UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Human resources management concentration within the Penn State Smeal College of Business Management major is now certified by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

The SHRM certification indicates that the concentration’s curriculum meets certain standards set out by the industry.

“The curriculum at Penn State meets the guidelines and assurances of learning set out by SHRM,” said Lisa O’Hara, clinical assistant professor of management and organization. “The certification means that we’re covering all the important things for working in human resources.”

According to O’Hara, the human resources industry still has many opportunities available in today’s economy. Furthermore, the many aspects of human resources management allow for people with a diverse set of skills and talents to pursue the industry.

A career in human resources management can also lead to executive-level positions, according to O’Hara: “A number of CEOs are starting to come out of the human resources industry because they understand the people and the strategy.”

Smeal graduates with human resources concentrations have been recruited by companies such as PwC, Amazon, the Department of Veterans Administration and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Human resources management is a concentration available in the management major. Other concentrations available include general management and entrepreneurship.

SHRM is the world’s largest association dedicated to human resource management, and is dedicated to advancing the human resources industry and professional development.