In addition to studying the foundational theories in the field of industrial relations and human resource management, students design and conduct rigorous research, analyze and report their findings, and develop the skills needed to disseminate their findings through scholarly publications in 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. Throughout the program, students also develop their teaching skills by working as teaching assistants and teaching their own courses.

The doctoral program is designed for full-time students. Part-time students will be considered under special circumstances. Detailed descriptions of the expectations we have for full-time and part-time students can be found by following the link to "Policies and Guidelines." Our goal is to qualify students for future employment as college or university faculty or for positions in other research institutions. Students who are interested in other types of career paths (e.g., consulting, human resources specialist for large organizations) should apply for admission to the Master of Labor and Employment Relations and/or the Master of Human Resource Management.

The Ph.D. in IRHR is offered by the Graduate School-New Brunswick in conjunction with the School of Management and Labor Relations. The diverse and distinguished Ph.D. faculty is drawn primarily from the School of Management and Labor Relations (SMLR); it also includes faculty members in others schools and departments throughout Rutgers University, including economics, history, political science, psychology, and other professional programs.