Labor Summer Research Program

This course invites students to become researchers by working collaboratively in a research lab and methods course centered on a real-world, applied research project, gaining experience at every stage of the research process. The course focuses on the social, economic and political realities of working students in Los Angeles County or students who attend college while also working and examines what it means to balance work and school at the same time. In collaboration with the UCLA Labor Center, students explore the intersections of work and school, the lived experiences of workers and learners and how they navigate barriers and opportunities in pursuing their academic, career and life goals.

The course emphasizes principles of research justice and community-engaged research practices. As part of this hands-on research methods training, students design research questions, conduct surveys and interviews, analyze data and share findings with a broader audience. By the end of the 8-unit summer course, students will not only understand research but will have conducted it by producing and disseminating relevant information that matters beyond the classroom. Students build practical skills they can use in graduate school, the workplace and community settings.