TROY UNIVERSITY
MASTER SYLLABUS
SORRELL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
HRM 6601
Legal Environment of Employment Decisions
Prerequisites
Graduate standing.
Description
This course is designed to help the student understand the law as it applies to the management of
human resources. Its coverage is aimed at preparing the managers of human resources to
recognize legal problems, to know the legal impact of decisions on personnel matters and to be
knowledgeable in general of the law as it might impact individuals in organizations. This is
intended to be an introductory course in the MSHRM program.
Objectives
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1. Explain the concepts of employment at-will, implied contract, and wrongful discharge.
2. Describe the purpose and key points of major employment laws, including Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act, ADA, OSHA, FMLA, FLSA, Polygraph Act, employment torts,
USERRA, Immigration and Reform Act, Equal Pay Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Age
Discrimination Act, Older Worker Protection Act, and the NLRA (overview).
3. Describe the major components of the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection
Procedures.
4. List and describe major judicial decisions and executive orders governing demographic
discrimination, sexual harassment, affirmative action and condition-related discrimination.
5. Discuss legally-oriented strategies to manage workplace demographics and conditions,
including special accommodation and affirmative action.
6. Differentiate between legal and ethical requirements in business conduct.
7. Relate various aspects of employee law to business objectives in an apt scenario.
Purpose
To provide a basic knowledge of employment law and to develop analytical and written skills
appropriate to presenting convincing arguments within a legally cognizant, dialectical
framework.
Master Syllabi are developed by the senior faculty in each business discipline. This Master Syllabus must be used as the basis for developing the
instructor syllabus for this course, which must also comply with the content specifications outlined in the Troy University Faculty Handbook.
The objectives included on this Master Syllabus must be included among the objectives on the instructor’s syllabus, which may expand upon
same as the instructor sees fit. The statement of purpose seeks to position the course properly within the curriculum and should be consulted by
faculty as a source of advisement guidance. Specific choice of text and other details are further subject to Chair guidance.
15 June 2016
Master Syllabus: HRM 6601
2
Approved Text:*
Bennett-Alexander, D. D., & Hartman, L. P. Employment law for business. Boston, MA:
McGraw-Hill.
Program SLOs Addressed by Assessment Component:
None
Assessments: The following materials are required in this course for assessment purposes.
Assignment: None
Assessment: None
Student Engagement:
Instructors in this course will add videos, movies, site visits, guest speakers, service learning
projects, or other activities designed to engage students in experiential and active learning
activities designed to improve skills and the application of knowledge within the business
community.
Optional Reference Materials:*
Covington, R. N. Employment law in a nutshell. Eagan, MN: Thomson/West.
Estreicher, S., & Harper, M. Employment Discrimination and Employment Law: Statutory
Supplement. Eagan, MN: Thomson/West.
* Note: The most recent edition is required unless otherwise specified.
Troy University Faculty Handbook (2010): Section 3.9.2.8 [extract] — essential elements of the syllabus (somewhat modified for space):
1. Course title
2. Course number +
section
3. Term
4. Instructor
5. Prerequisites
6. Office hours
7. Class days, times
8. Classroom
location
9. Office location +
e-mail address
10. Office telephone
11. Course
description,
objectives
12. Text(s)
13. Other materials
14. Grading methods, 16. General supports
criterion weights,
(computer works,
make-up policy,
writing center)
mid-term grade
17. Daily assignments,
reports
holidays, add/drop
15. Procedure, course
& open dates, dead
requirements
day, final exam
18. ADA statement
19. Electronic device
statement
20. Additional
services,
statements
21. Absence policy
22. Incomplete-work
policy
23. Cheating policy
24. Specialization
requirements
(certification,
licensure, teacher
competencies)