Professional Certificate in Human Resources Management

Gain an end-to-end understanding of modern-day HR practices

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Course Date

STARTS ON

TBD

Course Duration

DURATION

7 months, online
10–15 hours per week

Course Fee
Course Fee

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Determine Your Future in Human Resources (HR) Management

Research continues to show that employees are inextricably linked to organizational success, highlighting the increasingly critical role HR professionals play in today’s dynamic work environment. Job openings are at a historic high, meaning demand for HR managers with the skill set to drive positive business outcomes is soaring. But today’s constantly changing work environment not only requires HR managers to have extensive knowledge of the field; it requires them to become a strategic partner in their organization’s long-term success.

If you are ready to launch or accelerate your career in HR management, Rice University’s Professional Certificate in Human Resources Management will equip you with essential hands-on experience to guide your organization through today’s modern HR landscape and position you to take advantage of opportunities in an in-demand field. The program’s expansive format pairs rigorous curriculum with flexible part-time learning commitment.

168,036

Number of unique job postings for "HR Managers" from 2022-23

(Source: Lightcast)

US$56.15 billion

The projected value of the HRM market by 2030

(Source: Grand View Research)

Key Takeaways

  • Understand the roles and responsibilities of an HR professional and gain an end-to-end understanding of HRM lifecycle;
  • Identify best practices for employee communication to increase productivity, prevent misunderstandings and boost morale; including top-down, bottom-up, peer-to-peer and crisis in a variety of scenarios;
  • Foster an organizational mindset that embraces coaching and employee feedback to build and maintain a high-performance culture;
  • Discover HR analytics tools and frameworks for effective performance management that can help your organization become more data and performance-driven;
  • Develop competency in employee care strategies that foster ethical leadership and determine the roles and responsibilities of an HR professional in navigating important ethical issues; and
  • Assess a variety of talent management approaches and design a corporate workforce planning strategy for your organization

Program Highlights

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Faculty expertise

Gain unique insights from faculty and guest speakers with expertise in HR management.

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Job-ready portfolio

Create a portfolio of talent management strategies, dashboards, reflections and other documentation to share with future employers.

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Industry-specific knowledge

Develop must-have knowledge about the future of work; the role of automation, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); creating a performance-driven culture and more.

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Application-based learning

Practice high-performance HR techniques, think critically and develop unique perspectives to build the competencies you need to hit the ground running.

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Professional development

Prepare to launch or accelerate your career through success coaching, career guidance and mentorship.

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Certification

Earn a certificate and 30 continuing education units (CEUs) from Rice, a nationally ranked research university and leading provider of superior, value-based education.

Who Is This Program For?

  • Recent graduates or early-career HR professionals such as interns, assistants, executives and generalists, who are interested in complementing their theoretical knowledge with practical experience to secure an HR position, or gain broader exposure to the field to identify a specialty of interest.
  • Professionals working side by side with HR, such as administrative assistants, management trainees, or HR consultants, who are interested in formally transitioning to an HR role.
  • Entrepreneurs or small business owners, including founders/co-founders and small enterprise managers, who would like to develop the knowledge to manage various aspects of HR and gain a universal perspective of industry best practices for their organizations.

Recognized among the top five educational institution partners of approved college, university and training organizations worldwide by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Program Curriculum

This program is designed to impart the knowledge and skills needed to build or advance your career in HR management. The comprehensive curriculum provides in-depth coverage of key HR concepts along with trending topics. You will develop capabilities across the entire spectrum of HR including culture, performance management, employee relations, change management, L&D, talent acquisition, compensation, HR analytics, FoW, and DEI.

    Identify the roles, responsibilities and requirements of an HR professional. Then, discover how humans work, learn how to navigate an evolving work environment and understand how to build culture around performance.

    • Module 1: HR Fundamentals
    • Module 2: Emotional Intelligence Part I
    • Module 3: Emotional Intelligence Part II
    • Module 4: Business Acumen
    • Module 5: The Future of Work
    • Module 6: Culture  


    Performance management and employee relations are key HR functions, but they are also principal components of overall organizational performance. Explore approaches to each that are directly linked to building a high-performance organization. 

    • Module 7: Performance Management
    • Module 8: Employee Relations
    • Module 9: Communication
    • Module 10: Performance Coaching
    • Module 11: Coaching and Feedback
    • Module 12: HR Analytics


    Employee care is a driver of greater organizational success. Ensure the well-being of your workforce by establishing best practices in ethical leadership, DE&I, change management, professional development, technology and workforce planning. 

    • Module 13: Ethics
    • Module 14: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Module 15: Change Management
    • Module 16: Learning and Development
    • Module 17: Tools and Software
    • Module 18: Workforce Planning 


    Discover the complexities of hiring and retention, understand the impact of employee rewards and explore next steps in your career. 

    • Module 19: Talent Acquisition
    • Module 20: Employee Engagement
    • Module 21: Compensation
    • Module 22: Benefits
    • Module 23: Capstone Project Part I
    • Module 24: Capstone Project Part II 


Note: Session topics are subject to change at the discretion of Rice's Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies.


Career Preparation and Guidance

Both hard and soft skills are needed to succeed in HR management. This program offers you guidance for navigating your career path, from crafting your elevator pitch to perfecting your interview skills. These services are provided by Emeritus, our learning collaborator for this program. The program support team includes program leaders who help you reach your learning goals. The primary goal is to give you the skills necessary to be prepared for a job in this field; however, job placement is not guaranteed.

Emeritus provides the following career preparation services:

  • Engaging in live sessions with a career mentor
  • Navigating your job search
  • Preparing for interviews
  • Negotiating salary
  • Crafting your elevator pitch
  • Optimizing your LinkedIn profile
  • Writing résumés and cover letters

Exercises specific to building your career in HR management include:

  • Building your personal brand and promoting your skills
  • Job searching and interviewing for positions in HR management
  • Reflecting on your skills to determine how to solve problems and become an efficient leader
  • Understanding the roles and workflow of HR management
  • Applying HR management concepts through a capstone project

Case Studies and Industry Examples

Case studies and industry examples will bring program concepts to life, giving you a practical understanding of how to approach the challenges of managing the modern-day workforce.

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ALGORITHMIC MANAGEMENT IN ACTION

Learn how Allstate used AI-powered algorithms to help make decisions about organizational change.

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THE EMPLOYEE LIFE CYCLE

Discover how organizations such as Google, Salesforce and Adobe recruit, develop and retain their employees across all stages of the employee life cycle.

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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Examine how organizations such as Carrier and Jersey Mike's adopted digital strategies to reach new customers and serve existing customers better.

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DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Create DEI policies using best practices from the Society for Human Resource Management.

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HR TECHNOLOGY

Learn how organizations like ServiceNow, SAP and LinkedIn use technology for talent management.

Program Faculty

Faculty Member Dr. Jeff Frey

Dr. Jeff Frey

VP of innovation, Graduate level educator, Intra/entrepreneur professor of management, Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, Rice University

Dr. Jeff Frey combines his passion for teaching with his real-world experience in business ownership to bring the past, present and potential for the human side of the future of work to his students. As an entrepreneur, he believes that new venture innovation tech, funding and successful business models are nothing without a strong set of leaders to transform ideas into reality. More info

Guest Speakers

Faculty Member CATHERINE GILLINGS

CATHERINE GILLINGS

Principal Consultant Talent IQ LLC

Faculty Member STEVEN RONDENO

STEVEN RONDENO

Human Resources Manager Amazon

Faculty Member WENDY FONG

WENDY FONG

Founder and Principal

Faculty Member BRIAN CHIU

BRIAN CHIU

Vice president, corporate HR operations

Faculty Member ALISON GODBE

ALISON GODBE

Human capital consultant—HR strategy, technology and innovation

Certificate

Certificate

Get recognized! Upon successful completion of this program, Rice grants a certificate of completion to participants. This program is graded as a pass or fail. Participants must receive 75 percent to pass and obtain a certificate of completion.

Note: All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Rice's Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies.

FAQs

  • How do I know whether this program is right for me?

    After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow up with you very shortly.


    Are there any prerequisites for this program?

    Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page and in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at learner.success@emeritus.org, for assistance.

    What are the requirements to earn a certificate?

    This is a graded program. You must complete a combination of individual assignments, quizzes, and a final project. Each component carries a certain number of points, and a cumulative score of 75 percent is required to pass and obtain your professional certificate.


    Will I be guaranteed a job upon completion of the program

    The primary objective of this program is to give you the skills you need to be prepared for a job in this field. While eligible participants will receive career coaching and support and may receive introductions to our hiring partners, job placement is not guaranteed.

  • How much time will I be expected to devote to this program?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the “Duration” section and in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.


    How will I spend my time in this program?

    You will divide your learning time between viewing recorded coding demos, and video lectures, contributing to class discussions, completing assignments, projects, and knowledge checks, and attending optional live sessions with industry experts and program leaders.


    How is the program administered? Can the program be accessed at any time?

    The program is accessed through the custom learning portal. This portal will give you access to all program-related content such as video lectures, assignments, and discussions. Live sessions will be conducted using a webinar tool.

    The video lectures and assignments are accessible weekly throughout the program. In the event you miss a live session, a recording will be made available.


    Do I need to attend live sessions every week?

    Faculty video lectures are recorded, allowing you to watch these on your own schedule. However, participation in optional live sessions and discussion boards is highly encouraged. Live sessions will give you the opportunity to draw on the coding experience of our industry-experienced program leaders to answer your questions and help reach your learning goals. The discussion boards are also an integral part of the learning experience, giving you and your peers the opportunity to learn together and receive guidance from the moderators.


    Can I download the program videos?

    You can download video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. However, the video lectures are only available for streaming and require an internet connection.


    How do I interact with other program participants?

    You can communicate with other participants through our learning platform. You will be able to form groups based on your interests and location. A direct messaging feature is also available through the platform.


    What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?

    More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.

    All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.

    A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.

  • What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what is required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the “Duration” section and in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.

    This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please contact us at learner.success@emeritus.org if you need further clarification of any specific program requirements.


    What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

    Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, résumé, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
    The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program once grading is complete.


    Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?

    No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.


    Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?

    No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.


    How long will I have access to the learning materials?

    You will have access to the learning platform and all program materials (videos excluded) for one full year following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.

  • What are the equipment or technical requirements for this program?

    To successfully complete this course/program(me) online, you must have access to a device meeting the minimum requirements, found here. In addition, Microsoft Office or similar product and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts in all programs. Technical programs might have additional tech requirements. Please check the learning platform on the first day of class.


    Do I need to be online to access the program content?

    Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet and video content is not available for download. You can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. Video lectures must be streamed via the internet and webinars and small group sessions will require an internet connection.

  • What is the program fee for the program, and what forms of payment do you accept?


    What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another mode of payment accepted?

    Yes, you can do the bank remittance in USD via wire transfer. Please contact your program advisor for more details.


    Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?

    Yes, flexible payment options are available for this program. We partner with loan providers to offer you flexible and transparent loan options. More information about loan financing is available here. Installment payments are also available; you can find the options here.


    Does the program fee include taxes? Are there any additional fees?

    Yes, the program fee is inclusive of any taxes with the exception of GST for Singapore residents.


    Who will be collecting the payment for the program?

    Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.

  • What is the program refund and deferral policy?

    For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at  learner.success@emeritus.org  or  Schedule a call  with one of our Academic Advisors or call us at +1 315 353 4071 (US) / +44 292 271 2826 (UK) / +65 3129 8069 (SG)

Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!