WKU News

SOMERSET, Ky. — Students in the Cumberland Region now have a new pathway to prepare for careers in human resources without leaving the region to complete their bachelor's degree.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) and the University Center of Southern Kentucky (UCSK) at Somerset Community College signed a memorandum of agreement Tuesday, Sept. 1, making WKU's Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management available at WKU in Somerset.

The new degree option responds to the needs of students and employers throughout the Cumberland Region, providing students with an opportunity to complete their bachelor's degree close to home while developing the knowledge and skills needed to help organizations recruit, develop and retain their most important resource — their people.

Human resource (HR) professionals play an important role in virtually every industry, including manufacturing, health care, education, government, retail, hospitality and other sectors throughout Southern Kentucky. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of human resources managers in Kentucky is projected to grow 5% from 2022 to 2032, with approximately 150 job openings annually.

The program is offered through WKU's Gordon Ford College of Business, which, along with the WKU Department of Management, is accredited by AACSB International. The HR Management curriculum is also recognized by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), placing WKU among only a few dozen U.S. universities with that recognition. Together, these distinctions reflect the quality of WKU's business education and the program's alignment with professional standards in human resource management.

"We chose this program deliberately," said Evelyn Thrasher, dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business at WKU. "Every employer in the Cumberland region — hospitals, manufacturers, school districts, small businesses — depends on someone who knows how to hire well, develop people and keep good employees. Those are learnable skills, and they follow a graduate anywhere their career takes them."

WKU's Human Resource Management concentration combines a broad business foundation with specialized coursework in human resources. Students develop practical knowledge in areas such as recruitment and selection, employee development, compensation and benefits, labor relations, employment law, ethics and organizational management.

"We are proud to grow our longstanding partnership with WKU by bringing the Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management to the University Center of Southern Kentucky," said Dr. Korey Bruck, director of the UCSK. "Our students here are earning credentials from some of the best universities in the state, and this new program gives them another opportunity to prepare for a meaningful career while staying close to home."

The agreement builds on an established partnership between WKU and Somerset Community College. Through the UCSK, students can complete bachelor's degrees from participating four-year universities while remaining close to home. The center was created in response to community demands, workforce needs and the need to expand access to bachelor's degrees in Southern Kentucky.

WKU designed this program for students interested in careers in human resources as well as professionals who want to advance their careers by earning a bachelor's degree. Graduates will be qualified for positions in recruitment and selection, training and development, compensation and benefits, employee relations, labor relations and other areas of human resource management.

Students interested in the program can learn more about WKU in Somerset and available degree pathways through the University Center of Southern Kentucky. WKU offers academic and transfer advising, financial aid counseling, career and workforce development services and other student support at the Somerset location. Courses may be offered in a variety of formats, including in-person, online, hybrid and live-streamed instruction.

Students interested in preparing for a career in human resource management can take the next step by applying to WKU and connecting with a WKU in Somerset adviser to explore the new degree option, discuss admission and transfer scholarships and develop a degree plan tailored to their goals.

To learn more about the program or begin the application process, visit wku.edu/somerset and schedule an appointment with a Somerset academic adviser.