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About UCLA Labor Studies

The Labor Studies program offers UCLA undergraduates an opportunity to learn about the workplace and the social, political, and economic forces that influence it. The program places emphasis on the labor market, public policy, employment relations, unions, and working-class movements. It also explores issues of race, class, and gender in the workplace.

By critically analyzing the theory and practice of current workplace issues, students develop a deeper understanding of the relationships between their education and society at large and how they, as college graduates, can transform the nature of work.  The program offers:

  • Labor Studies Courses provide students with high quality academic coursework and applied research skills around the current and future state of work in the US and abroad. For a complete list of courses offered in the Labor Studies, please view our course listings after the requirements section.
  • The Labor Summer Research Program is a research seminar with fieldwork; a way to augment traditional classroom-based learning with experiential learning in a community setting with direct engagement in labor and workplace issues. This summer program offers students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in an applied research experience focused on the Los Angeles labor movement that is leading national efforts to promote social justice for working people.
  • Service-Learning opportunities offered through the Labor Studies program engage students with professionals, community activists, and the public to gain critical perspectives on the program’s core subjects.

REQUIREMENTS

Labor Studies Major Requirements (Effective Fall 2019) 

To be admitted to the Labor Studies major, students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 with at least 12 units completed at UCLA, and must have completed all non-language Labor  Studies preparation courses. These courses can overlap for two majors, without any limitation.

  • 1 Required Lower Division Course: LBR STD 10 
  • 2 Elective Lower Division Courses. Select from: AF AMER 1, M5, ASIA AM 10, 20, 40, 50, CHICANO 10B, GENDER 10, GEOG 4, HIST 2B, 8B, 12A, 12B, 12C, HNRS 82, POL SCI 60, PUB PLC 10A, 10B, SOCIOL M5, 51, SPAN 44, and related courses (by petition).
  • Required Core Course: LBR STD 101 (4 Units)
  • 4 Labor Studies Electives (16 Units)
  • 5 Elective Upper Division Courses (20 units) Select from: AF AMER CM113, M173, ASIA AM 113, M116, CHICANO M125, M127, M128, 129, ECON 150, 151, GENDER 102, M137E, M163, HIST 141B, 146A, 146B, 146C, M150C, LBR STD 100SL, M114C, M116, M117, M119, M121, M122, M123, M125, 126, M127, M128, M134SL, M136, 140, M144, M149, 152, M165, M166A/B/C, M167, 168, M170, M171, M172, M173, 174, M175, M176, 177, 179A/B, M180, 181, 182A/B/C, 187, 188, 189, 189HC, 191, 194A/B, 195A/B, 199, POL SCI 116A, M180A, PUB PLC 141 ,145, SOCIOL 157, M163, 171, 173, and related courses (by petition).
  • 2 Capstone Research Courses  (8 units) Select from the following capstone options:
    • Option 1: Fall 2022 – LBR STD 194A: Internship (4 units) and Winter 2023 – LBR STD 191A: Research Seminar (4 units)
    • Option 2: Winter 2023 – LBR STD 194A: Internship (4 units) Spring 2023 – LBR STD 194A: Internship (4 units)
    • Option 3: Summer LBR STD 191A (4 units) and LBR STD 194C (4 units): Labor Summer Research Program
    • Option 4: Fall-Spring:  LBR STD M190A-M190C: Astin/Community Scholars
      • The program is 12 units (4 each quarter); 8 of the units will go towards the capstone and 4 of the units will go towards Labor Studies Electives or Elective Upper Division Courses
    • Capstone be taken in 2 consecutive quarters, and the enrollment is via a contract course. For more information, download the Major Capstone Requirement document and contact Liz Espinoza by appointment.

Note: A maximum of 20 upper division units (typically 5 courses) can overlap and be in common between two majors. This applies to major requirement courses only, and not preparation for the major courses.

Each major requirement course must be taken for a letter grade, and students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better.

Transfer applicants to the Labor Studies major with 90 or more units must complete as many of the following introductory courses as possible prior to admission to UCLA: one interdisciplinary labor history or one social structure and contemporary conditions course related to labor and/or social movements.

Labor Studies Minor Requirements (Effective Fall 2019)

To be admitted to the Labor Studies Minor, students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 and have completed 45 units at UCLA.

Students must complete 28 units from the approved and/or related courses with no more than 8 units of lower division and no more than 8 units can be applied to a major and/or another minor.

Please note that students who declared the Labor Studies Minor before Fall 2019, do not need to fulfill the LBR STD 101 Course requirement, but need to complete 28 units.

New UCLA students: In order to be eligible to declare a minor, new students must complete their first quarter at UCLA with at least 12 units and a minimum 2.0 term and cumulative GPA. This means that new student are eligible to declare the minor in the beginning of their second quarter at UCLA.

  • 1 Required Core Course: LBR STD 101 (4 Units)   

Note: Students who declared the Labor Studies Minor prior to Fall 2019, do not need to fulfill this required core course. It is optional, but need to complete 28 units total.

  • 6 Elective Courses (24 Units)     

Select from: AF AMER CM113, M173, ASIA AM 113, M116, CHICANO M125, M127, M128, 129, ECON 150, 151, GENDER 102, M137E, M163, HIST 141B, 146A, 146B, 146C, M150C, LBR STD 100SL, M114C, M116, M117, M119, M121, M122, M123, M125, 126, M127, M128, M134SL, M136, 140, M144, M149, 152, M165, M166A/B/C, M167, 168, M170, M171, M172, M173, 174, M175, M176, 177, 179A/B, M180, 181, 182A/B/C, 187, 188, 189, 189HC, 191, 194A/B, 195A/B, 199, POL SCI 116A, M180A, PUB PLC 141 ,145, SOCIOL 157, M163, 171, 173, and related courses (by petition).

Note: Each minor course must be taken for a letter grade, and student must have a minimum grade of C (2.0) in each and an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better.

COURSE OFFERINGS

View full list of Labor Studies Courses:

Please note that enrollment in Labor Studies courses (LBR STD) is restricted to Labor Studies students during 1st pass. The enrollment restriction will be lifted for 2nd pass.

If you have questions about coursework and requirements, please feel free to book an academic advising appointment.

Book Your Academic Advising Appointment

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