Human Resources Management program

Human Resources Management (HRM) is a set of interrelated organizational functions and processes including staffing the organization, designing jobs and teams, training and developing skilled employees, assessing and rewarding employee performance, and maintaining and retaining employees.

Today’s organizations realize their most powerful asset and competitive advantage is their people. To that end, great effort is taken to cultivate a better understanding and infrastructure for employees so that organizations can succeed.

The function of human resources is ever-growing in its complexity and professionals in the human resources management field play a critical role in adding value to the strategic direction and culture of an organization. These professionals ensure organizations are effective and efficient when attracting, developing, retaining, and rewarding employees.

Program description

Human Resources Management is an Interdisciplinary Program administered by the Department of Psychology. We do not offer a degree program (undergraduate or graduate) in Human Resources Management. We do offer a minor for current Waterloo degree students, and a diploma for post-degree or non-degree students.

Students interested in employment or further education in the area of human resources management may wish to pursue a minor or diploma in HRM, as well as the Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation or the  Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation offered by the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA). The nine courses currently required by HRPA for the coursework component of the CHRL/CHRP designation are all available at Waterloo.

Please note: currently, only our introductory course, HRM 200, is offered online.

Why Waterloo?

Our courses are designed to help you learn the most relevant and up-to-date information, along with earning educational requirements for the CHRL/CHRP certification. You learn from faculty members and lecturers with years of practical, professional experience and research backgrounds. This unique blend of learning offers an environment where knowledge is more than just assignments – it’s shared experiences.

Through our programs, you will gain the knowledge, build the skills, and achieve the experience and attributes needed to succeed. After you complete your studies, you will have a clear understanding of the essential role of human resources and why this function is important in organizations.

Some of our graduates have gone on to further their education in human resources management, while others have entered directly into the work force. Our graduates are employed in a variety of industries including prominent high tech organizations, financial services companies, and both the Ontario and Federal Governments.