Human Resources Management Certificate

This course examines the staffing function of management including planning, recruiting, selection, training, motivation, appraisal, compensation, labor laws, and organizational development. The course also addresses the current issues affecting the human resource manager including the changing work force and need to increase productivity as well as changes in the areas of unions and affirmative action.

This course introduces students to individual employment law, which is concerned with rules that govern the relations between employers and employees, primarily as applicable to non-unionized workers. The course includes such subject areas as identifying a contract of employment, creation and modification of the employment relationship, the common law obligations of employee and employer, the employer’s statutory obligations to its employees, privacy in the workplace, human rights legislation in the workplace, and the termination of employment.

Employees and managers often complain about the effectiveness of performance management systems, performance appraisal and employee development. Whether it’s a lack of clear performance goals, honest feedback or technology issues, complaints can center around the system’s tools and processes but often meet resistance because of its personal and sometimes threatening nature. In this course, students will consider functional best practices to develop a performance management system that considers not only the organizational goals but the human factor in its design.

Employee relations initiatives which considers engagement and retention leads to enhanced employee involvement and dedication to the organization. Employees who are engaged are more productive, content and more likely to be loyal to an organization. This course provides a practical view of how employee relations, engagement and retention initiatives have grown to become a strategic foundation for today’s organization with a focus on the most recent tools and best practices.

Human resource development is critical to the success of today’s organization. Whether learning and development is needed to increase overall effectiveness, retain and motivate employees or drive innovation, a well-designed learning and development initiative can create a competitive edge. In this course, students will learn how to build learning and development programs that address the needs of the organization in the context of its business model and growth objectives.

In today's increasingly diverse, global, interconnected business world, diversity and inclusion is no longer just the right thing to do, it is a core leadership competency and central to the success of business. This course provides a foundation for human resource professionals to best handle current issues of diversity, inclusion and countering bias. It provides a basic understanding of the tools and best practices that will foster a culture that respects individuality, encourages belonging, and focuses on the strengths of differences.