Homedegree ProgramsbusinessHuman Resources Graduate Certificate

Graduate Certificate in Human Resources

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Earn Your Degree as Early as:
July 7, 2026*
Admissions Requirements
Courses
Ways to Save on Tuition
Career Outcomes
4
Total Courses
$485
Cost Per Credit
6 months
Average Completion*
15–18 hours
Weekly Course Effort

Online Human Resources (HR) Certificate Overview

Come back and move your human resources career forward. Be ready to meet the growing demand for human resources specialists and managers.

  • Gain the specialized knowledge you need to pursue employment in this growing field.
  • Develop practical professional skills you can use right away in the workplace.
  • Study subjects such as employment and labor law, talent development and recruitment, professional development, and assessment models.
  • Enhance your expertise and stand out to employers through our targeted HR curriculum.

Review College Scorecard data for this program.

View Program Degree Plan and Policies

Get a Head Start on Your Master’s Degree

Not only will you earn a valuable credential you can use now, but this online HR certificate program also lays the groundwork for your next degree. Apply qualified credits toward certain Purdue Global master’s degree programs in the future.

Purdue Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

Note: this program is not eligible for Title IV financial aid.

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Estimate how much your prior learning credits can reduce your tuition and time to graduation.

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Admissions Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required to enroll in a graduate program. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process. Refer to the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.

View Admissions Requirements

What Courses Will I Take?

This graduate certificate program includes four courses designed to help students excel in human resources.

Sample Courses

  • Employment Law
  • Training and Development
  • Strategic Rewards System
  • Recruitment and Selection
See All Human Resources Courses

Program Requirements

4
Core Courses
16
Total Quarter Credits

1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Ways to Save on Time and Tuition

Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.

Transfer Credits

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions.

Financial Aid

Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.

Grants and Loans

Learn about federal and state grants and loan programs that may be available.

Corporate Partner Benefits

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Military Tuition Reduction

Graduate tuition savings for military include a 17–30% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and 14% per credit for veterans for graduate programs.

Prior Military Experience

Earn credit for your military training. We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.

View the total cost of attendance for your program.

Possible Behavioral Interview Questions for This Field of Study

  • Can you tell me about a time when you helped solve a problem between two coworkers or classmates?
  • Give an example of when you supported a change in workplace culture or employee engagement. What role did you play?
  • Give an example of a time you learned to use a new tool or software. How did you get comfortable with it?
  • Describe a time when you had to explain a policy or rule to someone who didn't agree with it. What did you do?
  • Describe a situation where you had to deliver difficult feedback to an employee, colleague, or classmate. How did you handle it?

Sample Skills Developed and Used in This Field

  • Compensation and Benefits Administration
  • Employee Relations
  • Employment and Labor Laws
  • Ethical Standards and Conduct
  • Human Resource Management
  • Human Resources Information System (HRIS)
  • Influencing Skills
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Performance Management
  • Problem Solving
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Talent Acquisition
  • Talent Assessment
  • Talent Management
  • Training and Development

Take a Career Assessment

Discover your work interests, and use them to chart your ideal career path.

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Download the Program Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about our business certificate programs and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.

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Get to Know Our Faculty

Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.

99%

Faculty members who have advanced degrees

58%

Faculty members who have terminal degrees

477

Faculty publications in 2024–2025

More Than 44,000

Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2024–2025

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, August 2025. 2024–2025 academic year.

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

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NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Estimated Graduation Date and Average Completion: Estimated graduation date is based on the assumption that you will enroll in time to begin classes on the next upcoming start date, will remain enrolled for each consecutive term, and will maintain satisfactory academic standing in each term to progress toward completion of your program. Completion time is based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete.

Credit Toward a Future Degree: The University cannot guarantee that students will be granted admission to any future programs. Speak to an Advisor about admissions requirements and transfer credit opportunities and see the University Catalog for the Prior Learning policy.

Job Growth—Human Resources: Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Human Resources Specialists, on the Internet at www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/human-resources-specialists.htm. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.