Program Overview

SMLR's IRHR Ph.D. program is an interdisciplinary program that develops research and teaching skills to qualify students for employment as tenure-track college or university faculty. Our program produces distinguished researchers and teachers who merge the worlds of theory and practice. We have a collaborative approach that encourages work across academic areas and across Rutgers. This allows you to tackle the newest trends and biggest challenges in research.  

The IRHR program is designed for people who want to:

  • Work with leading scholars who are nationally and internationally recognized experts in a broad range of topics in industrial relations and human resources.
  • Become leading scholars by learning how to design, conduct, and publish rigorous research in scholarly journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Industrial and Labor Relations Review, Industrial Relations, and Journal of Applied Psychology, among others.
  • Become impactful teachers by working as teaching assistants and teaching their own courses, translating research into practical applications, and guiding students along their academic journey. 

Ph.D. Program Areas of Specialization

Learn more about our two primary fields of focus:

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Why Choose Rutgers?

Productivity

Our faculty produce some of the most frequently cited research in the field, with more than 145 peer reviewed journal articles and books published by leading publishers in the past five years, and more than 175,000 citations to their academic work.

Collaboration

In the past five years, 32 percent of faculty publications were with PhD students, and students have the opportunity to actively partner with nine SMLR research centers.

Impact

Our faculty includes the former editor-in-chief of Personnel Psychology—a flagship journal in the fields of Management and Psychology. It also includes current or former associate editors at premier management, psychology, and labor relations journals, including Journal of Applied Psychology, Academy of Management Review, Journal of Management, World Development, and others.

Relevance

Journalists rely on SMLR as a trusted source of expertise when reporting on the workplace. The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Financial Times, Forbes, Fortune, TIME, NPR, CNN, and hundreds of other national and international news organizations have interviewed SMLR experts and written about research by our faculty and Ph.D. students.

Placements

Rutgers SMLR Ph.D. Program has a consistent history of placing students at top-tier research universities, such as Cornell, Florida State University, London School of Economics, Notre Dame, Ohio State University, and Pennsylvania State University, among others. Those students have gone on to have productive academic careers at their universities, earn promotion and tenure and, in multiple cases, earn career achievement awards.


Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an MBA or equivalent master's degree to be considered for admission?

No. Completion of a terminal master's degree in a related field of study (e.g., MBA) is not required for admission. A student who holds a master's degree upon entering the program may transfer some credits but they must fulfill the same degree requirements as students who do not hold a relevant master's degree.

What funding is available?

Admitted students typically receive funding for five years. This includes:

  • A 9-month stipend for approximately $40,000
  • Free tuition (100% tuition waiver)  
  • Summer support of approximately $3,500  
  • An office, a computer, and software 
  • Travel support of $1,200 per year for conferences, plus a one-time support of $2,000 for an international conference 
  • Research support for up to five years of $400 per year to support research expenses not otherwise covered by the program
Is there a part-time, weekend, or distance version of the program?

No. Getting a Ph.D. is not just about coursework—it includes an apprenticeship component where students learn to conduct research side-by-side with faculty. That experience requires a full-time, in-residence commitment.

How long is the program?

Most students complete the program in five years. Students typically interview for jobs during the fall of their fifth year and complete their final dissertation defense in the spring of their fifth year.

Where do students get jobs?

SMLR’s PhD program prepares students to pursue jobs in academia, most frequently at top research universities. This program is not designed for working professionals or senior executives looking to remain in industry, take their current careers to the next level, reinvent themselves as professionals or consultants, or who are looking to enhance their skills in applied research. If the latter is your focus, you may be interested in the Rutgers Business School Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).


Recent Student Publications

Image of Jiyoon Park
Image of Jiyoon Park
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Jerry Liu
Image of Jerry Liu
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Alondrea Hubbard
Image of Alondrea Hubbard
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Jerry Liu
Image of Jerry Liu
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Nazifa Zaman
Image of Nazifa Zaman
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Jerry Liu
Image of Jerry Liu
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Hannah Park
Image of Hannah Park
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Jerry Liu
Image of Jerry Liu
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Justin Vinton
Image of Justin Vinton
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Hunting Li
Image of Hunting Li
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Justin Vinton
Image of Justin Vinton
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Hanbo Shim
Image of Hanbo Shim
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Yan Pan
Image of Yan Pan
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Hanbo Shim
Image of Hanbo Shim
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Justin Vinton
Image of Justin Vinton
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Hanbo Shim
Image of Hanbo Shim
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Yan Pan
Image of Yan Pan
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Junting Li
Image of Junting Li
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Justin Vinton
Image of Justin Vinton
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Hanbo Shim
Image of Hanbo Shim
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Jacob Barnes
Image of Jacob Barnes
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Hanbo Shim
Image of Hanbo Shim
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Justin Vinton
Image of Justin Vinton
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Justin Vinton
Image of Justin Vinton
PhD Student Papers & Presentations
Image of Justin Vinton
Image of Justin Vinton
PhD Student Papers & Presentations