CUNY Kingsborough Community College Human Resources Degree Programs

Human Resources Degree Program at CUNY Kingsborough Community College

The Human Resources Professional program, offered as a Career Training Program via Kingsborough Community College, is a self-paced course designed to prepare individuals for a career and professional certification in Human Resources (HR). It covers industry-recognized practices aligned with the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

This course is delivered in a Self paced format with Open enrollment, allowing participants to begin whenever they are ready. The program consists of 150 Course Hrs and provides participants with up to 9 Months to complete the material. The total cost for the program is $1,945.00 (USD), which includes instructional materials.

Curriculum Highlights

The curriculum explores foundational aspects of HR, including human resource laws, hiring disciplines, and labor relations. Key topics covered in the course outline include: Introduction to Human Resources, HR’s Role in Strategy, Affirmative Action, Diversity Considerations, Making HR Decisions (Retention, Recruiting, Hiring), Training Programs, Creating a High-Performance Workplace, Performance Appraisals, Remote Work, Workplace Communication, Compensation and Benefits, Employee Health and Safety (Understanding OSHA rules), The Legal Environment, Employee Rights and Discipline, Investigations, Managing Labor Relations, and Global Human Resources.

Program Structure and Requirements

There are no prerequisites for taking this course other than basic computer knowledge. However, requirements exist for sitting for the professional certification exams. The aPHR and SHRM-CP exams require no prior HR experience (though SHRM-CP recommends basic working knowledge or a SHRM-aligned degree), but the PHR exam requires significant professional-level HR experience ranging from 1 to 4 years depending on the candidate’s degree level.

Instructors

The course is taught by experienced professionals including Anna Smith, who has 30 years in HR and over 20 years teaching at the university level, holding various HR certifications (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-SCP). Also instructing is Ann Nevers, who holds a law degree and a master’s in health law, with experience in employee management, hiring, training, and staff development, and teaching/writing on legal and workplace issues.

Career Prospects and Outcomes

Upon finishing, participants will be equipped to start their career in this field and will be prepared to sit for the aPHR, PHR, or SHRM-CP certification exams. The course aims to prepare individuals for high-demand entry-level human resources professional roles such as HR generalist, recruiter, HR representative, HR assistant, HR specialist, HR manager, and compensation/benefits manager. According to Indeed.com, the national median HR specialist salary was $58,628 as of September 16, 2024. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 8 percent increase in employment for human resources specialists through 2031. While no internship is included, guidance on obtaining one is provided.

Certification Exams and Testing

The course prepares for three specific exams: the HRCI’s aPHR and PHR, and SHRM’s SHRM-CP. These certifications are valid for three years and can often be renewed via professional development (like this course) or retaking the exam. Exams may consist of multiple-choice or situational-judgment questions and can often be taken virtually via online proctoring or in person at testing centers. For example, in-person PHR testing is offered at Pearson VUE testing centers, which can be searched for by visiting www.pearsonvue.com/hrci.

Note that as a non-credit course, this program does not qualify for federal aid like FAFSA or Pell Grants, though other financial assistance options may be available through state or local programs.

Upon successful completion and passing the final exam, participants will be awarded a certificate of completion.

CUNY Kingsborough Community College Human Resources Degree Program Highlights

• Master skills needed for entry-level positions in human resources.
• Prepare for industry-recognized certifications: aPHR, PHR, and SHRM-CP exams.
• Learn through a self-paced, open enrollment format allowing flexible study.
• Gain comprehensive knowledge covering HR laws, hiring, labor relations, compensation, benefits, remote work, and more.
• Receive instruction from experienced HR professionals with extensive backgrounds.
• Obtain a certificate of completion upon successfully finishing the course.
• Acquire skills applicable to high-demand HR roles like generalist, recruiter, assistant, and manager.

You can view detailed information about the programs or certificates available at CUNY Kingsborough Community College on the NCES website.