Cornell Adds HR Certification to its Online Extension

Human resources professionals can now earn nine graduate credits from the Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) School at Cornell University in fewer than nine months with ILR’s new online Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management. This concept is a valuable opportunity for people who find themselves in handling HR responsibilities for their employer without a formal human resources degree.

According to the Reuters story, “The online ‘blended’ format of the new program allows HR professionals to gain exposure to state-of-the-art thinking and network with classmates while avoiding travel costs…Graduate Certificate students will be able to customize their curriculum by choosing to concentrate in two of three specialization tracks in employee relations, engaging talent, and HR strategy; participating in an eight-week Graduate Certificate student-only cohort in business leadership skills.” This certification program recognizes the importance of organizational management skills in the highly politicized world of labor relations.

In addition there are several formal lectures from ILR faculty, all of which is available to HR professionals working anywhere in the U.S. “Successful students will complete the program in as little as nine months having developed advanced human resources skills and mastered the techniques necessary to execute in a business environment. They will earn a Cornell credential worth nine credits towards a master’s degree from the ILR School.”

This is an example of a continuing education opportunity that matches an ongoing need in the business world. Even graduates with management degrees may find themselves at a loss when assigned to the specialized world of staff development, recruiting, training and production management – all of which can be HR functions today. Professionals working in the personnel field today don’t have to obtain a completely new degree with certification programs like this, particularly one offered by an Ivy League school through its respected labor relations institute.

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