The University of Kentucky's Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management is a 15 credit-hour graduate certificate program that prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to enter or refresh a career in HR.
The Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management (GC-HRM) provides an opportunity to obtain a set of competencies to effectively manage an organization's employees and contribute to its talent strategy. The courses within the certificate focus on talent acquisition, talent management, employment law, and the effective use of analytics to manage human capital. The program also features an experiential capstone course giving students the ability to apply principles and techniques learned in their coursework to solve real organizational problems. This 15-credit certificate is appropriate for recent graduates hoping to learn more and better prepare themselves for a career in human resources and for working professionals who recognize the need to deepen their understanding and update their skills in this increasingly complex field.
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The Certificate of Human Resources program is comprised of five online courses (15-credit hours). The only enrollment requirement is the completion of 60 undergraduate hours. Please note that courses in this program are offered on a rotating basis and may only be offered once a year.
This course walks a student through the process of acquiring talent for an organization. Topics discussed in detail include the design and analysis of jobs, HR planning, the recruitment, selection, socialization, and training processes. The course is primarily lecture-based, but includes some hands-on activities with real world applications which leverage concepts from social network analysis and HR analytics. Students will learn and be able to leverage principles that can unlock the potential of the talent acquisition process to be a strategic asset, rather than an administrative necessity, as they prepare to complete their next hire.
With the increasing amount of information available in organizations today, talent and business decisions and recommendations will need to be data-driven and evidence-based. This course will provide an introduction to topics and analytical techniques to leverage people-related data into organizational and human resources (HR) insights. Specific topics will include foundational data literacy, data collection and management practices, data analysis techniques, and strategy development. Given the interconnected nature of organizations, students will also learn how networks in organizations (e.g., communication networks, multi-team systems, social capital, networks) can impact people, HR, and organizational outcomes. In this course, students will be able to interpret data-driven insights, learn basic analytical and data visualization skills, and effectively communicate data-supported findings to management.
This course walks a student through the process of managing talent within an organization. Topics discussed in detail include the performance appraisal and management process, employee development, managing employee turnover, and compensation systems and programs. The course is primarily lecture-based, but includes some hands-on activities with real world applications which leverage concepts from social network analysis and HR analytics. Students will learn and how to design HR systems that will aide in the management of employees to increase the likelihood of strong investments from the hiring process.
Legal issues in the workplace underpin the basic rights and protections for both employers and employees. This course is designed to provide a survey of the current employment laws in the United States. Employment law embodies principles of contracts, torts, property law, constitutional, criminal law, labor law, immigration law, and dispute resolution, among others. The course will cover legal perspectives in staffing, compensation, benefits, safety and health, and employment discrimination. It will also provide the framework for the history and development of employment law in the United States.
The Capstone Consulting course is the culminating experience of the Gatton graduate HR programs. It provides students with a framework to apply the HR knowledge, skills and competencies gained from their coursework to complex real-world organizational challenges. Through this experiential opportunity, students complete unique consulting projects with an outside organization. The semester-long project will utilize both qualitative and quantitative research methods to examine a broad-based or specialized area of HR concern. Student teams will provide analysis and recommendations which both require a demonstrated mastery of the certificate program’s learning outcomes.
All majors are encouraged to apply. Applicants will be evaluated for admission based upon their undergraduate and/or accounting coursework grade point averages (GPA), essay responses, reference evaluations, and their TOEFL score (if applicable).
For a more detailed understanding of our specific admissions requirements, schedule a 1:1 session with our team. We look forward to answering any questions you may have while guiding you through this process.
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1. Application
Complete an online application and submit the application fee. An application is considered complete/ready for review once all supporting documents have been received by the University of Kentucky Graduate School.
This program starts in late August for Fall semester and early January for Spring semester. Applicants must complete the program specific application requirements to be considered for admission into the degree program. Incomplete files will not be reviewed.
Once the application is complete, it will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee within 3-4 weeks of admission.
2. Documentation
International candidates: Learn more about additional requirements:
At least one official English proficiency exam score*:
*This requirement is waived for students with U.S. degrees.
For more information, consult our International FAQs.
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Cost of Attendance
Tuition and Fees
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Students can find tuition refund policies, deadlines, amounts, and other important information on the Student Account Services website.
University Level Funding Opportunities
The University of Kentucky Graduate School provides various funding opportunities for graduate students through fellowships, assistantships, and support funding.
More Information
The Professional Resource Center (PRC) offers comprehensive career support services to all Gatton College of Business and Economics MBA and MS students. Students receive assistance in everything needed to launch a successful career during and after graduation, from resume development and job searches to LinkedIn profile buildout and interview preparation.
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