Welcome to the Division of Labor Studies!

  

Hello, you maybe asking yourself what is Labor Studies?

Labor Studies is an interdisciplinary field that deals with work, the workplace, and workers and their organizations. It draws from the fields of history, economics, industrial relations, political science, law, sociology, communication, and philosophy, as well as other disciplines. As an academic discipline, Labor Studies’ educates workers and future workers to strengthen the labor movement and provide a richer understanding of its functions in society. Our faculty teach the essential tools for the advancement of trade unionism with the view that working people’s efforts to achieve workplace equity is central to the development of our nation and, indeed, the world.

As a program, Labor Studies enables participants to serve more effectively as members and leaders in their organizations. Participants can also gain a sense of the past and present contexts of work and unionism. Because labor leaders need to be familiar with economics, communications, and other subjects, Labor Studies can assist them in mastering a broad range of learning.

As a student working toward a Labor Studies degree or certificate, you'll receive a well-rounded education. You'll take a core of required courses in Labor Studies as well as required electives in Arts and Humanities, Science and Mathematics, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

A degree in Labor Studies can be very useful to you. Indiana University Labor Studies alumni hold a multitude of positions, including the following: union president, bargaining committee chairperson, education director for an international union, director of organizing, union staff representative, occupational health and safety inspector, labor journalist, labor lawyer, labor educator, National Labor Relations Board staff member, executive director of a nonprofit organization, and community organizer.

The Division of Labor Studies also offers an extensive noncredit program, the Union Education Program (UEP). UEP open enrollment courses and conferences are available to workers in communities throughout the state; they are offered in local union halls, on the various campuses of Indiana University, and on the campuses of other educational institutions.

We look forward to working with you,

 

Dr. William Mello

Assistant Professor

Indiana University Kokomo

Division of Labor Studies