Students who graduate with an undergraduate major in labor studies and employment relations may be able to complete a master's degree in labor and employment relations on an accelerated timetable. When they enter the program, undergraduate labor studies and employment relations majors may waive as many as 9 credits of graduate work normally required for the advanced degree. In addition, they may be able to take two graduate courses while they are still undergraduate students. If these two courses are creditable beyond the 120 credits needed to obtain the B.A. degree, they may be counted toward the graduate degree.

Thus, students who attend on a full-time basis, get a waiver for the 9 credits, and take two graduate courses while they are enrolled as undergraduates can finish the graduate program in one year beyond the normal four undergraduate years. Students who are interested in this option should speak to the graduate program director as early as possible in their undergraduate studies. The sooner students indicate that they wish to pursue the five-year program, the sooner they can receive advice on how to plan their schedules. Without careful planning, students may have difficulty completing the program in five years.