Bachelor's Degrees in Labor & Employment Relations

The Labor Studies and Employment Relations (LSER) Department offers two undergraduate degrees, one for students enrolled in the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences – the B.A. in Labor Studies & Employment Relations – and one for students enrolled directly in the School of Management and Labor Relations – the B.S. in Labor and Employment Relations.

The B.A. and B.S. degrees both explore work – how work shapes our society, how work is changing today, and what issues work poses for all of us as employees, employers, and citizens. Both provide multiple perspectives, ranging from how to manage people well, to understanding how working people can address the problems they face, and to how society can improve work.

Both degrees offer a path to a variety of careers.  Majors get helpful support from SMLR’s Career Services team.  Please see our Minors and Concentrations for examples of jobs this major could lead too. High-achieving students in both the B.A. and the B.S. are eligible for the 5-year joint Bachelor’s/Master’s program – apply in your Senior year.  Both the B.A. and B.S. degrees require 120 credits to graduate.

The B.A. in Labor Studies & Employment Relations

• Best for traditional students already in SAS or another School in Rutgers–New Brunswick
• SAS students declare the degree by going to mymajor.sas.rutgers.edu
• 36 credits are required in the major; 6 of these may be other social science courses
• The following major courses are required:
  • An introductory course (100 or 110)
  • An upper-level theory course (395)
  • A capstone experience or course (an internship; an independent study or a course from a specific list of 400-level courses).
• Students fill the general education (Core) requirements of Rutgers–New Brunswick
• Students must have a minor or second major

The B.S. in Labor & Employment Relations

• Designed for returning adults, transfer and other non-traditional students
• Students are admitted to the School of Management and Labor Relations (SMLR)
• Students fill SMLR’s transfer-friendly general education requirements
• 36 credits are required in the major; 6 of these may be other social science courses
• The following major courses are required:
  • An introductory course (100 or 110)
  • Employment law (315)
  • An upper-level theory course (395)
  • A research methods course (401, 403, 404 or other statistics/methods course)
  • An internship for credit from the department, or previous work experience
• A minor or second major is optional

Meet Our Alumni

Click on the profile links below to read about where some of our students are now.