FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2004

CONTACT: Steve Dolan
(619) 594-5664
sdolan@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - If you're looking for a new job or want to update your skills, professional certificate programs are an educational option that can serve as an effective employment tool.

Certificates are recognized by most employers as a significant academic accomplishment and can lead to new jobs, as well as promotions for those who obtain them. They are also typically more relevant and focused for today's workforce than academic degrees and can be completed in a much shorter period of time.

Following is a look at the Professional Certificate in Human Resource Management program available through San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies that can help you in your job search:

Earning a professional certificate in human resource management will allow you to become more effective on the job, advance in your career and acquire new knowledge and skills. This program provides a practical educational experience for those in, or new to the field of human resource management; and personnel, industrial, or employee relations.

This 24-unit program is authorized by SDSU's College of Business Administration. The units earned from these courses may be considered for continuing education.

Among the courses available are Human Resource Planning and Policy, Human Resources Development, Compensation, Directed Readings/Applied Project, and Human Resource Management and the Law. There are also programs on Human Resource Planning and Policy, Health and Safety Management, Staffing, and Performance Management, as well as a noncredit course on the PHR/SPHR National Certification Exam Review.

Courses in Human Resource Planning and Policy, and Human Resources Development take a comprehensive view of human resources and managing the human resource function. Topics covered in class include designing, staffing, and evaluating the department; strategic and human resource planning; and international human resource management.

The Human Resource Management and the Law course will outline the legal environment affecting Human Resource management. Students will learn from practical examples about the federal, state, and local laws which regulate and define the employment relationship. Areas covered include: laws governing union organizing; EEO and affirmative action law; health, safety and workers' compensation regulations; leaves of absence and the ADA; and compliance with employee pay and benefit rules.

After earning 21 units of course work, each student is required to complete a culminating project, demonstrating competence in a specific HR area. Working one-on-one with the instructor, the student will develop a project proposal, perform the necessary research, write a summary paper, and present a report.

SDSU's College of Extended Studies offers a wide variety of lifelong learning classes, seminars, and certificate programs. Career advancement courses are offered in many areas of management, leadership, and quality improvement while self-enrichment courses range from astronomy to web design. Additionally, the College offers over 25 certificate programs, online courses, and many other learning opportunities. For more information on the cutting-edge opportunities offered in employment services, or other programs, visit the College's web site at www.NeverStopLearning.net.