August 27, 2007

New Webster University Online Course Provides 'Professional Edge' in Human Resources

Webster University’s School of Business and Technology will now offer its eight-week Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) Learning System Course in an online format beginning this fall.

The class provides study materials for individuals who are preparing to take the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification examinations administered by the Human Resources Certificate Institute. Topics covered in the online course include strategic management, workforce planning and employment, human resource development, total rewards, employee and labor relations, and risk management. Upon completion of the course, Webster University undergraduate and graduate students receive three elective credit hours.

“Offering this course in an online format provides all our students all over the world of Webster with a convenient and accessible way to prepare for HRCI certification,” said Dr. Benjamin Akande, dean of Webster’s School of Business and Technology. “Graduate students, undergraduate students and even individuals already working in the field can now attain up-to-date, condensed exposure to human resources management anywhere, anytime.”

The new online course also is valuable for individuals seeking a career change or promotion, or a competitive edge in the job market, Akande said. While it is specifically designed for managers and staff with experience in general human resources management, the course can benefit other experienced managers who are new to the human resources field.

Webster’s new SHRM online course will be offered during the university’s Fall II and Spring I academic terms, providing graduates of the course with ample time to prepare for HRCI’s certification exams, which are offered twice a year. The Fall II SHRM online course begins on Monday, Oct. 15, 2007; the registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 1, 2007. Students who complete the class may take the HRCI exam online any time between Dec. 1, 2007 and Jan. 31, 2008.

For those not seeking credit hours, the tuition fee is $1,125, which includes all materials fees. Non-students who pass either the PHR or SPHR exams can obtain either undergraduate (MNGT 3400) or graduate (HRMH 5000) credit toward a Webster University degree.

For more information on Webster’s online SHRM Learning Course System, contact Dr. Nick DiMarco at (314) 968-7026 or dimarcnj@webster.edu. Individuals can register for the course online at http://www.webster.edu/online/syllshow.php?prog=mngt&syll=4610>

Webster University (www.webster.edu) is an international, multi-campus university, headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. Founded in 1915 as a small private college, Webster now offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs through five schools and colleges. The university has grown to become an international network that includes 107 domestic and international campuses. The student population of more than 20,000 men and women ranges in age from traditional college-age students to adult learners, and represents more than 100 nationalities. The university is committed to excellence in teaching, to joining theory and practice, to small class sizes, and to educating students to be lifelong independent learners, fully prepared to participate in an increasingly international society.

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