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Ministry-approved title: Business Administration - Human Resources
Human Resources (HR) professionals work in partnership with business managers to take care of a company’s most important asset – its employees. To help a business run effectively and achieve its objectives, HR staff provide advice on a range of employee-related issues and design and deliver a host of programs and services focused on individual, team and organizational needs. When you study human resources, you will have the opportunity to interact directly with industry professionals and participate in hands-on learning opportunities.
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or math. Domestic applicants that are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s) i.e., Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on-campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
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The best way to succeed in your field is to immerse yourself in it! Co-op is an excellent way to build your professional network, explore career paths and apply in-class teachings to real work situations. Co-op is a model of education that integrates academic learning with workplace learning in fields relevant to our students’ academic and personal goals.
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Graduates of the Business Administration – Human Resources program are prepared for a variety of rewarding careers in the HR field. With training in recruitment, employee relations, training and development, and labour relations, you’ll be equipped to pursue roles such as HR coordinator, payroll specialist, or recruitment officer. These positions allow you to contribute directly to the success of organizations by managing and supporting their most valuable asset—people.
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As companies grow and adapt to changing market demands, the need for skilled HR professionals who can align workforce strategies with business goals has become more critical than ever. HR specialists are essential for managing recruitment, fostering employee development, resolving workplace conflicts, and ensuring organizations comply with labour laws and regulations. The Business Administration – Human Resources program at Durham College prepares students to meet this demand by equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage the most important resource in any organization—its people.
You will acquire skills in the effective use of industry-standard software and learn from professors who are connected to the industry. These experienced instructors bring real-world expertise into their HR classes, providing valuable insights into the evolving landscape of human resources management. As a student, you will have the opportunity to interact directly with industry professionals and to participate in hands-on learning opportunities such as case competitions and either a field placement or co-operative education (co-op) experience. These practical experiences allow you to apply your knowledge from your HR classes in real business environments, helping you build confidence and develop critical problem-solving skills as you study human resources.
Human Resources (HR) professionals serve as strategic partners in today’s business environment. Their expertise fosters positive workplace cultures, enhances employee satisfaction, and aligns human resource strategies with organizational goals. They work closely with management colleagues at all levels of a company on a variety of project-based and proactive initiatives. Many roles are performed by HR professionals, including the following:
The Business Administration – Human Resources program will develop your skills, knowledge and abilities in the following areas:
Students will gain hands-on experience with the full version of eNETEmployer from CanPay Payroll Software. This payroll platform provides students with practical knowledge of payroll processing, compliance, reporting, and other critical HR functions. eNETEmployer is used across the country to produce more than 10 million pay cheques, EFT and other payments each year.
As a successful graduate of the human resources program you will qualify for approved credit towards the academic component of the Certified Human Resources Professionals (CHRP) designation granted by the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA). Students who receive an average grade of 70 percent in these courses and maintain a minimum grade of 65 percent in each course meet the coursework requirement to write the Comprehensive Knowledge Exams – a significant step towards becoming a CHRP. Please visit www.hrpa.ca for full details.
Graduates with a diploma in human resource management have secured jobs in their field of study and after achieving this all important first step in their professional career may, at a future point, decide to continue the path toward HRPA certification. They are well-prepared to pursue entry-level roles in recruitment, employee relations, training coordination, or HR administration.
Students will have the opportunity to earn a certificate in Mental Health First Aid.
Students entering their first year of studies in a Faculty of Business and Information Technology program will receive a membership to all of Durham Region’s Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade for the duration of their studies, plus an additional year following graduation. As one of the only colleges in Ontario with this offering, DC is proud to provide students with access to local businesses at a regional level.
The Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade include:
Membership benefits:
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC. Students are responsible to ensure they are not duplicating their GNED or FNMI selections as per their diploma requirements. For a successful program completion, students must have successfully completed three unique elective courses as per their program of study.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
In person
Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
The demand for skilled human resources professionals continues to grow as businesses recognize the importance of effective workforce management in achieving their goals. Graduates with a diploma in human resource management are well-prepared for diverse career paths in the HR field, including roles such as HR coordinator, training and development specialist, recruitment officer, or payroll administrator. With a strong foundation in organizational behaviour, conflict resolution, labour relations, and other key areas, you’ll have the tools needed to address complex workplace challenges and support employee well-being. Whether helping organizations attract top talent, enhance employee engagement, or navigate employment laws and compliance, you’ll play a key role in fostering productive and positive work environments.
Students will have the opportunity to complete a field placement in their final semester. This placement will enable you to apply the theories and concepts studied in your program in a real work setting, giving you hands-on HR management-related work experience.
Qualified graduates may go on to a number of graduate certificate programs at Durham College. To review these programs, please visit https://durhamcollege.ca/programs-and-courses. You may also be eligible to apply your academic credits towards further study through Durham College’s partnerships with many Canadian and international colleges and universities. Please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/pathways to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.
Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
NOTE: Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop.
*Mac Computers
Students in the Business Administration – Human Resources Management Advanced Diploma program will be invited to apply to the co-op option during their first year of study. Entrance to the co-op option is limited, and the processes for securing a work term are competitive. Students enrolled in the co-op option who qualify for co-op will be eligible to complete a four-month, paid work term between the second and third years of their program.
Supports are available through the Experiential Learning office to assist students with securing their work terms. In addition, the Experiential Learning office is in contact with co-op students and their employers during the work terms to help with any questions. Upon completing the work term, co-op students return to campus to complete their final two academic semesters of the program before graduating.
Program sequence
September intake:
Courses and course descriptions are subject to change.
Once transferred to the co-op option of the human resources program, students will have a co-op administrative fee of $475 assessed to their accounts during the academic semester(s) prior to scheduled work term(s). The administrative fee goes to support the broad array of support services provided to co-op students. These services are dedicated to supporting student success.
Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op student.
Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op employer. E: co-op@durhamcollege.ca
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