HUMAN RESOURCES

Program Overview

Earn your  Certificate in Human Resources — at home, at your own pace with the Continuing Education Center.

The Continuing Education Center Certificate in Human Resources is comprised of courses designed to provide participants with exposure to business skills in the human resources area. Students will learn how to professionally hire, train, retain and manage the type of employee talent that will help their businesses succeed. In addition to a foundation in HR practice, students also complete courses in compensation management, training, benefits, and labor relations.

Learning Objectives

• Understanding the business environment including planning; organizing; leading and controlling.
• Reviewing the interaction of the personnel functions and the objectives of an organization.
• Learning how to manage the training function in organizations with an examination of successful and unsuccessful training practices.
• Designing benefit plans including understanding of insurance programs, employer-sponsored pension plans; and the integration of government and employer-sponsored retirement benefits into an individual’s retirement planning.
• Engaging in labor relations through the interactions between organized labor unions and company management.
• …and much, much more.

Program Outline

Here's how it works
Your certificate program consists of courses designed to take you step-by-step toward understanding all the essential elements of Human Resources. Your first course will be sent to you as soon as your enrollment has been accepted. Other courses will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have study materials to work with.

System Requirements
You will need access to a Microsoft® Windows®-based computer to complete this program. The Continuing Education Center recommends the following as minimum specifications: Pentium® II or better processor, using Microsoft® Windows® XP or later.You will also need to have access to the Internet and Microsoft® Office 2007 to complete portions of this program.

This outline covers all the courses required for your certificate program. You complete the following courses in the order indicated:

Basic Skills Assessment
All degree applicants are required to complete two Basic Skills Assessments, one in reading and one in math, to determine the level of readiness for beginning their selected program. Additional studies may be required.

BUS100 – Business Orientation
Introduction to distance learning; study skills and techniques; reading textbooks and study guides; reviewing for examinations. Four basic life goals; individual life goals and steps needed to fulfill them; similarities between personal financial goals and business goals; determining personal financial goals; setting up a budget; researching, planning, starting up, and maintaining a business.

BUS110 – Principles of Management
The business environment; planning; organizing; leading and controlling.
Textbook: Understanding Management

HRM201 – Human Resource Management
An overview of Human Resources (HRM), as it’s understood today. This course illustrates the dynamic interaction of the personnel functions with each other and with the objectives of an organization.
Research Assignment: Using the Dictionary of Occupational Titles
Textbook: Managing Human Resources

ENG121 – Business and Technical Writing
Writing styles; ABC method of organizing material; grammar (parts of speech, active and passive voice, complete sentences vs. sentence fragments; parallel construction); using action verbs; constructing paragraphs; writing memos, business letters, and e-mails; organizing material; conducting research; documenting sources; outlining; providing illustrations; writing reports, proposals, descriptions, instructions, articles, and manuals.

HRM210 – Compensation Management
The course covers the basic components of a total compensation package (salary, bonus, and benefits), the development, implementation, and maintenance of a program, the impact of internal and external equity, and additional factors which must be considered for the overall success of a program.
Research Project: Compensation Management
Textbook: Compensation Decision Making

HRM355 – Training Concepts
A synthesis of accepted theory regarding training and the management of the training function in organizations and an examination of successful and unsuccessful training practices.
Research Project: Training Concepts
Textbook: Effective Training: Systems, Strategies and Practices

HRM320 – Employee Benefits
This course examines employer and employee objectives for benefit plans; design and administration of group life and group health insurance programs; government programs for workers’ compensation; employer-sponsored pension plans; and the integration of government and employer-sponsored retirement benefits.
Research Assignment: Employee Benefits
Textbook: Employee Benefits

HRM350 – Labor Relations
The study of labor relations examines the interactions between organized labor unions and company management. These interactions between unions and management include rights and responsibilities, negotiations, and collective bargaining.
Research Assignment: Labor Relations
Textbook: The Labor Relations Process

Online Library and Librarian
Students at the Continuing Education Center have access to an online library during their college studies. Students can use the library to do the required course research or for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and will assist students in research activities.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

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