Labor Studies | LSTU
P Prerequisite | C Co-requisite | R Recommended
I Fall Semester | II Spring Semester | S Summer Session/s
- LSTU-L 100 Survey of Unions and Collective Bargaining (3 cr.) A survey of labor unions in the United States, focusing on their organization and their representational, economic and political activities. Includes coverage of historical development, labor law basics, and contemporary issues.
- LSTU-L 101 American Labor History (3 cr.) A survey of the origin and development of unions and the labor movement from colonial times to the present. The struggle of working people to achieve a measure of dignity and security will be examined from social, economic and political perspectives.
- LSTU-L 110 Introduction to Labor Studies: Labor and Society (3 cr.) This course will introduce students to the interdisciplinary and advocacy approach of labor studies. Exploring labor's role in society, the class will look at how unions have changed the lives of working people and contributed to better social policies. Discussions will highlight the relationship of our work lives to our nonwork lives and will look at U.S. labor relations in comparative framework.
- LSTU-L 104 Introduction to the Study of Labor History (3 cr.) What can be learned from labor history? This class explores both central issues as well as historical methodologies looking at primary and secondary sources, considering bias and interpretation. Focusing on a few central questions and events, this class serves as an orientation for the study of labor history.
- LSTU-L 190 Labor Studies Degree (1 cr.) Required for all DLS majors. This course will provide an introduction to the Labor Studies degree. The knowledge and skills needed by students to progress toward a degree in a reasonable time frame. Students will learn how to build a plan of study that takes advantage of both credit for prior learning and new learning opportunities.
- LSTU-L 199 Portfolio Development Workshop (1 cr.) Emphasis on developing learning portfolios as foundation documents for academic self-assessment and planning and as applications for self-acquired competency (SAC) credit. Applies only as elective credit to labor studies degrees.
- LSTU-L 200 Survey of Employment Law (3 cr.) Statutes and common law actions protecting income, working conditions, and rights of workers. Topics include workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, fair labor standards, social security, retirement income protection, privacy and other rights.
- LSTU-L 201 Labor Law (3 cr.) A survey of the law governing labor-management relations. Topics include: the legal framework of collective bargaining; problems in the administration and enforcement of agreements; protection of individual employee rights.
- LSTU-L 203 Labor and the Political System (3 cr.) Federal, state and local governmental effects on workers, unions, and labor-management relations; political goals; influences on union choices of strategies and modes of political participation, past and present; relationships with community and other groups.
- LSTU-L 205 Contemporary Labor Problems (3 cr.) An examination of some of the major problems confronting society, workers, and the labor movement. Topics may include: automation, unemployment, international trade and conglomerates; environmental problems, minority and women's rights; community relations; changing government policies.
- LSTU-L 210 Workplace Discrimination and Fair Employment (3 cr.) Examines policies and practices that contribute to workplace discrimination and those designed to eliminate it. Explores effects of job discrimination and occupational segregation. Analyses Title VII, the American with Disabilities Act, and related topics in relation to broader strategies for addressing discrimination.
- LSTU-L 220 Grievance Representation (3 cr.) Union representation in the workplace. The use of grievance procedures to address problems and administer the collective bargaining agreement. Identification, research, presentation and writing of grievance cases. Analysis of relevant labor law and the logic applied by arbitrators to grievance decisions.
- LSTU-L 230 Labor and the Economy (3 cr.) Analysis of the political economy of labor and the role of organized labor within it. Emphasis on the effect on workers, unions, and collective bargaining of unemployment, investment policy, and changes in technology and corporate structure. Patterns of union political and bargaining response.
- LSTU-L 231 Contemporary Labor Issues: Globalization and Labor (3 cr.) This course explores the globalization of trade, production, and migration and the effects of these processes on American workers. Through reading, discussion, and problem formation, students will critically think about the ways global processes and policies impact American workers' daily lives and explore alternatives to these policies.
- LSTU-L 240 Occupational Health and Safety (3 cr.) Elements and issues of occupational health and safety. Emphasis on the union's role in the implementation of workplace health and safety programs, worker and union rights, hazard recognition techniques, and negotiated and statutory remedies—in particular the OSH Act of 1970.
- LSTU-L 250 Collective Bargaining (3 cr.) This course emphasizes development and organization of collective bargaining in the United States, including union preparation for negotiations; bargaining patterns and practices; strategy and tactics; economic and legal considerations.
- LSTU-L 251 Collective Bargaining Laboratory (1-3 cr.) Designed to provide collective bargaining simulations and other participatory experiences in conjunction with L-250.
- LSTU-L 255 Unions in State and Local Government (3 cr.) Union organization and representation of state and municipal government employees, including patterns in union structure, collective bargaining, grievance representation, and applicable law.
- LSTU-L 260 Leadership and Representation (3 cr.) Organizational leadership issues for the union, community, and other advocate organizations. Analyzes leadership styles, membership recruitment and leadership development. Examines the role of leaders in internal governance and external affairs including committee building, delegation, negotiations, and condition building.
- LSTU-L 270 Union Government and Organization (3 cr.) An analysis of the growth, composition, structure, behavior and governmental processes of U.S. labor organizations, from the local to the national federation level. Consideration is given to the influence on unions of industrial and political environments; to organizational behavior in different types of unions; and to problems in union democracy.
- LSTU-L 280 Union Organizing (3 cr.) Explores various approaches and problems in private and public sector organizing. Traditional approaches are evaluated in light of structural changes in labor markets and workforce demographics. Topics range from targeting and assessments to committee building and leadership development.
- LSTU-L 290 Topics in Labor Studies (1-3 cr.) This is a number under which a variety of topics can be addressed in classroom-based programs on the campuses. Courses may focus on contemporary or special areas of labor studies, such as union education: others are directed toward specific categories of employees and labor organizations. LSTU-L 290 can be repeated for credit with different subjects. The transcript will show a different subtitle each time the course is taken.
- LSTU-L 299 Self-Acquired Competency, Labor Study (1-15 cr.) Credit for labor-related competencies demonstrated, assessed, and approved according to established procedures.
- LSTU-L 315 The Organization of Work (3 cr.) Examines how work is organized and jobs are evaluated, measured and controlled. Explores social and technical elements of work through theories of scientific management, the human relations school of management, and contemporary labor process literature.
- LSTU-L 314 Ethical Dilemmas in the Workplace (3 cr.) The course explores the fundamental basis for ethical decision making in a workplace, both unionized and nonunionized. We will discuss specific considerations for making moral judgments within the work environment and explore the basis upon which those decisions are made.
- LSTU-L 320 Grievance Arbitration (3 cr.) P: LSTU-L 220 or with permission of instructor. The legal and practical context of grievance arbitration, its limitations and advantages in resolving workplace problems. Varieties of arbitration clauses and the status of awards. Participants analyze, research, prepare, and present cases in mock arbitration hearings.
- LSTU-L 330 Global Comparisons: Labor Relations-Examples from Three Continents (3 cr.) A political economy framework explores labor relations from at least three continents analyzing diverse approaches to twenty-first century labor law and social policy. It focuses on the role of organized labor in the global economy, enforcement challenges of labor and employment law, and union and nonunion political and bargaining responses.
- LSTU-L 331 Global Problems: Local Solutions (3 cr.) The course examines local manifestations of global problems confronting society, workers, and labor by analyzing issues, creating solutions/activities to address these issues. Governmental, non-governmental, and charitable organizations that aid with local problems are examined and students design solutions for global situations characterized by flexibility, insecurity, and geographic mobility.
- LSTU-L 350 Issues in Collective Bargaining (3 cr.) This course focuses on selected topics in collective bargaining and will include readings and discussions on workplace issues that may be remedied through the collective bargaining process. A research paper is usually required.
- LSTU-L 360 Union Administration and Development (1-3 cr.) Practical and theoretical perspectives on strategic planning, budgeting, and organizational decision making. Addresses the needs and problems of union leaders by studying organizational change, staff development, and cohesiveness within a diverse workforce.
- LSTU-L 370 Labor and Religion (3 cr.) This course has primarily a historical focus. It looks at the relationship between religion and the labor movement as it developed in the United States over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries. It attempts to uncover the tradition in which workers of faith have connected their religious values to their more secular concerns for social justice.
- LSTU-L 380 Theories of the Labor Movement (3 cr.) Perspectives on the origin, development, and goals of organized labor. Theories include those which view the labor movement as: a business union institution; an agent for social reform; a revolutionary force; a psychological reaction to industrialization; a moral force; and an unnecessary intrusion.
- LSTU-L 385 Class, Race, Gender, and Work (3 cr.) Historical overview of the impact and interplay of class, race, and gender on shaping U.S. labor markets, organizations, and policies. Examines union responses and strategies for addressing class, race, and gender issues.
- LSTU-L 390 Topics in Labor Studies (3 cr.) Advanced courses in areas described under L290. LSTU-L can be repeated for credit with different subjects. The transcript will show a different subtitle each time the course is taken.
- LSTU-L 410 Comparative Labor Movements (3 cr.) This course helps uses historical, analytical, and comparative perspectives to examine labor movements and labor relations in industrial societies. It also emphases interactions between unions and political organizations, national labor policies, the resolution of workplace problems, the organization of white collar employees, and the issues of worker control and codetermination.
- LSTU-L 420 Labor Studies Internship (1-6 cr.) Application of knowledge gained in the classroom in fieldwork experience. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
- LSTU-L 430 Labor Research Methods (3 cr.) Study of research design, methods, techniques, and procedures applicable to research problems in Labor Studies.
- LSTU-L 480 Senior Seminar or Readings (3 cr.) Designed as either a class room seminar or directed reading. This course addresses current issues, historical developments, and other labor related concerns. Topics may vary each semester.
- LSTU-L 490 Topics in Labor Studies (1-3 cr.) Advanced courses, including seminars, geared to specialized labor populations, issues, and areas of discipline. LSTU-L 490 can be repeated for credit with different subjects. The transcript will show a different subtitle each time the course is taken.
- LSTU-L 495 Directed Labor Study (1-6 cr.) A contract course to suit the special and varied needs and interests of individual students. The contract with the faculty member might include reading, directed application of prior course work, tutorials, or internships. Competencies assessed through written papers, projects, reports, or interviews. LSTU-L 495 may be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.