Program Overview

Program Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Labor and Employment Law is designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of labor and employment laws and their influence on HR policies. This online certificate program covers topics such as unfair labor practices, workplace discrimination, termination, occupational safety, FMLA, privacy, and more.

Program Details

• The program is 100% online, allowing students to complete coursework at their own pace.
• The application deadline is December 1 to start on January 12.
• The program consists of 9 credits, with a cost of $1,037 per credit.
• Students can earn up to three certificates on their way to a master's degree through flexible, 7-week courses.

Course Requirements

Required Course

• HRER 501: Labor and Employment Law (3 credits)
  • This course provides an overview of the legal context of employment in the United States.

Elective Courses

• HRER 801: Comparative and International Labor and Employment Law (3 credits)
  • This course surveys employment and labor laws around the world that shape the practice of international human resource management (IHRM).
• HRER 811: Labor and Employment Law II (3 credits)
  • This course provides practical knowledge that HR practitioners need to deal with governmental regulation of the U.S. workplace.
  • Prerequisite: HRER 501
• LHR 401: The Law of Labor-Management Relations (3 credits)
  • This course covers the development of Anglo-American law regulating collective bargaining, with emphasis on American labor-management relations under Wagner, Taft-Hartley, and other acts.

Career Opportunities

The knowledge gained from this program can be applied to various HR disciplines, including:

• HR or labor relations management
• Employee safety, health, and security
• Compliance and investigations
• Workplace ethics
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB)
• Talent or human capital management
• Compensation and benefits

Faculty

The program is offered in partnership with the nationally recognized Penn State School of Labor and Employment Relations. The faculty includes:

• 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

• Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register.
• Tuition rates for the 2025-26 academic year:
  • 11 or fewer credits: $1,037 per credit
  • 12 or more credits: $12,448 per semester
• Tuition rates for the 2026-27 academic year:
  • 11 or fewer credits: $1,048 per credit
  • 12 or more credits: $12,572 per semester
• Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree" and are not eligible for federal student aid.
• Private alternative loans may be an option to consider.
• Penn State offers various payment options, including an installment plan and third-party payments.

Application Instructions

• Review the admission requirements.
• Gather required materials, including official transcripts and English proficiency test scores (if applicable).
• Create a Penn State login account.
• Complete the online application.
• Review the stackable credentials application fee waiver and transfer credit policy.

Stackable Credentials

• This certificate can serve as a stand-alone credential and as a step on your journey toward the Penn State Master of Human Resources and Employment Relations.
• The courses required for this certificate can also be applied to the Master of Human Resources and Employment Relations program.
• No additional application fee is required for students who have been accepted into this certificate program and wish to apply for the Master of Human Resources and Employment Relations program.