Course Offering

Essentials of HR Management - MGMT 9435

Dates: Wednesday's, October 1-29, 2025
Time: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $600 and includes the required textbook and materials.

Register in Essentials of HRM

Check with your employer to determine if you are eligible for employer tuition reimbursement.

Sharpen your fundamental HR skills to face today's HR issues

SHRM, the leading global HR professional organization, has developed the SHRM Essentials of HR Management course which provides an introductory overview of the human resource function.  Whether you are new to HR or if HR is one of many roles you fulfill at your company, the program, offered in partnership with SHRM, through Penn State Berks, Penn State Abington, Penn State Harrisburg, and Penn State York covers the key HR topics you need to know.

Who should take this course:

  • New or junior HR practitioners who need to increase their knowledge base
  • Small business owners or office managers who perform the HR function for their company
  • Business managers who want to learn basic HR best practices to avoid costly litigation
  • New or experienced managers interested in learning more about employee management skills
  • Representative selling or supporting HR systems and services
  • International HR personnel wishing to increase their knowledge of US HR practices
  • Job seekers who are investigating HR as a new career option or want to learn HR as a skill for the future

Essentials of HR Management Course content and materials

The Participant's Reference Book includes the printed content of the course.  It addresses six key human resource management practices, compiled into one comprehensive course book for easy reference.

  1. Human Resource Management -- Gain a clear understanding of the HR function.
  2. Employment Law -- Enhance your ability to apply key HR legislation.
  3. Recruitment and Selection -- Develop important skills for selecting employees
  4. Compensation and Benefits -- Learn the key elements of a total compensation system.
  5. Employee Development -- Obtain an understanding of orientation, development, and training.
  6. Performance Management -- Discover the purpose and process for performance evaluation.


Our condensed structured format and live instruction will keep you on track, providing real-world insights into HR while learning content. This course also allows you to network with other HR professionals. Finally, an online component offers Web based materials to reinforce classroom discussion.

Meet the Instructor

E. Joy McFerren, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Senior HR Business Leader

Joy is a strategic HR business leader with experience in medical devices, manufacturing, distribution, pharmaceutical and hospitality industries. She possesses leadership, business acumen, creativity and concern for people. Her expertise in providing full-service HR support including organizational development, employee relations, and guidance to site management teams and collaborative management style makes her an effective change agent in a variety of structures. Joy has a proven ability to establish strong partnership with management teams to build environments with high performance standards and high value on human capital. Joy teaches the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP review course using the SHRM Learning System and online resources in a caring and competent manner.