Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Labor Studies Minor


Director: Michael Hillard (Economics) mhillard@maine.edu

Committee: Lydia Savage (Geography-Anthropology) lsavage@maine.edu

The minor in labor studies examines many aspects of work and workers but focuses especially on the relationships among individual lives, work, class processes and dynamics, and capitalist development. The minor in labor studies addresses the practical problems of work, workers, and their organizations as well as broad conceptual and theoretical issues including, but not limited to, the relationships among labor, work, and class; a critical examination of class processes and dynamics; a critical examination of capitalist development; the intersections of class with race, ethnicity, gender, and generation; and historical perspectives on all of these topics.

The minor is an interdisciplinary program drawing on faculty and courses from economics, geography, history, arts and humanities, and sociology. Courses provide substantive knowledge of these disciplines and will help to develop critical thinking and analysis skills, writing and oral communication skills, and social science and historical research methods.

Because nearly every individual and organization deal with employees and work, there is constant demand for graduates with understanding and abilities in this area. Students will be prepared for careers in the private sector, labor unions, social services, and all levels of government.

Program Requirements


The minor in labor studies is available to students in any major within the University. Students wishing to pursue the minor must be in good standing with the University and submit a Declaration of Minor form to the USM Registrar’s Office.

Select five of the following courses (15 credits):

One must be “international”


chosen from among the following:

Finally, students can apply no more than 6 credits from their major toward the minor in labor studies.