Capstone courses offer UCLA Labor Studies graduating students the opportunity to be exposed to and connect with labor-related community organizations, worker centers, labor coalitions, or labor government agencies, through an applied-research and community engagement experience. 

Labor Studies Capstone Pathways

Completing one of the choices below as your capstone requirement represents the culmination of your undergraduate journey in the Labor Studies Program:

Option 1: Academic Year Capstone Sequence 
LBR STD 191A (Winter) LBR STD 191B (Spring)
Option 2: Community Scholars Program
LBR STD M190A (Fall)    LBR STD M190B (Winter) LBR STD M190C (Spring)
Option 3: Labor Summer Research Internship Program
LBR STD 191A (Summer Session B3) LBR STD 191B (Summer Session C3)

*Should neither of these 3 options work for you due to extenuating circumstances, ie. conflicting course schedules, or a Winter quarter Degree Expected term, please follow up with Gloria Chan, Labor Studies SAO, as soon as possible.

To download a 1-pager with all Capstone Options, go HERE

Academic Year Capstone Sequence 

These courses are designed for Labor Studies majors who have Senior Standing. Students will need to be well-versed in Labor Studies and have an understanding of Los Angeles’ movements, past and present. Students must have completed Labor Studies 10 and Labor Studies 101 in advance of the capstone or enroll in 101 concurrently with 191A.

Option 1: Worker Justice & Community-Engaged Research – Winter & Spring 2025

Class format: 2 hours and 50 minutes, once a week, in-person

  • Winter 2025 – LBR STD 191A (4 units)
  • Spring 2025 – LBR STD 191B (4 units)

Over the course of two quarters, students will work in partnership with a local workers’ justice organization providing support for their ongoing research initiatives and/or campaigns.

The winter quarter curriculum is designed to orient students to the work of their partner organization and introduce them to a variety of community-based research methods. Students will then devise an original research project, either individually or in a research group, that advances the goals and values of their partner organization. Spring quarter will be dedicated to implementing their research proposal in order to complete the final capstone research paper/project in collaboration with their partner organization.

You must first fill out the Capstone Selection, Internship Option and Bio form, in order to verify your eligibility. Once approved, the Labor Studies SAO will contact you and provide you with a PTE number to enroll. 

Specialized Capstone Opportunities

These courses are designed for Labor Studies majors who have Junior or Senior Standing. Please fill out the Capstone Selection, Internship Option, and Bio form to apply and enroll in these programs. Although there are no Labor Studies course prerequisites, students will need to be well-versed in Labor Studies and have an understanding of Los Angeles’ movements, past and present. 

Option 2: Community Scholars Program – Astin Scholars – Winter & Spring 2024

Class format: 2 hours and 50 minutes, once a week, online

  • Fall 2024 – LBR STD 190A (4 units) 
  • Winter 2025 – LBR STD 190B (4 units) 
  • Spring  2025 – LBR STD 190C (4 units)

The Community Scholars Program was launched in 1991 to bring together community leaders and UCLA undergraduate and graduate students to study pressing policy issues in Los Angeles. Using applied research, participants develop a product that aims to impact local policy to further social justice. In the past, students have worked on projects related to transborder labor solidarity, education, immigration, housing, health in South Los Angeles, and green jobs.

Undergraduates participate in this course as part of the year-long Astin Community Engaged Scholars Program through the UCLA Center for Community Engagement, in partnership with the UCLA Labor Center, Labor Studies, and the Institute for Research on Labor & Employment. Those chosen to participate for the 3 quarters will receive a research scholarship during the 2024-25 academic year of up to $10,000. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the major, have junior or senior standing in the fall of 2024 and if chosen, will need to enroll in a 4 -unit upper division course during Fall, Winter and Spring. 

This upcoming academic year (2024-25), students chosen as Astin Community Scholars will collaborate with university students at the National Autonomous University in Mexico (UNAM) in a unique online bi-national, bi-lingual, three-quarter program that explores how migration, transnational solidarity, and rapid expansion of digital technologies are shaping working conditions and labor politics in Mexico and the U.S. Interpretation and translation will be provided (ability to speak Spanish not required).

To view previous Community Scholars Programs, go HERE. 

You must first fill out the Capstone Selection, Internship Option and Bio form, in order to be eligible and be selected to receive a research scholarship during the 2024-25 academic year of up to $10,000  YOU WILL NOT NEED TO SUBMIT AN ADDITIONAL APPLICATION VIA THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. 

If chosen, the Center for Community Engagement will reach out via email to schedule an interview. and make final cohort selections.

Option 3: Labor Summer Research Program (LSRP) – Summer 2024 or 2025  

  • Summer Session B3 – LBR STD 191A (4 units) 
  • Summer Session C3 – LBR STD 194C (4 units)

Students engage in applied research focused on the social, economic, and political context of workers and learners, or students who attend college in Los Angeles County and also work at the same time.

During this 6-week program, students will assess the intersections and experiences of workers and learners, and how they navigate barriers and opportunities in fulfilling their academic, career, and life goals. Students will receive training on the development, analysis and dissemination of surveys and interviews. 

For more information about LSRP, go HERE. 

You must first fill out the Capstone Selection, Internship Option and Bio form, in order to verify your eligibility. Once approved, the Labor Studies SAO will contact you and provide you with a PTE number to enroll. 

If you have questions or would like to discuss which capstone option works best for you, feel free to email laborstudies@irle.ucla.edu or sign up for a virtual or on-campus appointment with Gloria Chan, Labor Studies Student Affairs Officer.