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Ministry-approved title: Business Administration – Human Resources
Human resources (HR) professionals are strategic partners who support organizational success by aligning people practices with business goals. Working closely with leaders, HR professionals design and implement strategies that strengthen workplace culture, ensure compliance, and support organizational growth.
The Human Resources – Business Administration program is grounded in applied, real‑world experiences. Through case‑based activities, simulations, industry‑informed projects, and workplace experiences, students build practical HR skills. Students may also participate in the HR Student Consultancy (HRSC), collaborating with community, nonprofit, and industry partners on authentic HR challenges.
The program emphasizes HR technologies and analytics, ethical and inclusive decision‑making, EDIB, sustainability, and international perspectives – preparing graduates to contribute confidently to HR roles in organizations of all sizes.
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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 organizations grow and adapt to changing workforce and market demands, the need for skilled Human Resources (HR) professionals has never been greater. HR professionals are strategic partners who support business success by aligning workforce strategies with organizational goals, fostering inclusive workplace cultures, managing change, and ensuring compliance with employment standards.
Working closely with leaders and management teams at all levels, HR professionals contribute to a range of proactive and project‑based initiatives. From recruitment and employee engagement to performance management, learning and development, and workplace well‑being, HR professionals help build productive, ethical, and resilient organizations.
Common responsibilities of HR professionals include:
Skills and Areas of Study
The Human Resources – Business Administration program develops the knowledge, skills, and professional judgment required for success in entry‑level HR roles. Students build a strong foundation across core HR functional areas, including:
These areas of study prepare students to respond confidently to real‑world workplace challenges across diverse industries and organizational environments.
Applied Learning and Industry Engagement
Learning is grounded in hands‑on, applied experiences that reflect real HR practice. Students develop skills using industry‑standard software and learn from faculty who are actively connected to the HR profession and broader business community.
Students gain practical experience using the full version of eNETEmployer (CanPay Payroll Software), a payroll and HR platform used nationally to produce more than 10 million pay cheques, EFTs, and other payments annually. This experience builds practical knowledge of payroll processing, compliance, reporting, and HR administration.
Students may also participate in the Human Resources Student Advisory Council – an applied learning initiative that connects students with community, nonprofit, and industry partners to work on authentic HR challenges. Through HRSC, students apply classroom learning in real business environments while developing confidence, professional judgment, and problem‑solving skills.
In addition, students can engage with the Durham College Human Resources Association (DCHRA), a student‑led community that supports networking, professional development, leadership opportunities, and engagement with the HR profession beyond the classroom.
Professional Recognition (HRPA Alignment)
This two‑year Human Resources diploma includes five of the academic courses required by the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) toward the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation. Additional coursework is required to complete the full academic component.
Students who achieve an overall average of 70%, with no individual course grade below 65%, meet HRPA’s coursework requirements to be eligible to write the Comprehensive Knowledge Exam (CKE) – a significant step toward earning the CHRP designation.
For full details, please visit www.hrpa.ca.
Graduates of the Human Resources – Business Administration program are prepared to pursue entry-level roles in recruitment, employee relations, training coordination, and HR administration. After gaining professional experience, graduates may choose to continue their path toward HRPA certification.
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or Math. Domestic applicants who 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:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
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.
This program contains a co-op option. Click here for information on program costs for co-op students.
The demand for skilled human resources professionals continues to grow as organizations recognize the importance of effective workforce management in achieving their goals. Graduates of the Human Resources – Business Administration program are well prepared for diverse careers in the HR field, including roles such as HR coordinator, training and development specialist, recruitment officer, and payroll administrator. With a strong foundation in organizational behaviour, conflict resolution, labour relations, and other key areas, graduates are equipped to address complex workplace challenges and support employee well-being. Whether attracting top talent, enhancing employee engagement, or navigating employment legislation and compliance, graduates play an important role in fostering productive and positive work environments.
School is an investment in your future, and financial support is available to help you succeed.
DC's Financial Aid and Awards is here to help you access funding and opportunities that make pursuing your education easier and more achievable:
Visit Financial Aid and Awards to explore all the options to help finance your education.
Experiential learning is woven throughout the Human Resources – Business Administration program, allowing students to apply theory, build confidence, and develop professional judgment as they learn, not just at the end of the program.
Students engage in applied learning through classroom‑based activities, case studies, simulations, and technology‑enabled practice, where real workplace scenarios are used to strengthen problem‑solving, communication, and decision‑making skills. Courses are designed to reflect the realities of HR practice, ensuring learning remains practical, relevant, and aligned with current workplace expectations.
Students may also have opportunities to participate in the Human Resources Student Consultancy (HRSC), an applied learning initiative that connects students with real community and industry partners. Through HRSC, students work on authentic HR challenges, gaining exposure to professional standards, stakeholder engagement, and applied HR problem‑solving while contributing meaningful value to organizations.
Students gain practical, real‑world experience through a mandatory field placement or the option to participate in co‑operative education (co‑op), allowing them to apply HR knowledge in professional settings, build industry connections, and strengthen their career readiness for entry‑level and emerging HR roles.
Together, these experiences ensure graduates leave the program with hands‑on experience, professional confidence, and a clear understanding of how HR functions in real workplaces, from small and medium‑sized organizations to large, complex enterprises.
Students 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. Learn more about co-op.
Students will have the opportunity to complete a field placement in their final semester. This placement will enable students to apply the theories and concepts studied in the program in a real work setting, offering 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
With 30 years of experience in Business, Corey Gill specializes in navigating organizational change, managing global workforces, and responsibly leveraging AI and data. He holds an MBA, CHRL, and PMP designation and focuses on innovation, data analytics, and AI in Human Resources. Corey is a Durham College professor, program coordinator, and AI consultant who empowers both students and faculty.
Roberta Graham, a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) with a BA and M.Ed, has over 20 years of executive-level experience managing HR for organizations both nationally and internationally. As a professor in the Faculty of Business and IT for the past 10 years, she is dedicated to student success and creating a positive learning environment. Her expertise lies in strategic HR management - aligning HR practices to enhance organizational effectiveness while promoting employee well-being.
With a background in human resources and operations, Lara brings extensive industry experience to her role as an educator. With over 15 years of business experience, she managed GE Security and played a key role in guiding organizations through multiple acquisitions. Her experience also includes project management for SAP initiatives, along with formal training in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. As a professor, she is passionate about sharing her knowledge of business and fostering student success. She is committed to creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment where all students can thrive. Lara holds a Specialization BA, MA, Bachelor of Education, and a Certificate in College Teaching. She is also a member of the Ontario College of Teachers.
Students in the Human Resources – Business Administration 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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