Human Resources Management, Graduate Certificate

Program Information
Credential: 
Graduate Certificate
Duration: 

16 months

Delivery: 
Downtown Campus | Donald School of Business and Online Delivery
Program Cost Estimates: 
Program Cost Estimates

Contact Information

Contact Name: 
Trevor Thomas
Contact Title: 
Associate Dean
Contact Phone: 
403.342.3400 OR 1.888.732.4630
Contact Email: 
inquire@rdc.ab.ca
Related Careers

Students who graduate from this program can expect to be performing all or some of the roles listed below:

  • Human resources generalist
  • Recruitment specialist
  • Workforce planning specialist
  • Talent management specialist
  • Employee relations specialist
  • Labour relations specialist
  • Training and development specialist
  • Compensation specialist
  • Benefits specialist
  • Union representative
  • Human resources consultant
  • Human resources manager (generalist and specialist areas)
  • HRIS analyst
     
The Program

Upon successful completion of this graduate certificate program, offered over 16 months, graduates will have the knowledge and practical skills to work as Human Resources professionals in a variety of Human Resource settings. This program will also prepare graduates for the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation.* The program has been specifically developed to align with the Human Resources Institute of Alberta accreditation framework. Graduates of an accredited program who achieve a minimum overall average of 70% (2.7 GPA) in the program may apply to the CPHR to waive the National Knowledge Exam (NKE) requirements towards the CPHR designation with Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Canada (CPHR) member associations**. Graduates who do not achieve a minimum overall average of 70% in the program will be better equipped to write the National Knowledge Exam in preparation to obtain the CPHR designation. The entrance requirement of an undergraduate degree in any field ensures that students in the program will receive instruction commensurate with their background.

*Note: For complete information on eligibility for the CPHR designation, please contact the Human Resources Institute of Alberta.

**Note: CPHR Alberta will verify that you meet the requirements to waive the NKE by reviewing the transcripts you arrange to have sent from post-secondary institutions directly to the CPHR Alberta.

Program Outcomes:

  • Explain and demonstrate the strategic importance of human resources practices as they relate to the organizational strategy, best practices and trends in human resources.
  • Identify key elements of ethical behaviour and professional code of conduct for HR professionals; provide examples to illustrate ability to balance interests, promote organizational values, and manage risk.
  • Demonstrate the value of human resources initiatives and their impact on employee engagement and organizational results; explain the importance of involving key stakeholders.
  • Identify and explain the components of creating and executing an effective workforce plan and employee value proposition.
  • Outline the steps to implement an effective performance management system.
  • Identify and explain employment legislation and labour and employee relations strategies used to manage risks and create a respectful, productive and engaging work environment.
  • Describe the components of a total rewards structure and outline methods to evaluate a total rewards structure.
  • Illustrate the steps involved in job evaluation and market comparison.
  • Identify learning priorities and adult learning principles, as well as methods for measuring learning initiatives that support a learning environment, align with business strategy, and provide a return on investment.
  • Develop health, wellness and safety policies and procedures in accordance with relevant legislation, regulations and standards; promote a healthy workplace as per organizational policy.
  • Use metrics and HR information systems to measure and report on effectiveness of key performance indicators, and to make informed decisions.
     
Requirements
Admission Requirements: 

An undergraduate degree in any discipline from an accredited institution.

Note: Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency in addition to the program admission requirements.

Graduation Requirements: 

Successful completion of all courses, with a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Program Content

HRM 505 Introduction to Human Resources Management    
HRM 510 Workforce Planning and Talent Management
HRM 515 Recruitment and Selection
HRM 520 Learning and Development
HRM 525 Total Rewards
HRM 530 Organizational Behaviour
HRM 535 Employee and Labour Relations
HRM 540 Occupational Health and Safety in the Workplace
HRM 545 Accounting and Finance for Human Resources Management
HRM 550 Employee Engagement
HRM 555 Capstone
HRM 561 Applications in HR I
HRM 562 Applications in HR II
HRM 563 Applications in HR III
HRM 564 Applications in HR IV
 

Year 1 Course Descriptions

HRM 505

Develop a foundational understanding of Human Resources Management and its contribution to the organization in meeting strategic goals and objectives. HR issues, policies, procedures and practices related to all HR functions will be examined.

HRM 510

Introduction to workforce planning and talent management as critical elements of an effective human resources management strategy. Focus on the strategic value of designing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based workforce planning and talent management. Prerequisite: HRM 505

HRM 515

Develop an understanding of the recruitment and selection process and its importance to strategic Workforce Planning. Emphasis will be placed on the various aspects influencing recruitment as well as ways to minimize errors in employment selction in order to increase an organization's competitive position. Prerequisite: HRM 505

HRM 520

Gain practical skills to strategically develop an organization's employees by: identifying employee learning needs, developing appropriate programs, and assessing overall effectiveness. Analyze the modern workplace as a learning environment with its associated challenges. Prerequisite: HRM 505

HRM 525

Apply frameworks and practical approaches to design, implement and evaluate a total rewards system. Total rewards techniques and considerations to evaluate and balance the strategic goals of the organization with employee needs. Prerequisite: HRM 505

HRM 530

Develop an understanding of management concepts, theories of leadership and the impacts of rapid change in an organization. Emphasis is on how organizational success ultimately depends on individual motivational levels, personalities, values, teams and how the manager effectively plans, leads and manages change to improve performance and commitment. Prerequisite: HRM 505

HRM 535

Explore the intricate balance of management rights and employee needs and the impact of society and politics in that relationship. Consider the influence of unions and how their presence impacts the employer-employee relationship. Prerequisite: HRM 505

HRM 540

Develop knowledge of occupational health and safety legislation, issues and programs. Review strategies and techniques used by HR professionals to become actively involved in health and safety in the workplace: hazard assessments and controls, WHMIS, ergonomics, emergency response planning, incident investigation and promoting health and wellness in the workplace. Prerequisite: HRM 505

HRM 545

Apply conceptual foundations of financial and management accounting to demonstrate how financial information is used in forecasting budgeting, management and measurement of business operations. Prerequisite: HRM 505

HRM 550

Examine employee engagement as an organization-wide strategy that impacts achievement of mission-related goals, productivity and profitability. Consider factors that positively and negatively influence employee engagement. Identify the role of senior leadership, human resources, supervisors and employees in shaping an engaged workforce. Prerequisite: HRM 505

HRM 555

Apply the knowledge and skills developed throughout the HR Graduate Certificate program to develop a comprehensive HR plan for an organization. Analyze the business issues and requirements of the organization. Present recommended solutions and provide rationale to resolve the business issues, drawing from relevant theory and research. Prerequisite: Succesful completion of all previous courses in Certificate.

HRM 561

Integrate and demonstrate knowledge from various human resources functional areas in a face-to-face setting. Build professional network with fellow students, faculty and industry representatives. Gain practical insights on the implementation of human resources. Prerequisite: HRM 505

HRM 562

Integrate and demonstrate knowledge from various human resources functional areas in a face-to-face setting. Build professional network with fellow students, faculty and industry representatives. Gain practical insights on the implementation of human resources. Prerequisite: HRM 510, HRM 515, HRM 520, HRM 525, HRM 561

HRM 563

Integrate and demonstrate knowledge from various human resources functional areas in a face-to-face setting. Build professional network with fellow students, faculty and industry representatives. Gain practical insights on the implementation of human resources. Prerequisite: HRM 530, HRM 535, HRM 540, HRM 562

HRM 564

Integrate and demonstrate knowledge from various human resources functional areas in a face-to-face setting. Build professional network with fellow students, faculty and industry representatives. Gain practical insights on the implementation of human resources. Prerequisite: HRM 555