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Online Human Resource Certificates Undergraduate & Graduate HR Programs

Kristi Galvin, 2019 online HR grad, standing and smiling in front of a brick house.

Undergrad Cost per Credit $330

Grad Cost per Credit $637

Total Credits 12

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Program Overview Why get an HR certificate?

In today’s fluid workforce environment, HR professionals are focused on strategic partnership. Whatever the trends – automation, artificial intelligence, financial literacy, remote work – HR manages the workforce needs of organizations in nearly every job sector, and their role in an organization's success only grows.

If you're looking to take your first step toward learning new skills in the HR industry, Southern New Hampshire University's Undergraduate Human Resource Management Certificate can provide you with a solid foundation.

However, if you already have a bachelor's degree in another field or earned a related degree and want an advanced credential, the Graduate Human Resource Management Certificate may be a good fit for you.

Skills you'll learn:

  • Promoting positive company culture
  • Recruitment and retention of talent
  • Adherence to employment laws and regulations
  • Employee motivation strategies
  • Managing employee relations
  • Effectively leading organizational change
Nikki Bennett, who earned her degree from SNHU in 2022, sitting behind a desk with a phone and computer monitor talking to another woman

Courses & Curriculum Human resources management courses for every step of your career

For those looking to join the human resources field, the undergraduate HR certificate offers the quick, hyper-focused point of entry you’re looking for with courses covering topics such as HR functions, employee experience and labor relations. You can also apply the credits from this certificate to SNHU's Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management. If you're just getting started, no problem – there's no prior college degree required for admission to the undergraduate HR certificate program.

From compensation and benefits to long-term strategic planning, the graduate HR certificate covers many interesting facets of the field. If you think you'll want to continue your education in the future, the credits earned in this certificate can apply to SNHU's Master of Science in Human Resource Management. Applicants must have a completed bachelor's degree, whether in a related field or otherwise, for admission to the graduate HR certificate program.

Undergraduate Certificate

Earn your undergraduate HR certificate online

The 12-credit undergraduate certificate is right for you if:

  • You want to develop foundational knowledge of HR for entry-level positions
  • You want an education in HR, but you're unsure if you're prepared for a full degree, like SNHU's online human resource management degree
  • You have an associate degree, bachelor's degree or college credit in another field and you're looking to move into HR
  • Your current career would benefit from gaining skills in foundational HR
  • You are seeking some formal education to supplement your current role in HR

Courses may include:

Course ID: HRM 200
In this course, students will be introduced to the basic principles of human resource management. Students will explore the various functions of the role, including sourcing and managing talent, promoting an organizational culture and analyzing how human resources impact important organizational decisions. Students will also be introduced to total rewards and how it is used within an organization. Tools relevant to the profession and how they are used to inform various functions of the job will be addressed.
Course ID: HRM 225
This course will prepare students to take proactive approaches in addressing a variety of human resource challenges and situations. Students will explore laws, rules and regulations related to employment, learn strategies to identify and solve challenges before they happen, and how to communicate with stakeholders about compliance and noncompliance. Students will identify and interpret human resource data to make informed decisions and mitigate risk.
Course ID: HRM 300
This course will provide students with an opportunity to explore how to effectively utilize employee engagement and needs assessment data to determine appropriate techniques and practices for recruitment and motivation. Students will have the opportunity to study and recommend various practices, policies, and strategies to recruit, retain, and motivate talent. An introduction to the employee life cycle and how human resources use it to support organizational needs will also be addressed.
Course ID: HRM 310
In this course, learners will analyze the role of employee and labor relations in supporting management in developing, maintaining and improving employee relationships. Learners will explore strategies used to maintain relationships including performance management, processing grievances, and interpreting and conveying policies. The application of techniques used in interviewing, negotiations, and conflict management will be covered
Visit the course catalog to view the full Undergraduate Human Resources Management Certificate curriculum.

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Our no-commitment application can help you decide if SNHU is the right college for you and your career goals. Apply up until 2 days before the term starts!

Upcoming undergraduate term starts: March 3, 2025 | May 5, 2025
Upcoming graduate term starts: March 24, 2025 | June 9, 2025

Next terms start:
Jan. 6th | Jan. 6th

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Online Student Experience What’s it like going to SNHU?

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.2% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2023 survey with 21,000+ respondents.

What to expect:

8 | 10 week terms

Learn around your schedule

24/7 online support

Online Classroom

What does an online course look like?

You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

  • Schedule of weekly assignments
  • Discussion boards
  • Grades
  • Instructor announcements
How to Take an Online Class at SNHU
5 ways SNHU makes the admission process "easy-peasy" #shorts

Admission Applying to SNHU is fast and free

No application fee. No test scores. And no college essay. Just a simple form with basic information. It’s another way SNHU helps you reach your goals sooner.

All it takes is 3 simple steps

It's easy, fast and free.

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Whether you're applying for an undergraduate or graduate degree, you’ll fill out a form to verify your previous education experience. As part of our admissions process, we'll help you request transcripts from your previous school(s) to see if you can transfer any credits into your SNHU program! (Also for free!)

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

These certificates are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Student achievement data can be found on the ACBSP accreditation page.

NECHE Logo ACBSP Global Business Acreditation Logo

Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

This certificate is not eligible for federal financial aid. Students seeking alternatives to federal financial aid can explore tuition assistance, grants and scholarships, as well as private loans. To learn more about private loans, visit our Funding Your Education with Student Loans page.

Online undergraduate tuition

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 18-credit certificate
Full- and part-time students
$330
$990
$5,940
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$231
$693
$4,158

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

*Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Online graduate tuition

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 18-credit certificate
Full- and part-time students
$637
$1,911
$11,466
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$470
$1,410
$8,460

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

*Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Career Outlook What can I do with an online human resource management certificate?

Serving as strategic business partners across all aspects of an organization, today’s HR professionals are more valued than ever.

Since HR is a broad field, it offers ample opportunity to focus your career interests with your HR certificate. You might consider going into recruiting, workforce development training or compensation and benefits. With the graduate certificate, you might leverage your specialized expertise in leadership roles.

Occupations

Whether you choose the undergraduate or graduate HR certificate, you'll gain a solid grounding in human resource principles and practices.

With the undergraduate certificate, you’ll develop the skills and knowledge relevant to a variety of entry-level positions, including:

Help recruit, screen and interview job candidates. Once a candidate is hired, you may handle employee relations, training and compensation and benefits.

Responsible for maintaining personnel records, you might prepare reports, file employment records or maintain classified employee information.

Help resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements and coordinate employee grievance procedures.

Recruit people with the right skill sets for roles at organizations that need specialized talent.

Take care of clients' questions and concerns.

 

If you choose to pursue the graduate certificate, you'll be prepared to search for more advanced roles such as:

Oversee an organization’s administrative functions, including recruiting, interviewing and hiring of new staff. You'll also work with executives on strategic planning.

Compensation managers oversee an organization’s pay structure. Benefits managers run employee benefits programs. In both roles, you'll work directly with senior staff and financial officers.

6%

Projected increase in human resources specialist positions through 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).1

5%

Projected increase in human resources manager positions through 2032, according to the BLS.1

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

What SNHU students are saying

Chase Thomas '21G
Chase Thomas '21G

The human resources management focus has greatly benefited my role as a leader.

Chase Thomas '21G

Frequently Asked Questions

An online HR certificate is a great way to get your foot in the door or advance your career in HR.

The best place to start is by finding an HR certificate program that matches your career aspirations. Ask yourself: What do I hope to learn through this program? How does it support my goals? If you plan to earn a bachelor's degree, ask if a certificate would position you to seamlessly transfer credits and continue your education.

SNHU's undergraduate certificate in HR will give you course credits that can easily be applied to a bachelor's in human resources. This means, if you choose to earn an undergraduate degree, you'll save time on the way. And even if you don't, you'll still have a credential that can help you stand out to employers.

Once enrolled in an undergraduate certificate program, you'll progress through a series of online learning modules with faculty support to guide you through projects, papers, discussion boards and more.

An undergraduate certificate in HR from SNHU is just 4 courses. And since being a full-time student here means 2 classes per term, you could finish in just two 8-week terms – about 4 months. Even if you work toward your certificate part time (1 course per term), you could finish it in under a year.

A graduate HR certificate at SNHU is also only 4 courses, which could mean two (full time) or four (part time) 10-week terms. Again, your timeline is completely up to you and the good news is that no matter what pace works best for you, your tuition won't change.

Both levels of the certificate are available online at SNHU asynchronously, so you won’t need to be in front of your computer at a set time. You’ll still participate, only instead of in-person lectures, you’ll attend class through weekly online assignments and discussion boards. You can do your assignments when it works for you, turning them in before specified deadlines throughout the week.

SNHU’s admission process is simple and straightforward – just complete our quick online application to get started. No SAT or GMAT scores required, no application fee and you can apply at any time and get a decision within days. Questions? Your admission counselor will guide you through the entire process.


Certificates in HR differ from degree programs in one basic way: They’re faster and more efficient by design. That way, you can delve into the most relevant topics in the field, acquiring the skills and knowledge you need quickly and affordably.

Succeeding in HR starts with the fundamentals of HR. SNHU’s HR certificates online will help you build that foundation. Your courses will cover everything from staffing and talent development to compensation and benefits, labor relations, organizational behavior, HR strategy and more.
You’ll come away prepared to seek an HR position with fresh skills and knowledge you can apply right away.

Tamara Dancy, a 2020 graduate of SNHU's MS in HR Management program

“I hope to achieve more cultural unity within organizations by using the skills that I have gained with the certificate,” said Tamara Dancy ’20. “I foresee myself being a visionary for any organization that I partner with and help trailblaze the conversations around diversity and inclusion, while maintaining respect for government regulations and the workers’ and organization’s needs.”


That's up to you to decide. At the end of the day, the HR certificate you choose should align with your goals and desired career path.

An undergraduate certificate in HR could be right for you if:

  • You're seeking an entry-level role in HR
  • You're working in HR and are seeking formalized education to develop your skills
  • You're currently employed in another field and looking to pivot into HR
  • You'd like to try taking a few courses before committing to a bachelor's degree in human resources (at SNHU, you can apply your HR certificate courses toward a BS in Human Resource Management)

A graduate certificate in HR could be right for you if:

  • You're hoping to increase your HR skillset in an effort to advance your career
  • You have a bachelor's degree in a different field and are looking to boost your HR knowledge and/or credentials
  • You already have a bachelor's degree in human resources or HR management and would like to add an additional credential to your resume
  • You're on the fence about getting a master's degree but want to take steps forward in your career. HR certificate credits can be used toward a master's degree in HR management, should you decide to continue your education.

If you’re already in the HR field, a human resources certificate can give you the academic credential you may need to advance. You’ll have the opportunity to specialize in areas that can increase your professional standing, such as compensation and benefits, labor relations or compliance.

"As HR has been a field I have worked with closely over my career, working in the field is a goal of mine," said Robert Filipkowski '18, who had previously earned his associate and bachelor's degrees at SNHU. "So having the additional certificate and knowledge I gained for the program is invaluable to my personal and professional pursuits. The SNHU program was the best because of previous experience, affordability, quality and flexibility in the learning experience, and the SNHU name."

Filipkowski hopes to continue his education at SNHU by earning a master's in HR with plans to move into a full-time human resources job.

With greater depth of knowledge and a broader skill set, you’ll make yourself more valuable. You may even find your job options expand to include roles like human resources manager and compensation and benefits manager.


There are a variety of positions available to HR professionals, all with varying levels of compensation.

HR professionals provide a unique value to their organization and can support businesses in many different ways. According to the BLS, some examples of well paying HR positions and their median annual wages as of May 2022 include:

  • Human resources specialist, $67,6501
  • Labor relations specialist, $89,9801
  • Compensation and benefits manager, $136,3801
  • Human resources manager, $136,3501

Like all positions, compensation can vary based on location, experience and industry. When looking for well-paying HR positions, it's valuable to pay attention to both the job title and field you'll be working in.

A human resources certificate provides a solid grounding in HR principles and practices.

With an undergraduate certificate in HR – and usually paired with a bachelor's degree – you’ll be prepared for a variety of entry-level positions, including:

  • Human resources specialist
  • Human resources assistant/coordinator
  • Labor relations specialist
  • Employment specialist
  • Client services representative

With an online HR graduate certificate, you could position yourself for roles like:

  • human resources manager
  • compensation and benefits manager.

There are many benefits to an HR certificate. You can use it to complement your bachelor’s degree or human resources work experience. Or you can take advantage of the immersive training it provides to earn a credential so that you can enter the HR job market more quickly than if you pursued a full degree.

Holly Sagers, a 2021 graduate of SNHU's bachelor’s in business administration program with a concentration in human resource management

Holly Sagers '21 found value in earning her certificate.

"I would do it again just to gain the knowledge and confidence that this program has given me," she said. "It will challenge you and help you better understand the inner workings of an HR department and how to become part of one."

Maybe you have significant work experience and feel like you can place out of general education and business core courses. In that case, a human resources certificate might be your most efficient option.

Certificates in HR also offer a great way to build on a bachelor’s degree in business, project management or another related field. And should you plan to go for your bachelor’s, master’s or MBA in human resources, this program gets you one step closer.

"I love SNHU so much that I decided to continue on for my associate and bachelor’s degrees," said Sagers, regarding using the credits toward other programs at the university.

Related Programs

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Sources & Citations

1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/human-resources-managers.htm (viewed Apr. 19, 2024)
  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/human-resources-specialists.htm (viewed Apr. 19, 2024)
  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/compensation-and-benefits-managers.htm (viewed Apr. 19, 2024)
  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/labor-relations-specialists.htm (viewed Apr. 19, 2024)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.