HR Law Online Courses and Seminars

Explore the HR Law Online courses that students take over the 40-week graduate certificate program.  In order to earn credit for each course for this certificate, students must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0).  To earn the certificate, a cumulative GPA of B (3.0) is required.

#2070 - Introduction to the Legal System for Human Resources; Hiring and Firing (3 Credits)

Professor Joseph S. Hornack

This course will begin by explaining primary sources of law and exploring the judicial process, which will include an overview of state and federal court systems, state and federal administrative agencies, jurisdiction, class actions, the civil litigation process, and alternative dispute resolution.  It will next look at job classification:  whether a worker is an employee, an independent contractor or a student intern.  Next this course will review job selection and hiring issues, such as resume fraud, background checks, questions considered inappropriate to job seekers, employee contracts, non-competition and arbitration agreements, protecting trade secrets, job references, and vicarious liability.  Finally, this course will cover selected legal disputes surrounding job termination: claims of wrongful discharge and violation of whistleblower laws. 

#2071 - Wages, Hours and Benefits (3 credits)

Professor Jean Novak

This course will begin with an examination of issues presented by the Fair Labor Standards Act: minimum wage, overtime, off-the-clock work, and child labor.  It will next look at human resource recordkeeping functions such as personnel file maintenance, medical file maintenance, performance evaluations and disciplinary actions.  Finally, this course will cover selected employee benefits and income maintenance issues, such as health insurance, pensions, disability benefits, unemployment compensation, family and medical leave, and plant closing/mass layoff notification. 

#2072 - Working Conditions (3 credits)

Professor Emily Town

This course will begin with the topic of health and safety at work, including employer obligations under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act and state workers compensation laws.  It will next look at human resource challenges posed by employee handbooks and employer codes of conduct.  This course will next cover employee privacy issues, such as workplace appearance and grooming, “love contracts,” privacy off the job, employee monitoring, social media and politics in the workplace, and drug testing.  Finally, this course will explore selected labor-management relations issues, including situations where employees (union and non-union) engage in concerted activity for their mutual aid and protection.  

#2073 - Anti-Discrimination Law (3 credits)

Professor Alan Pittler and Professor Bobbi Britton Tucker

This course will cover federal, state and local anti-discrimination laws and will begin with identification of protected classes, including race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, and disability.  It will next look at employment discrimination enforcement mechanisms, legal defenses, and legal remedies. Finally, it will look at “types” of discrimination, including disparate treatment, disparate impact, harassment, and retaliation claims.        

#2074 - Selected Topics in Human Resources Law
(3 credits)

Professor Pat Chew

In this course students choose a number of short elective courses in their areas of interest or choose electives in areas for study in greater depth.