Co-op program details

Human Resources Management

Program details

Credential: 1-Year Ontario College Graduate Certificate

This is a fast track, intensive, three term, graduate certificate program in human resource management, delivered over 44 weeks, including a 16-week co-op work term. The program is designed to meet the needs of a rapidly changing and evolving field and to meet and exceed all or part of the educational curriculum components for a number of professional designations, including: Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP), Certified Compensation Analyst (CCA), Certified Benefit Specialist (CBS), Certified Payroll Administrator (CPA) and Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP).

Practitioners are prepared to work in small and large human resources departments in varying types of organizations such as not-for-profit, non-profit, private sector, learning institutions, government departments and consulting firms.

During their program of study, students will have had an opportunity to: conduct extensive internet research; work intensively to tight deadlines; effectively participate as a member of a diverse team; handle stress and conflict situations professionally; as well as make comprehensive business presentations to human resources practitioners.

Student availability & wage data

Conestoga College facilitates recruitment on an ongoing basis - there are no hard deadlines. Typical time frames for work terms are listed below.

Postings are accepted beginning four months before the start of a term until all students have secured employment provided the minimum 12 consecutive weeks of full-time work is met.

Work/Study Sequence

Year Semester Semester Semester
Year 1 Classes Classes Work Term*: $18-30

*Note: students are available for work term each semester: fall (September to the end of December); winter (January to the end of April); spring (May to the end of August).

Conestoga College collects data on hourly wages of co-operative education students and offers suggested ranges as a service to employers for the purpose of establishing fair and competitive compensation.

Our experience has been that employers increase wages as skills increase, particularly when employing students for more advanced work terms. The Co-operative Education Office can provide assistance to employers in establishing appropriate wage rates.

Work term capabilities

  • Recruit and select job applicants by tracking resumes, checking references, interviewing and hiring
  • Develop and maintain employee files
  • Design training, orientation and development programs
  • Research and create an HR manual
  • Exposure to a Windows-based Human Resources Information System (HRIS) software
  • Administer a basic payroll system
  • Analyze jobs
  • Develop job descriptions
  • Design and conduct a human resources needs analysis survey
  • Process and maintain hourly employee benefits
  • Apply group facilitation techniques to improve team effectiveness
  • Develop or audit a diversity management program
  • Design performance review documentation
  • Conduct extensive Internet research

Sample job titles

  • Employee Benefits Coordinator
  • Employee Relations Advisor
  • Employment Coordinator
  • Employment Counsellor
  • Human Resources Administrative Assistant
  • Human Resources Administrator/Data Entry
  • Human Resources Assistant
  • Human Resources Associate
  • Junior Recruiter
  • Payroll Administrator
  • Search Advisor
  • Training and Development Officer

Program courses

To see a typical course list for this program, see the current program course information.

Post a co-op job now

Setup an account or login to Conestoga's MyCareer to post a job.

Contact information

Do you need help developing a recruitment plan or job posting, accessing wage information, or connecting with a talented co-op student? Contact:

Teresa Lee
Employer Relations Consultant
Tlee@conestogac.on.ca
519-748-5220, ext. 3678