Labor and Employment Relations
504 East Armory Avenue
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-1482
Contact: Becky Barker
E-mail: ebarker@illinois.edu
Major: Human Resources and Industrial Relations
Degrees Offered: M.H.R.I.R., Ph.D.
Joint Degree Program: The Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations can be earned jointly with the following
Degrees Offered:
Law, J.D.
Business Administration, M.B.A.
Graduate Degree Programs
The School of Labor and Employment Relations offers graduate work leading to both a master's and a doctoral degree. Graduate study in Human Resources and Industrial Relations (HRIR) is based on a multidisciplinary approach to human resources/industrial relations problems and a flexible curriculum. To achieve this, the School has joint faculty appointments or course cross-listings with economics, psychology, law, business administration, history, and finance.
Admission
Students must meet the general admission requirements of the Graduate College, as well as the specific requirements of the School. Admission to the master's program in either the fall or spring semester is based on an applicant's undergraduate record, letters of reference, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) scores, and a statement of interest and career goals. The minimum requirements for admission are a course in statistics and an average grade of B in the last two years of a four year undergraduate program. A deficiency in statistics may be made up by taking the required course without graduate credit during the first semester of graduate study. International applicants must provide Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) test results with a recommended minimum score of 590 on the paper-based test (243 on the computer-based test and 96 on iBT) or IELTS with minimum overall score of 6.5 with 6.0 minimum in each subsection.
Students with outstanding academic credentials, with or without a master's degree, are encouraged to apply to the Ph.D. program. Applicants to the doctoral program must submit evidence of research ability, such as a master's thesis, an undergraduate thesis, special reports, or published articles. This is in addition to the other required application materials as indicated for the master's program. Admission to the doctoral program is made for the fall semester only. An exception is made for HRIR master's degree students, who may submit an internal application in the spring.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Student Handbook and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations
| Required Courses: | Thesis option - Required Hours | Non-thesis option - Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| At least one course in each of four subject areas | 16 | 16 |
| LER 591, 592, 593 | 8 | 8 |
| Electives | 16 | 24 |
| Thesis Hours Required - LER 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 48 | 48 |
| Minimum Hours Required Within the Unit: | 36 | 36 |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 12 | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
The master’s program can lead to a professional, terminal master’s
degree, or it can prepare students to continue their graduate study
toward a Ph.D. or other doctoral degrees in law and other professional
areas.
The master’s degree requires 48 graduate hours of courses and
usually takes three semesters to complete. The master’s degree
program has core requirements in human resources/industrial relations
systems, and quantitative methods, and a subject
distribution requirement.
Doctor of Philosophy
| Required Courses: | Required Hours - Entering with approved M.S./M.A. degree |
|---|---|
| LER 542, 556, 557, 558 and LER 540 or LER 541 or LER 545 | 16 |
| LER 558 | |
| One year sequence in statistics | 8 |
| Research Methods: LER 559 (Micro) and LER 590X (Macro) | 8 |
| Two theory courses in a social science discipline | 8 |
| Two related courses outside discipline | 8 |
| Electives | 0-16 |
| Thesis Hours Required- LER 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 32-48 |
| Total Hours | 64 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | No, but M.S. equivalent hours are required, in addition, contact department for details |
| Qualifying Exam Required | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
The Ph.D. is an interdisciplinary degree, which typically leads to a career in teaching and research, especially at business schools or industrial relations schools. Research-oriented careers outside the academic world are also available. The program can be completed in five years beyond the baccalaureate degree or four years beyond the master's degree. Doctoral students are required to complete 96 graduate hours of credit beyond the baccalaureate degree. Coursework is usually completed in two years. There are two written qualifying examinations; the first focuses on industrial relations theory and human resource management theory, and the second focuses on the candidate's selected area of specialization. Examples of areas of specialization include the effects of technological change on the human resource function; motivation, morale, and job satisfaction; labor-management relations in the public sector; labor markets and employment; and international comparative labor problems. Each student's program of study is chosen in consultation with the Ph.D. Advisory Committee at the School.
Joint Degree Programs
J.D./Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations
| Required Courses: | Thesis option - Required Hours | Non-thesis option - Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| At least one course in each of four subject areas | 16 | 16 |
| LER 591, 593 | 8 | 8 |
| Electives | 4 | 12 |
| Thesis Hours Required–LER 599(min/max applied toward degree): | 8 | |
| Law requirements | 74 | 74 |
| Total Hours LER | 36 | 36 |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 12 | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Labor and Employment Law is required but can be taken in Law or LER | 4 | 4 |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
This joint degree program with the College of Law is usually completed in three-and-one-half years. Students must apply to both the College of Law and the School of Labor and Employment Relations, and must be accepted by both units. The degrees are awarded simultaneously upon successful completion of all joint degree requirements.
M.B.A./Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations
| Required Courses: | Thesis option - Required Hours | Non-thesis option - Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| At least one course in each of four subject areas | 16 | 16 |
| LER 591, 593 | 8 | 8 |
| Electives | 4 | 12 |
| Thesis Hours Required – LER 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 8 | |
| MBA requirements | 60 | 60 |
| Total Hours LER | 36 | 36 |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall | 12 | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Registration in MBA for at least three semesters is required | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
This joint program with the M.B.A. program is usually completed in two-and-one-half years. Independent admission decisions are made by each unit, and the student must be accepted by both. The degrees are awarded simultaneously upon completion of all joint degree requirements.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although the School has no teaching requirement, doctoral students are encouraged to gain teaching experience in this program.
Financial Aid
The School offers research assistantships, scholarships, and fellowships to graduate students with superior academic credentials. A School research/teaching assistant receives a stipend plus waiver of resident or non-resident tuition and some fees. The Graduate College also awards minority fellowships that carry stipends plus tuition and service fee waivers. The School seeks reimbursement from appointing units of the value of the tuition waivers associated with assistantship appointments made to HRIR master's students in other campus units. However, this restriction does not apply to students in the doctoral program.