Manhattan College now offers an undergraduate program in labor studies starting January 2011. The program honors Brother Justin Brennan, a pioneer of labor education at the college who led the labor-management relations department in the school of business. In addition, he ran a Social Action Forum for 10 years that brought together representatives of management, labor, government, faculty and clergy to examine the pertinence of the social doctrines of the Church.
“As part of our Lasallian tradition, we are committed to social justice for all and this will be further exemplified through the future work of Manhattan’s labor studies graduates,” said Joseph J. Fahey, Ph.D., program director and professor of religious studies.
The labor studies curriculum was developed by an interdisciplinary program committee to educate students on the rapidly changing workplace in a global economic climate, including the rights of workers and the place of workers’ associations in an international context. The program teaches critical intellectual skills enabling students to analyze social policy questions and prepare for graduate studies and/or careers in government, labor law, union organization, human resources, teaching, and more.
“I am delighted that labor studies has been added to the already strong group of interdisciplinary majors offered by the school of arts at Manhattan, which include peace studies, the first such program in New York state, along with international studies and urban affairs,” said Richard K. Emmerson, Ph.D., dean of the school of arts.