For students who want the best of both worlds, this joint Durham College and Ontario Tech University diploma-to-degree program will enable you to earn a human resources (HR) diploma and an honours degree in only four years. The opportunity to study in both learning environments provides a solid foundation for a successful career in HR where you will help to develop balanced workplaces so both the business and the employee can achieve their goals. You will acquire skills in the effective use of industry-standard software and learn from professors who are connected to industry. 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.

HR professionals serve as strategic partners in today’s business environment. 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:

• Advocating on a variety of staff issues
• Developing and implementing company policies, procedures, programs and services
• Giving advice and counsel to corporate executives, line managers and employees

This program will develop your skills, knowledge and abilities in the following areas:

• Employee and labour relations
• HR planning
• Introduction to Human Resources management
• Recruitment and selection
• Occupational health and safety
• Organizational behaviour
• Training and development

These careers may lead to management roles that oversee general HR services in small-to-medium sized organizations or to senior HR specialist positions in large organizations.

Courses offered in the HRTU program by DC and Ontario Tech are aligned with the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) in Ontario to obtain professional designation as a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP). Students who receive and average grade of 70 per cent in these courses and maintain a minimum grade of 65 per cent in each course meet the coursework requirements to write the Comprehensive Knowledge Exams – a significant step towards obtaining this important designation from HRPA.

This program was created by DC and Ontario Tech for individuals who plan to take Ontario Tech’s Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree program. The bridging courses required for admission to the degree program are embedded in the curriculum and if you achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 in each semester of your DC courses and no grade below C in your Ontario Tech course, you may apply directly to the third year of the degree program. This opportunity allows qualified candidates to major in Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management at Ontario Tech. In order to participate in this program, you are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 and complete an application to Ontario Tech in the first semester. The Ontario Tech-embedded courses are flexible and subject to change by Ontario Tech. Academic planning assistance will be offered to you by a student advisor representative.

Career Options

HR specialist, recruitment; HR staffing administrator; HR assistant; HR generalist; Occupational health co-ordinator; Pension and benefits assistant; Training and development associate.