Master of Labor and Employment Relations

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Course Descriptions

 

The following courses are required:

38:578:500 Introductory Seminar in Labor and Employment Relations

Critical challenges facing workers, employers, labor organizations, and the public with regard to work and employee representation.
38:533:565 Economics and Demographics of Labor Markets

Covers the changing nature of the workforce, including diversity characteristics and attitudinal shifts. Focus on HRM tracking and gaining competitive advantage through judicious use of change.
38:578:560 Collective Bargaining

The role of unions and collective bargaining in the U.S. Provides and overview of membership in labor organizations, labor law, negotiations, grievance-arbitration, and alternative futures for organized labor.
 

One course from each of the following areas is also required:

Law

38:578:550 Labor Law

The statutes and case law that create the framework for private-sector labor management relations, with special attention to current workplace developments and the public policy debates that continue to reshape American labor law.

38:533:566 Employment Law

Principles of law covering th employment relationship. Some legal issues also may be covered in HR application courses.

38:578:565 Public Sector Collective Bargaining

The development of public sector bargaining rights and the role of unions in the public sector. The course will analyze state and federal laws, dispute resolution procedures, and political initiatives, with a special emphasis on New Jersey.
 
Institutional Diversity
38:578:612 Labor/Employment History

The changing nature of work and its organization; the history of labor organizations and labor movements; the historical situation of major groups of non-represented employees; and the impact of changing government policies on employees, employers, and labor relations.
38:578:562 Seminar in International/Comparative Labor and Employment Relations

A comparative analysis of labor, social, and economic policy with a focus on how labor movements in different parts of the world marshal political and economic resources to represent workers' interests.

37:575:301 Comparative Labor Movements (taken for graduate credit)

Introduction to the study of unionism as a worldwide phenomenon, with emphasis upon the similarities and differences between the American labor movement and foreign labor movements; the major problems confronting unions in selected European, Asian, Latin-American, and African nations.
 
Workforce Diversity
38:578:541 Women and Work

An analysis of women's experiences and status in a range of work settings; an evaluation of legal, institutional, and public policy responses to issues such as the segregation of work by race and gender, pay equity, the feminization of poverty, sexual harrassment, and the restructuring of work and family roles.
38:578:551 Seminar in Minorities and Work

The relationship betwen race, gender, work, employment outcomes, and labor representation, with a particular focuson the historical and contemporary issues facing African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, other ethnic groups and women.
37:575:307 Latino Workers in the U.S. (taken for graduate credit)

Role of Latino workers in U.S. society and the U.S. economy; impact of the new migration on the U.S. labor market and social policy.
Finance

38:578:538 Financial Analysis and Corporate Governance

Corporate governance issues; financial statement analysis; and cost accounting for collective bargaining and workplace management.
38:533:540 HR Decision-Making Financial Decisions

Financial anaysis in the HR context. Cost analysis of HR and HR programs. Cost/benefit analysis, organizational finance issue and HRM.
Research Methods
38:578:610 (or 611) Topics in LER: Research Methods

Selected, timely topics in employment relations; particular topic to be announced.

38:533:541   HR Decision-Making: Accessing Data for Decisions

D ata sources relevant to HR decisions.  Acquiring data from HRIS, the Internet, surveys, consultants, focus groups, etc.  Characteristics of information, research methods that assure data are reliable, unbiased, and valid.
* IN ADDITION, STUDENTS TAKE 15 CREDITS OF ELECTIVES FOR A TOTAL PROGRAM OF 39 CREDITS.





Elective Courses:
We accept some graduate level courses from the following professional schools:

Edward Blounstein School of Planning and Public Policy
Policy Research Program
MBA
Sociology
SCILS
Women Studies

Please see your student advisor or the director of the program for approval before registering.
Five-Year BA/LSER l Program l Program Specialization l Internships l MLER Careers l Certificate Programs

School of Management and Labor Relations
Labor Education Center
50 Labor Center Way
New Brunswick , NJ 08903
(732) 932-8559 Fax: (732) 932-8677
mler@smlr.rutgers.edu

School of Management and Labor Relations Rutgers University