Degree Requirements

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The MILR program offers the best of both worlds: a thoughtfully designed curriculum that begins with a first-semester bundle of courses and a set of core classes to build a common academic foundation. From there, students have the flexibility to shape their academic path by choosing from a wide range of concentration and elective courses that reflect their individual interests and career ambitions.

Outline of Program Requirements

To earn the Master of Industrial and Labor Relations (MILR) degree, students must complete a minimum of 48 credit hours and at least 16 courses (3+ credits each), which include:

  • 6 Core Courses
  • 6 Concentration Courses
  • 4 Electives

All courses used to fulfill the MILR degree must:

  • Be at the 5000-level or above
  • Be taken for a letter grade (Pass/Fail and S/U do not count)
  • Earn a grade of C or higher
  • Be worth 3 or more credits. Courses less than 3 credits may be combined to count as one course, but must still be taken for credit

Breakdown of Program Requirements

Core Courses

  1. ILRHR 5600 – Human Resource Management (3 credits)
  2. ILROB 5200 – Organizational Behavior (3 credits)
  3. ILRGL 5000 – Labor Relations (3 credits)
  4. ILRGL 5010 – Labor and Employment Law (3 credits)
  5. ILRLE 5400 – Labor Economics (3 credits)
  6. ILRHR 5050 – HR Statistics and Analytics (3 credits)

Concentration Courses (any ILR course 5000+ level)

Examples of Popular Concentration Courses:

  • ILRHR 6910 – Strategy and Finance for HR Professionals (First-semester bundle)
  • ILRHR 5610 – Practicum in Human Resource Management (First-semester bundle)
  • ILRHR 5645 – Design Thinking for HR
  • ILRHR 5660 – Talent Analytics
  • ILRHR 5680 – Staffing Organizations
  • ILRHR 5690 – Managing Total Rewards
  • ILROB 5290 – Social Capital and Organizations
  • ILRHR 5607 – Executive Compensation
  • ILRHR 5620 – HR Leadership: Views from the Top
  • ILRHR 5930 – Training and Development in Organizations
  • ILRHR 6451 – Leadership Assessment for Managers
  • ILRHR 6620 – Organization and Work Design
  • ILRHR 6645 – People and Profits: HR Strategies for Good Jobs
  • ILROB 5790 – Managerial Negotiations
  • ILROB 6265 – Managing for Creativity

Please note that course availability may vary by semester, and offerings are subject to change without notice.

Elective Courses

See current approved electives list which is subject to change at any time.

 

 

MILR/MBA Dual Degree Program

The dual degree MILR/MBA program from ILR and Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management offers a unique opportunity that places you in the center of today's fast changing workplace. The MILR/MBA program will:

  • Increase your career options
  • Develop management and technical skills
  • Increase your earning power
  • Gain two degrees in 2.5 years

One-Year MILR Degree

Applicants with a JD or MBA degree from an accredited U.S. institution or a BS ILR degree from Cornell University and at least 1-2 years of full-time work experience, may apply to complete the MILR degree program in one year. Not all applicants will be approved for the one-year option, but each application will be evaluated individually by the admissions committee. 30 credit hours including the 6 MILR core courses are required. Students in the one-year MILR program must:

  • Complete a total of 30 credits
  • Complete 2 full-time semesters in the MILR program
  • Complete or waive all 6 of the MILR required core courses
  • Complete or waive four of the six concentration courses
  • Complete as many relevant and appropriate electives as needed to fulfill the 30 credit requirement