| Labor Studies & Employment Relations |
Diversity in the Workplace Concentration or Minor.
Do you have a passion for understanding the situation of, and improving the treatment of, a particular group of Americans – such as Asian Americans, teen-age women, Haitian immigrants, or people with disabilities? There is much to learn about how to achieve social justice for everyone by studying the struggles of various diverse groups in the workplace and in society. We offer this focus either as a concentration within the Labor Studies and Employment Relations major or as a minor!
Careers related to Law and the Workplace
- Diversity specialist. Diversity professionals work in all types of organizations. They not only help ensure compliance with state and federal laws, but they also help employers foster the talent present in all of their employees. A Master of Labor and Employment Relations degree or a Graduate Certificate in Diversity and Workplace Inclusion, offered by SMLR, prepares students for higher-level jobs in this field; the undergraduate program in Labor Studies & Employment Relations is a good place to start.
- Public policy advocate. There are a variety of interest organizations representing the needs of various groups in our society: immigrants, the disabled, women, African-Americans, Muslim-Americans, and so on. Work related issues are hugely important to all these different groups, and individuals with a background in workplace diversity will be a valuable resource for these organizations.
- Public agency staff. Specialized public agencies exist to enforce the law on discrimination at various levels of government. These range from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Some staff jobs are open only to attorneys but others may be filled by individuals with a Bachelors or Masters degree. Obtaining a degree with a focus on diversity in the workplace will make you a stronger candidate for these positions.
- Attorney. Attorneys work in law firms, corporations, unions, other employee-rights organizations, and government or non-profit institutions like universities. Many deal with discrimination-related law or immigration law – some on behalf of plaintiffs and some on behalf of defendants. Labor Studies & Employment Relations provides an excellent preparation for Law School, and an eventual career as an attorney specializing in these areas.
For requirements,
For the minor: To complete a minor in Work Organization and Management, six courses are required. You must take (a) One 100-level Labor Studies & Employment Relations course, (b) one course in category A and three in category B from the list below, and (c) one other course at the 200 level or higher offered by the Labor Studies and Employment Relations Department.
For the major concentration: To complete a concentration in Diversity in the Workplace, you must fulfill all the requirements of the major, including one course in category A and three or more courses in category B from the list below. Courses in the concentration count toward the major.
Courses specific to the Diversity in the Workplace concentration or minor:
A. Must take at least one:
37:575:315 Employment Law, or
37:575:316 Employment Discrimination Law
B. Must take at least three
37:575:303 Black Workers in American Society
37:575:307 Latino Workers in the U.S.
37:575:309 Working Women in American Society
37:575:315 Employment Law
37:575:316 Employment Discrimination Law
37:575:320 Immigration and Public Policy
37:575:321 Immigration Law and Employee Rights
37:575:335 Women and the Labor Movement: A Global Perspective
37:575:364 Diversity in the Workplace
37:575:365 Disability, Work and Society
37:575:366 Asian American Workers in a Global Context
37:575:367 Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
37:575:368 Professional Development Strategies
Labor Studies & Employment Relations Faculty Involved in this Area
Vik Advani, Assistant Teaching Professor, JD, Rutgers-Camden
Dana Britton, Professor, PhD, Texas
James Cooney, Assistant Teaching Professor, JD, University of Miami
Janice Fine, Associate Professor, PhD, MIT
Carla Katz, Assistant Teaching Professor, Seton Hall
Tamara Lee, Assistant Professor, PhD, Cornell
Carmen Martino, Assistant Teaching Professor, MLER, Rutgers
Anne-Michelle Marsden, Assistant Teaching Professor, MS, Florida State
Yana Rodgers, Professor, PhD, Harvard
Lisa Schur, Professor, PhD California
Naomi Williams, Assistant Professor, PhD, Wisconsin
For more information contact one of the following:
Amy Marchitto Talia Schank Prof. Paula Voos
Undergraduate Advisor Undergraduate Advisor Academic Program Director
lobelo@smlr.rutgers.edu talia.schank@rutgers.edu pbvoos@smlr.rutgers.edu
848-932-8559 848-932-1749 848-932-1748