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37:575:100 Introduction to Labor Studies and Employment Relations
Work, workers, and organizations that represent employees; class, race, gender, and work; legal, labor market, and human resource issues.
37:575:110 Work, Society, and the Quality of Life
Work, social class, diversity, and economic opportunity in the context of globalization; civic engagement and collective action to promote opportunity and social justice for all people.
37:575:191,192,193 Short Topics on Work
Brief examination of selected issues with regard to work at a level suitable for first-year college students, as well as those at a higher level of academic preparation; Topics to be announced.
37:575:201 U.S. Labor and Work before the end of Reconstruction
History of work, economic organization, and labor in the U.S. Free and slave labor. Early labor unions and movements in the American context.
37:575:202 History of Labor and Work in the U.S. 1880-1945
Changes in work, its organization, and public policy context. History, philosophy, structure, activities, and impact of U.S. labor unions.
37:575:203 Work and Labor History from 1940 to the Present in the U.S.
Developments in work, labor organizations, and related social movements. Relationship of labor movements to the changing economic, social, and public policy context, including increasing globalization.
37:575:207 New Jersey Labor History
Workers movements in New Jersey, both local and statewide; their relationship to U.S. Labor and working class history from the earliest period to today.
37:575:215 Youth and Work
Youth in the U.S. labor market; working students, internships and unpaid work; job-hopping; and other contemporary concerns. Policies and practices to improve outcomes.
37:575:220 Law for Business and Non-Profit Organizations
Overview of legal essentials for organizations; contracts; torts; organizational forms; property rights; cyber-law; bankruptcy; agency; criminal law; basics of employment/labor law.
37:575:230 People, Work, and Organizations
Contemporary organizational transformations forming the context for how people are managed at work: decline of bureaucracy and predictable internal careers; growth of flexible, knowledge-based systems.
37:575:240 Sustainability, Jobs and Justice
The interconnections between democracy, economy, and the environment; movements for social, economic, and environmental sustainability; the relationship between good jobs and environmental justice.
37:575:250 Finance for Personal and Professional Success
Overview of core financial concepts and techniques useful both at work and in personal life; interest, credit, insurance, investments, present value; and net worth.
37:575:265 Introduction to Disability Studies: History, Rights, Justice, and Inclusion
Introduces perspectives on disability and its relationship to politics, employment, law, media, arts, sports, and built environments, focusing on creating social and economic change.
37:575:294 Avoiding Sexual Harassment
Legal, organizational, and social dimensions of sexual harassment in the workplace; power, gender roles, homophobia, and failed romance; effective prevention or response.
37:575:295 Workplace Violence
Causes, consequences, and prevention of physical violence in the American workplace. Organizational policies that preserve the rights and well-being of all employees.
37:575:297 Religion in the Workplace
Contemporary workplace issues stemming from employee religious diversity. Employee rights, accommodation and inclusion; dominate group privilege, prejudice, discrimination and organizational responses to religious diversity.
37:575:298 Social Media in the Workplace
Issues for organizations and employees stemming from the increased use of social media by individuals. Hiring discrimination, professional image, collective action, ethics, and other concerns.
37:575:300 Writing in Labor Studies & Employment Relations
Construction of a well-written argument in labor studies and employment relations; application of sound writing principles to contemporary labor policy issues; intensive practice.
37:575:301 Labor Movements and Democracy
Labor as a worldwide social and political movement; comparative and historical consideration of how labor can achieve influence in market economies and a better standard of living.
37:575:302 Comparative Social and Employment Policy
Overview of such policy in wealthy democracies; the relationship between state and market; varieties of capitalism and welfare states; social safety nets; family policy; labor movements' role.
37:575:303 Black Workers in American Society
Examination of the historical relationships between African-American workers and the American labor movement; analysis of problems facing Black workers at the workplace.
37:575:304 Comparative Employment Relations in Wealthy Nations
Employment relations systems in wealthy nations; corporate governance; social welfare; global and national labor standards; union-management relations; work organizations; labor policies.
37:575:307 Latino Workers in the United States
Role of Latino workers in U.S. society and the U.S. economy; impact of the new migration on the U.S. labor market and social policy.
37:575:308 Dynamics of Work and Work Organizations
Examination of the social dynamics of economic institutions and their corresponding work relations; corporate organization and union structure; selected problems of technological change; human relations in industry and the changing bases of managerial authority.
37:575:309 Working Women in American Society
Focus on the contemporary experience of working women, including an exploration of current legal strategies and social policies created to address their concerns.
37:575:310 Labor Relations in Professional Sports
Labor relations systems in professional sports in the United States; unique institutional aspects and common features of union-management and employee relations.
37:575:311 Organizational Design and Structure
New and old methods of organizing work and organizations, ranging from hierarchical bureaucracy to contemporary models, emphasizing teamwork and/or flatter or networked structures.
37:575:312 Conflict and Conflict Resolution in the Workplace
How people resolve work-related grievances: bargaining, grievance procedures, mediation, arbitration, demonstrations, strikes, and industrial violence. Examines union and nonunion workplaces.
37:575:313 New Technology and Work
Impact of new technology on work, workers, and society. Emerging technologies like digital platforms, algorithmic hiring, artificial intelligence, and practices like gig jobs.
37:575:314 Collective Bargaining
Comprehensive study of the development of collective bargaining; the nature and scope of contracts; the changing character of collective bargaining processes through negotiation, legislation, the courts, and arbitration; the substantive issues in bargaining, including the implications for public policy.
37:575:315 Employment Law
Overview of employment-at-will and its limitations; wages & hours; medical/family leave; privacy; drug testing; workers compensation; and fundamental anti-discrimination law.
37:575:316 Employment Discrimination Law
Legal, regulatory and public policy approaches to employment discrimination of all types; Title VII, ADA, ADEA, relevant NJ laws, and related court decisions.
37:575:317 Contingent and Nonstandard Work
Issues arising from employment and relationships that have nonstandard aspects; temporary, leased, or part-time employees; independent contractors and owner-operators.
37:575:318 Leadership in Work Organizations
Leadership in work organizations, including unions, non-profit and businesses. Key leadership issues in small groups and large organizations; diversity concerns; leadership development.
37:575:319 Leadership and Governance of Labor Unions
Leadership of all types of labor organizations. Internal management; union politics; relationships with other organizations; use of media; and other key leadership issues. Prerequisite: 100 or 101, or permission of the instructor.
37:575:320 Immigration Public Policy
Immigration and immigrant workers in American society and related public policy debates; history; immigrants in unions and community organizations.
37:575:321 Immigration Law and Employment Rights
Contemporary immigration law in the U.S.; employer compliance issues; employee rights; immigrant employee representation and related policy debates.
37:575:322 American Labor Unions in Politics
Role of the labor movement in the political process from the New Deal to the present, including an analysis of its ideology, its legislative agenda, its political action, and its impact on public policy.
37:575:325 Economics of the Employment Relationship
Fundamentals of labor economics. Economic dimensions of public policies and human resource administration.
37:575:326 Negotiation Concepts and Techniques
Negotiation strategy and tactics; interests and interest-based bargaining, rights, power, leverage, concessions, commitment; application of theory in various work-life contexts; negotiation skill development.
37:575:330 Working Women and the Law
Survey of law affecting women as employees – anti-discrimination, OSHA, and other laws. How law relates to advancement opportunities for women, the glass-ceiling, and employer behavior.
37:575:335 Women and Labor Movements in Global Perspective
How Labor movements around the world are addressing such issues as pay equity, equal opportunity, sexual and racial harassment, work-life balance, and women's leadership.
37:575:336 Employment Relations in Emerging Economies
Changing employment relations systems in nations that are rapidly industrializing; focus on labor movements; labor management relations; labor standards and public policy.
37:575:337 Workers & Multinationals in Global Perspective
Impact of multinationals and global value chains on workers in developing nations. Issue of labor standards; corporate social responsibility; international labor organizations and regulatory approaches.
37:575:338 Occupational Safety and Health
Federal and state regulatory laws and enforcement; the basic issues involved in safety and health at the workplace; and worker, union, and employer response to the issues.
37:575:340 American Labor Law
Examination of the present legal arrangements governing the conduct of labor relations in the United States; historical development and impact of common law, legislative statutes, and court decisions on the growth of the labor movement.
37:624:345 Organizational Behavior and Work
Behavior by individuals and groups in the workplace; group and inter-group dynamics; organizational culture, structure, and change; leadership, employee motivation, job performance, and feedback.
37:575:350 Public Sector Collective Bargaining
Study of employer-employee relations in the public sector; federal executive orders and state and municipal legislation regulating public employers and employee organizations; procedures for bargaining unit certification, representation, and recognition; dispute resolution techniques.
37:575:355 Current Labor Problems
A selected number of labor and employment issues that have particular relevance in contemporary society.
37:575:357 Social Movements, Social Change, and Work
The theory and practice of social movements and social change, particularly those related to work; the prospects for current and future mobilization.
37:575:359 Organizing for Social Change
Theory and practice of community organizing for social change for labor and community groups; membership building; leadership development; strategy development; community power analysis; campaign planning.
37:575:360 Union Organizing
Introduction to, and critical analysis of, union organizing strategies and tactics.
37:575:361 Labor and Corporate Restructuring
Study of how management efforts to decentralize organizational structures and reduce employment levels affect industrial relations, work and workers, skill levels and training needs, and productivity and the macro-economy.
37:575:362 The Work-Education Connection
What do workers need to know to be prepared for the jobs being generated by the global economy? How do the American secondary and higher education systems prepare workers for changing jobs?
37:575:363 Labor and the Global Economy
Changes in the global economy and their effects on the living standards and bargaining power of American workers and their unions. Alternative strategies for dealing with globalization.
37:624:364 Diversity in the Workplace
Focuses on how the increasing demographic diversity of American workplaces affects social relations, cultural dynamics, and organizational effectiveness.
37:575:366 Asian American Workers in a Global Context
Social structures affecting Asian American workers; contemporary and historical immigration policies; stereotypes and other problems; racialized employment; inequality and achievement; differences by nation origin.
37:575:367 Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
Nature of emotional intelligence and its effects on employee performance and organizational success; research on development of emotional intelligence; self-awareness and self-development.
37:575:368 Professional Development Strategies
Best practices in professional development; organizational strategies for addressing employee retention, work/life balance, wellness, communication, and other matters related to employee development.
37:575:375 Benefits and Social Insurance
Overview of benefits with a focus on social insurance systems, health insurance, and pensions. Relevant issues for employers, employees, unions, and public policy.
37:624:376 Corporate Governance, Power, and Control
Corporate governance and the impact of corporations on society; boards of directors; executive compensation; principal-agent/stakeholder theories; issues for labor and the public.
37:575:377 Democratic Workplaces
Democracy within the firm, employee ownership, and coops; approaches to economic democracy; political and economic theory; case studies; and related career tracks.
37:575:378 Solving Labor Problems through Social Entrepreneurship
Concepts and skills for starting non-profit organizations or businesses addressing problems of employees and their families; innovative business models; venture plans; critical and supportive perspectives.
37:575:385 Finance for Organizational Leadership
Quantitative financial and accounting techniques in organizations used for cost analysis and performance decisions. The class is for non-financial leaders in profit and nonprofit organizations.
37:575:391,392,393,394 Issues in Work
Brief examination of selected issues in labor and employment relations; topics to be announced.
37:575:395 Perspectives on Labor Studies
In-depth study of the classic works on the nature of labor, the relationship of work to other social functions, and the relationship between workers and management.
37:575:396,397 Concerns at Work
Examination of contemporary issues related to work; topics to be announced.
37:575:480,481,491,492,493 Topics in Labor Studies
In-depth examination of particular topics concerning work organization, worker problems, or worker organizations.
Open only to labor studies majors who have completed at least 15 credits of labor studies coursework.
37:575:401 Research Methods in Labor Studies
Overview of both quantitative and qualitative research methods commonly used in the study of labor problems.
37:575:402 Research Corporations and Industries
Overview of methods used to investigate the competitive situation/prognosis of an industry's employers, profitability, sales, employment, wages, and unionization; strategic corporate research.
37:575:403 Problem-Solving Tools at Work
Applied analytical and statistical tools for solving problems at work, surveying employees, and maintaining quality. Projects are individual/group and spreadsheet-intensive.
37:575:404 Creating and Administering Surveys
Issues for online, mail, telephone, and in-person surveys given their intended use. Samples: item construction; scaling; measurement validity & reliability; improving response rates; ethical research.
37:575:407 Workers' Movement in New Jersey
Examination of workers' movements at state and local levels in New Jersey, using library resources, interviews, participant observations, and movement archives. Research results document the development of the New Jersey labor movement.
37:575:450 Senior Seminar in Labor Studies
Open to labor studies majors with senior standing, except by special permission.
In-depth study of a labor studies topic. Intensive reading and discussion designed to integrate student experiences in the labor studies major. Topics vary.
Open only to labor studies majors who have completed at least 21 credits of labor studies coursework.
37:575:490 Internship in Labor Education (BA)
Students work under the supervision of individual faculty members and other experienced labor educators to develop and/or teach courses and workshops. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
37:575:494,495 Independent Study and Research (BA, BA)
Individual reading and research project under the guidance of a labor studies faculty member on a topic of interest to the student. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
37:575:496,497 Internship in Labor Studies (BA, BA)
Students work as staff members in a labor union or labor-related organization (public or private), in an industrial relations unit in private industry, or as employees in a position that permits observation of and participation in a labor union at the grassroots level. Allows students to apply conceptual knowledge learned in the classroom to actual situations and to acquire new skills and knowledge. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
37:575:498,499 Honors in Labor Studies (BA, BA)
Individual research and reading project under the guidance of a member of the department.
Prerequisite: Permission of department. Open only to honors students.
Courses from other Rutgers–New Brunswick departments counting towards the Labor Studies and Employment Relations major.
For more information, contact our Program Director, Paula Voos, pbvoos@smlr.rutgers.edu. You can contact our Student Advisers, Anuja Rivera at anujab@smlr.rutgers.edu or Bill Bailey at william.bailey@rutgers.edu.
Contact Us
Anuja Rivera
Student Counselor
Email
848-932-1749
Bill Bailey
Student Counselor
Email
848-932-8559
Paula Voos
Director
Email
848-932-1748
