Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Summer Semester 2026

Talent Strategy and Acquisition

MGMT 6350-A70

Course: MGMT 6350-A70
Credits: 3
Term: Summer Semester 2026
Department: MHRH
CRN: 20239

Course Description

This course is an examination of the current critical legal issues and strategic questions associated with managing employees. Utilizing text and case material, readings, and primary and secondary research, students will be required to research, discuss, and design responses to some of the most important and strategic questions organizations are responding to now and in the future with respect to the management of their human resources. (Fall - 1st Session, Spring - 2nd Session) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): MGMT 6100 or advisor permission - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Managing Human Resources, 20th Edition, by Scott Snell and Shad Morris (ISBN: 9798214042978)
Case study course pack from Harvard Business Publishing
Articles through Harvard Business Review subscription

Learning Outcomes

  1. Theoretical Understanding: Describe the differences between traditional, “compliance-based” human resource management and modern, strategic human resource management, especially as it pertains to the tasks of recognizing human capital needs and identifying, selecting, and hiring high-potential employees to meet those needs.
  2. Practical Application: Apply the appropriate theories and concepts of strategic human resource management to maximize the fit between corporate strategy, workforce needs, and new hire qualifications.
  3. Personal Development: Improve your ability to manage your own career by better understanding corporate human resource decisions and strategy.


Course Requirements

Quizzes (110 Points / 11% of total grade)

There will be six total quizzes from the course reading assignments (one per module - 20 points each), plus a "Pre-Course" quiz on the syllabus and introductory video (10 points). All the quizzes will have a short time limit, consist of multiple choice and/or True/False questions, and be open book/note.

Team Project (440 points / 44% of total grade)

There will be a semester-long team project, with checkpoint assignments due each week. In the first week, your task will be to get to know your team members; this task will be worth 40 points. Thereafter, each week will contain a new task for the team to accomplish, with each being worth 80 points. The specifics of each week's task will be provided in the instructions; please read them carefully. Note that this is a team assignment; you should not divide up the assignments and let one member of the team handle each week's portion; the point is to learn from one another as you work together!

Team Member Evaluation (50 points / 5% of total grade)

Providing honest, direct feedback is critical for HR managers (more on the specifics of this idea will be covered in MGMT 6360). In the final week of the semester, therefore, you will be required to evaluate each of your team members' performance on the team assignment. Your evaluation of your teammates' participation and effort is worth up to 50 points.

Written Case Study Analysis Assignments (200 points / 20% of total grade)

To enhance your understanding of the principles we are studying and their application in real-life scenarios, there will be five Written Case Study Analysis Assignments, each worth 50 points; the lowest score will be dropped (except in cases of academic integrity violations; those zeroes will not be dropped). These are individual assignments, and should be completed separately from your team, though I'd encourage you to discuss the case with your team members. In other words, feel free to discuss the facts of the case and bounce ideas off each other, but the writing and thoughts in your paper should be entirely your own.

Final Exam (200 points / 20% of total grade)

To demonstrate your understanding of many of the principles and concepts that we will be studying, you will need to complete a final exam at the end of the course. This is required of all students and will not be waived. This final is a multiple-choice/true-false exam based on all of the readings from the course (textbook AND articles), as well as any videos posted in the Modules (weekly Professor Corner videos in Announcements are to help guide you, but will not be on the exam). There will be 50 questions, each worth four points, and will be timed. While this is an open note/article exam, this is NOT an open computer/internet exam. It will be proctored using Honorlock, which will limit your ability to access anything other than the exam and your textbook. Since the final exam is comprehensive of the articles outlined above, successful students will take careful notes and study the articles in each module thoroughly throughout the course to be prepared for the final exam at the end of the course.  

Course Outline

Module 1: Intro to HR
Module 2: Strategy and Workforce Planning
Module 3: Job Analysis and Design
Module 4: Sourcing and Recruiting
Module 5: Using AI
Module 6: Measurement, Selection, and Hiring
Module 7: The Future of HR and Final Exam

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late quizzes and case studies are accepted up to one week late for up to 50% credit. Other work is not accepted late.

Attendance Policy

N/A; this is an online course.

Course Fees

N/A

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.