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Postgraduate

The human resource professional

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This course develops the professional HR skills and expertise needed at both operational and strategic levels and in organisations where change and outsourcing are becoming the norm. These include practical, conceptual and critical skills – including those needed for effective continued professional development. You will address core HR areas (resourcing, employee relations, development, performance management and reward), setting these within wider organisational, professional, legal and ethical contexts, and considering how the HR profession is changing. You will also develop skills required to manage consultants, and to operate as an effective change agent and consultant yourself – activities which will feature in many HR careers.

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No current presentation - see Future availability
This course is expected to start for the last time in May 2012.

What you will study

The course is a core module in the MSc in Human Resource Management (F40). It is intended for practising HR professionals at, or aspiring to, senior levels. The course explores the nature of the professional HR role, and the challenges of managing professionals within an organisational context of continual change. It addresses both the traditional areas of HR activity, and the challenges posed by the increasing outsourcing of traditional HR activities and by the use of consultants and other contractors. The course concludes by developing the skills needed to function as a successful consultant – a role often required during a career as an HR professional. Themes running through the course include: the nature of specialist expertise, the legal context, ethics, change, and risk.

Vocational relevance

The course is specifically designed for those working in, or with experience of, an HR role, aiming to make them more effective in this role. It is not intended as a general interest course: if you lack an HR background you will have difficulty in completing assignments.

Entry

You should normally have completed the first stage of the MSc in Human Resource Management (F40) and either of the discontinued modules B824 or B827. However experienced HR professionals may find it useful to study the course on a stand-alone basis as continuing professional development (CPD). If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Outside the UK

The course is written from a primarily UK/EU perspective. If you are working within other legislative frameworks you may find difficulty with some parts of the course.

Qualifications

B855 is a compulsory module in our:

Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.

If you have a disability or additional requirement

The study materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. The written study material is available in comb-bound format. Alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

You will need to make use of a personal computer and the internet. If you are a new student, or new to study using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.

You can also find information about accessible study materials, the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.

Study materials

What's included

Module units, set book, additional online materials including a study guide and wider readings.

Computing requirements

You will need a computer with internet access to study this course which includes online activities. You can only access these using a web browser with Flash and Java.

  • If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer since 2006 you should have no problems completing the online activities.
  • If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.
  • If you use an Apple Mac you will need OS X 10.5 or later.

You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will be allocated to a tutor who will provide support online and by telephone, grade and comment on your assignments, and facilitate your learning at day schools. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.

You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.

You will be required to keep a personal development file, part of which you will submit as your final assignment.

Professional recognition

MSc in Human Resource Management (F40) has been approved by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Normally holders of the MSc will be eligible for graduate membership of the Institute provided that their MSc includes the discontinued module B713, Psychometrics: selection and assessment (D842) and the HR specific version of, Making a difference, i.e coded BXH830 rather than B830. Please note that because of changes in CIPD's qualification structure this eligibility is limited to candidates who have already registered with the CIPD and the MSc in HRM and who complete the MSc by December 2013.

Future availability

The details given here are for the final course start in May 2012. 

How to register

We regret that we are currently unable to accept registrations for this course. Where the course is to be presented again in the future, relevant registration information will be displayed on this page as soon as it becomes available.

Distance learning

The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.

For more information about distance learning at the OU read Study explained.

Course facts
About this course:
Course code B855
Credits 30
OU Level Postgraduate
SCQF level 11
FHEQ level 7
Course work includes:
3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
Examination
No residential school

Study explained

Credits
- show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
Costs
- find out how much you can expect to pay.
Financial support
- find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
Study explained
- all you need to know about studying with the OU.

Your questions

We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.

Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90 +44(0) 845 366 60 35

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