Welcome to Labor and Employment Studies at SFSU
The Labor and Employment Studies program provides students with an introduction to and understanding of the study of labor and employment relations, broadly defined.
Over the past few decades, the study of labor and employment relations has expanded significantly to include new topics that did not previously exist as areas of academic inquiry: globalization and employment relations, international labor standards, human rights and labor standards, corporate social responsibility and corporate codes of conduct, monitoring and accountability frameworks, global supply and value chains, corporate governance and employment relations, “decent work,” equality and diversity at work, labor and “global cities,” employment relations in emerging economies, high-performance work systems, global corporations, and global unions.
Our Programs
-
- Major
- Minor
Career Paths
Graduates of the Labor and Employment Studies Program go on work in a wide range of purpose-driven jobs across the public and private sector, and many of them held internships while completing their studies, which opened doors to meaningful career opportunities after graduation.
Read about the varied career paths some of our graduates have chosen
Internship Opportunities
During their studies and after graduation, students pursue careers in a variety of organizations. These include Worker Centers, which advocate for some of the most vulnerable workers in industries where health and safety violations, wage theft and other labor issues are common. Students also work with Labor Organizations and Local Unions, as well as Local, State and Federal Government Labor Agencies.
Learn more about the organizationsTop Employers
Our Labor Studies students and graduates are making an impact across a wide range of organizations dedicated to workers' rights, labor advocacy, and social justice. Below are some of the many employers who have hired our students and alumni for internships and full-time positions.
| Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance | Chinese Progressive Association | Northern California Carpenters Council |
| Bay Area Black Worker Center | CSU Employees Union | Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, City and County of San Francisco |
| Benchling | International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers | Pride At Work |
| Cal/OSHA | La Raza Centro Legal | Service Employees International Union |
| California Federation of Labor Unions | Legal Aid at Work | UNITE HERE Union |
| California Labor Commissioner's Office | National Labor Relations Board | US Department of Labor |
| California Nurses Association | National Union of Healthcare Workers | Young Workers United / Trabajadores Unidos |