Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources Management & Leadership

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IB - HRM and Leadership (B.A.) Bachelor's Degree in Germany

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Why is Human Resources Management important? Why should you study it?

What side do you want to be on in a job interview? A company’s success lies in the hands of its employees. And every company strives to have the best minds for the right positions. Naturally. But they all vie for that. The world over. International companies compete for the best talents in the world. Finding, retaining, and developing employees – this is the task of HR managers. Studying Human Resources at CBS will take you there. Particularly in demand are experts who know and comprehend not only the business of personnel and the latest trends but also understand the complex business world. Internationally.

What do you learn in a human resources management bachelor's course?

Studying Human Resources at CBS is part of the International Business Studies where you will specialize in Human Resources Management and Leadership. Lectures are held in English. In semesters 3 to 6 you acquire HR expertise, starting with the fundamentals: recruiting employees, further education, personnel development and remuneration and reward management. Psychology and sociology? Also part of the curriculum. Starting with the 4th semester, you will apply your knowledge in a business project or case study. Here, you work on real or realistic projects and present these afterwards. You will also learn how digital talent management is currently changing the entire profession, which employer branding strategies are successful, and how important work-life balance can be.

IB – HRM and Leadership at a glance

ECTS 180
Semester 6
Language English
Type of Study Full-time
Degree Bachelor of Arts
Campus Cologne
Internship Integrated
Semester Abroad Integrated

Start of Studies Summer Cologne
Study Fee* 5.370 €

*The displayed prices are semester fees. For non-EU students' fees please check the tuition fees information page. Status: March 2021.

Study Course Plan

Some information about the study plan for the study programme Bachelors in HRM and Leadership:

General business teaching units

Business Operations3 ECTS

Introduction: Basic business, economic, and market principles and key terms
External Business Environment
Global Markets
Competitive Environment
Internal Environment
Management, Leadership & Motivation
Business Function: HR, Operations, Marketing, Finance & Accounting
Entrepreneurship
Business Ethics and CSR
Emerging Business Trends

Business Law3 ECTS

Survey on different legal systems and the harmonizing effect of EU Law
Concluding a contract
Different types of contracts and their typical features
Performance and obligations
Solving problems (e.g. failure to perform, liabilities)
Safeguarding creditors’ rights
Forms of business organizations

Mathematics3 ECTS

Introduction to functions, graphs and interpretations
Understanding Derivatives
Applications of Derivatives
Understanding Differential Equations
Applications of Differential Equations
Understanding Logarithms
Applications of Logarithms

Statistics3 ECTS

Introducing data and statistics
Descriptive statistics and exploratory data analysis
Introduction to probability theory
Discrete and continuous probability distributions
Sampling and sampling distributions
Interval estimations
Hypothesis development and testing
Simple linear regressions

Financial Accounting3 ECTS

The purpose of accounting
Formal rules and assumptions, national law, IFRS, US-GAAP
The system of financial statements and accounts
Accounting for services and merchandising
Inventory valuation
Receivables
Plant, natural and intangible assets
Liabilities
Owner’s equity of corporations
Value-added tax

Applied Financial Accounting3 ECTS

The purpose of accounting
Formal rules and assumptions, national law, IFRS, US-GAAP
The system of financial statements and accounts
Accounting for services and merchandising
Inventory valuation
Receivables
Plant, natural and intangible assets
Liabilities
Owner’s equity of corporations
Value-added tax

Programme specific teaching units

Marketing3 ECTS

Marketing Definition and Process
Marketing in Context of Corporate Strategies
Internal Analysis and Marketing Environment (Micro)
Marketing Environment (Macro)
Consumer Buying Behaviour
Market Segmentation
Strategic Brand Management
Marketing Instruments (Product, Price Place, Promotion)
Marketing and Sustainability

Human Resource Management3 ECTS

Recruitment and Attraction
HR Planning, Controlling & Instruments
Training and Employee Development
Motivation and Leadership
Compensation and Benefits
Performance Appraisal and Management
Certificate of employment
HR Ethics
Trends in HRM

Interdisciplinary competencies

Foreign Language2 ECTS

Depending on the student‘s choice, language courses are offered, for example, in English, Spanish or French. If you choose the English-Only track, the lessons will focus on the intensive development of your English skills.

Academic Business English2 ECTS

This course aims to solidify the students’ existing language competencies as independent users of English and to enable them to apply this to their studies, focusing on educational and business domains. Students will learn the skills and process of critical thinking and analysis and how to express and elaborate their thoughts, opinions, and arguments. Students will have gained an understanding of complex language and writing skills to organize and develop their ideas in a scholarly way.

Personal Skills2 ECTS

In courses such as Rhetoric and Presentation or Business and Society your social and leadership skills are trained. In addition to various compulsory courses, there are optional subjects where you can choose which of your competences should be particularly strengthened.

General business teaching units

Microeconomics3 ECTS

Introduction into microeconomic models
Consumer theory
The theory of the firm
Competitive markets
Market failure
Market power and monopoly
Oligopoly and monopolistic competition
Externalities
Asymmetric information
Introduction to game theory

Applied Microeconomics3 ECTS

Introduction into microeconomic models
Consumer theory
The theory of the firm
Competitive markets
Market failure:
Market power and monopoly
Oligopoly and monopolistic competition
Externalities
Asymmetric information
Introduction to game theory

Market Research3 ECTS

Introduction to Market Research
Defining the marketing research problem and developing an approach
Research design
Secondary Data
Qualitative research
Quantitative research
Scaling and sampling
Fieldwork and Data preparation
Basic data analysis (how to use it)
Report preparation and presentation

Cost Accounting3 ECTS

Rationales of cost accounting
Simplistic methods of overhead allocation
Job costing
Process costing
Activity-based costing
Overcapacity costing
Joint product costing
Overhead analysis sheet
Concepts of relevant cost and revenue
Budgeting

Programme specific teaching units

Supply Management3 ECTS

Industrial Buying Behaviour
New perception of supply management
The procurement marketing process
Situation Analysis: Defining critical supply problems, potentials, targets and strategies
Need Analysis: Defining the demand
Evaluating and Selecting Supply Markets
Supplier Evaluation: Find the ‘right supplier’
Supplier Relationship Management: Importance of supplier collaborations
Supplier Negotiation Process: Strategies and tools
Green procurement: Describing a sustainable procurement model
Creating a basis for sustainable procurement and integrating sustainable measures into procurement processes
Sustainable supplier management: Key theories and practices

Strategic Management3 ECTS

Introduction to Strategy and Strategic Management
External Analysis: understanding opportunities and threats the environment offers
Internal Analysis: uncovering strengths and weaknesses of the organization
Generic business-level strategies for competitive advantage
Basic Corporate-level strategic choices for long-term profitability
Diversification strategy
Internationalization
Mergers and acquisitions
Strategic entrepreneurship
Strategic leadership
Social Responsibility and Ethics of Strategic Management
Basics of Corporate Governance

Introduction to Finance6 ECTS

Finance: Goals, Functions and Environment
Financial analysis and Financial Forecasting
Managing Working Capital
Sources of Short-Term Financing
Capital Markets and Investment Banking
External financing resources: Debt capital
External financing resources: Equity capital
Capital Budgeting: The Time Value of Money
Capital structure and the Cost of Capital

Interdisciplinary competencies

Academic Business English2 ECTS

Foreign Language2 ECTS

Personal Skills2 ECTS

General business teaching units

Macroeconomics3 ECTS

Indicators: Gross Domestic Product and its major components, Inflation
Labour Markets and unemployment
The classical AS-AD model
Keynes’ IS-LM Model
The basic RBC model
Monetary Policy
Fiscal Policy

Applied Macroeconomics3 ECTS

Indicators: Gross Domestic Product and its major components, Inflation
Labour Markets and unemployment
The classical AS-AD model
Keynes’ IS-LM Model
The basic RBC model
Monetary Policy
Fiscal Policy

Programme specific teaching units

International Management3 ECTS

Determinants & dimensions of culture in business
Culture & styles of management
Culture & corporate structures
Culture & leadership
Culture & corporate strategy
Cultural change in organisations
Culture and international marketing management
Cultural diversity in organisations
Business communication across culture & barriers to intercultural communication
Working with international teams
Conflicts & cultural differences
Developing intercultural communicative competence

Digital Management3 ECTS

Global competition and the transnational corporation in the global economy
Emerging markets
Institutions governing competition
Formal and informal institutions
Organizational designs for multinational companies
Location-based aspects: Competitive advantages of countries
Organization, local adaptation and the need for standardization
New approaches in International Management (Born Global, QRC, …)
Networks and innovation
Managing people in multinational enterprises
Managing expatriates
Leadership and management behaviour in multinational companies

Integrative Case Study3 ECTS

Guide and Strategic Plan to Case study analysis
Writing a proper case study analysis report
In-depth Case Study Analysis with focus on Financial Management
Solving of interdisciplinary case studies with a focus on digital management

Elective area

Reward Management3 ECTS

Introduction to Incentive Systems: Total Rewards
The Organizational Structure and Pay
Pay as a Source of Motivation
Legislation and Pay
Job Evaluation
Setting Pay Levels
Performance Management and Pay
Individual Incentive Schemes
Group Incentive Schemes
Benefits and Perquisites
Incentives for Special Employee Groups
Corporate Governance and Executive Pay
Managing Reward Systems

Talent Acquisitions3 ECTS

Demographic Changes, Globalization and war for talents
Steps in the talent acquisition process
Active vs. passive sourcing
Review of job advertises in the past and today
Communication channels, digitalisation of employer communication
Formation of preferences for professions and employers
Identifying and addressing target groups
Employer value proposition and employer brand
Selection methods
Selection biases
Managing the candidates recruiting experience
Employer Awards
Relevance of sustainability and ethical values for employees

Training & Development3 ECTS

Introduction to Human Resource Development
Learning and Human Resource Training and Development
Training and Development Needs Assessment
Designing Effective Training and Development Programs
Evaluating Training and Development Programs
Employee Skills and Technical Training
Socialization and Orientation of Employees
Employee Counselling
Effective Coaching
Career Development
Management Development
The Role of Trade Unions in Training and Development
Ethics in Training and Development

Interdisciplinary competencies

Foreign Language4 ECTS

Personal Skills2 ECTS

General business teaching units

Management Information Systems3 ECTS

IT and MIS as enablers of strategic decision making
E-business, networks, and mobile technology
Infrastructure, hardware and software
Databases and data warehouses
Business Intelligence
Networks and communications
Operations management and supply chain management
Enterprise resource planning
Limitations and risks of IT systems and applications
MIS market trends, major providers and IT solutions.
The role of social media in business
Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things

Programme specific teaching units

Corporate Tax3 ECTS

The overall aim of this module is to introduce students to the basic concepts of corporate taxation, especially the different types of taxes, transparent and intransparent entities and the value added tax.

Elective area

Business Elective 13 ECTS

These courses aim to enable the students to develop and/or strengthen relevant skills that are of particular interest to them. Electives allow students to expand their knowledge. The following are examples of the types of courses on offer. Typically you have the choice between two or three different electives.

International Marketing
International Human Resource Management
Organisational Behaviour
Global Supply Chain Management
Entrepreneurship
Diversity in Business
Corporate Social Responsibility
International Accounting
Advanced Statistics
Design Thinking
Quantitative Social Media Research
SAP as Enterprise Resource Planning Software
Snack Content
Harvesting and analyzing social media data for business purposes
Industry 4.0

Business Elective 23 ECTS

International Marketing
International Human Resource Management
Organisational Behaviour
Global Supply Chain Management
Entrepreneurship
Diversity in Business
Corporate Social Responsibility
International Accounting
Advanced Statistics
Design Thinking
Quantitative Social Media Research
SAP as Enterprise Resource Planning Software
Snack Content
Harvesting and analyzing social media data for business purposes
Industry 4.0

Business Project6 ECTS

The overall objective of this course is to provide students with possibility of applying their business knowledge on concrete business situation (real or scenario-based), related to the field of their specialization. By the end of the module students should be able to:

Define project goals for the “client”.
Work under the set timeframe and agreed project scope.
Cooperate in the international project teams.
Plan and conduct secondary and primary research to gather necessary information: understand which information is needed and where to look for it.
Conduct analysis of the “client business”: be able to understand the researched information in a wider context.
Evaluate markets/ industries/ competitive landscapes.
Develop possible strategic directions for the “client” business.
Formulate recommendations

Management & Organization3 ECTS

Introduction and the Origins of Management
Management and Firm
Historical overview of organisational research
The Origins of Modern Strategy
Understanding Organisational Structures
Analysis of Organisations
Contemporary Strategic Management
Strategy and Decision Making
Strategy in Global Context
Organization Foundations
International Management Challenges

Labour Law & Intdustrial Relations3 ECTS

Basic principles of German labour law
European labour law
Parties in the labour condition
Establishment of the labour relation
Content of the labour relation
Disruptions of the labour relation
Termination of the labour relation
Selected employee protection legislation
Employee data protection
Transfer of business labour court proceeding

Interdisciplinary competencies

Foreign Language4 ECTS

Personal Skills2 ECTS

Semester Abroad

Semester Abroad25 ECTS

You will spend the fifth semester at one of our numerous partner universities abroad. Our International Office supports you in the selection & application process and coordinates the courses to be taken abroad with you in advance.

Programme specific teaching units

Bachelor Thesis12 ECTS

During your 6th semester you are working on your Bachelor thesis. You have 12 weeks to complete your thesis and the subject is freely selectible. A supervisor from CBS will support you and you can write the thesis in collaboration with a company as well.

Bachelor Thesis Tutorial1 ECTS

During the Bachelor Thesis Tutorial you will learn the fundamentals for your Bachelor thesis: Defining the topic as well as structuring the thesis and you will learn the theoretical knowledge for scientific working.

Business Simulation Game4 ECTS

In a business simulation game participants have to manage their own virtual company which operates in the same market as other participant-operated competitors. This involves making typical management decisions in realistic environments. Beside the deepening and active examination of subject-specific knowledge the simulation games also include the team environment, where interaction, communication and prioritization are of paramount importance. Participants learn how to manage risk and uncertainty while time is limited and information constrained. Group-reflections help to take over different perspectives and to discuss pros and cons of content- as well as behaviour-related actions.

Elective area

E-HRM & Digital Leadership3 ECTS

Challenges for HRM in First World Economies and their Impact to HRM
Managing Demographics
Managing Shifting Values and Diversity
Managing the Scarcity of Talents (War for Talents)
Improving Performance Management and Rewards (Employee Engagement)
Becoming a Learning Organization / HR Innovations
Becoming a Strategic Partner
Reinventing Organizations

Sustainable HRM & Ethical Leadership3 ECTS

Leadership theories (e.g. transactional vs. transformational theories of leadership,
emotional leadership)
Business ethics concepts, tools, and theories (normative and descriptive)
Principles like: (Corporate Social) Sustainability, Corporate Governance, Codes of
Business Conduct
Implications from high reliability organizations and Stakeholder Management
Globalization and ethical Issues (e.g. working condition, child labour)
Day-to-day ethical Issues (e.g. fraud)
Decision-Making in complex situations
Enhancing Business Ethics

Interdisciplinary competencies

Personal Skills2 ECTS

An internship (10 ECTS) in Germany or abroad is an integral part of your degree. Our Career Service is happy to support you in finding the perfect company.

Develop your own leadership skills

The human resources department in every company requires people with leadership skills. We will teach you leadership theories, how HR management works, how labor law differs between industries and from one country to another, and how you can become an ethical, socially responsible and successful leader.

Practical experience, soft & intercultural skills trainings prepare you for the job market

Several practical phases are integrated into the curriculum so that you can optimally prepare yourself for the job market and get to know various aspects of different industries during your studies. For example, you will complete an eight-week internship during your lecture-free period and work on complex issues in a joint business project with corporate partners. Our Business Simulation Game also offers you the chance to apply your knowledge in practice. Our Career Service supports you in finding an exciting internship in Germany or abroad with a renowned company!

In addition, our soft skills courses teach you how to lead teams and communicate effectively with your fellow students at all levels of the hierarchy. Whether in a job interview or at an important final presentation - a confident appearance is the sum of your experience and targeted training in which you can improve your skills. with convincing charisma and rhetoric, you will always be successful in your working life.

In addition to these practical insights, you will strengthen your intercultural skills during your semester abroad. As CBS has a large network of partner universities, you can spend your semester abroad at one of over 120 universities all over the world. The International Office staff will assist you with your choice and the whole application process.

Your career path starts where careers are day-to-day business

Studying human resources brings you in contact with the HR departments of interesting companies thanks to the network of CBS business partners. And that’s where you want to be. With an international degree from CBS and excellent English skills, you have amazing career opportunities. At a large, international company, you can specialize in a particular area, such as promoting talent, diversity management or strategic personnel management. In a medium-sized company, on the other hand, all-rounders are in demand, who can weave together all the threads in human resources – at all locations worldwide. The professional world is all yours!

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Soft skills: a strong advantage

Studying Human Resources at CBS not only offers you theory and practice but also valuable personal skills. Soft skills. You will acquire these within courses throughout each semester. Personnel management requires a lot of fine feeling and rhetorical skills. Every applicant wants the job; most do not get it. Employees can be surprisingly tough negotiators when they know they are hard to replace. Recruiting cultures differ all over the world. And when you present a personnel development strategy to the board, you can benefit from presentation skills.

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This is What Our Students Say

Philip Kollmann

Project Manager
Wayne´s Coffee

"Especially the soft skill courses have been of great help for my performance in job interviews. Through my work in the Finance and Business Club I have built up a broad network and acquired project management skills that have enabled me to score points with companies."

Katrin Rieger

Bereichsdirektorin Reisevertrieb Deutschland / Vice President Sales
HanseMerkur Krankenversicherung

"The practical learning in small groups prepared me optimally for today's project and team work. The CBS provided me with the decisive soft skills and current knowledge from the world of business."

Christopher Rosenbaum

Manager
Ernst & Young GmbH
Wirschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft

"The Management Studies programme prepares you thoroughly for the tasks of a consultant. In particular, the development of presentation techniques as well as analytical thinking is of enormous importance in the everyday life of a consultant."

Brita Jansen

HR Business Partner
HRS Group

"The CBS is an internationally oriented and very practically orientated university which prepared me very well for the professional world through the compulsory internship, the courses offered and the required project/group work."

Oliver Kiderle

EMEA Regional Product Expert
Google Inc.

"The focus on internationality and practical skills have had a very positive influence on my development at Google. Especially the structured and very versatile project work, which is often found at a private school, was extremely helpful."

Kalle Kenkel

Commercial Excellence Manager
GE Healthcare

"My studies at CBS prepared me for a career in today's dynamic, global work environment. As one's origin and physical location become less and less decisive, it has become increasingly important to have a multinational network and adapt quickly to various cultures and environments."

Neil Jordaan

Global Digital Content Manager
Elanco

"Many professors shared their professional business experience with us in class and were able to illustrate dry theory with practical examples. I also enjoyed the international atmosphere on campus."

Patrick Stein

Head of Human Resources
Boston Consulting Group

"The strongly practice-oriented studies and the international orientation of the CBS, as well as the lectures held in English, were an absolutely necessary basis for starting a career with a renowned, international company."

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