Master of Industrial and Labor Relations (MILR) is a two year professional, career-focused degree for those interested in putting their education into practice. The MILR is specifically for students preparing to enter the workforce or professionals who wish to enhance their education and skills.
The two-year Master of Industrial and Labor Relations (MILR) is the top degree program in the area of human resources and labor relations and provides a broad-based foundation with a specific, intense focus on the interaction between people and organizations in the workplace.
As a professional, career-focused degree, it is suitable for candidates interested in putting their education into practice. Classroom discussions incorporate workplace issues in all sectors of our economy, whether in a small service business, a not-for-profit museum, a large and influential labor union, or a Fortune 200 corporation.
Human Resources and Organizations
The Human Resources and Organizations (HR&O) Concentration focuses on people in organizations, including the roles of line managers, the HR function and HR professionals in contributing to organizational success and employee well-being and such key aspects of organizational life as leadership, decision-making, and conflict resolution. The emphasis is on both theoretical and practical applications. Traditional classroom experiences are regularly enriched by interactions with senior corporate executives and other managers who focus on the real-time challenges they face.
International and Comparative Labor
In the International and Comparative Labor concentration students have the opportunity to increase their understanding of international and comparative industrial relations, human resources, organizations, and labor markets. In particular, it is expected that students will understand how different IR and HR policy and labor market institutions "work" in different national contexts.
Collective Representation
The Collective Representation concentration focuses on industrial relations, including the past, present and future labor movement. In addition to the core courses, students choosing this concentration can take classes on the history of unions, the modern workforce, international and comparative political economy and theories of the labor movement.
Dispute Resolution
In the Dispute Resolution concentration students can prepare for careers as neutrals, advocates, or consultants in conflict resolution. The rise of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in employment relations and other fields has created opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers as mediators, arbitrators, or facilitators. A growing number of corporations and other organizations have hired dispute resolution specialists to manage their ADR programs. Federal and State agencies, such as the United States Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and the United States Department of Labor, and international agencies, such as the International Labour Organization, employ specialists in dispute resolution. Given the Diversity in these career options, the concentration is quite flexible and is intended to address student needs and interests.