Master of Arts in Management-Practicum Option

This course serves as an advanced course in human resource management with particular emphasis on the strategic planning process for each of the functions. Students will explore the historical evolution and philosophical foundation of the field as well as examine the current practices that are being used to support Human Resources in the workplace. Future human resource management challenges will be examined and the emerging concept of strategic Human Resource professionals as business partners will be highlighted.

This course aims at providing students with an in-depth understanding of the various methodological approaches to the study of management. The course provides a deep insight into various scientific and methodological approaches as well as practical training in the design and implementation of research projects. This includes data collection methods, sampling techniques, survey design, interview techniques, observation methods, analysis, interpretation and how to write scientific reports. This course is required as the first course in the M.A. in Management.

This is an introductory course that focuses on the concepts and methods of managing an organization. The overall course objective is to identify, apply, and evaluate techniques for structuring and resolving managerial problems in public and private organizations. The main educational tool used in the course is the analysis and class discussion of case studies. Readings and lectures are used to supplement the case analyses. Topics include: culture and change; managing globally and ethically; strategic planning and implementation; organization structure; human resource management; groups, teams and motivation; leadership; and operational management.

This course will provide a framework for understanding individual and group behaviors within dynamic organizations. Topics to be covered will be human behavior principles in individual, groups/teams, and organizational settings. The main emphasis of this course will be on developing effective administrative/managerial skills in improving employee performance.

This course is an examination of individual dimensions of global executive leadership, organizational behavior, inter-group relations, and strategies for internal corporate communication. Course topics include management and global trade, special aspects of operating successfully in the global environment, the executive's role in solving conflicts and creating corporations in the world marketplace, cultural aspects of international operations management and ethical corporate strategies in an international context.

This course outlines successful Strategic Management and Planning techniques. Students taking this course will gain an understanding of Strategic Planning techniques that have been successful in the industrial base companies. This course has been designed and developed to provide management teams and leaders with state of the art practices and theories, strategies and techniques relative to the Strategic Management and Planning Process.

This course addresses the ethical dimensions of management with a special focus on the processes managers may use to raise and resolve ethical dilemmas and conflicts in organizational settings. Policies pertaining to treatment of those raising ethical issues will be considered. The legal and regulatory requirements of ethical conduct will be examined. Policies and codes of conduct established by various organizations and industry groups will be critically examined. The course will feature case studies involving alleged breaches of ethical conduct among publicly held corporations.

This course is a conceptual and functional analysis of the legal framework and principles of employment law, with emphasis on discrimination in the workplace. Primary topics include the employment relationship; discrimination based on race, gender, age, national origin, religion, and disability; sexual harassment; affinity orientation; testing and performance appraisal; labor/management issues; privacy; health, safety, worker's compensation, and employee benefits. Issues are addressed from a management perspective so that students understand how to manage efficiently with a full understanding of the legal ramifications of their decisions. Students are shown how to analyze employment law facts so that they can arrive at good management decisions based on relevant legal considerations.

This course is a comprehensive view of human resource policy development with emphasis on the interdependence of human resource and operating functions. Students will have the opportunity to analyze human resource functions of recruitment, development, training, compensation, integration into the workforce, and maintenance of Human resource for the purpose of contributing to organizational, societal, and individual goals. Special emphasis will be placed on human resource policy and strategy as government, corporate, small business, and other entities fashion their human resources to meet the needs of a 21st Century workforce.

The course examines the techniques, policies, processes, strategies, and practices used by companies and managers to effectively and efficiently leverage their human capital. Students will learn how the various “core” areas of human resource management including staffing, performance management, work and job design, training, and compensation are aligned to accomplish business objectives. Additionally, because HRM is becoming less of a functional responsibility and more of manager’s responsibility, the theories and techniques taught in the course are applicable for many positions in a wide variety of organizations. The goal is that by the end of the course, students will have a greater appreciation for the importance of human capital for achieving an organization’s goals.

This course serves as an advanced course in compensation and benefits with particular emphasis on global compensation and benefit issues. Students will explore strategic, operational and tactical approaches to global compensation and benefits as they relate to an overall corporate multinational strategy. There will be an examination of expatriate and local staff compensation and benefit practices as students prepare effective compensation and benefits strategies through case studies, class discussions and other assignments.

This course is designed to familiarize the student with a basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Human resource manager with regard to employee assistance, safety, occupational health and security in the workplace. It examines the elements that go into guaranteeing a safe environment in the workplace, "soft-landing," organization and evaluation of safety training and policies, occupational health education as well as compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) rules and regulations. It examines the basics of network security, industrial espionage and the relationship of the Human Resource Manager with experts in the safety, health and security fields within the organization.

This course consists of a collection of classic and contemporary readings in Organizational Development covering a broad range of topics including interpersonal relations, motivation, decision making and group behavior in organizations. Included are experiential exercises that give students an opportunity to practice their skills and cases that allow students to draw on their own experiences to apply the concepts and theories in managerial situations. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of the leader.

This course covers the elements of contemporary leadership and delineates the principles that are important in the development of a leader for the 21st century. Discussion of the role and function of leadership will include an in-depth analysis and study of needs impacting individuals, organizations and society. The course provides students with a set of leadership skills and competencies on which to build an individual model for effective leadership that can be tested over time.

The experiential or practical component of the course aims to apply learning in an aspect of interest related to the degree and concentration in Management. It is understood to be a supervised practicum that requires approval by APUS before entering into the relationship with the organization. The selection of an organization or site for the practicum must relate to the content of the student’s course work and/or concentration. Goals of the applied practicum and integration seminar will be submitted by the student for approval using an application for approval to the Faculty member, Program Director and Dean of the School, Management. The organization will serve as an opportunity to experience the practice of an area of management related to the focus of the student’s degree. Practicum courses are NOT included in the university retake policy. All grades for any attempts will appear on transcript and will be calculated in GPA