Professional Certificate in Human Resource Management
Spring ’25 Registration Now Open!
Become the type of human resource business partner that your employees can rely on by earning a Professional Certificate in Human Resource Management from SDSU Global Campus.
- Overview
- Courses
- How To Register
- Resources
About the Program
Whether you aspire to a career in human resource management or already work in the industry, earning your Professional Certificate in Human Resource Management from SDSU Global Campus will give you the foundation you need to design, manage, and evaluate organizational programs.
In the ever-changing HR landscape, this program will show you how to stand out as a leader who can:
- Align your department to your organization’s goals.
- Improve employee job satisfaction.
- Implement guidelines based on local and national employment laws.
- Create a workplace culture that will attract and retain top talent in your industry.
Is This Program Right for Me?
Human resource business partners are vital to the success of any organization. HR serves as the link between management and employees. They’re responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing a wide variety of employment functions — from hiring and training to managing benefits, strategizing with top executives, and handling staffing issues. They also ensure that their organization is in compliance with local, state, and federal employment laws and regulations.
If you’re responsible for some of these roles in your own organization, or you’re interested in launching your career as an HR professional, SDSU’s Professional Certificate in Human Resource Management program can help you boost your résumé and enhance your career in as little as 12 months of online training courses.
- Take online classes that are either self-paced or held via live evening Zoom sessions.
- Earn your certificate without sacrificing your professional commitments.
- Learn from a panel of seasoned human resource professionals with decades of career experience across a variety of industries.
- Acquire the skills that today’s employers are looking for in their HR departments.
If you’re looking for affordable and accessible HR training that you can fit into your busy schedule and apply to your job the very next day, SDSU’s HR Certificate program can help you take your career to the next level.
Meet Your Instructor
Dr. Lutheran M. Carter retired from the United States Navy after 23 years of military service. He earned his Associates in General Studies along with a Bachelor’s in Workforce Education and Development (Emphasis in Training and Development) and a Master’s in Workforce Education and Development. As a senior enlisted leader in the U.S. Navy, Dr. Carter took what he learned in the Workforce Education Development Program and applied it throughout his naval career. In 2021, Dr. Carter graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Organizational Development.
– Dr. Lutheran Carter, Performance Management
Learn more about Lutheran
SDSU is a State-approved provider for the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). If you’re unemployed or underemployed, you may be eligible to receive full or partial tuition assistance on this program. Equal Opportunity is the Law. Equal opportunity employer/program auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Click here to learn more.
What Can I Learn?
Our instructors work in the HR industry, and teach skills critical to recruiting and hiring, employee compensation and benefits, training, and performance management. Through their expertise, you’ll learn what today’s HR professionals are using to foster productive work environments in their own organizations.
Key Learning Outcomes
- Identify the core competencies needed for a career in human resources.
- Build processes and procedures for a diverse and engaged workforce.
- Learn how to communicate processes and procedures to your workforce.
- Create an environment that attracts, trains, and retains top talent.
- Learn the fundamentals of performance management and developing your workforce.
- Understand the role of Cal/OSHA, safety, and compensation issues in the workplace.
To earn your certificate, you’ll need to complete a minimum of 25 units of coursework. This includes:
- Four required courses (10 units). We highly recommend taking Introduction to Human Resources as the first course.
- 15 units of elective courses.
With nine elective courses to choose from, you’ll be able to tailor your Professional Certificate to meet your unique professional goals. Our elective HR course topics include:
- Talent Acquisition
- Performance Management
- Health and Safety Management
- Ethics in the Workplace
- Organizational Behavior (New!)
- Training and Development
- Compensation
- Emotional Intelligence
- Business Writing for the Workplace
- Diversity and Inclusion
You can also take individual courses to gain new skills and knowledge that you can immediately apply to your human resources career.
Meet Your Instructor
Dawn has more than 30 years in Human Resources, including 20 years in hospitality, with an emphasis in employee relations and leadership development. For more than a decade, she has taught in the HR Certificate Program at SDSU Global Campus and owns her own business providing HR consulting, leadership training and coaching, as well as public speaking.
– Dawn Myers, Introduction to HR, Capstone
Learn more about Dawn
Career Outcomes
Labor Analysis
Human Resources Manager — Nationwide
- 161,700Job Postings in the last 12 months
- +9%Projected job growth in the next 10 years
- $96,558Average salary of graduates
Source: Burning Glass/Emsi, 2022
The outlook for human resource professionals continues to improve. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of human resources managers is projected to grow by about 1% over the next decade. As new companies form and existing companies expand, they’ll need competent, highly-trained human resources managers to help build productive work environments and stay up-to-date on local and national employment laws regarding compensation, healthcare benefits, and equal employment opportunity.
Meet Your Instructor
Reem Zaghal works for UCLA Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine. In her role, she supports the compensation team with the project implementation of Career Tracks. Reem has worked in Compensation, Benefits, and HRIS for more than 20 years, including the following organizations; George Washington University, The Salk Institute, Discovery Communications, General Dynamics, and Provide Commerce.
– Reem Zaghal, Compensation
Why Choose SDSU?
Accessibility
All courses are 100% online and accessible from anywhere in the world, which makes our online human resources classes ideal for working professionals and busy students. There’s no application required — simply choose your courses and start learning!
Expert Instructors
Learn from a panel of highly-experienced HR professionals, including business owners, managers, and directors who know what works — and what doesn’t — in today’s business world. Many of our instructors are also connected with local and national HR organizations, including the San Diego Hospitality Human Resource Association, Professionals in Human Resources Association, San Diego SHRM, and more.
Custom Curriculum
Build your own certificate to meet your needs as an HR professional. In addition to four core courses, you’ll be able to choose from nine unique elective courses that cover a wide range of human resource topics, from diversity and ethics to emotional intelligence and business writing.
To earn your Professional Certificate in Human Resource Management, you’ll need to take 25 units including:
- Four Core Courses
- 15 Units of Elective Courses
Click the course names below to read the course description. Visit the How to Register tab once you’re ready to register.
Required Courses
| Required Courses | Units | Cost | Spring ’25 Dates | Day & Time | Registration Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA 0020 Introduction to Human Resources | 3 | $549 | 01/27-04/07 | M | 6-8 p.m. | 02/03/25 |
| BA 0021 Human Resource Management and the Law I | 2 | $366 | 01/28-04/01 | W | 6-8 p.m. | 04/08/25 |
| BA 0028 Capstone: Applying Human Resource Management | 3 | $549 | TBD | Th | 6-8 p.m. | TBA |
| BA 0029 Human Resource Management and the Law II | 2 | $366 | 01/29-04/02 | W | 6-8 p.m. | 04/09/25 |
Dates and fees subject to change. All courses are in Pacific Time.
Elective Courses
| Elective Courses | Units | Cost | Dates | Day & Time | Registration Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA 0022 Talent Acquisition | 3 | $549 | 9/17-11/26 | T | 6-8 pm | 09/24/24 |
| BA 0023 Human Resources Training and Development | 3 | $549 | 8/28-11/13 | W | 6-8 pm | 09/4/24 |
| BA 0027 Performance Management | 3 | $549 | |||
| BA 0033 Compensation | 3 | $549 | 01/08-03/26 | W | 6-8 p.m. | 04/02/25 |
| BA 0035 Health and Safety Management | 3 | $549 | 02/03-04/21 | Self-Paced | 02/10/25 |
| BA 0058 Emotional Intelligence | 1.5 | $275 | |||
| BA 0059 Ethics in the Workplace | 1.5 | $275 | |||
| BA 0060 Business Writing for the Workplace | 1.5 | $275 | |||
| BA 0061 Diversity and Inclusion | 3 | $549 | 10/03-12/19 | Th | 6-8 pm | 10/10/24 |
| BA 0062 Organizational Behavior | 3 | $549 | 02/27-05/15 | Th | 6-8 p.m. | 05/22/25 |
| BA 0063 HR Leadership | 1.5 | $275 | 10/08-11/12 | T | 6-8 pm | 10/15/24 |
Dates and fees subject to change. All courses are in Pacific Time.
Registration Instructions
Continuing Students
If you have enrolled in your program within the past three terms, you are considered a continuing student. Starting in the summer 2024 term, continuing students can simply log into my.SDSU and register for upcoming courses in their program once the registration period opens. You’ll still need to complete your full payment in my.SDSU after your registration has been submitted.
Please visit my.sdsu.edu for more information.
New Students
If you have not enrolled within the past three terms, you will need to enroll in the program as a new student to register for courses. Please complete the new student registration steps to get started.
Once you’ve chosen your courses, click the Enroll button below to begin the registration process. Please indicate on the form that you’d like to register for courses.
Once you’ve filled out the Enrollment form, you’ll receive a confirmation email from SDSU Global Campus within 2-3 business days with the next steps to complete your enrollment.
Once registration opens for your courses, you can register in the my.SDSU portal.
Complete your full payment in my.SDSU after your registration has been submitted. Click here for more information on our payment and drop policy.
Please note that BA 0028 Capstone: Applying Human Resource Management is only open to those who have completed all other required courses. Registration instructions for that course will be provided separately.
Finished All The Required Courses?
Click the button below to receive your certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can access your courses through Canvas, SDSU’s online learning management system. You’ll access Canvas using your SDSUid. Visit its.sdsu.edu/software/canvas to learn more about using Canvas.
Students in our human resources program can check their progress by logging into my.SDSU. If you need assistance with your account, contact our Registration staff at 619-594-5152 or enrollment.global@sdsu.edu.
The Professional Certificate in Human Resources receives professional development credits which are reflected on an SDSU transcript. These courses will receive letter grades.
Our human resources certificate program is 100% online. The program consists of four required courses and 4-5 electives that you choose. You can complete the program and earn your Human Resources certificate in just one year.
Courses in our human resources certificate program feature a mostly synchronous virtual instruction learning modality. This means:
- Courses with this modality feature more than 50% of the online coursework provided through direct faculty instruction and academic activities at the times and days listed in the Class Schedule, with additional time slots for office hours.
- Live/synchronous instruction times and days will be posted to allow students to plan their work schedule, avoid class time conflicts, and allow instructors to schedule time slots for exams and quizzes in advance.
- Final exams or assignments will be listed in the course syllabus and may need to be completed at a set time and date.
- Students are expected to attend all live sessions.
As a student in our grant writing program, you have options when it comes to paying for your courses. This program is eligible for the following discounts and support programs:
Once you’ve completed all the program requirements, fill out a certificate request form. SDSU Global Campus will verify that you’ve completed all the required courses and assignments. Once you’ve been verified, you’ll receive a digital copy of your certificate.
Ready to take the next step? Click on the Courses tab to browse our courses and register. If you have any questions about the program, our Welcome Center can help! Fill out the form at the bottom of this page to get in touch.
Related Links
Request Your Certificate
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Program Flyer
HRM Program Advisor
HRM Blog Stories
Finished All The Required Courses?
Click the button below to receive your certificate.