This is a graduate research and writing seminar with the goal of completing a final "capstone" project to fulfill the requirements for the Master's degree in Labor Studies. The goal of the seminar is for each student to research and write a significant original paper that could be published or presented at a professional conference, identical in quality to a Master's degree thesis. Required readings for the course focus on the process of researching, writing, and editing a graduate-level paper.

Most people in the labor movement, whether rank-and-file, staff, or elected official, have had some experience organizing. Some may have worked on new organizing drives. Others have urged members to become more active in an existing union. Still others have worked on electoral campaigns on behalf of labor-endorsed candidates. Rarely, however, do we have the opportunity to step back and learn the theory behind and research on organizing. Why do we organize? Why organize in certain ways but not others? Why do some organizing drives succeed while others fail?

This course focuses on the dynamics of social change change through collective direct-action campaigns as well as the process of leadership development. Three primary questions are explored: why people organize, what are the distinctive qualities and skills involved with organizing, and what is entailed in becoming a good organizer.

This course explores contemporary developments in political economy and their impact on the structure and quality of work in the U.S. The first part of the course surveys broad trends in the American economy (i.e. the growth of the service industry and nonstandard work) and popular discourse about labor exploitation and "bad" jobs. The second part of the course traces how we arrived at this point in history by examining four key processes - globalization, deregulation, financialization, and new technologies in the workplace, such as AI and algorithmic management.

The evolution and current status of labor and work in the U.S. Examines multiple perspectives on workers, unions, workplace systems, and worker rights. (Gen.Ed. I, DU)

The evolution and current status of labor and work in the U.S. Examines multiple perspectives on workers, unions, workplace systems, and worker rights. (Gen.Ed. I, DU)

This course will examine the role of women at a variety of workplaces from historical, economic, sociological, and political points of view. Among areas considered: discrimination, health care, women in the labor movement and in management, and civil rights legislation. (Gen. Ed. SB, DU)

In this course, students will learn advanced level Korean language through Pre-modern Korean history. Students will achieve deeper understanding of Korean culture and society through a lens of history. Students will read the main course materials in Korean and discuss major events and the meanings of them in the context of Korean history. Along with the written text material, various types of media will be used such as movies, literature, songs, news, pictures and the television and radio programs, etc.