General Studies in Human Resources

Certificate in Human Resource Management

Module 1 – Introduction to Human Resource Management
• Recognize and identify the key roles and responsibilities of the human resource management function
• Assess your attitude and your organization’s attitude toward human resource management
• Recognize and define HRM’s strategic contribution to an organization
• Recognize and define human resources terms
• Recognize the relationship and partnership that exist between an organization’s HR Department and its line managers and identify the key responsibilities of each
• Differentiate between the structure and reporting relationships of a centralized and decentralized human resources function
• List and identify the five areas of HRM Planning
• List the three roles that an HR department must fulfill to maintain the ethical standards of an organization
• Identify the key global issues and business practices that impact HRM

Module 2 – Data and Human Resource Management
• Explain the value of big data and analytics for human resource managers
• Identify different types of data that are useful for human resource managers
• Describe various ways of analyzing data
• Perform simple data analyses and understand some basic analytic tools
• Develop a plan for collecting data
• Understand the advantages and disadvantages of certain data types and collection methods
• Distinguish between correlation and causation
• Identify some biases and errors data collection may be subject to
• Present data in clear and compelling ways
• Consider the advantages and disadvantages of different ways to store data
• Reflect on some of the threats of big data, including threats to confidentiality and privacy as well as the potential for discrimination

Module 3 – Employee Selection
• Conduct an effective job interview
• Analyze a candidate pool and identify the most qualified candidate given a job description and requirements
• Decide what additional tests—if any—should be administered to candidates for a specific job
• Deal productively and sensitively with internal candidates for a job opening

Module 4 – Equal Employment Opportunity
• Explain the major employment and anti-discrimination laws
• Understand the basic steps to take in dealing with discrimination complaints
• Explain and assess issues around alternative work arrangements
• Outline ways to develop and maintain a diverse work-force

Module 5 – Compensation and Benefits
• Comply with relevant state and federal “wage and hour” laws
• Determine the competitive pay level for a particular position in a particular geographic location
• Discuss and administer a variety of pay structures
• Effectively confront issues of pay equity within an organization

Module 6 – Performance Management
• Explain the value of a performance management system
• Discuss the pros and cons of various types of performance management systems
• Conduct a performance management interview
• Design a performance improvement plan

Module 7 – Talent Management and Career Development
• Understand and effectively communicate the value of a career development program
• Describe the five stages in the career life cycle (Beginning, Developing, Mid-Career, Mastery and Maintenance, Retirement), and the needs an employee has at each stage of the cycle
• Explain why career management has become important to employers and employees
• Outline the tools for career development (training, education, job rotation, transfers, overseas assignments, mentoring, networking, volunteer work, formal career planning)
• Understand the issues HR departments face with career management

Human Resource Management

Module 1: The Nature of Human Resource Management
• Contemporary Human Resource Management
• Evolution of the Human Resource Function
• Origins of the Human Resource Function
• Personnel Management
• Human Resource Management in the Electronic Age
• Goals of Human Resource Management
• The Setting for Human Resource Management
• Human Resource Managers

Module 2: The Legal Environment
• The Legal Context of Human Resource Management
• The Regulatory Environment of Human Resource Management
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Discrimination
• Protected Classes in the Workforce
• Sexual Harassment at Work
• Other Areas of Human Resource Regulation
• Evaluating Legal Compliance

Module 3: The Global Environment
• The Growth of International Business
• Global Issues in International Human Resource Management
• Understanding the Cultural Environment
• The Human Resource Function in International Business
• Domestic Issues in International Human Resource Management
• Managing International Transfers and Assignments
• International Labor Relations

Module 4: The Competitive Environment
• Competitive Environment for Human Resource Management
• Strategic Perspective
• The Influence of Organizational Purpose and Mission
• Role of Corporate Governance
• Corporate, Business, and Functional Strategies
• The Impact of Organizational Design
• Human Resource Strategy Formulation
• Interpersonal Processes and Strategy Implementation
• Evaluating the Human Resource Function in Organizations

Module 5: Information for Making Human Resource Decisions
• Human Resource Planning as a Source of Information
• Forecasting the Supply of Human Resources
• Implications of a Growth Strategy
• Implications of a Stability Strategy
• Implications of a Reduction Strategy
• Strategy as a Source of Information
• Economic Conditions as a Source of Information
• Unemployment Rates
• Job Analysis as a Source of Information
• The Job-Analysis Process

Module 6: Human Resource Decision Making in Organizations
• Ethics and Human Resource Management
• Rightsizing the Organizations
• Dealing with Increased Demand for Employees
• Strategies for Layoffs
• Progressive Discipline
• Employee Retention
• Managing Terminations and Retention
• Managing Voluntary Turnover
• Managing Human Resources during Mergers and Acquisitions

Module 7: Recruiting, Selecting, Training, and Developing Employees
• Recruiting Employees
• Internal Recruiting
• External Recruiting
• Internships
• The Selection Process
• Popular Selection Techniques
• Employment Tests
• The Selection Decision
• Training and Development

Module 8: Managing a New and Diverse Workforce
• The Nature of Workforce Diversity
• Dimensions of Diversity
• The Impact of Diversity on Organizations
• Diversity and Social Change
• The Multicultural Organization
• Managing Diversity in Organizations
• Managing Knowledge Workers
• Human Resource Management and Social Issues

Module 9: Compensation and Benefits
• Developing a Compensation Strategy
• Determining What to Pay
• Wage and Salary Administration
• The Nature of Benefits Programs
• Mandated Benefits
• Nonmandated Benefits
• Contemporary Issues in Compensation and Benefits

Module 10: Performance Appraisal and Career Management
• Why Organizations Conduct Performance Appraisals
• The Performance-Appraisal Process
• Methods for Appraising Performance
• Other Issues in Performance Appraisal
• The Nature of Careers
• Human Resource Management and Career Management
• Career-Development Issues and Challenges

Module 11: Managing Labor Relations
• The Role of Labor Unions in Organizations
• Trends in Unionization
• Historical Development of Unions
• The Unionization Process
• The Collective-Bargaining Process
• Negotiating Labor Agreements
• Resolving Impasses
• Labor Unions in the 21st Century

Module 12: Safety, Health, Well-Being, and Security
• Employee Safety and Health
• Common Workplace Hazards and Threats
• OSHA
• The Physical Environment
• Stress and Stress Management at Work
• Workplace Security

Module 13: Motivation at Work
• A Basic Model of Performance
• Motivation and Needs
• Process Theories of Motivation
• Reinforcement Theory
• Expectancy Theory
• Equity Theory
• An Integrative Model of Motivation
• Related Theories and Perspectives on Motivation

Module 14: Managing and Enhancing Performance: The Big Picture
• Enhancing Performance at Different Levels
• Alternative Work Arrangements
• Alternative Work Sites
• Incentives and Performance Based Rewards
• Performance Management and Feedback
• Evaluating Performance Enhancement Programs
• HR in the Headlines