Gain HR knowledge and skills at PGCC.

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Program Information

Whether you are a generalist, specialist, or new to Human Resources (HR), the Prince George’s Community College Certificate Program provides a general overview of the dynamic and growing field of HR management. The curriculum consists of seven required core courses (78 hours) and one of three electives (18 hours).

Core courses address HR fundamentals and provide immediate, practical techniques for the work setting.

Elective courses allow you to focus on specialized areas, enhance particular skills, and explore emerging trends in HR management.

Individual courses may be taken without pursuing a program certificate.

Who Should Enroll

This program is ideal for anyone looking to start a career in HR, even without prior experience.

Total Cost Estimate

Each course is priced individually, and you pay the course fees at the time of enrollment or a day before the class begins. The certificate has an estimated total cost of $2,720 (not including the registration fee per section).  

Courses may be taken in any order. Not all courses are offered every semester.

Program Requirements

To earn the certificate, participants must attend at least 80% of the scheduled class hours for each course. 

Letters of completion are awarded for each course completed. Students who have completed program requirements should contact program staff to verify completion and request a certificate.

Coursework

Seven Required Courses
  • MGT 728 Principles of Human Resource Management
  • MGT 731 Human Resource Law
  • MGT 668 Introduction to Employee Benefits
  • MGT 667 Introduction to Compensation
  • MGT 648 Successful Recruitment, Selection, and Placement
  • MGT 727 Human Resources’ Role in Organizational Development and Change Management
  • MGT 647 Managing Employee Performance
MGT 663 or Three Electives
  • MGT 749 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • MGT 338 Managing Conflict: A Professional Approach
  • MGT 564 Ethics in Human Resources
  • MGT 734 HR’s Role in Creating a Positive Work Environment
  • MGT 720 Creative Thinking and Innovation Techniques
  • MGT 663 SHRM Essentials of Human Resource Management

Required Courses: Descriptions and Dates

Click on each course below for the description and schedule

MGT-728 Principles of Human Resource Management

This course will examine the theoretical foundation of the human resource management field and the evolution of human resource management, including planning, recruitment, training and development, performance management, and reward and career management. Trends and issues influencing the development and application of these elements within contemporary organizations will be analyzed. Topics include theoretical constructs of human resource management, theories and knowledge of human resource practices in organizations, and performance management issues and processes.

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Four sessions | $280

SYN #: 14573
Day: Thursdays
Dates: 2/6/2025-2/27/2025
Time: 6–9 p.m.
Location: Remote

MGT-731 Human Resource Law

This comprehensive course condenses the most critical legislation or legal obligations that every human resource professional should know. Each session is designed to be highly interactive, incorporating both formal law and applications of the law in real-world case studies. Some of the key legislation and topics students can expect to know, with their associated impacts, include Title VII-Civil Rights Act; PPACA Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act-2010; FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act); FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act); Equal Pay Act; Portal to Portal Act and many other human resource laws.

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Four sessions | $280

SYN #: 14574
Day: Tuesdays
Dates: 02/18/2025 - 03/18/2025
Time: 6–9 p.m.
Location: Remote

MGT- 668 Introduction to Employee Benefits

This course overviews employee benefits, including key benefits legislation, Social Security, Medicare, workers' compensation, Family and Medical Leave, and other government-mandated benefits. Retirement, health, disability, and other private and public benefits will be covered. Other non-statutory benefits will be presented, such as vacation, sick time, paid time off plans, and qualified and non-qualified deferred compensation plans. Students will be presented with methods and tools to develop, select, administer, and evaluate benefit programs and ensure that benefit programs are compliant with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

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Four sessions | $290

SYN #: 14575
Day: Tuesdays
Dates: 03/25/2025 - 04/15/2025
Time: 6–9 p.m.
Location: Remote

MGT-667 Introduction to Compensation

This 12-hour course overviews a total compensation system and the skills needed to create one. Topics will include job descriptions, Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) classification, job analysis, job evaluation, defining pay structures, using pay surveys, computing market rates, establishing pay ranges, analyzing employee pay levels, and using incentives and other benefits. This course also addresses ensuring fairness in the compensation system and the role of compensation in retention.

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Four sessions | $280

SYN #: 14580
Day: Mondays
Dates: 3/3/2025 - 3/31/2025
Time: 6–9 p.m.
Location: Remote

MGT-648 Successful Recruitment, Selection, and Placement

This course is a comprehensive overview of the recruitment function. Participants will study the fundamental principles of workforce development, develop a recruitment strategy, review recruitment methods and identify alternative staffing options, develop and implement selection procedures (including applicant tracking, interviewing, and testing), develop employment offers and conduct negotiations, and evaluate retention strategies and practices.

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Four sessions | $265

SYN #: 14576
Day: Thursdays
Dates: 3/6/2025 - 3/27/2025
Time: 6–9 p.m.
Location: Remote

MGT-727 HR's Role in Organizational Development and Change Management

This course will discuss human resource management interventions for managing individual and group performance. In addition, this course will look at organizational development as the process of planning and implementing interventions to create interpersonal, group, inter-group, or organization-wide change.

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Four sessions | $265

SYN #: 14577
Day: Thursdays
Dates: 4/3/2025 - 4/17/2025
Time: 6–9 p.m.
Location: Remote

MGT-647 Managing Employee Performance

This course will prepare students to develop and practice effective performance management techniques. Participants will be shown the stages of the performance management process, methods for measuring performance tools to communicate performance feedback, and the legal requirements for performance management.

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Four sessions | $290

SYN #: 11793
Day: Tuesdays/Thursdays
Dates: 11/21/2024 - 12/5/2024
Time: 6–9 p.m.
Location: Remote

SYN #: 14578
Day: Wednesdays
Dates: 4/16/2024 - 5/7/2025
Time: 6–9 p.m.
Location: Remote

SYN #: 14579
Day: Tuesdays
Dates: 4/29/2025 - 5/20/2025
Time: 6–9 p.m.
Location: Remote

Electives Courses : Descriptions and Dates

Click on each course below for the description and schedule

MGT-338 Managing Conflict: A Professional Approach 

In this six-hour course, participants will start to appreciate the differences in opinions that their coworkers have without arguing about them. Discover how to have a healthy conflict without destroying your character, projecting the wrong image of the company, and losing your job. This training session is designed to teach you how to manage conflict effectively. Topics covered include how to turn the negatives into positives, identify your hot buttons, and react in a professional manner when conflict arises.

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One session | $260

SYN #: 11801
Day: Saturday
Dates: 11/16/2024
Time: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location: Remote

SYN #: 14586
Day: Saturday
Dates: 4/26/2025
Time: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location: Remote

MGT-564 Ethics in Human Resources

This one-day class will address workplace ethical issues involving human resource management. This course will explain ethics as the fundamental principles of right and wrong and behavior consistent with these principles. Topics include human resources practices that must satisfy three basic standards: the greatest good for the largest number of people, respect for the basic human rights of privacy, due process, consent, and free speech, and the equitable and fair treatment of employees and customers by managers.

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One session | $260

SYN #: 14585
Day: Saturday
Dates: 4/5/2025
Time: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location: Remote

MGT-749 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

This course is designed for students in Human Resources who need a better understanding of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Topics include tools to overcome implicit bias in the workplace, common pitfalls when implementing diversity initiatives, and recruitment strategies for ongoing organizational success.

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Two sessions | $260

SYN #: 14584
Day: Wednesdays
Dates: 4/2/2025-4/9/2025
Time: 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Location: Remote

MGT-734 HR's Role in Creating a Positive Work Environment

This course will explain the characteristics of a positive workplace where employees are passionate about their work and exhibit both personal and professional pride in the services they provide to their employees and customers. Employees who look forward to coming to work each day and interacting with their coworkers in a collaborative and collegial manner create a positive workplace and act on the belief that their working relationships have a positive impact. In addition, this course will look at managing conflict at work as an integral part of good people management. Participants will learn about good communication, providing ongoing feedback and effective coaching and development, recognizing and acknowledging good work, effective performance management, and being proactive in dealing with issues as they arise fairly and transparently.

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One session | $260

SYN #: 11797
Day: Saturday
Dates: 12/7/2024
Time: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location: Remote

SYN #: 14582
Day: Saturday
Dates: 4/19/2025
Time: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location: Remote

MGT-720 Creative Thinking and Innovation Techniques

This course will focus on developing new ways of thinking differently from those typically learned in society. This course is intended for leaders and change agents who want to enhance their critical thinking and innovation skills in business and other domains. Topics include how to incorporate critical thinking into your analysis of business situations; techniques to build and lead an innovation team; developing critical thinking, innovation, and assertive communication methods and tools that can be applied to individual tasks and the entire organization; and methods to optimize every situation and bring out the best in others.

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One session | $260

SYN #: 14583
Day: Saturday
Dates: 4/12/2025
Time: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location: Remote

MGT 663 SHRM Essentials of Human Resources

This SHRM course covers vast introductory HR topics and concepts. This is designed to manage people, perform HR-related tasks as part of their many roles, and keep abreast of and updated in the current HR profession. However, this can also be taken by people considering a career in Human Resources. Training materials must be picked up from Lanham Hall, Room 224N, by appointment only before the start date of class. 

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Cost: $260

SYN #: 14517
Day: Mondays
Dates: 4/7/2025-5/12/2025
Time: 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Location: Remote

eLearning Methods at PGCC

Online

Learning on your own time

Students taking an online class can access course content 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and discuss using Canvas with their instructors and fellow learners. Our instructors use Canvas to set deadlines and due dates for assignments, tests, projects, and other course assignments.

Remote

Learning in real-time

Students who take a remote class will meet online via the Canvas platform at scheduled times with set deadlines and due dates. They will access learning materials, assignments, and discussions via Canvas.

How to Register

Registering online via Owl Link is the fastest and gives you the best chance to get the classes you want. You’ll need an email address and a credit card to register online.

  • If you have enrolled before, click here to log in and register.
  • If you are a new student, click here to create a student account. Follow the prompts. You’ll receive two emails with your login name and password information. Use these to log in to Owl Link from www.pgcc.edu 

Click here for instructions on logging in to Owl Link, searching, and registering for our Continuing Education classes.

Students are encouraged to register for classes on their own through Owl Link but may also submit a registration form online to the Office of Records and Registration.

Contact Information

Gnansi Konan
Business and Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator
Prince George’s Community College
301-546-0032 | konange@pgcc.edu