Human Resources and Employment Relations Foundations Graduate Certificate
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2026-01-01 | - |
| 2027-01-01 | - |
Program Overview
Program Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Human Resources and Employment Relations Foundations is designed to provide students with the core competencies in HR management and employment relations needed to solve real-world problems faced by employees, managers, and organizational leaders.
Program Description
This online certificate can help students kick-start a career as an HRER professional or advance their current practice to the next level. The program is offered in partnership with the nationally recognized Penn State School of Labor and Employment Relations.
Program Details
- Credits and Costs: 12 credits, $1,037 per credit
- Application Deadline: Apply by December 1 to start January 12
- Stackable Credentials: Earn up to three certificates on your way to a master’s degree — through flexible, 7-week courses designed to deliver immediate value
- Career-Ready Skills and Insights:
- Develop and implement HR management strategies to improve recruitment, retention, performance, and growth
- Understand individual and team behavior in organizations and its impact on organizational effectiveness
- Apply principles of dispute resolution to address conflict
- Identify unfair employment practices and understand the strategies unions and employers might employ during collective bargaining negotiations
Online Courses in HR and Employment Relations
The certificate presents the theories and practices of both human resources (HR) management and employment relations (ER), allowing students to analyze issues surrounding the employer/employee relationship from different viewpoints.
Course List
- HRER 501: Labor and Employment Law (3 credits)
- HRER 504: Seminar in Employment Relations (3 credits)
- HRER 505: Seminar in Human Resources (3 credits)
- HRER 802: Human Behavior and Organizational Performance (3 credits)
Using Stackable Certificate Credits toward a Master’s Degree
The courses required for this 12-credit certificate can also be applied to a Master of Human Resources and Employment Relations if students apply and are accepted into the program.
Admission Requirements
- Degree: A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution
- GPA: A 3.00 junior/senior grade-point average (on a 4.00 scale)
- English Proficiency: International applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- GRE test scores and references are NOT required
Application Instructions
- Review the admission requirements
- Gather required materials:
- Official transcripts from each institution attended
- English Proficiency (if applicable)
- Vita or Résumé
- Statement of Purpose
- Create a Penn State login account
- Complete the application
Faculty
The program is taught by highly regarded faculty who are world-renowned researchers and practitioners of strategic HR management, employment relations, labor studies, and organizational leadership.
Faculty List
- Elaine Farndale: Director, School of Labor and Employment Relations
- Brian Redmond: Lead Faculty
- Akram Al Ariss: Faculty
- Roland L. Bessette: Faculty
- Carol Cameron: Faculty
- Jerry Carbo: Faculty
- Jeanne Charles: Faculty
- Steve Greenblatt: Faculty
- Michael Pepe: Faculty
- Timothy Shick: Faculty
- Rex Simpson: Faculty
- Banci Tewolde: Faculty
- Maja Vidović: Faculty
Tuition and Financial Aid
- Tuition: $1,037 per credit
- Financial Aid: Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program
- Payment Options: Penn State offers many ways to pay for education, including an installment plan and third-party payments
Career Services
From the day students are accepted as students, they can access resources and tools provided by Penn State World Campus Career Services to further their career. These resources are beneficial whether students are searching for a job or advancing in an established career.