Certificate Program
Human Resources Assistant
A 12-month blended undergraduate certificate designed for career-ready HR support professionals.
Program Overview
Build HR Career Skills
Prepare for rapid entry into human resources roles across corporate, legal, government, healthcare, and institutional settings. Learn talent recruitment, onboarding, benefits, payroll, labor relations, HRIS, and employment compliance.
The program combines online coursework, on-campus learning, HRIS laboratory simulations, and a 160-hour supervised corporate externship.
At a Glance
Designed for Workforce Entry
Complete 36 semester credit hours across three continuous semesters: Fall, Spring, and Summer. The blended format pairs online theory with hands-on HRIS simulations and a capstone corporate placement.
12
Months
36
Credits
160
Practicum Hours
Learning Outcomes
What You Will Learn
Talent Acquisition
Manage job postings, ATS workflows, screening, interview scheduling, background checks, and onboarding.
Benefits and Payroll
Process payroll inputs, benefit enrollments, PTO, retirement plans, and insurance billing.
Employment Compliance
Apply EEOC, FMLA, FLSA, ADA, OSHA, and labor-relations requirements.
HRIS Data Management
Maintain confidential records, electronic databases, and workforce analytics reports.
Employee Relations
Support conflict resolution, performance appraisals, grievance handling, and communication.
Professional Readiness
Build the ethical judgment, correspondence, and workplace skills needed in HR environments.
Curriculum by Semester
Three continuous semesters build from HR foundations to applied practice and professional certification preparation.
Semester 1
HR Foundations
12 credits in human resource management, employment law, HRIS, and professional communication.
Semester 2
Talent and Compensation
15 credits focused on recruitment, benefits, payroll operations, and performance management.
Semester 3
Safety and Externship
9 credits in workplace safety, certification preparation, and a supervised 160-hour corporate HR externship.
Admissions
Ready to Apply
Applicants should be prepared to meet the academic, technical, and placement requirements for this professional certificate.
Educational Background
High school diploma or GED equivalent with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Prerequisites
High school Business Mathematics or introductory computer literacy, or a passing institutional placement assessment.
Background Clearance
Professional background verification and reference check upon provisional acceptance for corporate placement eligibility.
Technical Competency
Basic computer literacy and keyboarding speed of at least 35 WPM.
Tuition and Aid
Plan Your Investment
Direct Costs
Tuition is $16,200 plus a $1,200 program fee, $750 HRIS and software fee, and $300 business library fee. Total direct institutional costs: $18,450.
Estimated Expenses
Estimated indirect costs are $1,025 to $1,200 for textbooks, attire, background verification, certification exams, and professional association dues.
Payment Options
Explore interest-free monthly payment plans, eligible WIOA grants, Veterans’ educational benefits, and private business education financing.