Associate Professional in Human Resources
(aPHR)
Course Syllabus
29 Hours
Course Description
The Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR) coursework provides knowledge pertaining to entry-level
certification in the Human Resources industry. The aPHR certification is an entry-level certification that is designed
for new HR professionals. To become certified, students must meet strict professional experience and educational
requirements before taking the exam. To remain certified, students must stay current in the HR profession and
recertify every three years. This course covers the objectives for the certification exams:
• Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR)
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the course, students will understand:
• Key skills required of HR professionals, including ability to lead and motivate others, concepts and
applications, ethics and professional organization standards; how to perform environmental scans and
discuss organizational structures
• Current business and regulatory environments; how a working knowledge of those areas allow HR
professionals to be key contributors in development, implementation, and evaluation of the organization's
strategic plan
• Development, implementation, and assessment of affirmative action plans and other equal opportunity
considerations
• Best approaches to internal and external recruitment, with a focus on key recruitment sources such as job
postings, referrals, and various types of candidates, such as active and semi-active
• Key elements of an organization's orientation, onboarding, and exit strategies, including how to deal with
challenges commonly encountered when implementing onboarding programs, and how to measure success
of employee onboarding programs
• Key components of Human Resource Development (HRD), along with key federal legislation that affects HRD
activities – both their development and delivery – as well as OD theories and applications and provides
direction to HR professionals on how to approach OD initiatives to ensure they support organizational
objectives
• The importance and impact of compensation and benefits programs on their organizational objectives, and
how to budget and account for compensation and benefits programs
• Non-cash compensation methods such as equity programs and non-cash rewards, as well as common
benefits programs such as health coverage and employee assistance programs (EAPs)
• Process, subjects of, and approaches for collective bargaining between unions and employers, as well as
best practices for strikes, picketing, and secondary boycotts as the legal means of protest by employees
• The steps in risk management process and risk management strategies in terms of business continuity
planning and liability insurance, as well as the most important employee health and safety regulation for HR
professionals, the Occupational Safety and Health Act
• Workplace privacy issues, privacy policy, and concerns of employees and employers with regard to privacy
• Various aspects of employee safety issues, programs, health hazards, and employee assistance and
wellness programs that HR professionals should be aware of through outlining security risk analysis and
programs used to avoid future emergencies
Course Format
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Revised: 4/10/17
Associate Professional in Human Resources is a self-paced, online course delivered through the learning
management system Skillsoft. The site to access the coursework is su.skillport.com. Login credentials will be
provided to you on the cohort launch date. If you do not receive them by the launch date, please check your
Spam/Junk folder of your email and/or contact your advisor or O2O program coordinator. Once you have logged into
your account, you can locate the coursework by selecting “View My Learning Plan.”
Coursework is delivered through videos, tutorials, and tests. No textbooks are required for the course; however,
students are encouraged to utilize additional resources to assist with certification preparation. Resource Guides with
lists of supplemental study materials for each certification are available at http://libguide.get-
vet.syr.edu/curriculum/.
Course Completion Requirements
Associate Professional in Human Resources coursework is due within 90 days from the assignment date. The course
hours listed at the top of the syllabus reflect the time it would take to click through the slides and do not account for
taking notes or the end of module tests. For the aPHR and PHR certifications, you must complete both modules in
Topic 1, all three modules in Topic 2, all seven modules in Topic 3, all three modules in Topic 4, all three modules in
Topic 5, all three modules in Topic 6, and both modules in Topic 7. For the SPHR certification you will also need to
complete both modules in Topic 8. Successful completion of a module is marked after you review the lesson videos
and score 80% or higher on the end of module tests.
At the beginning of a module, you will be asked to take a pre-test. Scoring 80% or higher on the pre-test signifies
competence in the information that will be covered; you will therefore be waived from completing the module. A non-
credit certificate of completion will be awarded for successful completion of the coursework.
Industry Certification Requirements
In order for the program to fund your aPHR certification exam you will need to meet the associated practice exam
requirements. Your advisor or O2O program coordinator will provide you with access to the practice exams as well as
completion instructions once you have finished the coursework.
Support
• For technical support, please contact Skillsoft Support at support.skillsoft.com
• For course content support, please utilize Skillsoft’s “Ask My Mentor” tool, located in the left-hand Menu
within the module course player
• For program support or questions, please contact your advisor or O2O program coordinator
Course Outline
Topic 1: Human Resources Core Knowledge
1.1 Human Resources Core Knowledge: Skills, Concepts, and Tools
1.2 Human Resources Core Knowledge: Functions and Activities
Topic 2: Business Management and Strategy
2.1 Business Management and Strategy: The HR Function and Business Environment
2.2 Business Management and Strategy: HR and the Strategic Planning Process
2.3 Business Management and Strategy: HR Functions and Roles
Topic 3: Workforce Planning and Employment
3.1 Workforce Planning and Employment: Employment Legislation
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3.2 Workforce Planning and Employment: Recruitment Strategies
3.3 Workforce Planning and Employment: Sourcing and Selecting Candidates
3.4 Essentials of Interviewing and Hiring: Preparing to Interview
3.5 Essentials of Interviewing and Hiring: Preparing to Interview
3.6 Essentials of Interviewing and Hiring: Behavioral Interview Techniques
3.7 Workforce Planning and Employment: Orientation, Onboarding, and Exit Strategies
Topic 4: Human Resource Training and Development
4.1 Human Resource Development: Regulations and Organizational Development
4.2 Human Resource Development: Employee Training
4.3 Human Resource Development: Performance Appraisal and Talent Management
Topic 5: Compensation and Benefits
5.1 Compensation and Benefits: Regulations, Strategies, and Needs Assessment
5.2 Compensation and Benefits: Managing Policies, Programs, and Activities
5.3 Compensation and Benefits: Organizational Responsibilities
Topic 6: Compensation and Benefits
6.1 Employee and Labor Relations: Employment Regulations and Organizational Programs
6.2 Employee and Labor Relations: Behavioral and Disciplinary Issues and Resolution
6.3 Employee and Labor Relations: Unions and Collective Bargaining
Topic 7: Risk Management
7.1 Risk Management: Organizational Risk and Safety and Health Legislation
7.2 Risk Management: Workplace Safety, Security, and Privacy
Topic 8: Strategic Human Resource Management (SPHR Only)
8.1 Strategic HR for SPHR Exam Candidates Part I
8.2 Strategic HR for SPHR Exam Candidates Part II
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Revised: 4/10/17
