Labor Studies

About the Major

Labor studies is an interdisciplinary field that deals with work, the workplace, and workers and their organizations. You will learn about the rapidly changing conditions of work within a national and global perspective and how to respond to the challenges faced by labor institutions. Labor studies will teach you to value the well-being of workers and how to support, strengthen, advocate, and promote the development of the labor movement. This completely online major will prepare you to assume leadership roles in the workplace and in communities (IU School of Social Work, 2017).

Skills and abilities this major develops include: advocating, critical thinking, supporting individuals, and communication skills.

Engaged Learning Experiences

Regardless of your major or future career, engaged learning is vital to your present and future. It makes you more marketable for jobs and professional schools upon graduation, it enables you to build deeper connections with faculty and staff in your field of study, and it makes your learning personal by connecting your interests and values with the curriculum from your classes. Check out the three ideas below for places to get started, or learn more at IUPUI’s Institute for Engaged Learning website.

Career Services

The Indiana University School of Social Work Career Services Department offers a variety of tools to assist students at every stage of their career path. Services are available to both students and alumni.

Student Outreach Clinic

The Indiana University School of Social Work – Student Outreach Clinic (IUSSW-SOC) is a student-led free clinic where social work students provide social services to patients in the Near Eastside.

Social Workers for Social Justice

Social Workers for Social Justice (SWSJ) equips social work degree seeking students for social work practice rooted in social justice.

Opportunities After Graduation

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2017), the employment of labor relations specialists is projected to decline by 8% through 2024 due to a decreasing number of labor unions. Human resources specialists are expected to see an increase in the job outlook by 5%, which is the national average.

For the May 2019 graduating cohort, the average starting salary for IU School of Social Work graduates was $35,100, and the median salary was $32,000. The median starting salary for liberal arts graduates and for graduates who studied social work was $50,000 for the class of May 2019, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE, 2020).

(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)

Labor studies majors often pursue advanced degrees in the following areas: business administration, higher education, law, and human resources.

Major Possibilities

Sample Coursework

American labor history
Labor law
Contemporary labor problems
Workplace discrimination
Union organizing
Collective bargaining
Employees with disabilities

Possible Careers

Affirmative action coordinator
Employee benefits manager
Employment counselor
Labor relations manager
Training specialist
Union staff representative

Where could I work?

Business development
Cummins
Human resources
Operations
State of Indiana

Complementing Interests

EEnterprising

CConventional

SSocial

Get your interest code

Where to Get More Information

Department of Labor Studies

National Labor Relations Board

International Labor Organization

Arts, Humanities, and Human Services Cluster

This major is part of the Arts, Humanities, and Human Services (AHHS) cluster. The AHHS cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in art and design, education, general studies, journalism, liberal arts, and social work. The AHHS cluster partners with students on their academic advising and career plans to guide them into their degree-granting schools.

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