Human Resources Management
Certificate Program

Work/life issues, increased incidents of litigation, rapidly changing mandates; all are part of the function of an HR Manager. To keep ahead of the challenges, yet maintain your human spirit, you have to have a strategy.

Developed by experts in the human resources profession, the modules included in this certificate program cover aspects integral to the human resources function in both service and manufacturing environments.

The Human Resources Management Certificate is now part of the newly developed Certified Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) Professional Designation.

• Recommended for those seeking entry level HR positions
• Designed for those professionals with business skills wishing to change careers
• Human Resources professionals who currently work in the field and wish to pursue a professional designation

• EEO, affirmative action/laws, regulations, guidelines, and trends
• How to recruit, interview, and select the "best" person for a position
• Effective design and evaluation of training programs
• Employee relations in union and non-union environments
• Methods of measuring work performance
• How to properly structure employee wages and compensation
• Enhanced analysis and automation of personnel data and records

• Gain expertise in a specific area of interest
• Demonstrate knowledge in Human Resources functions at the technical and operational level
• Receive tangible recognition for your achievement
• Document ongoing professional development activities
• Improved ability to integrate Human Resources practices with organizational goals
• Earn professional recertification credits

• Complete all eight modules (13 class meetings).
• Design, develop, and present a project that will illustrate the varying aspects of each session. Materials and information presented in each session will directly relate to the project.
• To receive the certificate in the current semester, a maximum of one class meeting may be missed. To complete the certificate in the following semester, additional absences may be made up at a fee of $50 per class, subject to program availability.

All modules and all class meetings will be held on the dates specified, but the order of the modules and instructors are subject to change.

Please note that this program has been approved for recertification credits with various Human Resources organizations. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit your organization's web site.

This module addresses laws and regulations governing: discrimination, compensation and benefits, hiring practices, safety, labor relations, unemployment and workers compensation. It will also cover developing standards in the areas of fairness, due process, and termination.

• Wrongful termination
• Equal employment opportunity and affirmative action
• Sexual harassment
• Americans with Disabilities Act

This module features a discussion of employee relations in union and non-union companies. The culture of any business today is vital to its success, and you will be introduced to many methods of measuring and changing corporate culture.

• Components of a labor-management agreement
• Communication of information to employees
• Strategies for implementing new or revised company programs

This module is designed to provide hands-on effective recruiting and interviewing techniques.

• Recruiting techniques
• EEO concerns
• Permissible questions and patterned interviewing
• Pre-employment physicals

Learn methods of measuring work performance, steps to progressive discipline, and when to use them. Also, you will learn what, when, why, and how to document employee performance.

• Establishing minimum standards of performance
• Measuring employee performance
• Writing and giving performance appraisals

This module is an exploration of the basic knowledge and skills needed to make training and development effective parts of your human resource plan.

• Training expenditures
• Roles and responsibilities of "Trainer" vs. "Performance Consultant"
• Differentiating between training and non-training issues in employee performance
• Designing effective training programs
• Evaluating training programs

An introduction to the field of employee compensation, this session will cover compensation theories, laws, and practices.

• Compensation objectives
• Compensation philosophy and strategy
• State and federal laws regulating compensation
• Incentive compensation

Learning the importance of effectively communicating the nature and value of benefits to employees and to managers can make a significant impact on your organization. This module will explore the way employee benefits are designed and administered and how they compare across organizations and industries.

• Growth in benefits costs and the underlying reasons for that growth
• Major provisions of employee benefits programs
• Effects of benefits management on cost and workforce quality
• Employee benefits in the United States compare with those in other countries
• Importance of effectively communicating the nature and value of benefits to employees
• Regulatory constraints that affect the way employee benefits are designed and administered

Major trends will affect the future of business: globalization, technology, offshoring, aging workforce, trained workforce availability, and organizational strategy. These trends impact workforce management and business development. In response, the role of the human resources professional is expanding into that of a strategic partner within an organization.

• The new role of the human resources professionals
• Becoming a strategic partner within an organization
• What CEOs want from HR
• Essentials of coaching
• When coaching is appropriate

This module is the final session of the Human Resources Certificate. Through group interaction, you will analyze a case study dealing with personnel-related issues by applying concepts learned during the program. A panel of experts will give their analysis of the same case study, providing an opportunity for you to compare results and interact with experienced human resources practitioners.