There are broadly five major areas of study that fall within the discipline of industrial relations:
- work
- organizations
- management (particularly human resource management)
- labour and employment relations
- labour policy and institutions
The Industrial Relations and Human Resources (IRHR) Major and Specialist programs cover the last three areas of study. The majors in our Work and Organizations (WO) programs cover the first two areas of study within the discipline. The IRW and IR/HR undergraduate programs will overlap in their joint focus on work and on certain management-related topics and areas within organizations (e.g., people management). The IRHR major focuses on employment relations and human resource management (with a major emphasis on employment in larger unionized organizations) and the IRW program focuses on how work and organizations contribute to the economy as well as community development.
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Program Summary |
Industrial Relations and Human Resources (IRHR) |
Work and Organizations (WO) |
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Primary focus |
The employment relationship and human resources management, often in larger, unionized settings. |
The broad study of work, how it is coordinated in different types of organizations, and its impact on the economy and community. |
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Scope |
Concentration on traditional HR and labor relations career path. |
Interdisciplinary concentration, suitable for a wider variety of careers beyond standard HR roles. |
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Curriculum emphasis |
Employment relations, collective bargaining, and HR functions. |
Organizational structure, coordination of work, and how different types of organizations function |
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Interdisciplinary approach |
Incorporates various disciplines, but with a clear focus on the professional field of industrial relations and HR. |
Built on an interdisciplinary foundation from the ground up, drawing from social sciences to understand organizational behavior. |