The SHRM Learning System® course is designed to provide you with an overview of key areas in human resource management. Materials include six modules that correspond to the six functional areas, responsibilities, and associated knowledge as defined by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). The program is offered in cooperation with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as study material for the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification examinations administered by HRCI.

Besides being a powerful tool to assist you in preparing for the PHR or SPHR certification exams, the SHRM Learning System also provides professional development for you and your HR department. The course provides a solid foundation for managing the HR challenges you face in today's demanding work environment; it supplies a current reference of HR practices, broadens the perspective of functional specialists, and strengthens individual competencies and productivity.

For those who desire, the SHRM Learning System course may be taken for undergraduate credit. Participants who choose this option may typically apply the credits earned in the course toward Catholic University's Certificate in Human Resource Management or bachelor's degree.
 

Who Should Attend?

The course is designed for managers and staff in general management or human resource management positions, to include:

• HR professionals planning to take the PHR^® or SPHR^® certification exam
• PHR^® professionals seeking to "upgrade" their certification to SPHR^®
• Certified HR professionals needing credits for PHR^®/SPHR^® recertification
• HR practitioners seeking professional development to advance their careers
• Experienced managers who are new to the HR field
• Other mid-level managers pursuing a career change or promotion
• Individuals needing recertification credits.
   

Business Management & Strategy

• The strategic role of HR in organizations
• HR business management skills
• The strategic planning process
• Evaluating the internal/external environment
• HR and the legislative/regulatory environment

Workforce Planning and Employment

Human Resource Development

Compensation & Benefits

Employee and Labor Relations

Risk Management

• Assess: Take the assessment to determine your current knowledge and gaps, with the results weighted against tested areas on the certification exam (PHR or SPHR).
• Study: Use assessment results to identify your learning priorities, create your personal study plan, estimate study time, and apply learned knowledge.
• Pass: Complete the post-test and use other testing preparation tools to validate your learning and refine your study plan as you prepare to pass the exam.

More Ways to Learn

Whatever your learning style, you'll always find ways to test your knowledge and build confidence using the SHRM Learning System.  Use the interactive case study, featuring real-life scenarios and questions, to apply your knowledge.  And, check out the Online Learning Center for a wealth of supplemental study materials, including:

• Quickstarts - guided overviews for each module highlight key topics
• Assessment - identifies topics a participant already knows and those areas that require more time and attention
• Tests - more than 1,000 questions for continually testing knowledge and comprehension
• Post-Test - weighted and balanced to mimic the scored PHR/SPHR exam; presented in the style and format used by the HR Certification Institute

The Online Resource Center includes downloadable audio and web casts, flashcards (printed, online, or audio), HR updates, related links, feedback feature, and more.  Best of all, you can access the SHRM Learning System via your PC, laptop, mobile device, or e-reader, making it easy to study wherever and whenever you have time. 

Preparing to Pass

When you complete this course, you should be well prepared to pass the PHR or SPHR exam.  Year after year, professionals who use the SHRM Learning System consistently beat the national pass rate.  When asked if certification was worth the cost and effort, HR professionals, on average, attributed a personal ROI of 253% to certification.  Over one-third believed the benefits were worth more than FIVE TIMES the cost, suggesting an ROI of 476%!  (Source: "The Value of Certification Around the World." Independent research commissioned by the HR Certification Institute, 2010.)

Certification Information

Please note that to earn either the PHR or SPHR designation, candidates must meet certain educational and experience requirements specified by the HR Certification Institute.  All certification testing is computer-based and conducted at the 250 Prometric Test Centers around the country. These courses are designed to prepare you for the testing period that runs from May 1, 2013, through June 30, 2013.  For best results, schedule your certification exam for a date that is after the end of your class. Information on the PHR and SPHR exams is available on the HR Certification Institute Web site, by calling HRCI at 866-898-4724, or by using their contact form located at http://www.hrci.org/contactus/.

There is no single course of study that guarantees success on the HRCI examinations, but thousands of individuals have used the SHRM Learning System to study for the exams. Course content reflects the general body-of-knowledge tested by the Human Resource Certification Institute. This course of study will in no way guarantee or assure success on the HRCI exam. Students must use the most recent edition of the SHRM Learning System for this course and may not use outdated materials


Course Schedule

  Spring 2013

Non-Credit
Class #	Course #	Title	Times	Location
This section is offered in cooperation with: Human Resource Association of the National Capital Area	MPD 353	Human Resource Management (SHRM Learning System®)            Instructor: TBA	Wednesdays, 6:10 - 9:40 p.m.   March 13 - May 8, 2013	Washington, D.C. The Catholic University of America's Main Campus 620 Michigan Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20064 Adjacent to the Brookland-CUA Metrorail Station (Red Line)
This section is offered in cooperation with: Montgomery County Chapter of SHRM	MPD 353	Human Resource Management (SHRM® Learning System)             Instructor: Michele Fantt Harris, J.D., M.A.S., SPHR	Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.   Five meetings: March 9 March 23 April 6 April 20 May 4	Montgomery         County, MD Tentative Location:   Rockville, MD

Instructors

Catholic University uses only instructors who possess solid academic credentials, practical HR experience, and either PHR or SPHR certification to teach the SHRM Learning System. The instructor for each course is listed in the table above.

Cost/Fees

Non-Credit: $1,095 (includes the SHRM Learning System^® course materials)
               - SHRM, HRA-NCA & MCSHRM Members: $995

The SHRM Learning System course registration fee includes the SHRM Learning System -- six workbooks that are based upon the HRCI test specifications -- and a certificate of completion. Each module includes:

• In-depth readings to expand your knowledge and reinforce what you already know.
• Application exercises that ask you to apply the information to "real-world" situations.
• Periodic progress checks, with approximately 300 printed questions located throughout the course, to continually reinforce your learning, ensure your retention of the reading materials and provide test-taking practice.
• A glossary of terms to make it easier to review key terms.
• An index to help locate and review specific topics.
• A bibliography for further research topics of interest.

The course also includes:

• A software component that is designed to help increase performance on certification exams and encourage more strategic thinking on HR issues.
• Individual post-module testing that allows you to assess your HR knowledge in each functional area.
• A Guide to Smart Test Taking to help improve your test-taking skills.
• Reference charts of important legislation, case law and commonly used acronyms.
  

Refund Policy

Registrants who cancel in writing at least three business days before the start of the course may receive a full refund. A substitute may attend if we receive notification at least one business day before the start of the program. Please note that you will not automatically be dropped from the course for non-attendance. 

If The Catholic University of America cancels the course, a full refund will be given. CUA's Metropolitan School of Professional Studies reserves the right to substitute instructors, change the day a program meets, or cancel programs due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events.

Location/Parking

Most classes are offered on the Catholic University campus. Directions, and a map of the campus, are available at http://admissions.cua.edu/undergrad/visiting/. The campus is adjacent to a Metrorail stop (Brookland-CUA / Red line). If you prefer to drive, you will need to obtain a parking permit from Catholic University's Department of Public Safety -- after you receive confirmation of registration.

Registration Form

To register by fax, please send your completed application/registration form to (202) 319-6032. As the course approaches, you will receive an e-mail with information regarding how to obtain course materials, pay for tuition, secure a parking permit, etc.

To register by mail, complete the application/registration form and send it with a check made payable to The Catholic University of America.

Mail to:

SHRM Program (Pangborn 334)
Metropolitan School of Professional Studies
The Catholic University of America
620 Michigan Avenue, N.E.
Washington, DC 20064

Please list only one person per registration form and allow adequate time before the start of the course for us to process your registration. Confirmation will be e-mailed to you upon final processing of your registration. (Confirmations are not sent upon receipt - only after the registration has been processed. We typically do not start sending registration confirmations until about one month before the class begins.)

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