Cornell University, Masters Human Resource Studies

The Cornell University’s Masters of Human Resource Studies (MILR) program, otherwise known as, Human Resources and Organizations (HR&O) concentration, focuses on people in organizations, including the roles of line managers, the HR function, and HR professionals in contributing to organizational success and employee well-being. It also tackles key aspects of organizational life such as leadership, decision-making, and conflict resolution. The program employs a theoretical as well as a practical approach to delivery of the course. Senior corporate executives and other managers enrich the traditional classroom experiences with their experience in facing real-time challenges. The MILR is designed as a practitioner based program in which instruction is theory-based with practitioner application, which prepares students to work in human resources, labor relations, and with labor organizations, federal agencies, and NGOs globally. The MILR Degree requires a minimum of 48 credit hours encompassing at least 16 courses. Students studying the HR&O concentration take six core courses, six concentration courses, and at least 4 elective courses. Each student in the program is allowed to choose a Graduate Field Faculty member who will advise them on course selection and other academic matters. There are many job and career field options available to those who earn a Masters degree in Human Resource from the ILR School, including corporate HR, labor relations, labor, government, consulting, and financial services. The program can be as MILR/MBA dual degree program to attain an MBA degree of the Johnson School as well. Only a limited number of fellowships, scholarships, and awards from the ILR School are awarded to ILR graduate degree students.