6 Courses Required

Additional Details

Target Audience

  • HR managers, supervisors, and directors seeking to transition from operational/transactional HR roles into strategic business partnership positions within their organizations
  • Mid-career HR professionals who have foundational HR expertise and are ready to deepen their strategic acumen, business knowledge, and influence at the executive level
  • HR professionals navigating organizational transformation or change initiatives who need stronger consulting, change management, and stakeholder influence skills to lead effectively
  • HR leaders who want to strengthen their credibility and impact by developing data-driven decision-making capabilities, analytics skills, and the ability to communicate HR's strategic value to senior leadership

Accreditation

  • HR Business Partner Certificate from Cornell ILR School
  • 66 Professional Development Hours (6.6 Continuing Education Units CEUs)
  • 50-60 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification
  • 50-60 Credit hours towards HRCI recertification
  • Up to 10 Professional Development Units (PDUs) toward PMI recertification

Certificate Description

Today's most effective HR leaders are true business partners — strategic thinkers who understand organizational strategy, influence senior leaders with confidence, and drive talent and organizational decisions through data and insight. If you aspire to move beyond transactional HR into a strategic, high-impact role, this certificate will equip you with the frameworks, skills, and tools to become an indispensable business partner.

The HR Business Partner Certificate combines three core courses that establish the strategic foundation you need: understanding business strategy, developing a cohesive HR strategy, and stepping into leadership with courage and influence. You'll then customize your learning by selecting three electives from topics including internal consulting, talent management, HR analytics, organizational design, and AI in human resources. This flexibility allows you to deepen expertise in the areas most relevant to your organization's needs and to your career goals.

By the end of this program, you will be prepared to align HR initiatives with organizational strategy, diagnose and solve complex people challenges, influence senior leadership through data-driven storytelling, navigate organizational change, and position your organization for success in an evolving business landscape.

To explore the HR Business Partner competencies and role in further depth, visit the Cornell ILR School’s HRBP Framework.

This program includes two full years of access to Symposium!

These highly interactive virtual events span multiple days and explore today’s most pressing topics. Symposium sessions offer exclusive opportunities to engage in real-time discussions with your eCornell community, applying insights from your courses to real-world scenarios. Through reflections and small-group discussions, you’ll deepen your learning, broaden your perspective, and expand your professional network.

Symposium events are held throughout the year, providing ongoing opportunities to stay engaged, gain fresh perspectives, and strengthen your skills. Once enrolled, you’ll receive access to the Symposium networking sites and details about upcoming sessions. You can participate in as many as you’d like to make the most of your experience, though attendance is not required to complete your program.

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