About our Program

As future leaders, business students must understand that organizations thrive when their employees are motivated, engaged, and aligned with strategic goals. Managing people isn’t just about overseeing tasks—it involves inspiring teams, resolving conflicts, fostering professional growth, and creating a positive culture that drives performance. In a world where innovation and adaptability are key, strong leadership and human-centric management can be the differentiating factor between a struggling business and a thriving one. 

Poole College’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Concentration in People Management, equips students with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to manage, consult with, and, ultimately, lead individuals and teams in dynamic, diverse, and evolving workplaces. Grounded in organizational behavior, human resource management, and leadership theory, the People Management concentration emphasizes the development of interpersonal skills, consultative strategies, ethical decision-making, conflict management, critical thinking, problem solving, and evidence-based practices for motivating, developing, and retaining key talent. 

What Will I Learn?

People Management concentration graduates will be able to:

• Apply organizational theories to effectively leverage people and their talents toward organizational success. 
• Organize, analyze and apply data and information to make business decisions.
• Communicate ideas effectively to organizational stakeholders
• Recognize social responsibility issues, ethical dilemmas and appropriate business solutions.

Through case studies, simulations, and experiential learning, students who complete the People Management concentration will be prepared to contribute meaningfully to people-centered business practices in any industry.

Why People Management at NC State?

A business education that doesn’t include learning how to manage people is incomplete. The People Management program is designed to ensure that students are prepared to manage people, solve organizational problems, and deal with change across a variety of industries. We leverage faculty expertise as well as a vibrant community of people leaders and HR professionals in our classrooms and on our advisory board to ensure that the curriculum is current, relevant, evidence-based, and application oriented.

Curriculum Overview and Degree Requirements

Students start their time at NC State Poole College of Management as either a management first year student (if you are a freshman) or in a major (if you are a transfer student). Regardless of your path, you will have plenty of time to explore the different things you want to do in business and human resources.

The business administration, people management program requires that students complete 120 credits towards the degree, comprised of courses in humanities and social sciences, mathematics, natural sciences, general electives and credits specific to the human resource management program. Students also get a broad education in key business areas by taking core courses in accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, operations and supply chain management, IT, marketing along with a capstone business strategy course.

Business Administration major – People Management concentration requirements include 46 credits:

• Core Business Courses (34 credits), including MIE 201 Introduction to Business Processes, BUS 320 Financial Management and MIE 330 Managing People.
• People Management Requirements (6 credits), including MIE 436 Consultative Skills and MIE 437 People Analytics.
• People Management Electives (6 credits), including MIE 434 Rewards and Relationship Management, MIE 435 Leading in a Changing World, MIE 438 Talent Management, and MIE 439 Management Practicum.

For full degree requirements, visit the NC State Catalog. To view individual courses, descriptions and schedules, use the Course Search.

Careers in People Management

Organizations of all sizes and across all industries need human resource professionals to succeed, which is why so many students are drawn to careers in the field. Upon graduation, students are prepared for employment in a variety of roles in the public or private sector.

Potential roles include:

• Human Resources (HR) Specialist or Manager – Handling recruitment, employee relations, benefits, training, and compliance.
• Talent Acquisition or Recruitment Coordinator – Sourcing and hiring top talent to meet organizational needs.
• Training and Development Specialist – Designing and delivering programs to help employees grow and improve their skills.
• Employee Relations Manager – Managing workplace issues, promoting engagement, and ensuring a positive work environment.
• Organizational Development Consultant – Helping companies improve efficiency, structure, and culture through strategic change.
• Compensation and Benefits Analyst – Designing competitive compensation structures and benefits packages.
• People Analytics or HR Data Analyst – Using data to improve workforce decisions and track HR performance.
• Project or Team Manager – Leading teams to meet goals effectively while managing interpersonal dynamics.
• Business Consultant – Advising organizations on how to improve performance, including through better people management.

Launch your career –– the Career Center at Poole is here to support you. #PoolePackAlum

Additional Resources

Think people management is for you? Let’s get you started.