HR courses can help you learn recruitment strategies, employee engagement techniques, performance management, and compliance regulations. You can build skills in conflict resolution, talent development, and workforce planning. Many courses introduce tools like HRIS software, applicant tracking systems, and performance evaluation platforms, showing how these skills are applied in managing employee relations and optimizing organizational effectiveness.

Skills you'll gain: Applicant Tracking Systems, Time Management, Human Resources Software, Employee Onboarding, Timelines, Organizational Skills, Project Management Software, Scheduling, Productivity Software, Document Management
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Coursera
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Excel Formulas, Spreadsheet Software, Microsoft Office, Data Entry, Microsoft 365
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Employee Surveys, Employee Engagement, User Feedback, Microsoft 365, Business Intelligence Software, Performance Analysis, Internal Communications, Customer Insights, Customer Analysis, Business Software, Market Research, User Research, Data Analysis Software, Business Strategy
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Employee Surveys, Data Collection, Business Research, Data Analysis, User Feedback, Market Research, Business Software, Data Presentation
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Workforce Planning, Job Analysis, Human Resource Strategy, Human Resources, Workforce Management, Google Sheets, Consolidation, Talent Acquisition, Compensation Analysis, Recruitment, Analysis
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Coursera
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet Software, Excel Formulas, Data Analysis Software, Data Entry, Productivity Software
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Collaborative Software, Intranet, Project Documentation, Organizational Skills, Team Oriented, Document Management, Content Management Systems, Collaboration, Productivity Software, Knowledge Transfer, Content Development and Management, Information Architecture, Data Management, Content Creation, Cloud Platforms
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Applicant Tracking Systems, Workforce Management, Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Staff Management, Payroll, Team Management, Timelines, Data Entry, Scheduling
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, No-Code Development, Prompt Engineering, AI Product Strategy, Application Development, Marketing Automation, ChatGPT, Social Media Content, Content Development and Management, Automation, User Interface (UI), Usability
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Feature Engineering, Data Cleansing, Predictive Modeling, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Data Science, Classification And Regression Tree (CART), Applied Machine Learning, Regression Analysis, Supervised Learning, Predictive Analytics, Machine Learning, Human Resources, Decision Tree Learning, Employee Retention
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: PySpark, Apache Spark, Data Visualization Software, Data Analysis, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Cleansing, Data Processing, Data Manipulation, Big Data, Jupyter, Pandas (Python Package), People Analytics
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours

Skills you'll gain: Learning Management Systems, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Educational Materials, Instructional Design, Test Tools
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Browse the HR courses below—popular starting points on Coursera.
These beginner-friendly options are ideal for learners new to HR or looking to understand the fundamentals:
The Generative AI for Human Resources (HR) Professionals course by IBM lasts 4 weeks and focuses on:
It includes tools like Python and Excel.
Conversely, the Generative AI HR Professional Specialization by Vanderbilt University also spans 4 weeks and emphasizes:
It includes similar tools.
Both courses are designed for data analysts and cover core topics like prompt engineering and recruitment, but differ slightly in their areas of emphasis. Choose based on whether you want:
Start by identifying your focus—whether it’s entering the HR field, strengthening core HR practices, or preparing for leadership or certification.
Click here to ask ChatGPT to find the right HR course on Coursera for your learning goals.
Yes. You can start learning Human Resources on Coursera for free in two ways:
If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in Human Resources, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.
You can learn how to manage hiring processes, support employee engagement, design performance management systems, and navigate labor laws. Some courses also introduce digital HR tools and data-driven strategies for workforce planning.
No experience is needed to get started. Many HR courses are built for beginners and cover foundational concepts. You can also find more advanced content for professionals looking to grow in areas like strategic HR or analytics.