The Employment Relations General Plan (3-year degree) provides job-ready knowledge and skills for exciting and meaningful careers in human resource management and labour relations. Students will develop transferable skills and knowledge that will give them the confidence they need to make a positive impact on any organization, in any industry.

What will I learn?

  • A solid foundation in the field of employment relations:
    • Labour Relations 
    • Human Resource Management
    • Organizational Behaviour
    • Labour Policy
    • Employment Law
    • Collective Bargaining
  • Communication  and presentation skills
  • Leadership
  • Innovation and creativity
  • Critical thinking
  • Conflict management and negotiation

What career opportunities will I have?

The Employment Relations General Plan complements a number of career paths; it provides in-demand skills designed to set you apart in any field. Whether you choose medicine, engineering, education, philosophy, commerce, media or law, the job market will always be in need of graduates who can communicate clearly, empathize with others, think independently, and analyze and solve problems.

Who can apply?

There is no direct entry into the Employment Relations BA General plan.  Current Queen's undergraduate students can choose this option after the first year of study. The BA General plan (with sufficient electives to total 90 units) will lead to a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Program Structure

A total of 90 credits are required to complete the Employment Relations - BA General (3-year) degree. 30.0 core units, plus 60.0 elective units.

Core courses (Required) - Students are required to take 6 units (2 courses) at the 100 level:

  • EMPR 100 (3.0 units): Introduction to Employment Relations (
  • EMPR 110 (3.0 units): Workplace Communication and Interpersonal Skills

The remaining 24 units (8 courses) can be selected from the following plan categories:

  • 9.0 units (3 EMPR courses) at the 200-level
  • 9.0 units (3 EMPR courses) at the 200-level or above
  • 6 units (2 courses) at the 300-level from EMPR courses or approved EMPR substitutes from other academic departments.

Current EMPR substitutes include the following pre-approved courses:

  • ECON 361/3.0; GNDS 321/3.0; DEVS 311/3.0; SOCY 336/3.0; SOCY 305/3.0

ELECTIVES (60.0 UNITS) - 60.0 additional units selected from all course offerings.

Degree Plan Admission Requirements

For more information on admissions visit the Faculty of Arts and Science Academic Calendar Admission Regulations page.

What is the difference between a 3-year vs a 4-year degree?

3-year degrees consist of 90.0-units; 4-year honours degrees require 120.0-units. Many honours degree plans require upper level seminar courses that are not currently designed for online studies. 4-year programs also tend to be more competitive.

A General degree is not aimed at providing students with direct access to graduate-level studies. Depending on the program, many graduate-level programs require a 4-year 120.0-unit Honours degree. If you are considering graduate level education, it is recommended that you research programs to determine if a 3-year General degree is acceptable for admission.