Gain the Skills You Need for Success in Human Resources
Human resource experts play an essential role in helping organizations thrive. Employers need trained HR professionals to attract and retain top talent while supporting company culture. Prepare for in-demand careers with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's 100% online Human Resources Management graduate certificate. This certificate is a part of Saint Mary’s Accelerators carefully crafted series of master's-level graduate certificates. Designed to advance your career to help you meet personal and professional goals, this program can be taken alone or you can apply your credits as a pathway toward a master's degree.
Finish Your Program in One Year
The online Human Resource Management graduate certificate is designed for working professionals who are ready to specialize their knowledge in human resources. Study in a flexible online format and earn an affordable credential to advance your career.
You can also apply your credits toward a master's degree like our SHRM-aligned M.A. in Human Resource Management, or one of the following:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- M.S. in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
- M.A. in Organizational Leadership
- M.S. in Project Management
By completing coursework grounded in key HR skills, you will develop the field-specific expertise you need to recruit the right talent, develop company-wide policies, and oversee benefits programs. Enhance your professional opportunities with the online HR certification.
While the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) does not review certificate programs for alignment, if you opt to apply this certificate's credits toward our M.A. in Human Resource Management, the full degree is SHRM-aligned.
Saint Mary's Accelerators
Saint Mary's offers a selection of graduate certificate programs designed to accelerate your degree and help you achieve your goals faster. Customize your education and get a glimpse of graduate coursework by stacking Saint Mary's Accelerators, each of which requires the completion of 12–15 credits and adds only six additional credits to your degree program. Complete extra credentials and gain a competitive edge for your field while saving time and money.
Additionally, several certificate programs also offer Credly badging for each course. These badges serve as a graphic representation of the skills you gained by completing a specific course or graduate certificate program. They can be displayed on social media platforms like LinkedIn and your CV and resume to visually showcase your specific leadership knowledge and skills to current and potential employers, credentialing programs, and admissions offices.
One of the hallmarks of our “accelerators” is that they are stackable into or onto full degree programs. Students can pursue a graduate certificate and then decide to continue into a full degree program in the same or a different discipline.
-Michelle Wieser, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Business and Technology
To learn more about Saint Mary's graduate certificates check out this interview with Michelle Wieser.
Program Outcomes
When you complete this program, you will be able to:
- Analyze the role of human resources as strategic business partners in organizational strategy.
- Evaluate employment practices pertaining to recruitment, selection, and performance management.
- Analyze organizational policies and procedures related to employment law and statutory frameworks.
- Demonstrate an understanding of total rewards practice and strategy, including compensation and benefits.
Curriculum
The online HR certification program from Saint Mary's provides a well-rounded introduction to essential human resources topics, including HR management, compensation and benefits, consulting, and employment law. Our expert faculty are professionals in the field and bring industry knowledge to the online classroom.
Featuring 12 credits of hands-on human resources training, our courses are delivered in a format designed for your success. You will learn to be a strategic partner in any organization, implementing effective policies and procedures to accomplish business goals.
Students who possess current Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) or Society for Human Resource Management, Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification prior to admission may substitute another three-credit elective course for the HRM601 course. For more details, contact an enrollment counselor.
Courses to Accelerate Your Education
With Saint Mary's Accelerators, you'll be awarded a course-level badge upon the successful completion of each of the graduate course offerings listed below. Additionally, you'll also be awarded the graduate certificate badge upon the successful completion of all coursework required for the Accelerator Graduate Certificate you choose. You may also stack Accelerators to customize your education and prepare for diverse professional opportunities while saving time and money.
HRM 601 Human Resource Management Strategy (3 credits)
This course examines human resource management in the context of business policy and competitive strategy. The core competencies required to become a successful human resource manager are discussed. Topics include an overview of business policy, the role of human resource planning, strategic human resource management, initiating organizational change, promoting an ethical perspective, and using technology for planning and administering human resource functions.
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Outline the core competencies needed to become a successful human resource manager.
- Analyze how business strategy, competition, labor markets, technology, labor unions, and government regulations affect human resource planning activities, including skill inventories and supply/demand forecasting.
- Formulate how human resource policies, systems, and organizational design support an organization’s business strategy.
- Appraise employment practices related to recruitment, selection, and performance management.
- Evaluate training and development practices such as career counseling, needs assessment, and career pathing.
HRM 606 Employment Law (3 credits)
Prerequisite: HRM601
This course examines employment law and its impact on business. It reviews employment law practices and trends, the statutory framework, major court cases, how the law of contract and tort apply to employment situations, and anti-discrimination laws.
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Articulate legal definitions of and distinctions in the employer-employee relationship, including issues related to employment-at-will, independent contractors, and negligent hiring.
- Analyze discrimination issues likely to be faced by human resource managers in compliance with Title VII and resulting legislation and court rulings.
- Analyze state and federal issues addressed by business and industry, including fair labor standards, occupational safety and health, retirement income security, and employee right to privacy.
- Evaluate employee accommodation and leave issues resulting from state and federal legislation.
- Assess policies and procedures related to terminating employees, including mass layoffs and plant closings.
HRM 613 Compensation and Benefits (3 credits)
Prerequisite: HRM601
This course analyzes theories of total reward systems, including compensation, benefits, retirement, other rewards, motivation, and equity theories. Contemporary issues associated with the design, financing, communication, education, and legal issues of total reward systems are examined. Public policy and legal/regulatory issues affecting compensation, healthcare, and pensions and their impact on employers and employees are also discussed.
HRM 614 Negotiating and Consulting (3 credits)
Prerequisite: HRM601
This course examines the concepts and the application of internal consulting in the human resources function of any organization. It draws from thought leaders in practice and leverages real-world situations. The goal is to equip human resource professionals to be strategic business partners. Also included are conflict resolution, and alternative dispute resolution methods are also covered.
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:
- Analyze the roles of the human resource professional as a strategic business partner, change agent, and employee advocate.
- Design a collaborative engagement with an organizational manager using the key phases of internal consulting.
- Articulate the opportunities and problems with internal consulting, including the use of audit data and reports to inform business decisions, and the need for change management.
- Synthesize risk management components, including financial implications.
- Evaluate one’s strengths and development opportunities as a consultant and leader of special and cross-functional project teams.
- Identify alternative dispute resolution methods and propose when such methods might be used to resolve individual, departmental, or organizational conflict.
Digital Badging
Now you can share your accomplishments with your professional network using our digital badging for each course completed throughout your course of study in the Human Resource Management graduate certificate program. Learn More
Current Certificate Requirements
For current certificate requirements, visit the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota course catalog.
Take the Next Step in Your HR Career
With the online Human Resource Management graduate certificate, you can gain the skills you need for a range of career opportunities. When you finish your studies, you will have relevant knowledge and experience for roles like human resources generalist and compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialist. These professionals play a vital role in organizations across industries as leaders and personnel experts.
With job growth of 5% expected through 2020,1 human resources careers are both in-demand and lucrative. The average salary for human resource specialists is $61,920 per year, with management-level HR professionals earning $116,720.2 Getting your online HR graduate certificate from Saint Mary's will make you a versatile, marketable human resources professional.
Certificate Completion
The online Human Resource Management graduate certificate is designed to be completed in one year and is financial aid eligible. No prerequisite coursework is required, and you don't need GRE/GMAT scores to apply.
For admission to the program, you'll need:
- An undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- A minimum GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- A written statement: Your background and future goals all impact your success with Saint Mary's and inform your education. As you prepare your written statement, think about including previous experiences, education, and your strengths and interests. Share your motivations for entering the online human resource management certificate program and how it will contribute to your career.
- The names of two people (including title, organization, email, phone number) who can serve as professional references, if needed, during the application review process. The best references are those who know you in a professional capacity, such as current or former supervisors.
- A current resume: Include both your educational and professional experience.
If your overall GPA is below 2.75, you may receive conditional status in the program at the discretion of the program director.
For more information about the online Human Resource Management certificate, contact us or call