On-Campus Course Schedule for Fall 2021

MPS HR Capstone

The HRM Capstone is the culminating experience of the Georgetown Master’s in HRM program. It represents a crowning achievement as a capstone does in architecture, and provides students with an opportunity to apply the HR knowledge, skills and competencies gained from all their coursework to complex real-world organizational challenges. Through the culminating experience, students complete unique and original projects that make a creative contribution that advances an organization or the HR profession. This contribution may take the form of a consulting engagement with a partner organization or an applied research project. Depending on the nature of your project, you may work individually or on a small team — under the guidance of an expert advisor. Your semester-long project may be broad-based or focused on a specialized area of HR, and requires you to demonstrate mastery of the seven program learning outcomes: creative & critical thinking, global competence, ethical reasoning and values, applied problem solving, information literacy, technological competence, and communication. Note: This course is a core requirement for the MPS degree. A grade of “B” or higher is needed to pass this course.

Note: Core requirement for MPS degree. Minimum grade of "B" needed for degree completion.

Creating and Sustaining a Climate of Inclusion

Inclusion unlocks the power of diversity. The evidence overwhelmingly shows that just attracting and hiring diverse talent is not enough, as people can only reach their full potential at work in a climate of inclusion, belonging and respect. Hence, forward-thinking organizations are focusing on identifying and overcoming cultural and organizational barriers to inclusion. In this course, we will explore key challenges and opportunities in building an inclusive workplace, and learn about the latest trends and best practices for advancing and embedding inclusion and equity within HR practices — from talent acquisition and retention, to performance and reward management. You will gain practical tips and insights on counteracting bias, shifting exclusive workplace habits, and institutionalizing a culture of inclusion. Through real-world case studies, application exercises and team-based projects, you will acquire the skills and competencies needed to design, deliver and evaluate workplace inclusion programs and initiatives that increase happiness, innovation and productivity.

Employment Relations and the Law

Employment-related litigation, settlements and fines are on the rise in the U.S., causing considerable financial and reputational damage to organizations. HR professionals can help to minimize employment risks and reduce costs by ensuring that HR practices and policies align and comply with laws and regulations. Beyond employment law, HR professionals are expected to develop employee relations strategies and programs that foster positive employee-manager and unions-management relations. This course provides an overview of U.S. laws that govern the employer-employee relationship — including laws that prohibit discrimination, and labor laws that protect employees’ rights and set forth employers’ obligations and responsibilities. You will also explore employee relations strategies and best practices for driving employee engagement and managing workplace conflicts. Through real-world cases and problem-based learning, you will gain the practical skills and knowledge required to advise managers on dealing with legal and contemporary issues throughout the HR lifecycle, from hiring and promotion, to compensation and benefits, discipline and termination.

Foundations of HR

People management really matters. In the twenty-first century talent economy, the evidence consistently and overwhelmingly shows that effective HR practices promote employee well-being and drive organizational performance. Forward-thinking organizations and managers must therefore put people at the center of strategy execution, and manage them carefully and purposefully in every stage of the HR life cycle — from recruitment, to onboarding, talent development, retention and off-boarding. Blending theory and practice, this course examines the latest trends and best practices in the key functional areas of HR: talent acquisition and management, learning and development, total rewards management, and employment relations and the law. You will explore the roles and responsibilities of HR professionals and line managers in implementing HR policies and practices that align with business outcomes and meet employees’ changing needs. Through real-world case studies, application exercises and group projects, you will acquire the foundational HR knowledge and skills for building competitive advantage through people.

Strategic Thinking & Financial Acumen

HR professionals partnering with organizational leaders in increasingly complex and dynamic business environments need to develop their business acumen and strategic thinking skills to enable them to deliver results. This course explores the fundamentals of business acumen, from understanding an organization’s competitive advantage, to using business tools to analyze HR initiatives, and ensuring alignment between HR strategy and the organization’s strategic direction. An overarching goal of the course is to develop your fluency in speaking the language of business – accounting. You will learn how to identify the key drivers of performance and profitability, analyze financial statements and other business documents, use financial data to inform strategic decision making, allocate scarce resources, and justify HR budgets. Through real-world case studies, simulations and team-based projects, you will enhance your business and financial intelligence, and gain the confidence to navigate complex people and business challenges, adding value to your organization.

Human Capital Analytics

The twenty-first century has ushered in a new era of data and analytics. This presents a unique opportunity for HR professionals to establish themselves as credible business partners, helping organizations to leverage analytics to make smarter talent and strategic decisions. This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to unlock the power of people data. From basic data reporting, statistical analysis, and benchmarking (descriptive analytics) to advanced quantitative analysis and modeling (predictive analytics), you will learn tools and techniques for data analysis. The course provides practical tips to help you translate your analytical findings into impactful HR solutions, and communicate your findings through persuasive visualization and storytelling. Ethical and legal issues that may arise from using analytics to make HR decisions will also be explored. Using real-world case studies, application exercises and group projects, you will learn how to develop a data-driven decision-making mindset, to improve the way organizations recruit, deploy, develop, assess, reward and retain talent.

Note: This course meets in the Mac Lab.

Research Process and Methodology

As scientific research output on human resources management continues to grow rapidly, there is wide acceptance of the need for HR professionals to embrace evidence-based practice. This requires using the best available scientific evidence, as well as systematically gathering organizational facts, data, indicators, and metrics. Exploring the fundamentals of research methods and data analysis, this course is designed to help you become a more sophisticated consumer and producer of research. As a consumer, the course will equip you with the skills to make informed, critical, and cautious use of published research. A central focus of the course is preparing you to produce high-quality research. You will learn how to formulate research questions, design research projects, and collect, analyze and interpret data using qualitative and quantitative methods. Employing a learning-by-doing approach, you will develop your research and analytical skills, and gain the foundational knowledge and skills to leverage HR research and analytics for effective problem-solving and decision-making.

Talent Acquisition & Mgmt.

As competition for talent intensifies around the world, organizations are facing unprecedented challenges in acquiring, retaining, and engaging the talent they need to meet the demands of their customers and stakeholders. These problems are accentuated by shifting demographics, unpredictable market conditions, and disruptive technologies. Organizations expect HR to help them respond effectively to these trends, creating and delivering a strategy to meet their current and future talent needs. Exploring the fundamentals of talent acquisition and management, this course covers the key concepts, methods, techniques, and tools in recruitment, selection, workforce planning, employer branding, and staffing system evaluation and technology. You will learn evidence-based approaches and best practices for acquiring and managing talent, with particular attention paid to ethical, legal and diversity considerations. Through real-world case studies, application exercises and team-based learning, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to improve hiring processes and outcomes, create a positive candidate experience, retain key talent, and plan for future workforce needs.

Workplace Ethics

Note: Core requirement for MPS-HRM degree. Minimum grade required is “B” for degree completion.