MASTER SYLLABUS


Course Number & title:         BUS 410 Human Resource Management

Department(s):                       Management    

Credit hours:                          3

Prerequisites:                         none

Fees and charges:
    (This section provides the rationale for any fee attached to the class.)

Effective catalog date for this master syllabus: 2006/2007

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1. Catalog description:
    (This section is the statement to be published in the catalog.)

The emphasis of this course is on developing a general understanding of the administration of business firms from the point of human resource managers.  The course emphasizes application of theory-based knowledge to real world situations through the use of lecture and case studies.  Generally speaking the goals of the course are to learn about human resource management and help you make the transition from college to work. 

 

2. Course content:
    (This section expands the catalog description and describes the general course content.)

In this course, you will deal with a variety of “what if…” issues – issues where there is a great deal of uncertainty.  In some cases, information is emerging so rapidly that effective managerial approaches are just being created.  In other cases, such a fundamental disagreement exists about what are the facts, values, or the proper role of business that managers have to consider many different voices and many different opinions. Topics include:

  1. Personal values and ethics
  2. The socio-cultural context of economic activity
  3. Business ethics in a global economy
  4. Corporate Social Responsiveness
  5. Ethical work culture and climate
  6. Employer/employee relationships
  7. Consumer protection and crisis management
  8. Sustainability and social, civic, and political action

 

3. Student learning objectives:
    (This section describes purposes and goals of the course in terms of measurable student learning objectives.)

The course objectives are to:

 

  1. Analyze basic decisions involved in managing human resources.  These decisions will be made by all managers, not just human resource specialists, and affect all workers.
  2. Examine alternative approaches to make decisions.  No pat answers for all situations.
  3. Describe actual best practices by leading employers.          
  4. Apply research and theories from psychology, economics, and sociology that are related to human resource management.
  5. Develop hands-on skills through cases, discussions, and current news stories.
  6. Use the diagnostic model to help apply practices and face challenges in managing human resources.

 

By the end of the course, you should have an understanding of how human resource issues are framed and the general types of human resource decisions that are faced by most organizations.

 

4. Student assessment criteria:
    (This section provides general information on how the students will be evaluated on the extent to which they attain the student learning objectives.)

Examinations

Case Studies

Group Presentations

 

5. Additional information (optional):
(This section provides additional information that enhances understanding of the course.  May include suggested texts, readings, instructional approach, etc.  Indicate if this information is prescriptive [e.g. core requirements] or nonprescriptive.)
Text:  Mathis & Jackson: Human Resource Management (10th Edition). South-Western: Thompson Learning.

                        Cases and handouts at the discretion of the professor.

 

  Students are expected to keep abreast of current events, and be able to introduce current issues in class discussions.   

  Thus, you are encouraged highly to read current articles from quality business and non-business media sources:  

  Fortune, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Business Week, and the New York Times.  Most of these

  periodicals have websites, some of which provide free access to articles. 

 

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