Human Resources programs prepare students to provide support to companies, and to individual employees, in the area of human resources. AAS and AS graduates may assume duties in the following areas: communication with employees, employee data recordkeeping, policies and administration, employee and labor relations, employment process, training and development, wage and salary, and benefit administration. The AS program is designed for more efficient course transfer to partner universities for students wishing to continue with additional education.

1. Understand and apply applicable federal, state, and local employment regulations and recordkeeping requirements to human resource functions.
2. Demonstrate and apply effective interpersonal communication skills including interviewing, negotiation, presentation, and training applied to human resource management.
3. Develop and administer ethical policies and procedures related to employment processes, including employee selection, termination, performance evaluation, compensation, forecasting and benefit administration.
4. Compose and create business correspondence utilizing appropriate communication formats.
5. Develop and coordinate safety, health, and security programs to ensure compliance.
6. Understand and utilize computer technology for business applications including word processing, spreadsheets, database management, and presentation software.
7. Use knowledge and skills of Human Resources to analyze and solve related Human Resources problems and situations.

The employment outlook is good through the year 2012 according to the Minnesota Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor. In a favorable job market, more emphasis is placed on human resources, thus increasing the demand for assistants. Even in economic downturns, there is demand, as human resources departments in all industries try to make their organizations more efficient by determining what type of employees to hire and strategically filling job openings. Opportunities in the government sector will result primarily from the need to replace workers as they retire. Graduates assume duties in the following areas: communication with employees, personnel recordkeeping and reporting, personnel research and screening, employee services, employee benefits, wage and salary administration, personnel planning, policy administration, Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations, training and development, employee and labor relations. Students graduating from the Human Resource program may find employment opportunities with industries, both service and manufacturing, schools, hospitals, city government, and utility companies.

The College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, (800) 621-7440, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504.