PSY437 Human Resources
PSY437 Human Resources
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Psychology
Faruk Obuća
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The course examines the psychological foundations of human resource management through the lens of industrial and organizational psychology. It focuses on evidence-based staffing, performance measurement, employee development, motivation, leadership, and organizational change. Students will learn how to design, evaluate, and improve HR systems using scientific methods and psychological theory.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
1. Aamodt, M. G. (2010). Industrial/organizational psychology: An applied approach (6th ed.). Cengage Learning. 2. Landy, F. J., & Conte, J. M. (2013). Work in the 21st century: An introduction to industrial and organizational psychology (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Additional Literature
Cascio, W. F., & Aguinis, H. (2005). Applied psychology in human resource management.; Dries, N. (2013). The psychology of talent management: A review and research agenda. Human Resource Management Review, 23(4), 272-285.; Uen, J. F., Chien, M. S., & Yen, Y. F. (2009). The mediating effects of psychological contracts on the relationship between human resource systems and role behaviors: A multilevel analysis. Journal of Business and Psychology, 24(2), 215-223.Teaching Methods
Lectures
Discussions with Examples
Practical Exercises
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction; Review of Syllabus & Class Organization | |
| 2 | Introduction to HR | 1. Ch.1 and 2. Ch.1 |
| 3 | Research Methods | 2. Ch.2 |
| 4 | Job Analysis and Performance Foundations | 1.Ch.2 and 2. Ch.4 |
| 5 | Individual Differences and Assessment+ Quiz 1 | 2. Ch.3 |
| 6 | Staffing Decisions and Selection Systems | 1. Ch.4-6 and 2. Ch.6 |
| 7 | Performance Measurement and Appraisal | 1. Ch.7 and 2. Ch.5 |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
| 9 | Legal Issues, Fairness, and Diversity | 1.Ch.3 and 2. Ch.11 |
| 10 | Training and Development Systems | 1.Ch.8 and 2. Ch.7 |
| 11 | Motivation to Work | 1. Ch.9 and 2. Ch.8 |
| 12 | Attitudes, Emotions, and Commitment+ Quiz 2 | 1. Ch. 10 and 2. Ch.9 |
| 13 | Leadership and Leader Development | 1. Ch. 12 and 2. Ch.12 |
| 14 | Teams and Organizational Structure | 1. Ch.13 and 2. Ch. 13 and 14 |
| 15 | Organizational Development and Change | 1.Ch. 14 |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY437.1 | Course | Tuesday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F1.9 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Mid-term exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Quiz I
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Quiz II
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Attendance & Active Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4
Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Mid-term Exam Study
24 hours ⏳ (8 week × 3 h)
Project
15 hours ⏳ (5 week × 3 h)
Quiz
24 hours ⏳ (12 week × 2 h)
Final Exam Study
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [PSY437] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| PSY437 | Human Resources | 2 | 1 | 6 | Tuesday 09:00-11:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Faruk Obuća | Office Hours / Room / Phone | ||||||||
| fobuca@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The course examines the psychological foundations of human resource management through the lens of industrial and organizational psychology. It focuses on evidence-based staffing, performance measurement, employee development, motivation, leadership, and organizational change. Students will learn how to design, evaluate, and improve HR systems using scientific methods and psychological theory. | |||||||||
| Textbook | 1. Aamodt, M. G. (2010). Industrial/organizational psychology: An applied approach (6th ed.). Cengage Learning. 2. Landy, F. J., & Conte, J. M. (2013). Work in the 21st century: An introduction to industrial and organizational psychology (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures, Discussions with Examples, Practical Exercises | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course Introduction; Review of Syllabus & Class Organization | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Introduction to HR | 1. Ch.1 and 2. Ch.1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Research Methods | 2. Ch.2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Job Analysis and Performance Foundations | 1.Ch.2 and 2. Ch.4 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Individual Differences and Assessment+ Quiz 1 | 2. Ch.3 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Staffing Decisions and Selection Systems | 1. Ch.4-6 and 2. Ch.6 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Performance Measurement and Appraisal | 1. Ch.7 and 2. Ch.5 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Legal Issues, Fairness, and Diversity | 1.Ch.3 and 2. Ch.11 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Training and Development Systems | 1.Ch.8 and 2. Ch.7 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Motivation to Work | 1. Ch.9 and 2. Ch.8 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Attitudes, Emotions, and Commitment+ Quiz 2 | 1. Ch. 10 and 2. Ch.9 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Leadership and Leader Development | 1. Ch. 12 and 2. Ch.12 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Teams and Organizational Structure | 1. Ch.13 and 2. Ch. 13 and 14 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Organizational Development and Change | 1.Ch. 14 | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1, 2, 3, 4, | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Mid-term exam | 1 | 30 | 1, 2, 3 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz I | 1 | 10 | 1, 2 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz II | 1 | 10 | 1, 2 | Not Allowed | |
| Attendance & Active Participation | 1 | 5 | 3, 4, | Not Allowed | |
| Project | 1 | 15 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | 0 | ||||||
| Mid-term Exam Study | 3 | 8 | 24 | Project | 3 | 5 | 15 | |||
| Quiz | 2 | 12 | 24 | 0 | ||||||
| Final Exam Study | 3 | 15 | 45 | 0 | ||||||
| 0 | ||||||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 16/03/2026 | |||||||||