Doctoral Program
Program Requirements
Like most doctoral programs, the ILIR doctoral degree program emphasizes training that enables you to conduct rigorous research for publication in refereed scholarly journals. The initial phase of the doctoral program focuses on course and seminar work, while at the same time providing you with opportunities to actively collaborate with faculty members and doctoral student colleagues on research projects. Top priority is given to training in research competence and the writing of analytical papers of publishable quality.
Because of course sequencing, admission only occurs during the fall semester unless you are already enrolled in the M.H.R.I.R. program. You will be required to successfully complete 48-64 hours of course work (beyond the baccalaureate), including work in research methods and the principal content areas of human resources management, industrial relations, and labor economics which comprise the common body of knowledge in which all Ph.D. students must demonstrate competency.
You may be admitted to the Ph.D. program either with a master's degree or with only a bachelor's degree. If you are admitted to the Ph.D. program upon completion of your bachelor's degree, then you must complete your master's degree within four semesters of initial enrollment in the Institute.
Your program of study will be determined in consultation with the Ph.D. Advisory Committee and your individual faculty advisor each semester. Course distribution requirements are:
| LIR 556-557 (IR Theory and HR Theory) | 8 hours |
| LIR 542 and LIR 540 or LIR 541 or LIR 545 | 8 hours |
| One year sequence in statistics (must be approved by Ph.D. Committee) | 4 hours |
| Research methods | 4 hours |
| Two theory courses in a social science discipline (must be approved) | 4 hours |
| Two related courses outside discipline (must be approved) | 4 hours |
| Electives (must be approved) | 0-8 hours |
| Total | 48-64 hours |
You can read more about the elective courses offered at the Institute by checking out the curriculum and course descriptions or look at current course syllabi.
In addition, you must complete a non-credit Faculty-Student workshop (LIR 558) and 32-48 hours of thesis work (LIR 599), for a total of 48 hours. LIR 558 will give you an understanding of the various areas of industrial relations and related disciplines. It presents an opportunity to get beyond the structure and confines of classroom work through faculty and student presentations and discussion. The multidisciplinary nature of employment relations is displayed through participation of faculty from allied departments.
In addition to the required course work, there are two written qualifying exams, the first of which focuses on human resource management and industrial relations theory, and the second that focuses on your selected area of specialization. Your area of specialization will be chosen in consultation with your faculty advisor, but can include many aspects of the employment relationship: motivation, morale and job satisfaction; human resources practices and individual/organizational performance; labor-management relations; labor markets and employment; and international human resource management are a few examples. Within three months of successfully completing your two written exams, a dissertation topic and committee will be selected. Typically, your dissertation proposal is defended within six months of completing your qualifying exams and then finally, the dissertation defense.