Graduate Programs in ILR from the Labor Perspective - ILR School ...
Graduate Programs in ILR from the Labor Perspective - ILR School ...
Graduate Programs in ILR from the Labor Perspective - ILR School ...
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Bruce Raynor, <strong>ILR</strong> class of ’72 (center),<br />
is national president of UNITE HERE,<br />
on <strong>the</strong> Cornell Board of Trustees, and<br />
a frequent speaker <strong>in</strong> <strong>ILR</strong> classes.<br />
Why <strong>the</strong> <strong>ILR</strong> <strong>School</strong>?<br />
• A world-renowned faculty specializ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> labor relations<br />
issues such as union strategy, dispute resolution, employment<br />
law, negotiations, <strong>in</strong>ternational and comparative labor, and<br />
collective barga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g enable students to learn about labor<br />
issues <strong>from</strong> a variety of angles.<br />
• An extensive alumni network, which <strong>in</strong>cludes top labor<br />
leaders and former students with a wide variety of experience,<br />
allows students to ga<strong>in</strong> first-hand perspectives on <strong>the</strong> types of<br />
positions or field <strong>the</strong>y are pursu<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
• A small community and close-knit<br />
learn<strong>in</strong>g atmosphere facilitate<br />
extensive student-faculty<br />
<strong>in</strong>teraction and discussion on<br />
labor-related issues.<br />
• Full access to all <strong>the</strong> vast<br />
resources of Cornell University,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g courses, sem<strong>in</strong>ars, and<br />
workshops <strong>in</strong> subjects such as<br />
<strong>ILR</strong> faculty and graduate students<br />
participate <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational conferences,<br />
along with labor researchers<br />
and trade unionists <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> U.S.<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>r countries.<br />
foreign languages, history, political science, law, and bus<strong>in</strong>ess,<br />
along with library and research facilities that are among <strong>the</strong><br />
f<strong>in</strong>est <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> world. (See library.cornell.edu.)<br />
• Nationally known labor leaders visit campus on a frequent<br />
basis to teach classes, give sem<strong>in</strong>ars, and meet with students.<br />
Recent speakers <strong>in</strong>clude John Sweeney and<br />
Rich Trumka of <strong>the</strong> AFL-CIO; Bruce Raynor, John<br />
Wilhelm, and G<strong>in</strong>ny Coughl<strong>in</strong> of UNITE HERE;<br />
Larry Cohen of CWA; Tony Ehrenreich <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
South African labor movement, and many more.<br />
• Annual events <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Union Days, <strong>Labor</strong><br />
Roundtables, and Union Career Fairs br<strong>in</strong>g<br />
dynamic labor leaders and activists to engage<br />
<strong>in</strong>formally with <strong>ILR</strong> students.<br />
• Representatives <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> AFL-CIO Organiz<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Institute and Union Summer regularly visit<br />
campus to recruit students.<br />
• Summer <strong>in</strong>ternships with unions and agencies such as <strong>the</strong><br />
National <strong>Labor</strong> Relations Board provide valuable learn<strong>in</strong>g<br />
experience and opportunities to bridge knowledge learned <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> classroom with practical work experience.<br />
• Students have <strong>the</strong> opportunity to become <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Student Coalition Advocat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Labor</strong> Education (SCALE)<br />
organization, a group that sponsors speakers and events that<br />
highlight current issues <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> labor movement, promotes labor<br />
education with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> curriculum <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>ILR</strong> <strong>School</strong>, and provides<br />
a forum for students to discuss <strong>the</strong> status of labor education <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>ILR</strong> <strong>School</strong>.<br />
Professional Master’s Degree <strong>Programs</strong><br />
TWO-YEAR MASTER’S DEGREE IN INDUSTRIAL AND<br />
LABOR RELATIONS – COLLECTIVE REPRESENTATION<br />
CONCENTRATION<br />
The Collective Representation (CR) track with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Master of<br />
Industrial and <strong>Labor</strong> Relations (M<strong>ILR</strong>) degree program focuses<br />
on collective barga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and <strong>in</strong>dustrial relations, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />
past, present, and future of <strong>the</strong> labor movement.<br />
The M<strong>ILR</strong> program is structured to provide a well-rounded,<br />
comprehensive foundation <strong>in</strong> labor issues along with<br />
opportunities for <strong>in</strong>-depth study <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> subject areas. Students<br />
take a total of forty-eight credits, with six required core<br />
courses, six elective courses <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong> Collective Representation<br />
concentration, and four elective courses <strong>from</strong> any department<br />
<strong>in</strong> Cornell. Students concentrat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>in</strong> Collective Representation also<br />
typically complete a summer<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternship with a union or related<br />
organization.<br />
Sample Collective<br />
Representation Subject Areas<br />
<strong>Labor</strong> movement revitalization<br />
Collective barga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
Manag<strong>in</strong>g and resolv<strong>in</strong>g conflict<br />
International labor law<br />
<strong>Labor</strong> <strong>in</strong> global cities<br />
<strong>Labor</strong> history<br />
Corporate research<br />
Politics of <strong>the</strong> global north<br />
ONE-YEAR MASTER OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES<br />
Rich Trumka of <strong>the</strong> AFL-CIO debates trade issues<br />
with Thomas Donahue (at left) of <strong>the</strong> Bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
Roundtable <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>ILR</strong> auditorium.<br />
A full-time on-campus Master of Professional Studies (MPS)<br />
degree program offers more course flexibility than <strong>the</strong> M<strong>ILR</strong><br />
program, with focused study determ<strong>in</strong>ed by <strong>the</strong> student and a<br />
faculty advisor.<br />
The MPS degree program <strong>in</strong> New York City is also an option<br />
for students desir<strong>in</strong>g part-time study while cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
current employment. Students work with a faculty expert on an<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividual MPS research or practical project of <strong>the</strong>ir choos<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
which may be related to <strong>the</strong>ir work or ano<strong>the</strong>r area of <strong>in</strong>terest.<br />
Academic and Research<br />
<strong>Graduate</strong> Degree <strong>Programs</strong><br />
The MS and PhD degree programs <strong>in</strong> labor<br />
relations are designed for students consider<strong>in</strong>g<br />
an academic or research career. Most applicants<br />
apply as MS/PhD program candidates,<br />
plann<strong>in</strong>g to complete both degrees <strong>in</strong> <strong>ILR</strong>.<br />
Applicants with an MS degree can apply<br />
directly to <strong>the</strong> PhD program.<br />
After receiv<strong>in</strong>g my<br />
M<strong>ILR</strong> degree <strong>in</strong> May<br />
2004 I have worked<br />
as an organizer<br />
with Local 1199 NY SEIU and Local 802 of <strong>the</strong> American<br />
Federation of Musicians. Currently I represent registered<br />
nurses (RNs) with 1199 SEIU <strong>in</strong> New York City. We <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> labor movement are at a crossroads right now, and<br />
<strong>the</strong> field is wide open for future leaders with <strong>the</strong> skills<br />
and knowledge to reframe labor’s role <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> global<br />
marketplace. Anyone who cares about work<strong>in</strong>g people’s<br />
issues or <strong>the</strong> balance of corporate and <strong>in</strong>dividual power<br />
can f<strong>in</strong>d a place <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> labor movement.<br />
Cornell’s M<strong>ILR</strong> program appealed to me because of<br />
its reputation for academically rigorous <strong>the</strong>ory and<br />
practical skills development. I had already worked as an<br />
organizer for a few years and wanted to supplement<br />
my field learn<strong>in</strong>g with graduate study <strong>in</strong> labor relations.<br />
The curriculum is <strong>in</strong>credibly relevant to a practitioner’s<br />
day-to-day experiences—I tap <strong>in</strong>to someth<strong>in</strong>g I learned<br />
at <strong>ILR</strong> on an almost daily basis. I also benefited <strong>from</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>timacy of <strong>the</strong> labor program. I had <strong>the</strong> opportunity<br />
to participate <strong>in</strong> world-class research and to forge<br />
close connections with my professors and visit<strong>in</strong>g labor<br />
leaders. As I cont<strong>in</strong>ue my work <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> labor movement,<br />
my <strong>ILR</strong> relationships are prov<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>valuable.<br />
–Amy Cocuzza<br />
M<strong>ILR</strong> ’04<br />
The <strong>ILR</strong> faculty and<br />
M<strong>ILR</strong> Collective<br />
Representation<br />
curriculum enable real<br />
<strong>in</strong>teraction with global trade unionists, opportunities<br />
to engage <strong>in</strong> cutt<strong>in</strong>g-edge research, and practical and<br />
<strong>the</strong>oretical coursework <strong>in</strong> labor relations. The M<strong>ILR</strong><br />
Collective Representation track equipped me with <strong>the</strong><br />
education, resources, and experience necessary to work<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> labor movement. As a campaign researcher with<br />
UNITE HERE, I am able to work for social justice <strong>in</strong> a<br />
capacity that is challeng<strong>in</strong>g, stimulat<strong>in</strong>g, and reward<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
–Julie Hodek<br />
M<strong>ILR</strong> ’03