Centre for Career and Personal Development Degree Profiles

The Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources area specializes in how people operate within organizations. The HROD area offers a range of courses, which allow students to learn specific technical skills to manage the employment relationship and analyze individual, group, and organizational processes.

Effective management of employment relationships requires responding to the needs of a diverse work force, developing flexible organizational structures, improving work performance, facilitating improved relationships with unions, and reducing conflict within the workplace. A variety of skills including interpersonal communications, motivation, negotiation, problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, and leadership are essential to working effectively with others. Human Resource professionals also participate in organizational development initiatives such as stress reduction, wellness initiatives, spirituality, career development, and training. These are approaches used to retain employees – a core component of Human Resources.

Students with a particular talent in the people aspects of organizations often choose to concentrate their studies in the OBHR area. Students developing a generalist background in OBHR will have the basic skills for effective management. 

Verbal Communication:  Public speaking and presentation of ideas, issues and events. Defend arguments. Development of rhetorical skills, debating, interpersonal relations, convey complex information to general public. 

Written Communication: Present ideas, apply theoretical framework, develop and support clear ideas and arguments in written form.

Problem Solving: Understand historical and contemporary problems; anticipate future challenges. Create and evaluate policy recommendations for organization challenges. Creative, responsive and able to find solutions, resolve conflict

Analytical and critical thinking:  Comparative analysis, multidisciplinary research, develop and analyze arguments, critical reasoning and reflection, evaluate policy recommendations and outcomes

Cultural Sensitivity: Develop appreciation for diversity within societies and an understanding of interactions between different communities; historical, economical and geographic international appreciation, work with culturally diverse individuals and communities

Organization: Meet deadlines, organize information and materials, develop paper writing skills

Please note some of these positions may require further training, certification or education. Check out the occupational profiles to review the full details for the occupations that interest you at alis.alberta.ca/occinfo

• Human Resources Institute of Alberta (HRIA)  
• Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP)

Student Clubs

• Commerce Undergraduate Society
• Enactus Calgary 
• Women in Business

Aligned Majors

• Anthropology
• Economics
• International Relations
• Philosophy
• Psychology

Formal Career Assessments like the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator can be helpful tools for your career development.  These assessments have been used for decades to help individuals choose a major, explore career options during and upon completion of a degree and to further understand yourself in relationship to the world of work.  Inquire with Career Services if you are interested in these formal assessments.

Faculty Contact

Haskayne School of Business
Scurfield Hall, 351
T: 403.220.6593
E: undergraduate@haskayne.ucalgary.ca 
W: haskayne.ucalgary.ca

Haskayne Career Centre
Scurfield Hall, 350
T: 403.220.6743
E: careercentre@haskayne.ucalgary.ca 
W: haskayne.ucalgary.ca/services/career-centre/welcome

Career Services
MacEwan Student Centre, Room 188
T: 403.220.8020
E: csstdnt@ucalgary.ca
W: ucalgary.ca/careers