Accelerated Master of Science Degree in Labor Studies

The Labor Center offers a new accelerated Master of Science degree in Labor Studies. Admission is open to juniors or seniors at UMass and the Five Colleges.The student's bachelor's degree can be in any discipline, as long as the student has some background related to Labor Studies.  The MS is an interdisciplinary degree that draws on such fields as sociology, political science, economics, and anthropology.  The requirements for the accelerated program are:

• Total of 36 graduate-level credits including required courses and electives
• Students typically complete at least nine credits in Labor Studies while working on their BA degree
• Students complete a required internship in the summer after completing the BA degree, and earn six credits for summer research and writing
• Students typically complete the remaining 21 graduate credits during their fifth year.

The core curriculum includes required courses including: Labor Research, Labor Law, Labor History, Organizing, and Labor in the U.S. Economy. Electives are offered in a wide range of fields within Labor Studies and in other affiliated disciplines including Sociology, Economics, History, Public Health, Education, and other departments and programs within the University.  Students’ precise courses of study are planned in consultation with their advisors, to fit their individual needs and interests.