School of Business and Technology

Human Resources Management (M.A.)

Locations

Human resources management courses are offered at the following locations. All required courses in this program can be completed in traditional classroom setting or online. To learn more about the online courses and programs, visit Webster Online Programs website at www.webster.edu/online/.

Continental United States

International

Program Description

The goal of the human resources management major is to prepare human resource professionals to deal with the complexities and challenges of managing today's workforce. The program content is designed to provide a comprehensive coverage of the major human resource responsibilities, addressing strategic and operational aspects. The courses involve both practical and theoretical considerations in the professional development of men and women in the field of human resources in such settings as business, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations and institutions.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates will explain the important terminology, facts, concepts, principles, analytic techniques, and theories used in the field of human resources management.
Graduates will be able to effectively apply important terminology, facts, concepts, principles, analytic techniques, and theories in the field of human resources management when analyzing complex factual situations.
Graduates will be able to effectively integrate (or synthesize) important facts, concepts, principles, and theories in the field of human resources management when developing solutions to multifaceted human resource management problems in complex factual situations.

Program Curriculum

The 36 credit hours required for the master of arts (M.A.) or the 48 credit hours required for the master of business administration (M.B.A.) must include the following courses for a major in human resources management:

HRMG 5000 Managing Human Resources (Requisite Course)
MNGT 5590 Organizational Behavior
BUSN 5200 Basic Finance for Managers
HRDV 5610 Training and Development
HRMG 5700 Employment Law
HRMG 5800 Staffing
HRMG 5920 Compensation
HRMG 5930 Labor-Management Relations
HRMG 6000 Integrated Studies in Human Resources Management

In addition, the student chooses elective courses offered in this major and/or from the program curricula of other School of Business and Technology majors.

If the requisite course is waived, the student must choose an elective course from this major or from the program curriculum of another School of Business and Technology major. Students pursuing dual majors who have the requisite course(s) waived will complete only the remaining required courses for the dual majors.

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Course Descriptions

HRMG 5000 Managing Human Resources (Requisite Course) (3)
This course is a comprehensive view of personnel policy development with emphasis on the interdependence of personnel and operating functions. Students analyze personnel functions of recruitment, development, training, compensation, integration into the workforce, and maintenance of personnel for the purpose of contributing to organizational, societal, and individual goals.

BUSN 5200 Basic Finance for Managers (3)
Managers and human resources management professionals must be able to understand financial information contained in financial statements and reports. Line managers must be able understand financial information contained in financial statements and reports in order to evaluate their unit's financial performance, to communicate clearly with other managers, and to apply financial information when making decisions. Human resources management professionals must understand financial statements and principles if they are to effectively assist line managers and be strategic partners with other business functions. This course will focus on the interpretation and use of basic financial information by non-financial managers, not on the production of financial statements and reports. (FINC 5000 cannot be substituted for BUSN 5200.)

MNGT 5590 Organizational Behavior (3)
This course introduces students to many of the basic principles of human behavior that effective managers use when managing individuals and groups in organizations. These include theories relating to individual differences in abilities and attitudes, attribution, motivation, group dynamics, power and politics, leadership, conflict resolution, organizational culture, and organizational structure and design.

HRDV 5610 Training and Development (3)
Rapid changes in technology and job design, along with the increasing importance of learning- and knowledge-based organizations, make training and development an increasingly important topic in human resources development. In this course, the student will learn how to 1) identify training and development needs through needs assessments, 2) analyze jobs and tasks to determine training and development objectives, 3) create appropriate training objectives, 4) design effective training and development programs using different techniques or methods, 5) implement a variety of different training and development activities, and 6) evaluate training and development programs.

HRMG 5690 Workforce Retention and Transitions: Theory and Practice (3)
This elective course examines the concepts relevant to the development and maintenance of a loyal, satisfied, and productive workforce. This course will illustrate how human resources management practices affect workforce retention and transitions. After reviewing theories of employee motivation, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and withdrawal cognition, students will examine common organizational strategies and practices for retaining valuable human resources. Students will learn methods for assessing the causes of employee turnover and transfers, how to maximize the retention of good employees, how to design fair and effective layoff or reduction in force policies, and how to design and implement promotion, succession planning, and transfer programs in organizations. This elective course builds upon and supplements the core human resources management courses. Students must complete HRMG 5000 before taking this course. It will be helpful to have completed HRMG 5800 as well.

HRMG 5660 Issues in Human Resources Management (3)
Students examine current and significant issues in human resources management. The course focuses on existing theories and practices, with emphasis given to new and emerging topics in the field. Topics such as cultural diversity, global competition, organizational downsizing, and self-directed work teams are covered. Course may be repeated for credit if content differs.

HRMG 5700 Employment Law (3)
This course provides an overview of legal issues affecting human resources management. It focuses on the impact of law on individuals in organizations, recognition of legal problems, and the legal impact of human resource decisions. The course content includes laws, regulations, and court decisions covering labor- management relations.

HRMG 5800 Staffing (3)
This course introduces students to the basic principles and techniques of staffing the workplace. Students will be introduced to basic and intermediate level theories and strategies utilized in staffing, planning, recruiting, and selection. Topics covered include: job analysis, recruitment, selection, and performance assessment. Prerequisite: HRMG 5000.

HRMG 5920 Compensation (3)
This course addresses tangible and intangible compensation and the use of compensation to motivate and reward employee performance. The course also covers job analysis, job description, and job evaluation on the basis of compensable factors as well as designing an equitable pay structure. In addition, students analyze the influence of unions and government in determining the compensation of the labor force, including compensation of both hourly workers and managerial employees. Prerequisite: HRMG 5000.

HRMG 5930 Labor-Management Relations (3)
Students examine legislation concerning labor-management relations and focus special attention on contract negotiations, contract administration, and the creative resolution of employee-management differences in the context of a formal contract. The course focus is on employee relations characterized as being outside of a negotiated agreement.

HRMG 5960 Employee Benefits (3)
"Employee benefits" refers to compensation other than wages and salaries, such as health insurance, social security contributions, pensions and retirement plans, vacations, and sick days. This course introduces the "how and why" of employee benefits to students who are, or wish to be, in human resources management. First, the course introduces students to the entire range of employee benefits commonly used in the workplace. Second, the course will help students analyze employee benefits programs and identify the critical issues associated with different types of benefits. As an introductory course in benefits, this course does not cover in detail the tax consequences of different types of benefits or the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). This elective course supplements the Compensation (HRMG 5920) core course. Prerequisite: HRMG 5000.

Capstone Course

HRMG 6000 Integrated Studies in Human Resources Management (3)
The student is expected to synthesize and integrate the learning experiences acquired in human resources management and to evaluate the research and current topics relative to this major. Techniques used to accomplish these goals may vary. Prerequisite: completion of other required courses in this major.

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