Welcome from the Dean
Welcome to the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Our Web site is full of useful information about our outstanding educational programs that can lead to rewarding careers. You will also find information about our outreach programs and about activities that enrich our students' experience and open up their understanding of the world of work.
—Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld , Dean
Founded in 1946, The Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign has over 25 faculty with expertise that span the following fields and domains:
A. Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior
B. Industrial Relations and Labor Studies
C. Labor Economics
D. Labor Law, Public Policy and Ethics
E. International, Comparative, and Cross-Cultural Studies
F. SocioTechnical Systems
The Labor Education Program (LEP) provides technical training, conferences, and professional development for over 2,000 union leaders in a typical year and is developing new, on-line learning opportunities. The Center for Human Resource Management (CHRM) brings together senior HR professionals at semi-annual roundtable events and is developing new learning opportunities for small and medium sized organizations in partnership with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations to strive continually for excellence in scholarly research, teaching, extension, and service activities dedicated to the achievement and dissemination of a more informed understanding of employment relations.
Brief History
The movement to establish an institute for labor research and teaching was initiated by a resolution adopted in October 1942 at the 60th annual convention of the Illinois State Federation of Labor, which called for the setting up of a department at the University of Illinois. An act of the state legislature in 1945 established the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and it began operating in 1946. A distinguished group of Directors has guided the Institute's progress over the years. The original structure included both on-campus degree programs and extension programs. At first only a master's degree was offered, but a Ph.D. program was added in 1966. Joint degree programs were added with the College of Law in 1976 and with the College of Commerce in 1998. In October 1997, the name of the degree was changed to Master's of Human Resources and Industrial Relations to reflect the evolution of the field.
Facts
Rankings
Although there is no formal ranking process for HR/IR programs, employers and students acknowledge that the University of Illinois is one of the top three programs.
Enrollments
In 2006-2007, ILIR students came from 49 undergraduate institutions. The class was 65% female, 18% minority, and 13% international. See our detailed student profile.
Average salaries of new graduates
For full-time entry-level hires, the average private-sector salary for 2006-2007 is $69,903, with different regional ranges. Signing bonuses averaged $7,913 ranging between $2,000 and $15,000. View full salary statistics.
Our alumni
As of October 2005, there are over 2000 Institute alumni employed in 47 different states in the U.S. plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and in more than 30 foreign countries. Among them are senior corporate executives, government officials, HR consultants, union officials, faculty members, and university administrators.