Course Title: Becoming a Human Resources Professional
Number of Credits: 2 Credits (30 hours)
Objectives
LEARN CONCEPT 1: People are a company’s greatest asset—and its greatest risk. Every organization depends on its people to perform, collaborate, and grow. Human Resources exists to manage that reality effectively, ensuring employees are supported while protecting the organization from costly mistakes.
LEARN CONCEPT 2: HR is both operational and strategic. HR is not just paperwork and hiring—it shapes how organizations grow, retain talent, and perform. Strong HR systems reduce turnover, improve culture, and directly impact business success.
LEARN CONCEPT 3: Every workplace decision affects performance and culture. Hiring the wrong person, failing to train employees, or ignoring workplace conflict has real consequences. HR professionals design systems that influence how people work, interact, and succeed.
LEARN CONCEPT 4: You can start building an HR career now. You do not need prior HR experience to begin. Communication, organization, and initiative are transferable skills that can open the door to entry-level HR roles and long-term career growth.
Course Overview
Every company that employs people faces HR challenges—whether or not they have a formal HR department. This course introduces students to how organizations hire, develop, manage, and retain employees, and how HR professionals solve real business problems.
From Employee to Organizational Thinker
Most people experience work as employees. HR professionals see the system behind the work: how people are selected, trained, evaluated, and supported. This course helps students shift from simply participating in a workplace to understanding how it operates.
Students will explore real-world HR functions, including hiring, training, compensation, and workplace culture. By the end of the course, students will understand how HR decisions shape both employee experience and business outcomes.
The 5 Traits of Successful HR Professionals
- Communication: Clear, professional interaction across all levels of an organization
- Judgment: Making fair, informed decisions in complex situations
- Organization: Managing multiple processes, deadlines, and responsibilities
- Confidentiality: Handling sensitive employee information responsibly
- Empathy: Understanding employee perspectives while balancing business needs
Course Outline
- Introduction: What Is Human Resources?
- Chapter 1: What HR Actually Does
- Chapter 2: Hiring and Talent Acquisition
- Chapter 3: Training, Development, and Performance
- Quiz 1 (Chapters 1–3)
- Chapter 4: Compensation, Benefits, and Total Rewards
- Chapter 5: Culture and Employee Relations
- Chapter 6: How to Start a Career in HR
- Quiz 2 (Chapters 4–6)
- Final Exam (20 Questions)
- Final Reflection
Description of Activities
- Read and analyze course content and real-world HR scenarios
- Watch career-focused videos on HR roles and responsibilities
- Complete quizzes to assess understanding of key concepts
- Participate in discussions on workplace situations and decision-making
- Reflect on personal experiences in work, school, or team environments
- Complete a final written reflection and optional presentation
