University Certificate in Human Resources and Labour Relations

Regulations effective September 1, 2023.

The University Certificate in Human Resources and Labour Relations is offered by the Centre for Social Sciences. This is an integrated, multidisciplinary program of courses that examines employment relations within their social, legal, political, and economic contexts. This certificate will be of interest to trade unionists, managers, human resource specialists and individuals interested in better employment opportunities.

Planning your program

Our online program plans can assist you in selecting the courses needed to fulfill your program requirements.

Counselling Services offers an assessment website, Mapping Your Future.

Athabasca University has also developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.

Program requirements

Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment.

Students who have completed the former University Certificate in Labour Relations or the University Certificate in Labour Studies may not enrol in this program.

Students are recommended to take ENGL 255 or ADMN 233 early in their program.

The following general regulations apply to all certificate programs.

University certificate programs provide interim qualifications in specific subject areas. Athabasca University has developed individual program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.

Fifty per cent* of the total credits required must be completed through Athabasca University. Up to 50 per cent of the required credits may be transferred from another post-secondary institution.
* Some certificate programs require less than 50 per cent, e.g., University Certificate in Counselling Women.
University certificate credentials are awarded throughout the year. Students must submit an Application for Graduation Form to the Office of the Registrar (see Graduation).
Students with less than 50 per cent of coursework completed in their current Athabasca University degree program may withdraw from their degree and apply into a university certificate program. Credit will be awarded (from the previous incomplete degree program) to the extent permissible under the applicable program regulations in effect at the time of the change of credential.
Students with 50 per cent of coursework completed in their current Athabasca University degree program are encouraged to consult with a student advisor before changing programs.
Students who change their program of study from an Athabasca University degree program to a university certificate program forfeit their standing in the degree program. If students wish to return to the degree program (after being enrolled in the university certificate program) they will be required to meet the degree requirements in effect at the time of re-enrolment (see Changing Programs) to the degree.
Students who have completed a previous credential (degree, certificate, or diploma) from Athabasca University or another institution must complete a minimum of 50 per cent of the credits in course work not previously used towards any credential.
Students who have a previous credential in the same subject area as the certificate cannot enrol in the certificate.
Students who have completed the former University Certificate in Labour Relations or the University Certificate in Labour Studies may not enrol in the University Certificate in Human Resources and Labour Relations.

Program structure

program structure
Total credits in the program	30
Required courses	9
Electives	15
Options	6
Residency requirement. A minimum of 15 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University.	15
Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits	15
No preparatory (100-level) courses will count towards this program

Required courses

(9 credits)

required courses
IDRL 215 – Introduction to Labour Relations	(3)
IDRL 320 – The Law of Work	(3)
HRMT 386 – Introduction to Human Resource Management	(3)

Electives

(15 credits)

electives
Note: A minimum of 6 credits must be selected from the courses in HRMT and/or IDRL.
ACCT 253 – Introductory Financial Accounting	(3)
ACCT 355 – Cost Analysis	(3)
All ADMN courses
ANTH 275 – Faces of Culture: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology	(3)
CMIS 245 – Microcomputer Applications in Business (Windows)	(3)
CMIS 351 – Management Information Systems	(3)
COMM 243 – Interpersonal Communication	(3)
COMM 277 – Group Communication	(3)
COMP 361 – Systems Analysis and Design	(3)
All ECON courses
All EDUC courses
ENGL 255 – Introductory Composition	(3)
All GOVN courses
HIST 336 – History of Canadian Labour	(6)
All HRMT courses
All IDRL courses
All LBST courses
All LGST courses
All ORGB courses
PHIL 252 – Critical Thinking	(3)
PHIL 333 – Professional Ethics	(3)
All POEC courses
PSYC 200 – Introduction to Career Development	(3)
PSYC 300 – Theories of Career Development	(3)
PSYC 310 – Learning and Instruction	(3)
PSYC 387 – Learning	(3)
PSYC 401 – Learning Through Life	(3)
PSYC 405 – Creating a Working Alliance	(3)
SOCI 300 – How Humans Organize: From Primary Groups to the World Wide Web	(3)
SOCI 301 – Social Statistics	(3)
SOCI 332 – Women and Unions	(3)
SOCI 345 – Women, Gender and Work in Canada	(3)
SOCI 381 – The Rich and the Rest: The Sociology of Wealth, Power, and Inequality	(3)

Information effective Sept. 1, 2023 to Aug. 31, 2024.

Updated June 13, 2024 by Office of the Registrar (calendar@athabascau.ca)