Associate Professional in Human Resources

Human Resources (HR) departments are fast-becoming a significant player in organizations across the country. Previously, these divisions handled mainly administrative functions like managing employee benefits, recruiting, interviewing and hiring new staff as directed by management. Today’s HR professionals, on the other hand, are increasingly involved in company initiatives and strategic planning. With this evolving role, HR departments are now able to offers unprecedented opportunities for those entering the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of HR professions in the U.S. will rise faster than the national average over the next 10 years, making this a great focus for students looking to enter the business world.

The Human Resources Professional program introduces human resources (HR) functions and related elements and activities to learners interested in entering a career in this field or anyone who runs or may start a business of their own. This program will outline for participants the roles and responsibilities of members of a typical HR department, educating the staff that make up a particular firm in various corporate policies, rules, and/or procedures as well as how their individual role will include HR-related activities, whether officially part of an HR department or not. Learners will move through the evolution of HR management through to the modern functions of most HR divisions from the perspective of both management and subordinate employees. Further, students will explore various compensation structures and gain an understanding of the importance of maintaining fair and equitable compensation and benefit programs.

As part of this program, learners will be exposed to real-world situations and conflicts that may arise ranging from compensation to employee counseling, conflict resolution, discipline, and termination alongside the legal and ethical implications of all of these points with respect to Equal Employment Opportunity requirements. Other critical areas such as training and development of staff with regard to many of the above mentioned issues as well as staffing and strategy will also be discussed. This program focuses on human resource management skills used by business managers in day-to-day operations. While focusing on the different aspects of human resource management and practices, problem solving and critical thinking skills are applied.

Certifications

This course assists learners in preparing for the following certifications. Note: Learners must pass a certification exam and, in some cases, document a specified amount of work experience, in order to be eligible for certification.

• Human Resources Certification Institution^® (HRCI) Professional in Human Resources (PHR^™)
• National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Human Resources (B-HR) Certification (The NWCA exam can be offered both in groups of students in the classroom or individually online)

Course Outcomes

At the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Analyze the role of the HR manager as a strategic partner in managing organizational human resources.
• Develop strategic HR plans and determine job requirements.
• Establish pay rates and evaluate compensation strategies for managerial and professional roles.
• Identify and address legal, ethical, and workplace safety issues.
• Develop training and career development programs to enhance workforce skills.
• Navigate international HR challenges and inter-country differences in HR management.