Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management
Study in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management (IR&HRM) equips students with essential skills and knowledge to build a career in the ‘people’ function in organisations and in many policy fields. Students examine the major HR functions and roles across the employment lifecycle including recruitment and selection, remuneration and reward, performance management and employee training and development. This is balanced with the study of industrial (or employment) relations, which covers changes at work, the role of institutions such as trade unions, and builds an understanding of how work is regulated through contracts, legislation and bargaining.
Options for studying Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management
Major and minor in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management
Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management is available as both Table A major and minor options in the Bachelor of Commerce, the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Advanced Studies, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws, the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce and the Bachelor of Advanced Computing and Bachelor of Commerce.
The Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management major and minor are also available to students not enrolled in a Commerce degree through the shared pool (Table S) - see the Interdisciplinary studies handbook for details.
Please note. Students cannot complete both a major and a minor in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management for their degree.
The requirements for the major and minor in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management can be found in the Unit of study table.
Honours in Work and Organisational Studies
Honours study in work and organisational studies is available to eligible students who complete Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management or Management and Leadership major. For eligibility requirements and details of the admissions application process, students should refer to the Current Students Honours page.
The units of study required for Honours in Work and Organisational Studies can be found in the Honours unit of study table.
Major learning outcomes
On successful completion of the Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management major students will be able to:
| Major learning outcome |
|---|
| 1. Explain key theories, concepts, approaches and current trends in human resource management and industrial relations to inform decision-making. |
| 2. Identify the economic and political factors that influence employment relationships and contemporary workplaces. |
| 3. Identify misconceptions or alternate views in classical theories of management and assess when to apply alternative techniques in a variety of organisational contexts. |
| 4. Communicate professionally by using academic writing techniques and appropriate terminology. |
| 5. Apply comparative methods to explain how globalisation has impacted the evolution of work and employment relations in different countries and indicate future trends. |
| 6. Identify cultural differences in employment relationships and utilise this knowledge to optimise teamwork and group collaboration. |
| 7. Analyse implications of management techniques for different groups in society, across different disciplines and functions of an organisation. |
| 8. Apply a range of empirical examples to demonstrate the complexity of leadership, management and employment relations in various economic, historical and geographical contexts. |
| 9. Critically reflect on individual and team performance and evaluate feedback from industry practitioners and academic experts. |
Further information
For further information regarding study in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management at the University of Sydney, please refer to the Study human resource management and industrial relations page.
