IRHR: Industrial Relations and Human Resources PhD

Doctor of Philosophy

Program Description

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree program benefits students who are interested in advanced academic study leading to career opportunities in human resources management; labour-management relations; collective bargaining and dispute resolution; organization development and change; and labour market and social policy. The PhD program is a research-oriented program of study designed to provide students with a thorough knowledge of the field and strong research skills. Offered only on a full-time basis, students normally fulfil a two-year residency requirement that enables their full participation in the activities associated with the program.

Applicants may enter the PhD program via one of two routes: 1) following completion of an appropriate master’s degree or 2) direct entry following completion of a bachelor’s degree.

 

PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources' additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Applicants require a Master of Industrial Relations and Human Resources (MIRHR) degree from the University of Toronto, or its equivalent.

  • Students with a master's degree in another related social science discipline may be considered for admission to the PhD if they have exceptional academic standing and have demonstrated quantitative skills and research ability.

  • At least a B+ standing, or equivalent, is required in the previous master's program. Academic performance in courses relevant to the applicant's area of interest, as well as performance in statistics and research methods courses are taken into consideration by the admissions committee.

  • Applicants are required to submit a copy of their results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Although there is no minimum score requirement, performance on the GRE will be taken into consideration by the admissions committee. Test results more than five years old are normally not considered.

  • Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English must write the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The following minimum scores are acceptable:

    • paper-based TOEFL exam: 600 and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)

    • Internet-based TOEFL exam: 100/120 and 22/30 on both the writing and speaking sections

    • IELTS exam: overall score of 7.0 (Academic), with at least 6.5 for each component.

  • Applicants may be required to appear for a personal interview and/or submit copies of recent academic work.

Program Requirements

Normally, requirements in Years 1 and 2 consist of a core course in Industrial Relations and Human Resources, elective courses, and courses in research methods and statistics.

  • Students must take the equivalent of 4.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • The core requirement in Industrial Relations and Human Resources is met by completing:

      • IRE3004H Special Topics in Employment and Industrial Relations.

    • The research and statistics requirements are met by completing:

      • IRE3002Y Research Seminar I

      • IRE3003H Research Seminar II

      • RSM3062H Methods and Research in Organizational Behaviour

      • 1.0 FCE in statistics, chosen, with the approval of the PhD Coordinator, from selected offerings in other departments and Faculties.

    • In cases where a student's prior academic background may have covered any of the courses listed above, substitutions may be permitted with the approval of the PhD Coordinator.

    • 1.0 FCE is chosen from the elective courses set out below or from selected offerings in other departments and Faculties.

  • A comprehensive examination is normally written by January 31 of Year 2. It is designed to encourage students to broaden their understanding of industrial relations and human resources, to demonstrate analytical and methodological abilities, and to address current policy issues. The examination is four to five hours in length and graded as Pass/Fail. It is normally set by four faculty members and students must answer one of two questions submitted by each of them.

  • A student who fails the first attempt at the exam will be permitted one more attempt. Failure of the second attempt will result in a recommendation for program termination.

  • Intensive work on the dissertation will also begin in Year 2 of the PhD program. The thesis topic and name of supervisor must be submitted no later than March 31 of Year 2.

  • Students who are in Years 3 and 4 must enrol in the following courses:

    • IRE3005H Workshop in Industrial Relations I (Credit/No Credit)

    • IRE3006H Workshop in Industrial Relations II (Credit/No Credit).

  • Students will have achieved candidacy upon successful completion of the program requirements above at the end of Year 3 of study.

  • Proficiency in French and/or other languages will be required when the student's supervisor deems it necessary for dissertation research or when CIRHR deems it necessary for the student's area of research.

  • Thesis and a Doctoral Final Oral Examination on the thesis.

  • The program is available only on a full-time basis and normally has a two-year residency requirement, during which time the student is required to participate fully in the department's activities associated with the program.

Program Length

4 years

Time Limit

6 years

 

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources' additional admission requirements stated below.

  • Students who hold a bachelor's degree in industrial relations or human resources may be considered for admission to the PhD if they have exceptional academic standing and have demonstrated quantitative skills and research ability. Students will be required to complete additional courses.

  • Academic performance in courses relevant to the applicant's area of interest, as well as performance in statistics and research methods courses are taken into consideration by the admissions committee.

  • Applicants are required to submit a copy of their results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Although there is no minimum score requirement, performance on the GRE will be taken into consideration by the admissions committee. Test results more than five years old are normally not considered.

  • Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English must write the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The following minimum scores are acceptable:

    • paper-based TOEFL exam: 600 and 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)

    • Internet-based TOEFL exam: 100/120 and 22/30 on both the writing and speaking sections

    • IELTS exam: overall score of 7.0 (Academic), with at least 6.5 for each component.

  • Applicants may be required to appear for a personal interview and/or submit copies of recent academic work.

Program Requirements

  • Normally, requirements in Years 1 and 2 consist of a core course in Industrial Relations and Human Resources, elective courses, and courses in research methods and statistics.

  • Students must take up to the equivalent of 8.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • The core requirement in Industrial Relations and Human Resources is met by completing:

      • IRE3004H Special Topics in Employment and Industrial Relations.

    • The research and statistics requirements are met by completing:

      • IRE3002Y Research Seminar I

      • IRE3003H Research Seminar II

      • RSM3062H Methods and Research in Organizational Behaviour

      • 1.0 FCE in statistics, chosen, with the approval of the PhD Coordinator, from selected offerings in other departments and Faculties.

      • In cases where a student's prior academic background may have covered any of the courses listed above, substitutions may be permitted with the approval of the PhD Coordinator.

    • 4.0 FCEs chosen in consultation with the PhD Coordinator.

    • 1.0 FCE is chosen from the elective courses set out below or from selected offerings in other departments and Faculties.

  • A comprehensive examination is normally written by January 31 of Year 2 in the program. It is designed to encourage students to broaden their understanding of industrial relations and human resources, to demonstrate analytical and methodological abilities, and to address current policy issues. The examination is four to five hours in length and graded as Pass/Fail. It is normally set by four faculty members and students must answer one of two questions submitted by each of them.

  • A student who fails the first attempt at the exam will be permitted one more attempt. Failure of the second attempt will result in a recommendation for program termination.

  • Intensive work on the dissertation will also begin in Year 2 of the PhD program. The thesis topic and name of supervisor must be submitted no later than March 31 of Year 2.

  • Students who are in Years 3 and 4 must enrol in the following courses:

    • IRE3005H Workshop in Industrial Relations I (Credit/No Credit)

    • IRE3006H Workshop in Industrial Relations II (Credit/No Credit).

  • Students will have achieved candidacy upon successful completion of the program requirements above at the end of Year 4.

  • Proficiency in French and/or other languages will be required when the student's supervisor deems it necessary for dissertation research or when CIRHR deems it necessary for the student's area of research.

  • Thesis and a Doctoral Final Oral Examination on the thesis.

  • The program is available only on a full-time basis and normally has a two-year residency requirement, during which time the student is required to participate fully in the department's activities associated with the program.

Program Length

5 years

Time Limit

7 years