic plans, and pursue their own Wisconsin Experience.
Careers
Active engagement in the career development process is a vital component of a student’s personal growth in college and future success as a lifelong learner, professional, and global citizen. AC advisors help prepare students for life post-graduation through individual and group advising.
People
For more information about the faculty and their research interests, please visit the directory.
Accreditation
AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Accreditation status: Accredited. Next accreditation review: 2026–2027.