Bachelor of Arts in Employment and Labor Relations

Wayne State's bachelor's employment and labor relations (BAELR) cultivates a deep understanding of the intricate dynamics shaping the modern workplace. This comprehensive curriculum blends theory and practical application, exploring the intersections of law, sociology and organizational behavior to provide students with a well-rounded perspective on employment relations.

Engage in thought-provoking coursework that covers topics such as labor market trends, negotiation strategies and the evolving landscape of workplace legislation. Through experiential learning opportunities, internships and collaborative projects, students gain hands-on experience, honing their skills in conflict resolution, employee advocacy and policy analysis. Our experienced faculty guide you through the complexities of employment relations, fostering critical thinking and preparing you to become effective advocates for fairness and equity in diverse work environments. Join a vibrant academic community that values social responsibility and prepares graduates to be leaders in the ever-evolving world of employment and labor relations.

Admissions

Depending on experience and academic preparation, students can be admitted with a high school diploma, a General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.) or by transferring from a community college or university.

Learn more about

• Program learning objectives

  Knowledge and skills

  Students master the knowledge and skills to become professional leaders in the field of employment and labor relations and human resource management to earn successful careers in business, labor, or government. They will demonstrate knowledge of basic concepts in the areas of human resource management, collective bargaining and the role of unions and the state in employment and labor relations. Such knowledge will be assessed through a short answer assessment instrument.

  Verbal and oral presentation skills

  They will be able to make clear, professional, substantively meaningful presentations that address questions and problems relevant to the audience. Their proficiency in oral presentations will be assessed through an evaluative instrument applied to their class presentations on their career development plans.

  Career development

  Students develop plans for career enhancement and work toward acquiring relevant knowledge and skills. These plans will identify realistic goals, steps that can be taken to realize the goals and how the ELR program can help them meet the goals. Students will also monitor their progress and report on progress as part of their plans of study to their academic advisor.

  Apply critical thinking

  Students will apply critical thinking to analyze important problems in the field of employment and labor relations. Such thinking involves specifying important problems or questions (e.g., what impact do human resource management compensation policies have on pay equity?); framing how you would collect data to analyze the question and analyzing the data and reporting the results.

• Transfer of credit

  In most cases, credit earned at a community college and other colleges and universities is transferable to the employment and labor relations degree program. This includes related courses offered by area community colleges.