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HR Management Programs Available at the University of Washington

The University of Washington is also featured in our ranking of the 25 Best Return On Investment Degrees in Human Resource Management (Bachelor’s).

Do you want to study human resources in Washington? The University of Washington offers four human resources management programs through the Foster College of Business.  At the undergraduate level, students can earn a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Human Resources Management option.  At the graduate level, there are two programs that award graduates certificates. There is also an option for a graduate degree. The certificate in human resources management takes nine months to finish. It is available from the University of Washington Seattle. Human resources certificate students take three quarters of classes and earn their HR certification UW in nine months. Some of the classes in this human resources certificate program include:

  • Workforce Planning and Analytics
  • Employee Relations
  • Training and Staff Development

The University of Washington HR academic staff recommends that students have some human resources or business experience before they enroll in this program.


In the University of Washington HR essentials certificate program, students learn the fundamentals of HR management and use their knowledge in entry-level human resources positions. This human resources program takes place with the University of Washington online. It includes three classes. Students can only take one class each quarter. They can spread their human resources classes out over several years. Those classes include:

  • Advanced HR Competencies
  • HR Competencies in Practice
  • The HR Function and Foundational Competencies

Human resources students will work in small groups in these human resources courses. They handle virtual human resources simulations that test them on their skills.

Students could learn about human resources and how they function in different settings such as medical centers or an integrated service center. Human resources offices, whether a central resource or decentralized resource, are responsible for public policy. Some human resource offices use a cloud based software program to keep everything working smoothly.

Though the University of Washington does not offer a management concentration in its Master of Business Administration (U of Washington MBA) program, this program does help students learn more about the principles of human resources management. There is an evening program for those with more professional experience that includes 80 credits of work. There is also a standard program for college graduates that includes 96 credits of work. This is available as a joint program with an emphasis on public health and as a joint program with an emphasis on manufacturing management.

In the University of Washington’s executive MBA program, students can earn their degrees in only two years. This program specifically trains students on working as managers and includes 21 classes. The regional program asks that students take classes every week on either Friday or Saturday. They will also do a residency in the fall and again in the spring. A second version of the U Washington MBA program features three-day meetings held each month that usually takes place over the weekend. Students will work with their peers in University of Washington online masters classes too. There is not an option for a University of Washington MBA online degree.

About the University of Washington

The University of Washington is a public university that ranks as one of the largest campuses in the Pacific Northwest. It was established in 1861 to provide opportunities for those in the territory. It opened as the Territorial University of Washington. Some of its early degree programs trained teachers who would work in local schools long before Washington became a state. Though some call the university UW, it also uses the nickname U-Dub and goes by the name of Washington. The University of Washington also has off site facilities, satellite campuses, in Bothell and Tacoma. One of the popular degrees offered at the satellite campuses includes UW information technology (UW IT).

The University of Washington Seattle offers many programs designed for working professionals but also accepts undergrads who haven’t yet attended college. Greene’s Guides named Washington as a Public Ivy because the university offers affordable programs that give students the same resources and opportunities that Ivy League colleges do. The University of Washington also ranks as one of the best colleges of higher learning in both the United States and around the world and as one of the most affordable schools too.

University of Washington Accreditation Details

The human resources management and all other business programs offered by U-Dub have accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AASCB). This accreditation covers the university’s business school too. Washington also has regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Students can use this accreditation when they want to transfer credits earned through college classes and to apply for financial aid.

University of Washington Application Requirements

Students applying to the human resources management certificate program need to complete their applications at least three days before the next session starts. U-Dub asks for a statement of no more than 250 words that explains any professional experience the student has and how the student will use his or her knowledge in the program. They will also need to submit a resume and pay a $50 application fee when they complete the application. The university has the same application requirements for students applying to the human resources essentials program. It will notify students within two weeks if they need to submit any other information.

Students applying to an MBA program need to submit their applications by one of four deadlines, which are on the 15th of the month in October, November, January or March. U-Dub reserves the right to hold their applications until an upcoming deadline when it fills all available spots. Washington asks for transcripts that show students took business courses and an application that shows which program the student wants to study as well as the application fee. The executive MBA program requires a letter of endorsement completed by a manager or supervisor, an official GMAT score, two copies of their official transcripts and three letters of recommendation.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The tuition that Washington students pay will depend on the costs charged by each program. Those in the HR management certificate program pay $4,116 in total, which covers all their fees and the cost of each required class. Students pay for the cost of the courses they take during each quarter. In the human resources essentials program, students pay only $2,997 in tuition and fees. MBA students in the full-time program pay $11,081 in tuition and $365 in fees each quarter as a resident of Washington. Nonresident MBA students pay the same amount for their fees and a tuition rate of $16,322 per quarter. In the evening and part-time MBA programs, students pay $1,070 per credit hour.

Human resources management students attending Washington can get financial aid. They will need to properly complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the university’s code. They can get more than $20,000 in federal direct loans each year and use direct loans to cover any remaining costs they might have. Through the Professional and Continuing Education Department, students in a certificate program can qualify for a scholarship of up to $4,500 that covers the total cost of completing the program. They will need to submit their applications for one of these scholarships before the quarter starts. The University of Washington allows students in a human resources management program to use external funding sources too.

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