2024-2025

Human Resources in Hospitality Management, Undergraduate Certificate

Hotel and Restaurant Management

The W. A. Franke College of Business

NAU is accepting applications for fall 2025 admission at the Mesa Workforce Development Center.

Hospitality businesses are increasingly recognizing the importance of, and ongoing challenges associated with, talent acquisition and retention and are placing human resources issues at the top of their priority list. Human resource professionals help hospitality businesses navigate the challenges of an increasingly global and diverse workforce and changing employment laws. They are responsible for acquiring and retaining the necessary talent for hospitality businesses to be successful. Employees are hospitality businesses most valuable asset.

The Certificate in Human Resources Management prepares students to be better equipped for addressing the needs and challenges of their future employees and ensuring that human resource policies and practices meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Students will gain practical skills for managing critical human resources functions on a daily basis. They will learn how to attract, hire, and retain required and diverse talent and to strengthen employee engagement and performance.

  • To receive an undergraduate certificate (at least 15 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.

    Please be aware that federal financial aid is not available for some certificates, if the certificate is pursued and completed as a stand-alone certificate (i.e., not completed concurrently with a degree program). See the "Details" tab for additional information.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 15
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 114

Purpose Statement

Hospitality businesses are increasingly recognizing the importance of, and ongoing challenges associated with, talent acquisition and retention and are placing human resources issues at the top of their priority list.

This certificate in Human Resources Management prepares students to be better equipped for addressing the needs and challenges of their future employees and ensuring that human resource policies and practices meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Students will gain practical skills for managing critical human resources functions on a daily basis. They will learn how to attract, hire, and retain required and diverse talent and to strengthen employee engagement and performance. Student learning experiences will include the creation of a comprehensive human resource plan, case studies, role playing, small group work, and interactive discussions with hotel and restaurant human resource professionals.

This certificate will prepare student to enter the human resource field, as well as to be more effective in supervisory roles.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Train supervisors on how to provide constructive performance feedback, evaluate employees accurately, and mitigate legal risk.
  • Identify effective talent acquisition practices to align selection and staffing strategies with business strategies.
  • Describe leading theories of organizational and human behavior.
  • Apply management strategies, such as motivational theory, to positively influence behavior.
  • Describe key human resource functions and the essential roles and responsibilities of human resource professionals.
  • Select training methods, activities, technologies, and learning materials that are appropriate for the learner population and needs.
  • Describe the fundamental concepts and rules of law that apply to the employment function.
  • Analyze human resource data to inform decisions and recommendations.
  • Explain strategies for creating and inclusive work environment where diversity and inclusion are understood, valued, and leveraged.

Certificate Requirements

  • This certificate may be pursued and completed concurrently with a degree program or as a stand-alone certificate. Federal financial aid cannot be used if the certificate is completed as a stand-alone certificate.

Additional Information

  • The FCB does not accept upper-division transfer credits from programs not accredited by the AACSB (such as the University of Phoenix or the Bachelor of Business Administration program at NAU).

    You must complete 50 percent, or 9 units, of certificate coursework that are not used in your major, minor, or other certificates, and you must complete at least 60 percent of certificate coursework at Northern Arizona University.

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.