There are many schools that offer master's degrees in labor law, and each curriculum is slightly different from the others. However, there are some similar courses that can be found in the core curriculum of nearly all of the degrees out there. Some of these core courses include labor management, employee rights, social statistics, collective bargaining, labor economics and negotiations. These courses form the core of the knowledge that is necessary to become a professional in labor law.
The time that it will take to complete a master's degree in labor law varies based on the student's experience, previous degrees and schedule. For instance, the Master of Industrial and Labor Relations degree at Cornell University requires 48 credits, which can be taken in a two-year period if the student has a law degree or MBA. The Master of Arts in Employment and Labor Relations from Indiana University of Pennsylvania requires 36 credit hours for completion.
Within this wide spectrum of school-side requirements are student-side choices, such as enrolling full-time or part-time in school. Some students opt for in-class learning, and others need to earn their degrees through distance education. These factors contribute to the length of time a typical master's degree in labor law will take.
A master's degree in labor law is not a replacement for law school. It is often a complimentary degree that designates a student of law as a specialist in labor law. However, a student may opt to get her Master's Degree in Labor Law without a law degree. A student may either complete the law degree later or user her labor law degree to get a job as a union, employer or employee advocate in the workforce.
Within a labor law program leading to a master's degree, students can choose to specialize even further. Some areas of concentration include dispute resolution, international labor, health services, government agencies, labor market policy, service organizations, collective representation and public management. Each of these specializations prepares students for different careers within labor law.
There's a wide variety of careers open to successful graduates who hold a Master's of Labor Law degree. Within an industry, professionals can act as a union steward, an industrial employer representative, a labor organizer, a professor of law, a government bureaucrat or an arbiter.