Our HR certificate program curriculum
Want to gain career-relevant skills? Our HR certificate program curriculum is designed by human resource experts to be instantly applicable to real-world HR scenarios. Building on a core course that covers the fundamentals, you will choose electives that fit your goals—from Labor Relations to Organizational Behavior—and specialize your skill set to stand out in a competitive field.
Required course
M01 - Human Resource ManagementThis course is designed to familiarize you with the basic principles of human resources management. The course begins with an overview and legal aspects. Work analysis and workforce planning, recruiting, staffing, training, and performance management are also examined. This foundation is used to examine how the human resources professional manages careers, compensation, labor relations, safety and health of employees, and discipline and procedural justice. The course concludes by analyzing related concepts in a global context.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:
- Describe a strategic HR plan for an organization and the role of the HR manager.
- Describe the role played by HR in personnel planning, recruiting, and creating job requirements.
- Explain key deficits in employee training and development programs.
- Use performance appraisal criteria for multiple positions in an organization.
- Describe the methods used to create an employee benefit and incentive plan.
- Apply employment discrimination and labor laws to deal effectively with employment issues on the job.
- Explain the methods for managing legal, health, safety, and ethical issues in the workplace.
- Explain the need for global HR expansion, including a hiring strategy that best suits the new business environment.
Credit Hours: 3
Course electives
M03 - Organizational BehaviorThis course is designed to provide you with an opportunity to explore the behavior of individuals, groups, and organizations within today's dynamic work environment. Specific topics include communication, motivation, leadership, power structure, diversity and organizational culture.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:
- Describe the discipline of organizational behavior.
- Explain the impact that behavior, values, and decision making have on an organization.
- Describe how an individual's motivation, emotions, and moods can impact an organization.
- Discuss ways to improve group communication and team performance.
- Discuss how leadership, power, and conflict can shape an organization.
- Analyze the impact that organizational structure and culture can have on an organization.
- Describe the role and function of human resources in an organization.
- Explain theories and methods to manage change and stress.
- Assess the impact in the workplace of globalization, cultural differences, workforce diversity, and ethics and identify strategies for enhancing individual and organizational performance.
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines laws that affect the workplace. The course explores in depth employer/employee relationships, permissible testing in the workplace, discrimination and affirmative action, Title VII, unions, and injuries that take place within the course and scope of employment.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:
- Outline the legal duties of employees and employers.
- Identify the variety of tests employers can lawfully use.
- Distinguish at-will employees from other employment arrangements.
- Discuss the history behind affirmative action.
- Outline the proof required, exceptions, and remedies for victims under Title VII.
- Identify the parameters that Title VII places on various claims of discrimination.
- Discuss the evolution of labor law in the United States.
- Explain the term "within the scope of employment."
Credit Hours: 3
Employee training takes place in every business. In some organizations, employee training is a formalized process that continues throughout an employee's entire career. In other organizations, employee training is an informal event used to introduce new employees to the basic skills they'll need to complete their tasks. Your current or future employer will approach training by some combination of the two methods. This course will help you make employee training a more efficient and effective process. After completing this course, you should be a valuable asset to any employer.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:
- Describe the various elements in the organizational training process
- Categorize the various training designs and methods
- Analyze the significance of development, implementation, and evaluation of training processes
- Explain the concept of adult learning theory and how it influences employee training
- Describe the interrelationships among the five phases of the training process model
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines how compensation practices may be an advantage or disadvantage for enterprises in competitive environments, the criteria used to evaluate employees' compensation and benefits, and the challenges faced by human resource professionals in designing compensation and benefits practices in the future.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:
- Identify the six types of core compensation.
- Summarize the reasons for the evolution of Human Resources/Compensation from an administrative function to a strategic function.
- Identify the main goals of a compensation function.
- List the five external and three internal elements/capabilities that affect strategic planning.
- Identify the three phases of organizational life cycles.
- Discuss the impact of federal and state legislation on the Human Resource function.
- Summarize the pros and cons of seniority and merit pay systems.
- Discuss the importance and limitations of the performance appraisal process.
- Explain how incentives differ from traditional pay systems and when to use them.
Credit Hours: 3
In this course, you'll learn concepts and theories about communication. You'll begin by studying intrapersonal communication, or how you view and talk to yourself. You'll learn how personality and self-concept influence how you work with others. You'll also look at interpersonal communication, including concepts such as conflict and criticism, and learn how these concepts influence not only relationships but also productivity at work. Finally, you'll study leadership: what makes a "good" leader; how leadership is "good" under differing circumstances; and how a leader can create trust in group members. You'll learn about the value of networking and how to network. In addition, you'll learn about cultural differences and diversity in the workplace.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to do the following:
- Explain strategies to improve intrapersonal and interpersonal skills
- Describe how diversity and cultural differences impact the workplace
- Explain the communication process as it relates to personal and digital interactions
- Describe team interactions in terms of roles, communications, and problem-solving
- Explain the skills, behaviors, and techniques used to lead and motivate others
- Explain the role of political skills, customer satisfaction, and ethics in business organizations
- Explain the contributing factors and methods for managing stress
- Describe effective methods for finding a job and managing your career
Credit Hours: 3