Human Resource Management and Psychology, BA (Hons)

Human Resource Management (HRM) deals with the management of an organisation’s workforce. Organisational success depends upon developing appropriate methods of: recruitment and selection; motivation; reward; training and development; grievance and discipline; performance management and career progression. Did you know? • Human Resource Management lecturing staff are regularly nominated by students for the Students’ Union’s RATE awards for excellence in teaching. Staff come from various academic and employment backgrounds, bringing a rich variety of perspectives to their teaching. • Staff research interests include: employee ownership, employers use of social networking sites in the workplace and employability and skills. They research in cutting edge industries such as banking and software.Their research is published in leading journals and contributes to prestigious edited books and textbooks. HRM also attempts to increase the organisation’s ability to adapt within its environment through broadening the skills of the workforce. As such, HR specialists also need to have a good understanding of the labour market and their organisation’s wider social, economic and political environments. The course has a focus that goes beyond traditional businesses to include the public and non-profit sectors, community and employee-owned organisations. Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. During this course you will investigate how and why humans (and other animals) behave in the ways they do, and learn about the mental processes driving these behaviours. As you’ll discover, Psychology is a very broad subject, covering such diverse areas as brain function, perceiving the world and even the social interactions in a football crowd. Psychology at Stirling is internationally renowned for research and this feeds into teaching. In our taught modules, you learn of the importance of research in furthering the understanding of behaviour and, in practical work, develop research skills of your own. Semesters 1 – 2 comprise an introduction to psychology as a biological and behavioural science including: Developmental Psychology; Brain and Behaviour; Language and Thinking; Animal Behaviour; Clinical and Abnormal Psychology; Social Psychology and Cognitive Psychology. Other modules on this course may include: Research Methods, Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Individual Differences, Cognition, Animal Behaviour and Clinical and Health Psychology. In the final year of our Single Honours Programme, as well as an individual research project, you will choose from a wide variety of electives that are designed to allow you to explore topics that interest you and build your employability skills. Teaching is by workshops, small discussion groups and practical sessions such as laboratory work or field work. There are opportunities for placements with prospective employers and fieldwork in the study of animal behaviour. At the end of your final year, you will do an independent research project based in the real world and often with a practical value. Here at Stirling you will become an active learner and work with staff as collaborators. Our programme is designed to ensure you are attractive to employers and to enhance and develop your potential in the competitive job market. With its focus on behaviour and mind, Psychology links naturally with other disciplines such as Biology, Philosophy and Sociology. It also integrates with subjects valued in the workplace, such as Business Studies, Marketing and Human Resource Management.