HR Employment Relations
HR professionals are often tasked with maintaining and enhancing employer-employee relationships and this certificate program prepares you with the strategies to succeed in managing these relationships. Learn how to improve employee retention through compensation, total benefits, achievement of organizational goals, and setting realistic expectations of performance.

At a Glance


Free Application
University College is committed to educational access, and given the difficult circumstances currently impacting millions of people, we are waiving application fees.
Skills You'll Learn
Analyze the phases of an employee experience
Evaluate the compensation packages
Analyze total benefits
Curriculum
Specialized Graduate Certificate in HR Employment Relations requires completion of 16 credit hours (4 courses).
All students are required to complete a zero-credit Student Success Course.
Sample Schedule
Finish a graduate certificate in as few as six months or take up to a year. Choose your time to completion to get a better sense of what your schedule will look like during your certificate program.
Year 1 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
4-Course Certificate Classes | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
6-Course Certificate Classes | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Interested in a master's degree?
Explore our Master of Science in Strategic Human Resources with a concentration in HR Employment Relations.
Take a Course Before You Apply
We know how important it is to get started when you're ready and that's why you can enroll in a course before you officially apply.
Career Outcomes
Predicted outcomes for graduates of HR Employment Relations
Job growth for HR specialists will increase 10% throughout the next decade, as projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Developing employees and being involved in shaping an organization's workforce takes knowledge in relationship building, strategy, budgets, and planning.
The Society of Human Resource Management anticipates an expanded job market for HR professionals, according to their Jobs Outlook Survey. HR jobs that deal directly with employees are expected to rise thanks to a growing U.S. economy.
Job Titles
Human Resource Managers Salary: National Average
Get Ahead with Career Services
One-on-one career coaching and mock interviews
Job database dedicated to DU students and alumni
Résumé and cover letter guidance
Hear from Our Students
"I recently passed my SHRM-CP with very little time in the field. I feel like my first instincts are good because the foundation was laid with my education." —Shannon Harbison, graduate.

Flexible Online Classes
We understand the demands of balancing work, friends and family, and school can be challenging. That's why at University College, you can complete your program entirely online. Our online learning platform makes it easy to work anywhere at any time.
Featured Instructors
Accreditation & Associations

University College programs maintain the highest level of accreditation offered by The Higher Learning Commission, one of the regional accrediting bodies recognized by the federal government. The University of Denver and all of its academic programs are regionally accredited by this commission, and regional accreditation is the highest standard for universities in the United States.

The University of Denver University College is an Approved Provider with the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). Each course in the Strategic Human Resource curriculum is approved for 48 recertification hours of General, Strategic, or International credit with HRCI. Upon successful completion of the course, human resource professionals may apply the credit earned towards their Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), or Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) certification. Looking for HRCI certification prep for PHR, SPHR, and aPHR? See offerings through the Center for Professional Development.
The MS in Strategic Human Resources offered through University College is formally acknowledged by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as being aligned with its HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates through September 2023. As a university with a master's degree program aligned to SHRM's curriculum guidelines, students are eligible to apply for the SHRM-CP exam provided they meet SHRM's student eligibility requirements.