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Syllabus
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
HRER 505: Seminar in Human Resources (3) Current human resource topics in the context of organizational strategy, planning, and responsibility.
Overview
HRER505 – Seminar in Human Resources is based on the premise that all managers will benefit from a foundation in human resources and employment relations. The content focuses on concepts, facts, techniques, and processes that have practical application and implication in all industries including small, medium, and large private, as well as public companies and organizations.
Throughout this course a general commentary will be provided for each topic. Further it is anticipated that you will read fully the readings related to the topic as noted in the Course Schedule. The lesson provides learning objectives for each topic at the beginning of the lesson. The readings also provide a summary, discussion questions, and activities. Many of these questions and activities will form the basis for peer-to-peer learning which will be emphasized throughout the course.
A typical week in this course will be comprised of reading the commentary, reading and studying the related reading assignment, taking a ten question, multiple-choice quiz, completing the individual or group activity and reviewing the response provided by the faculty member who is teaching the course.
In order to enhance the peer-to-peer learning opportunity, some group activities will be used. Some students will have had more workplace and/or course work experience than others. Experience can bring a myriad of observations and solutions to human resource challenges. Similarly, those with less experience can, by virtue of their questions surrounding the challenge, spark additional perspectives which may lead to yet other observations and solutions. It is that blending of degrees of experience, similar to that in most workplaces, which provides the richness of peer-to-peer learning.
One final comment on the variation of workplace and course work experience may be helpful. The individual and group assignments are designed to give you the opportunity to grow in your knowledge of human resource management. You are encouraged to challenge yourself, based on your experience, by selecting questions and activities that take your research and your thinking beyond the solutions you have already applied. And, in the case of group activities, use your varying levels of experience to challenge yourself and each other to reach a response that maximizes the group’s ability.
View the following video to reinforce the expectations of this Human Resource Management Seminar.
BILLIE WILLITS: Welcome to Human Resources and Employment Relations 505. This course is designed as an overview of many human resource management issues that are encountered in the workplace today and will be encountered in the future. As a survey course, you will have an opportunity to read about in the basic assignments those many issues. In addition, there are other sources that you may want to rely on.
For example, there are journals. There are newspaper articles. There are magazine articles, even radio and television commentary on issues that are impacted by or impact human resource management. Some of you have an opportunity to know some of those sources because you're working in human resources right now. Others of you may not have that resource available to you.
In your course material is a brief list of other sources beyond your basic reading assignments. And let me encourage you, that if you come on resources during the course that you think that you would like to share, bring them to the attention of your instructor and consider sharing them with your colleagues. The more sources we have, the better off we will all be in terms of understanding human resource management.
Then too, don't forget the internet. It's quickly available. It's very broad in the kinds of issues that we can find there and is often a very solid resource for us. While the course we'll be looking at individual issues and in some cases in quite a bit of detail, I think it's important that we also have an opportunity to blend and relate those issues.
So there are three projects that will give us an opportunity to do that during the course. I'd like to share those with you briefly now so you could be thinking about them as you begin your study. One of the projects is an interview. Actually, it's a pair of interviews.
You will be asked to identify a person who works in human resources on a regular basis. It might be someone who works in a corporate or central human resource office. The second person is a supervisor, a manager who actually is working with human resource management issues on a day-to-day basis.
You will get an opportunity to design the questions. You'll also get an opportunity to comment on the responses that you hear from those people that you choose to interview. That will be written up in a short document, and available to the course instructor, and shared in small groups with your colleagues. More about that in the written material about the course.
A second project that you may want to begin thinking about is a project wherein you select a management book to read during the course-- not necessarily a human resource management book, but a human resource opportunity-- an opportunity to relate what we're discussing issue-by-issue to a management concept or a management approach that you have been reading about. That project will end in a brief paper, wherein you not only highlight or summarize, if you will, the management book, but also be able to talk about how human resource issues impact that management that's discussed in the book or is impacted by it. You're going to find, if you don't already know, that there are management approaches that come and go over time.
Some of them are classics. They stay with us for forever. Some of those are management approaches that come and go based on other factors that are impacting the workplace. Sometimes you'll find jargon. That jargon comes and goes. Some of it becomes classic.
So this will give you an opportunity to find a management book that is relatively recent and see how the issues of human resource management blend with overall management being discussed by CEOs, COOs, CFOs of organizations today. You'll notice in the course material and from what I've said in this quick overview that there are no exams intended for this course.
It is designed to give you an opportunity to read; maybe in some cases, encounter material that you've never had to think about before, but to discuss that material after you've had an opportunity to read about it, in some cases; write even more about those issues; and by and large end the course with a good understanding of the issues for today and tomorrow in human resource management; and to have a comfort level that you will recognize those issues and that you will have some sources to go to as you attempt to deal with those issues in the future in your career. Thank you for joining the course. I look forward to working with you.
Course Objectives
After successfully completing the course, you will be able to:
- Define and use various management processes.
- Measure those aspects of human resource management for which you are responsible and relate them to the organization's success.
- Identify discriminatory or other illegal human resource activity and know where/how to seek remedy.
- Plan and assess the personnel needs of an organization.
- Identify types of training needed and develop appropriate training and development materials.
- Apply a pay plan used in an organization.
- Explain the traditional and the futuristic benefits and health and safety aspects provided in the workplace.
- Identify and ethically respond to issues as they arise in the workplace.
Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Additional Required Materials:
- You will choose a book to read on the topic of management leadership from the list provided on the course Web site. You'll need to purchase this book from a vendor of your choice by the end of Week 3 of the course.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You can view the Online Students' Library Guide for more information.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and services. Once you have a Penn State account, you will automatically be registered with the library within 24–48 hours. If you would like to determine whether your registration has been completed, visit the Libraries home page and select My Account.
Technical Specifications
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Schedule
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Readings: |
Lesson 01 Parts 1 and 2 Commentary Text:
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Activities: |
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Readings: |
No Additional Readings |
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Activities: |
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Grading
The World Campus follows the same grading system as the Penn State resident program. The grades of A, B, C, D, and F indicate the following qualities of academic performance:
A = (Excellent) Indicates exceptional achievement
B = (Good) Indicates extensive achievement
C = (Satisfactory) Indicates acceptable achievement
D = (Poor) Indicates only minimal achievement
F = (Failure) Indicates inadequate achievement necessitating a repetition of the course in order to secure credit
| Quizzes | 150 points (10 points each lesson) |
| Individual Activities | 580 points |
| Group Activities | 70 points |
| Whole Class Discussions | 200 points |
| Course Total | 1000 points |
| A | 93 |
| A- | 90 |
| B+ | 87 |
| B | 83 |
| B- | 80 |
| C+ | 77 |
| C | 70 |
| D | 60 |
| F | < 59 |
HRER 505 Grading
| Lesson | Activities | Points Per Activity |
|---|---|---|
|
1 Part 1 |
N/A |
Ungraded |
|
1 Part 2 |
Lesson 01 Part 2 Activity |
50 |
|
1 Part 2 |
|
10 |
|
2 |
Lesson 02 Activity | 50 |
|
2 |
|
10 |
|
3 |
|
10 |
|
3 |
|
35 |
|
4 |
Lesson 04 Activity |
50 |
|
4 |
|
10 |
|
5 |
|
10 |
|
5 |
Lesson 05 Activity |
50 |
|
6 Part 1 |
|
10 |
|
6 Part 2 |
|
10 |
|
7 |
|
35 |
|
7 |
Lesson 07 Activity |
50 |
|
7 |
|
10 |
|
8 |
Lesson 08 Activity |
50 |
|
8 |
|
10 |
|
9 |
|
130 |
|
10 Part 1 |
Lesson 10 Part 1 Activity |
50 |
|
10 Part 1 |
|
10 |
|
10 Part 2 |
Lesson 10 Part 2 Activity |
50 |
|
10 Part 2 |
|
10 |
|
11 |
|
35 |
|
11 | Lesson 11 Quiz |
10 |
|
12 |
|
10 |
|
12 |
Lesson 12 Activity |
60 |
|
13 |
|
10 |
|
13 |
|
35 |
|
14 |
Lesson 14 Activity |
50 |
|
14 |
|
10 |
|
15 |
Management Book Analysis | 70 |
| TOTAL FOR COURSE |
|
1000 |
Deferred Grades
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Assignments
Assignments are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the date listed on the Course Schedule. Late assignments will be marked down one grade. Assignments that are more than one day late will not be accepted without prior approval.
Students please note: The Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations does not view Wikipedia as a valid source for information cited in academic work. It can be a useful tool for quickly finding general information on subjects or as a starting point for research. However, students should not cite Wikipedia as a source in papers, reports, assignments, etc.
Some of your assignments will include Group Work.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.