As the Human Resources field continues to evolve, aspiring and seasoned HR professionals alike must expand their knowledge to stay relevant and thrive. Courses in Human Resource Management (HRM) offer the opportunity to develop wide-ranging competencies in areas such as employee relations, talent management, and business acumen.
In this article, we’ll cover the key components of HR management training you should look for and provide a list of nine viable Human Resource Management courses online that you can explore.
Contents
Key considerations when choosing an HR Management course
9 top Human Resource Management courses
1. AIHR – HR Manager Certificate Program
2. Alison – Conflict Management and Resolution
3. Coursera – Leading: Human Resource Management and Leadership Specialization
4. eCornell – Human Resources Management Certificate
5. FutureLearn – Building Influence as a Key Human Resource Management (HRM) Professional
6. HRCI – Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR®)
7. LinkedIn Learning – HR Foundations: Redefining HR
8. Udemy – Diploma Course in Human Resource Management (HRM)
9. Wharton Online – HR Management and Analytics
FAQ
Key considerations when choosing an HR Management course
Courses for HR are abundantly available. However, what they offer varies, and they’re not all suitable for everyone. Determining which is right for you will depend on your situation, i.e., the type of organization you work for and your personal goals, needs, and preferences.
As with any other kind of Human Resources training, it’s necessary to understand the content before choosing a course. Be sure it contains the elements that distinguish it as an HR management course rather than general HR instruction.
HRM courses will typically incorporate the following:
- Leadership skills: In addition to understanding the key Human Resources roles (such as recruitment and selection, performance management, compensation and benefits, etc.), HRM professionals must have strong leadership skills. By learning communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, relationship building, and other such skills, they can productively influence leadership and guide their teams in supporting organizational objectives.
- Vision and strategy: The overall function of HR is to support an organization in achieving its long-term goals. HRM professionals need a clear sense of direction and an action plan to motivate their teams and other stakeholders to coalesce in a shared purpose. Comprehensive HRM courses incorporate strategic human resource management.
To ensure a Human Resource Management course is the right fit for you, consider the following practical factors:
- Course content: Human Resource Management is about optimizing company performance through better management of human resources. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing in a small firm as it does in a large international organization. Knowing whether you want to focus more on the people management aspects or strategic topics can help narrow down your HRM course options.
- Instructor(s) expertise: A facilitator’s methods can make or break a course for individual learners. It’s a good idea to research the instructor’s expertise and teaching approach. Read some reviews and watch some course material to get a feel for what the instruction will be like. It can also be beneficial if there is a team of instructors who provide multiple styles and points of view.
- Budget: Certain HRM courses require a significant financial investment. Be sure you know upfront exactly what a course will cost. If your employer reimburses for this type of education, verify that your desired course will be covered.
- Time (learning on-demand): The amount of time you’ll need to allocate throughout the course is another important consideration. Be realistic about what your schedule permits you to commit to and whether you have control over when it happens. Put simply, is the course self-paced? Do you have the option of learning when, where, and how you want? Is the material available on all sorts of devices? Can you stop and start during each module?
- Offline vs. online: Some of us learn best in a more traditional classroom setting and might prefer an actual Human Resource Management class. Others prefer learning online, using videos and other types of digital content. Try to find a course with the content and a format that suits you best.
- Community availability: Being an HR Manager comes with unique challenges and issues that sometimes only a fellow HR professional can understand. Having access to an online community of other HR managers enriches the learning process by providing a place to share experiences, ask questions, solve problems, and celebrate victories together.
When course instructors participate in these communities, you get the bonus of being able to ask questions about the course and exchange opinions with subject matter experts.
9 top Human Resource Management courses
If you’re on a quest to build knowledge and proficiency in HR practices, a structured course is a proven pathway to get you there. Below we’ve listed ten high-quality Human Resource Management courses. This collection includes a range of classes, university programs, and professional certifications with enough variety to meet the needs of both entry-level and experienced HR professionals.
Here they are in alphabetical order by learning provider:
Please note that this list is compiled based on publicly available information. We have not tried the courses ourselves, with the exception of AIHR’s HR Manager Certificate Program.
1. AIHR – HR Manager Certificate Program
Starting with our favorite, of course. The Academy to Innovate HR (AIHR) offers globally accredited online HR courses that enable HR professionals to work on real-world projects and case studies.
Our HR Manager Certificate Program is designed as an “all-in-one” HR manager course for those striving to be an impactful HR leader who understands business better, is equipped to make big-picture decisions, and can establish HR’s role in their organization’s strategic outlook.
Learners take part in video lessons, case studies, quizzes, assignments, and a capstone project to learn the following essential skills:
- HR strategy design
- Lean management
- Business acumen
- Culture championing.
Upon completion of this 35-hour, 100% online and self-paced program, you will walk away with a strong grasp of the following:
- Business, organizational design, and HR operating models
- Aligning HR strategies with business goals
- Becoming a culture champion who can drive change, get buy-in, and build trust
- Operating with an agile and project-based approach to HR.
The cost is based on which annual individual or team membership is selected.
2. Alison – Conflict Management and Resolution
Founded in Ireland in 2007, Alison is the world’s largest free online platform that delivers career education and skills training through its certificate and diploma courses.
Although not specific to HRM, HR managers can benefit from its Conflict Management and Resolution course. Navigating conflict and disputes is unavoidable in the HR field. HR leaders must have negotiation and mediation skills to adeptly deal with conflict themselves and coach others through it.
This course introduces the fundamentals of conflict resolution and covers how to forge mutual understanding and acknowledge and distinguish between positive and negative emotions. It provides techniques for gaining self-awareness and managing individual and group conflicts.
Learners need to devote only 1.5-3 hours to this free course.
3. Coursera – Leading: Human Resource Management and Leadership Specialization
Another learning opportunity from Coursera is the Leading: Human Resource Management and Leadership Specialization program through Macquarie University.
This self-paced four-course series covers organizational design, organizational behavior, adapting your leadership style, and visionary leadership. Each module emphasizes how organizational science addresses real-world organizational and leadership challenges.
Participants learn how to:
- Motivate staff with meaningful work
- Support an organization’s ability to achieve its strategic objectives
- Harness diversity and teamwork to innovate and improve productivity
- Understand leadership theories and build personal leadership skills.
Achieving this intermediate-level specialization takes about three months at 10 hours per week.
4. eCornell – Human Resources Management Certificate
Internationally recognized Cornell University provides professional certificates through its eCornell learning program. Courses are developed by Cornell faculty and conducted both online and in person.
The Human Resources Management Certificate consists of nine practical and results-oriented online courses that include real-world examples and exercises. Among the topics covered are employee performance, compensation, training and development, labor relations, and driving engagement.
Earning this certificate equips you to shape and implement HR practices that result in better overall people management to enhance your organization’s performance.
This program targets aspiring and line-level HR professionals with 0-5 years of experience. It takes 4.5 months with committing 3-10 hours per week. The cost is $4,600.
5. FutureLearn – Building Influence as a Key Human Resource Management (HRM) Professional
FutureLearn is an online training provider that offers short courses, in-depth programs, and degrees, many of which are affiliated with reputable UK universities.
Developed by the University of Lincoln, Building Influence as a Key Human Resource Management (HRM) Professional is a gateway into strategic HRM. It teaches how you can work closely with leaders and managers and understand how instrumental HR practices are in organizational success. It also provides learners with ethical management principles and an appreciation for the significance of evidence-based decision-making.
The syllabus topics are:
- “Who is expecting what from you as an HR Professional?”
- “The skills, knowledge, and behaviors required of HR Professionals”
- “Building credibility, trust, and influence.”
This intermediate-level course is aimed at HR professionals who want to move into strategic roles and junior managers pursuing senior positions. The duration is three weeks at five hours per week. As a standalone option, the price of the course is $54.
6. HRCI – Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR®)
The HR Certification Institute (HRCI) is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the HR profession by developing and administering best-in-class accredited certifications.
You can earn the Institute’s SPHR® certification by passing an exam that covers topics such as leadership and strategy, HR information management, total rewards, workforce planning, and acquisition and management.
The computer-based exam can be taken at home or at a testing center. It has 115 mostly multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 2 hours and 45 minutes. There is an application fee of $100 and the exam fee is $495.
HRCI offers on-demand exam preparation courses that include instructional videos, flashcards, full-length practice exams, interactive games, and a study plan and progress tracker.
The SPHR® credential is designed for HR professionals with strategic and policy-making experience who do the planning of HR policy as opposed to the implementation of it.
The SPHR program is focused on the U.S. However, HRCI does offer an international version called the Senior Professional in Human Resources – International™.
7. LinkedIn Learning – HR Foundations: Redefining HR
Online educational platform LinkedIn Learning teaches business, technology-related, and other professional skills with expert-led videos. Its content library is available through individual or team subscriptions.
The HR Foundations: Redefining HR course explains how the role of HR has evolved from an administrative function into a strategic business partner. It also explores how new trends continue to shape modern HR and the importance of a forward-thinking mindset.
Topics covered include:
- Attracting and hiring talent
- Cultivating a more inclusive and equitable culture
- Creating a magnetic employee experience
- Developing resilience and business acumen
- Tips on networking and career development.
This beginner-level course is under an hour and Continuing Education Units are available. The cost is factored into the LinkedIn Learning subscription price.
8. Udemy – Diploma Course in Human Resource Management (HRM)
Udemy is a global education technology company with a vast collection of online business and technical courses that are accessible via individual, team, and enterprise membership plans.
The Diploma Course in Human Resource Management (HRM) covers all HRM functions in detail through online learning sessions, case studies, live projects, demos, articles, and templates. Its 17 sections entail a breadth of material, including:
- End-to-end HR functions
- Competency-based job analysis
- Performance management
- Disciplinary inquiries
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology concepts.
This course spans beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels and is suitable for anyone with a vested interest in the HR domain. It consists of 11 hours and 20 minutes of on-demand video lectures and two practice tests. It also provides 19 downloadable resources. The individual price is currently $94.99.
9. Wharton Online – HR Management and Analytics
Wharton Online is part of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. It delivers live, online, and hybrid courses that are taught by the same world-renowned leaders who teach in Wharton’s on-campus programs.
The HR Management and Analytics online course is a combination of theory with practical application. It aims to give you a holistic view of strategic HR management, including an overview of People Analytics. Participants learn (among other things):
- The basic principles of using HR analytics.
- How to initiate and manage people analytics projects.
- How to design an effective organizational structure.
The course is geared toward mid- to senior-level HR and L&D professionals. It requires a commitment of two months at 4-6 hours per week, with a digital certificate awarded upon completion. The fee is $2,800.
A final word
No matter what stage of your HR career you’re in, expanding your knowledge and capabilities is a worthwhile venture. Acquiring theoretical knowledge and practical skills will help you sustain challenges and add value to your current and future organizations.
With the extensive online HRM course options, you can access dynamic learning opportunities that fit your needs and schedule. We hope this list inspires you to pursue professional education and thrive in the rewarding field of HR.
FAQ
HR management courses are a type of training that’s aimed at teaching HR managers applicable knowledge, skills, and attitudes they can apply to be more successful in their jobs.
When choosing courses in Human Resource Management, factors to consider include subject matter, instructor, logistics, budget, and whether the course touches on leadership skills and strategic topics.
An online practitioner’s community fosters further learning through collaboration. It’s a great setting for sharing experiences, asking questions, solving problems, and celebrating victories with fellow HR professionals.
