The Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations (LSER) is a long-standing, multi-disciplinary social science program that focuses on work, employment, and the employment relationship. Its has three central missions—to offer high quality undergraduate and graduate degree programs, to engage in scholarly research on a range of employment-related subjects, and to conduct outreach education programs for unions and other organizations interested in the employment relationship. The Department draws its faculty from numerous fields, including economics, geography, history, industrial relations, human resources, law, management, organizational behavior, and sociology.

The Department’s undergraduate degree program is one of the largest in the United States, providing Penn State students with the opportunity to earn a B.S. or a B.A. degree with a major in Labor and Employment Relations. A minor is also available to students from other majors. In addition, the Department offers a high quality Masters of Science in Human Resources and Employment Relations. This graduate program has a very impressive student placement record.

LSER faculty members are productive scholars whose work is published by major academic journals and leading academic presses. The Department’s research program in the area of work and family has been recognized nationally and internationally. Two LSER faculty also recently completed work on a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant that looked at the experiences of women in the information technology workforce. Additional areas in which Department faculty are conducting research are contemporary union administration and government, dispute management and resolution, employment and employment relations in the health care sector, and the changing career needs of professional workers.

The Department’s extension program provides education and training opportunities to union leaders and activists. These programs are designed to help labor organizations represent their members more effectively in the workplace. The Department sponsors annual conferences on occupational safety and health, labor arbitration, and other union-related topics. LSER’s outreach efforts also include online, distance education courses that enable students to take LSER courses where they live or work.

LSER has an active and committed alumni organization that works closely with the Department. In 2002, the Department celebrated its 60th Anniversary with an Alumni Symposium.