Globalization – the international movement of people, goods, and ideas – is remaking NJ and the rest of the world on a daily basis. Immigration, outsourcing of work, and new types of work in an Internet-connected world all have had a huge impact on American workers. Studying how other nations have maintained good jobs in open economies can enable you to help reshape our institutions to operate more effectively in a global environment. We offer this focus either as a concentration within the Labor Studies and Employment Relations major or as a minor!
Careers related to Work, Globalization and Migration
- Globally-placed manager. Studying international/comparative differences in labor and employment relations is excellent preparation for being a manager who works in another nation for a U.S. corporation. Whether you are from the United States or are an international student returning to your country of origin, this focus can allow you to learn about a wide range of labor and employment relations practices, enhancing your ability to deal with employees in whatever nation you are stationed.
- International labor organization, NGO, or government agency staff. Numerous supra-national, governmental or non-profit agencies address how globalization is affecting work. These range from the International Labor Organization, to various International Union Federations, the World Trade Organization, and many U.S. government agencies. Our coursework, especially in combination with an internship, provides excellent background for this work, but you may also need graduate training.
- Immigration advocate or attorney. Worker Centers help immigrant workers with their problems. Other organizations advocate for immigration reform. You can often start these careers with a bachelor’s degree. We have had several students pursue internships for credit in Worker Centers or immigration advocacy organizations in New Jersey. Becoming an attorney, of course, requires going to Law School.
- Labor standards certification specialist. American corporations are being pushed by labor and social justice organizations to certify that their internationally-produced goods are created in conditions that provide for human dignity. Corporations sometimes employ labor standards specialists themselves. More often, they use third parties – NGOs or private consulting firms. Specialized training programs or internships complete preparation for this career path.
For the minor: To complete a minor in Work, Globalization and Migration, six courses are required. You must take (a) One 100-level Labor Studies & Employment Relations course, (b) at least four courses 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 Work, Globalization and Migration, you must fulfill all the requirements of the major, including at least four courses from the list below. Courses in the concentration count toward the major.
Courses specific to the Work, Globalization and Migration concentration or minor:
Must take at least four:
- 37:575:301 Labor Movements and Democracy
- 37:575:302 Comparative Social and Employment Policy
- 37:575:304 Comparative Employment Relations in Wealthy Nations
- 37:575:320 Immigration and Public Policy
- 37:575:321 Immigration Law and Employee Rights
- 37:575:335 Women and Labor Movements: A Global Perspective
- 37:575:336 Employment Relations in Emerging Economies
- 37:575:337 Workers and Multinationals in Global Perspective
- 37:575:355 Current Labor Problems
- 37:575:361 Labor and Corporate Restructuring
- 37:575:363 Labor and the Global Economy
- 37:575:366 Asian American Workers in a Global Context
Labor Studies & Employment Relations Faculty Involved in this Area
David Bensman, Professor, Ph.D., Columbia
Dorothy Sue Cobble, Professor II, Ph.D., Stanford
James Cooney, Assistant Teaching Professor, J.D., Miami
Janice Fine, Associate Professor, Ph.D., MIT
Rebecca Givan, Associate Professor, Northwestern
Tamara Lee, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Cornell
Ming-Wei Liu, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Cornell
Carmen Martino, Instructor, M.A., Rutgers
Sanjay Pinto, Post-Doc, Ph.D., Harvard
Saul Rubinstein, Professor, Ph.D., MIT
Tobias Schultz-Cleven, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., California (Berkeley)
Sue Schurman, Professor II, Ph.D., Michigan
Saunjuhi Verma, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Chicago
For more information contact our undergraduate advisors Amy Marchitto at lobelo@smlr.rutgers.edu or 848-932-8559 and Talia Schank at talia.schank@rutgers.edu or 848-932-1749 or the Director of Student Services, Akhila Naik at an332@rutgers.edu or 848-932-1981.