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School of Labour Studies

Faculty of Social Sciences

COVID-19 information and updates

Find the most recent updates here, as well as FAQs and information for students, faculty and staff.

Department of Anthropology

Discover Your Focus

Research

The School of Labour Studies conducts cutting-edge research on domestic and international labour issues. We are leaders in community-engaged scholarship, collaborating with unions, community organizations and policy-makers. Our research helps make work better for everyone.

Undergraduate Programs

An interdisciplinary program where work is studied as one component of a larger life experience that includes family life, community relations, gender relations, and state policy.

Graduate Programs

Canada's leading program studying contemporary work, workers and social justice movements. We offer both an exceptional master's program as well as North America's on PhD in Labour Studies.

Certificate Programs

The world of labour is constantly changing. That's why the School of Labour Studies has partnered with both the Hamilton District Labour Council and Unifor to offer two unique labour studies certificates designed to provide the most current labour education.

Latest News & Events

Latest News & Events

'Ontario’s long-term care response is still lacking' - Dr. Judy Fudge

Dr. Judy Fudge recently published in TheStar discussing the lingering issues with Ontario's long-term care response in light of COVID-19.
Apr 17, 2020

Labour Studies Students Create Public Website to Explore Inequalities in Various Industries

Our undergraduate students are amazing. Under the guidance of Dr. Tommy Wu, students in the Work and Racism course engaged in a semester-long scaffolded project to explore the racial and gendered dynamics of various industries (nursing, teaching, janitorial services, and etc.) in Canada.
Apr 06, 2020

A message from Dean Hurley to the Faculty of Social Sciences

"You have shown immense diligence in your response to COVID-19 thus far. Thank you for working hard to create the supports needed for the next few weeks. I ask for your continued patience as we strive to adapt to this continuously evolving situation."
Mar 15, 2020

Basic Income Report in the Star: 'Did free cash drive people to quit work? Not according to a new study of Ontario’s basic income experiment'

the Star had an exclusive article highlighting the outcomes of a report co-authored by McMaster faculty in the School of Labour Studies and partners at Ryerson University.
Mar 06, 2020

CBC: 'People kept working, became healthier while on basic income: report'

Basic Income report profiled on CBC Hamilton news.
Mar 06, 2020

Access Southern Ontario’s Basic Income Experience Report

The self-reported outcomes of participants help shed light on basic income’s potential as a policy instrument to alleviate poverty and raise the standard of living of individuals in today’s precarious labour market. This research study uncovered several interesting and useful findings.
Mar 04, 2020

Learn about our Programs

B.A. Bachelor of Arts in Labour Studies

Our BA program is innovative and interdisciplinary in nature. The McMaster School of Labour Studies is widely recognized as among the best in the world. In their classes our students engage with the many and varied issues that animate our contemporary worlds of work.

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Hons.B.A. Honours BA Labour Studies

Our Honours BA graduates have high rates of success in securing careers in labour law, community development, Industrial relations, health & safety, lawyer, mediator,  disability case worker, civil servant, community development, policy analysis, teaching, occupational health and safety, labour research and labour organizing. Honours students are required to complete either an honours thesis or a field experience. Field experience allows them to sharpen their research skills while gaining practical experience working for a union, government agency or private employer.

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Hons.B.A. Combined Honours BA in Labour Studies

Students graduate with a double major in Labour Studies and another subject.

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Minor Minor in Labour Studies

Work is central to our health (physical and mental), our economic well-being, our society and our economy. In short work affects everyone. The minor in Labour Studies is a strong complement to almost any undergraduate degree program. It provides an interdisciplinary and well rounded view of our contemporary worlds of work.

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M.A. Master of Arts in Labour Studies

The prime objective of this unique program is to introduce students to a variety of theoretical approaches and practical policy debates related to work and workers, both globally, and in Canada. Courses focus on a broad range of topics such as: union organizing; globalization and migration; labour geography; worker health and safety; and gender, racialization and work. The M.A. in Labour Studies approaches work broadly, paying attention to informal work, unpaid work in the home, as well as formal waged work. Regardless of the particular focus, work is studied as one component of life experience, and as influenced by technological change, community relations, the effects of racism, sexism, homophobia, and ableism, politics, and state regulation.

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Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy in Labour Studies

The only such degree in North America, the PhD program engages closely and critically with the issues of work and labour in contemporary and historical perspective. The program aims to develop a new generation of scholars prepared to contribute to research leadership in the academy, the community, policy arenas and organizations representing working people. As a small interdisciplinary program, students will enjoy strong mentorship from leading scholars in the field and benefit from the strong union and community connections of faculty.

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U.Cert. The Labour Studies Joint Certificate with the Hamilton & Brantford District Labour Councils

The McMaster School of Labour Studies offered its first certificate courses in 1976. We currently offer a Certificate in Labour Studies as well as two joint certificates in partnership with the Brantford and Hamilton and District Labour Councils.

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U.Cert. Unifor-McMaster Labour Studies Certificate

Unifor-McMaster Labour Studies courses are designed specifically for Unifor members. Education has an important role in building a knowledgeable membership and workplace leadership. The Unifor-McMaster program is designed on a learning approach that is built upon a commitment to participants that translates into respect for prior experience, skill and activism

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