Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations

Program overview

The Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations looks at employment relations in social, legal, political, and economic contexts. It addresses all aspects of

• human resource management
• labour relations
• human resource development

This program will be of interest to

• trade unionists
• managers
• human resource specialists

Why take the Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations?

If you want to better understand labour relations and human resource matters in your own workplace, or if you are interested in a career in the field, the Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations is for you.

Routes and options

Athabasca University’s Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations is a 3-year online degree program. If you have a related post-secondary diploma, you can take the shorter post-diploma route. There are no set start dates – you can enrol at any time and register for courses right away.

Post-diploma route

If you have a

• 2-year diploma in business administration, you may receive up to 45 credits toward the 90-credit degree
• 3-year diploma in business administration, you may receive up to 60 credits toward the degree
• 2-year non-business administration diploma, you may receive up to 30 credits toward the degree

Completion times

Finish this program in as little as 1 year (post-diploma route) to 3 years (degree route) of full-time study. Or work at your own pace and take as long as you need. There is no time limit for completion.

Admission requirements

There are no formal admission requirements for this program. All you need is to be 16 or older. You can enrol anytime and start right away, regardless of your previous education.

How to apply

You can apply to AU online, anytime. Once you’ve completed the online application form and paid the one-time general application fee (and transfer credit evaluation fee, if applicable), you’re officially an AU student and can start registering in courses.

• How to enrol in an undergraduate program

Make sure we get your transcripts if you want us to consider your previous post-secondary education for transfer credit.

Transfer and advanced credit

If you don’t qualify for the post-diploma route, you can still get credit for courses at other institutions, or life experience. However, you must complete a minimum of 24 credits at AU.

• More about transfer and advanced credit at AU

If you already hold the Canadian Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation, you may receive up to 6 credits toward your degree.

Program requirements

To complete the program you will need to fulfil all the requirements of the Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations.

• Requirements: 3-year degree
• Requirements: Post-diploma degree

Our program plans can give you an idea of what courses you need to finish this program, and how to plan the order you’ll take them in. If you’re feeling stuck, our academic advisors can help.

• Program plan: 3-year degree
• Program plan: Post-diploma degree

Required courses

Detailed information about courses in this program can be accessed using the following links:

Tuition and fees

Once you have paid the initial application fee, tuition is pay-as-you-go for each course registration. Course fees vary depending on your location and other factors.

• Calculate your course cost

You can estimate your total program cost by multiplying the cost of a 3-credit course by the number of courses you need to take for the program. Remember that tuition costs may increase each year.

Program learning outcomes

Athabasca University’s Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations (BHRLR) is a multi-disciplinary degree focusing on employment relations in its social, legal, political and economic contexts. Students enter the BHRLR program with a variety of experiences and goals. In addition to meeting personal learning goals, graduates of the BHRLR can expect to gain critical understandings that will help them:

1. Anticipate, analyze and complete HRLR tasks.
2. Identify, understand and incorporate the implications of the social, legal, political and economic context of employment relations into HRLR practice.
3. Understand and utilize information, arguments, and data to make ethical HRLR decisions.
4. Meet the educational requirements for Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) designation if that is desired.

Program core

• Human Resources: recruitment and selection, job analysis, compensation and benefits, evaluation and performance appraisal, training and development, discipline and termination, and learning and work.
• Labour Relations: negotiations, contract interpretation and grievance handling, grievance and rights arbitration, and employment and labour law.

Possible career options

• Human Resources Manager
• Union Representative
• Mediator/Conciliator
• Recruitment Officer
• Employment Counsellor
• Convention Organizer
• Human Resources Research Officer
• Corporate Trainer
• Employment and Placement Manager
• Labour Relations Manager
• Training and Development Manager
• Policy Development
• Customs Officer

Continuing education

At Athabasca University:

• Master of Arts – Interdisciplinary Studies
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education
• Graduate Diploma in Distance Education Technology

At other educational institutions*

• law
• library science
• journalism
• education

* Some universities will not accept a 3-year degree for admittance into a graduate program. An additional year of study may be required. Entrance requirements vary among educational institutions. It is the students’ responsibility to research the entrance requirements of other universities.