Human Capital and HR Management – Certificate
Program Summary
100% Online
Credits: 15 total
Degree: Graduate Certificate
College/School: Costello College of Business
Start Date: 8/25/2025
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Program Description
Develop your skills as a human resources leader with a graduate certificate in human capital and HR management from the Costello College of Business at George Mason University.
Learn to evaluate employee performance, assess organizational effectiveness, and craft impactful training programs for businesses and organizations.
Successful companies drive organizational success by investing in their employees. Following guidelines from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the graduate certificate in human capital and human resource (HR) management is designed to help you build essential skills for effective human capital development, including change management, employee selection, performance management, and workforce training.
If you complete at least two human capital and HR management certificate courses with a grade of B or better, your application requirements for Mason's MBA program or master’s in management program will be reduced, and your certificate course credits can be applied towards your master’s degree upon enrollment.
Careers
Develop your skills as a human resources leader with a graduate certificate in human capital and HR management from the Costello College of Business at George Mason University.
Learn to evaluate employee performance, assess organizational effectiveness, and craft impactful training programs for businesses and organizations.
Successful companies drive organizational success by investing in their employees. Following guidelines from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the graduate certificate in human capital and human resource (HR) management is designed to help you build essential skills for effective human capital development, including change management, employee selection, performance management, and workforce training.
Courses
Program requirements are subject to change; please refer to the Mason Course Catalog for the most up-to-date requirements.
Details
Eligibility Requirements
- An earned baccalaureate and/or graduate degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agency, or international equivalent
Fall Deadlines:
- Priority: February 1
- Standard and F1/J1: May 1
- Final: August 1
Spring Deadlines:
- Priority: September 15
- Standard and F1/J1: November 15
- Final: December 15
Summer Deadline:
- May 1
Application Link & Fee:
- College of Business Graduate Program Application
- $75.00 application fee
College Transcript Requirement
- We require unofficial copies of your transcripts from earned degrees for application review. You can upload these to your online application. If admitted, you must submit official transcripts prior to the last day to add/drop courses in your first term. Please refer to the “Additional Requirements for International Degree Holders” section for degrees earned outside of the U.S.
Current Resume
Learn more about the graduate certificate in human capital and HR management program here.
Tuition and Fee Structure
- Tuition: Tuition is billed per credit hour with additional fees as appropriate. If a student is a resident of Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, D.C., in-state rates will apply. For all other students, out-of-state rates will apply. Rates and fees are subject to change.
- Fees:
- Mandatory Student Fee: This is a mandatory fee based on credit enrollment. The Mandatory Student Fee supports the maintenance of facilities and buildings, auxiliary services, intercollegiate athletics, campus shuttle, academic services, student activities, and health services.
- Enrollment Deposit: All new masters and certificate students must pay a $500 non-refundable enrollment deposit, which is used to reserve your seat for the term to which you applied and is applied toward your tuition. All applicants under the following categories will automatically have their enrollment deposits waived: Bachelor’s/Accelerated Masters (BAM), George Mason Employees, Refugees, Student/Athletes, and US Military Active Duty & Veterans.
- Graduate New Student Fee: This is a mandatory, non-refundable, one-time $60 fee. The fee is charged to the account of every newly admitted, degree-seeking student at the time of registration, regardless of orientation attendance or enrollment status.
- Potential Additional Costs:
- Books: average is $150 per course
- Airfare to and from the country of your global residency (depends on graduate program)
- Health Insurance: George Mason University makes health insurance available to eligible students through Aetna Student Health. George Mason University requires J-1 and F-1 visa status students to have health insurance coverage under University Policy. The Insurance Office will automatically enroll F-1 and J-1 visa students into the school selected health plan. Visit the Student Health Services webpage for more information.
- Domestic student premiums can be found here.
- International student premiums can be found here.
For more information on current tuition rates and fees, visit the Student Accounts website.
FAFSA
To apply for need-based federal assistance, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. Learn more about applying for FAFSA.

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Contact
The Graduate Admissions Team at the Costello College of Business at George Mason University is here to support you through every step of your admissions journey.
Reach out to us with your questions. If you have worked with any of our staff members previously, please contact them directly.
General Inquiries can always be directed to 703-993-8006 or [email protected].
