M.S. Labor Relations and Human Resources

Admission

Application Deadlines

Deadlines for applications and supporting documents are April 15th for summer admission, July 15th for fall admission, and November 15th for spring admission. Applications received after these deadlines are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Academic Calendar

The M.S. in Labor Relations and Human Resources program is open to students of all educational backgrounds. A four-year college degree is required. Those with social science, history, management, and labor studies majors are especially encouraged to apply, as are those with engineering, nursing, education, urban affairs, African-American studies, and women’s studies backgrounds.

Professional experience in labor relations, human resource management, or leadership roles will carry additional weight in admissions decisions. Your overall GPA will be considered, however, we will also look at your performance in courses most clearly related in subject manner to courses in our program. 

These programs are academically rigorous and therefore we seek students who can meet the challenges of advanced academic work with evidence of:

  • The knowledge and ability to do graduate level work in the required and elective courses in our programs.
  • The ability to conduct high-quality academic research.
  • The potential to contribute to class discussions.
  • A clear understanding of the rigors of a master’s level education.

To apply, complete the online application at the URI Graduate School website. You are able to complete the personal statement, address information, pay the application fee, upload your resume and transcripts, and ask your references to submit their letters of recommendation online.

Application Requirements

  • Application fee
  • Personal statement: This statement should outline your academic and professional background, interests and goals.
  • Writing Sample*
  • College transcripts from all institutions attended (international applicants must show equivalency to a US bachelor’s degree by an evaluation from WES or other translation company). —Official paper transcripts: Sent to: GradCAS Transcript Processing Center, PO Box 9217, Watertown, MA 02471 —Unofficial electronic transcripts can be uploaded
  • Two letters of recommendation. These letters should focus on your ability to do graduate level work, your ability to contribute to the program, your motivation to complete the program, or your ability to work cooperatively.
  • Professional Resume
  • Certificate of Residency for RI residents or qualified regional applicants. All Residency forms and supporting documentation must be emailed as PDFs to the Graduate School at urigrad@etal.uri.edu
  • If English is not your native language, you’ll need to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores (taken within the last two years). A minimum score of 91 for TOEFL under the new IBT-Internet Based Test or 575 under the paper-based testing, and minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS is required. The URI Designated Institution Code for TOEFL is 3919.
  • Please note, neither the GRE nor GMAT is not required for admission.

*Writing Sample: A writing sample is required. Identify a topic related to human resources or labor relations of interest to you (ie., retaining millennials, executive compensation, future of labor movement, right to work, webinars, telecommuting, etc.). Conduct a very brief review of research and writing by experts (3-4 sources) being done on the topic using the internet and online library search engines. This research should reflect what is happening nationally or internationally related to this topic. What is the outlook for this topic in relation to organizations and the workforce? What does it mean? Please use APA format to cite your sources. Type your paper, double-spaced, 12 point font with 1-inch margins. The paper (without citations) should be no more than 600 words. Attach the paper as a PDF to your application package.

Tuition & Fees

Estimated Costs

All Veterans: As a Veteran student you may qualify for in-state tuition. To see if you are eligible, refer to the state’s Residency Policy. Tuition Waivers: Unemployment, Senior Citizen, Disabled Veteran, and RI National Guard Tuition Waivers are available for eligible Rhode Island residents. See waiver eligibility details or call 401.874.9500. For all details on tuition, fees, financial aid and payment options, visit URI Enrollment Services.

Contact

For more information, please contact Dr. Peg Ferguson Boyd