Graduate Programs in ILR from the Labor Perspective - ILR School ...

Are you passionate about social justice?
Do you want to be part of the solution to
contemporary labor issues?
Are you looking for a change of pace within
the labor movement?
Would you like to add your
energy to improving
the working world for
thousands of workers?
Do you have labor-related work
experience or an avid interest
in the field?
Graduate
Programs
in Industrial
and
Labor Relations
from
the Labor
Perspective
Do you believe unions are vital
to a democratic society?
You’ve come to the right place.
Whether you’re a union official,
activist, or college graduate
or have an interest in a labor
career, Cornell’s School of
Industrial and Labor Relations
has something for you.
CONTACT INFORMATION
ILR Graduate Programs
214 Ives Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853-3901
Phone: (607) 255-1522
E-mail: ilrgradapplicant@cornell.edu
For comprehensive details about
the program, go to
www.ilr.cornell.edu/graddegreeprograms
Cornell University is an equal opportunity,
affirmative action educator and employer.
Lower cover photo by Cornell University Photography
Produced by Office of Publications and Marketing
9/05 4M AP 060042

Bruce Raynor, ILR class of ’72 (center),
is national president of UNITE HERE,
on the Cornell Board of Trustees, and
a frequent speaker in ILR classes.
Why the ILR School?
• A world-renowned faculty specializing in labor relations
issues such as union strategy, dispute resolution, employment
law, negotiations, international and comparative labor, and
collective bargaining enable students to learn about labor
issues from a variety of angles.
• An extensive alumni network, which includes top labor
leaders and former students with a wide variety of experience,
allows students to gain first-hand perspectives on the types of
positions or field they are pursuing.
• A small community and close-knit
learning atmosphere facilitate
extensive student-faculty
interaction and discussion on
labor-related issues.
• Full access to all the vast
resources of Cornell University,
including courses, seminars, and
workshops in subjects such as
ILR faculty and graduate students
participate in international conferences,
along with labor researchers
and trade unionists from the U.S.
and other countries.
foreign languages, history, political science, law, and business,
along with library and research facilities that are among the
finest in the world. (See library.cornell.edu.)
• Nationally known labor leaders visit campus on a frequent
basis to teach classes, give seminars, and meet with students.
Recent speakers include John Sweeney and
Rich Trumka of the AFL-CIO; Bruce Raynor, John
Wilhelm, and Ginny Coughlin of UNITE HERE;
Larry Cohen of CWA; Tony Ehrenreich from the
South African labor movement, and many more.
• Annual events including Union Days, Labor
Roundtables, and Union Career Fairs bring
dynamic labor leaders and activists to engage
informally with ILR students.
• Representatives from the AFL-CIO Organizing
Institute and Union Summer regularly visit
campus to recruit students.
• Summer internships with unions and agencies such as the
National Labor Relations Board provide valuable learning
experience and opportunities to bridge knowledge learned in
the classroom with practical work experience.
• Students have the opportunity to become involved in the
Student Coalition Advocating Labor Education (SCALE)
organization, a group that sponsors speakers and events that
highlight current issues in the labor movement, promotes labor
education within the curriculum in the ILR School, and provides
a forum for students to discuss the status of labor education in
the ILR School.
Professional Master’s Degree Programs
TWO-YEAR MASTER’S DEGREE IN INDUSTRIAL AND
LABOR RELATIONS – COLLECTIVE REPRESENTATION
CONCENTRATION
The Collective Representation (CR) track within the Master of
Industrial and Labor Relations (MILR) degree program focuses
on collective bargaining and industrial relations, including the
past, present, and future of the labor movement.
The MILR program is structured to provide a well-rounded,
comprehensive foundation in labor issues along with
opportunities for in-depth study in the subject areas. Students
take a total of forty-eight credits, with six required core
courses, six elective courses from the Collective Representation
concentration, and four elective courses from any department
in Cornell. Students concentrating
in Collective Representation also
typically complete a summer
internship with a union or related
organization.
Sample Collective
Representation Subject Areas
Labor movement revitalization
Collective bargaining
Managing and resolving conflict
International labor law
Labor in global cities
Labor history
Corporate research
Politics of the global north
ONE-YEAR MASTER OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Rich Trumka of the AFL-CIO debates trade issues
with Thomas Donahue (at left) of the Business
Roundtable in the ILR auditorium.
A full-time on-campus Master of Professional Studies (MPS)
degree program offers more course flexibility than the MILR
program, with focused study determined by the student and a
faculty advisor.
The MPS degree program in New York City is also an option
for students desiring part-time study while continuing their
current employment. Students work with a faculty expert on an
individual MPS research or practical project of their choosing,
which may be related to their work or another area of interest.
Academic and Research
Graduate Degree Programs
The MS and PhD degree programs in labor
relations are designed for students considering
an academic or research career. Most applicants
apply as MS/PhD program candidates,
planning to complete both degrees in ILR.
Applicants with an MS degree can apply
directly to the PhD program.
After receiving my
MILR degree in May
2004 I have worked
as an organizer
with Local 1199 NY SEIU and Local 802 of the American
Federation of Musicians. Currently I represent registered
nurses (RNs) with 1199 SEIU in New York City. We in
the labor movement are at a crossroads right now, and
the field is wide open for future leaders with the skills
and knowledge to reframe labor’s role in the global
marketplace. Anyone who cares about working people’s
issues or the balance of corporate and individual power
can find a place in the labor movement.
Cornell’s MILR program appealed to me because of
its reputation for academically rigorous theory and
practical skills development. I had already worked as an
organizer for a few years and wanted to supplement
my field learning with graduate study in labor relations.
The curriculum is incredibly relevant to a practitioner’s
day-to-day experiences—I tap into something I learned
at ILR on an almost daily basis. I also benefited from the
intimacy of the labor program. I had the opportunity
to participate in world-class research and to forge
close connections with my professors and visiting labor
leaders. As I continue my work in the labor movement,
my ILR relationships are proving invaluable.
–Amy Cocuzza
MILR ’04
The ILR faculty and
MILR Collective
Representation
curriculum enable real
interaction with global trade unionists, opportunities
to engage in cutting-edge research, and practical and
theoretical coursework in labor relations. The MILR
Collective Representation track equipped me with the
education, resources, and experience necessary to work
in the labor movement. As a campaign researcher with
UNITE HERE, I am able to work for social justice in a
capacity that is challenging, stimulating, and rewarding.
–Julie Hodek
MILR ’03