Typical Course of Study
The ILR curriculum is designed with an equal measure of structure and flexibility to ensure that students can take full advantage of the academic opportunities at Cornell. All ILR undergraduates have the same major: Industrial and Labor Relations. During their freshman and sophomore years, students will first take our interdisciplinary core courses, while also selecting elective courses from the six other undergraduate schools. The ILR core courses introduce you to psychology, economics, social history, management and law, while our distribution and elective courses can be in the broad areas of philosophy, government, literature, history, science, religious studies, a foreign language, or other areas you may wish to explore in the variety of departments throughout Cornell.
During their junior and senior years, students then tailor the curriculum to their interests by selecting courses from ILR and throughout the university based on what they would like to learn, or what careers they would like to pursue. For examples of the classes students can take at ILR and throughout Cornell to pursue specific interests, please see our sample elective list. 
To earn the Cornell Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations, you need to successfully complete 120 credits. This requires eight semesters for an average of 30 credits per year. A typical four-year program is outlined below.
For full course descriptions, see Cornell's online course catalog.
Components of the ILR Curriculum
The ILR curriculum contains four major components:
- Required ILR introductory courses
- Distribution requirements
- Advanced ILR electives
- General electives
The required introductory courses cluster in the first four semesters. Advanced ILR electives, including internships, independent research, and some study abroad courses, are customarily taken in the junior and senior years. General electives and courses satisfying the distribution requirements can be taken at any time during the four years.
| Freshman Year | Credits |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester | |
| First-Year Writing Seminar* | 3 |
| ILR Colloquium: Introduction to the ILR School (ILRID 1500)† | 1 |
| Introduction to Organizational Behavior (ILROB 1220)† | 3 |
| Introduction to U.S. Labor History (ILRCB 1100)† | 3 |
| Introductory Microeconomics (ECON 1101)* | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Physical Education (University requirement) | — |
| Spring Semester | |
| First-Year Writing Seminar* | 3 |
| Introductory | 3 |
| Science and Technology course *‡ | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Physical Education (University requirement) | — |
| Sophomore Year | |
| Fall Semester | |
| Introductory Statistics (ILRST 2100)† | 4 |
| Labor and Employment Law (ILRCB 2010)† | 3 |
| Human Resource Management (ILRHR 2600)† | 3 |
| Western Intellectual Tradition course *‡ | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Spring Semester | |
| Collective Bargaining (ILRCB 2050)† | 3 |
| Economics of Wages and Employment (ILRLE 2400)† | 3 |
| Cultural Perspectives course *‡ | 3 |
| Advanced Writing course ‡ | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Junior and Senior Years | |
| ILR Elective courses | 40 |
| |
| Additional general elective credits (in addition to distribution requirements) | |
| Total credits required for Bachelor of Science | 120 |
* Required courses usually taken in the College of Arts and Sciences
† Required courses taken in the ILR school
‡ Distribution courses (courses you choose that satisfy requirements in certain categories)
¤ Physical Education courses do not count toward the 120 credits
Note: The ILR faculty believes that full-time study for a defined period best promotes intellectual development and best prepares students for citizenship and careers. Consequently, undergraduates must complete eight semesters of full-time study, including work done while on an approved credit internship or study abroad program, in order to meet their degree requirements. Those who enter the school as transfer students will be required to complete four to six semesters in full-time residence, depending on the number of full-time semesters completed at another institution.