Bachelor of Arts in Labor Safety and Health

Important: The School of Labor Studies underwent a comprehensive curriculum review last year and as a result there are changes to the degree offerings, programs, courses and overall requirements. Specific information will be forthcoming on this page by June 1, 2012.

The Labor Safety and Health degree focuses on issues and concerns relating to workplace safety and health. Students in this degree program study policy, standards and union strategies as well as learn technical skills to improve their understanding and application of worker safety and health principles.

Requirements: Students must complete the 5 required core courses in addition to 4 courses from the following categories as explained below: Click here for course descriptions.

Category 1: (Complete at least one)

• Workplace Hazards and the Law
• Industrial Hygiene
• Foundations in Occupational Safety and Health

Category 2: (Complete at least one but no more than three)

• Bioterrorism: Agents and Emergency Response
• Self-Directed Study in Occupational Health and Safety
• Case Studies in Occupational Safety and Health
• Hazardous Materials Transportation
• Chemical Emergency Response
• Collateral Duty Course for Federal Workers

Plus one elective course

Cost

The NLC offers affordable tuition rates:

• $235.00 per credit hour for AFL-CIO affiliated union members and members of Working America, the AFL-CIO’s community affiliate.
• $285.00 per credit hour for non AFL-CIO affiliated union members

School of Labor Studies Major
Requires students to complete 30 credits – 10 required courses of 3 credits each.

Required Core Courses for All School of Labor Studies Degrees

Introduction to Labor Studies - LBCR-4000
This course introduces participants to the required writing and analytical standards of the College. Through course discussions and essays, students critically evaluate recent scholarship  practice and current issues the field of labor studies. (3 semester credits)

Labor and the Economy - LBCR-4600
This course focuses on the breakdown of the post-WWII economic order, the transition to  policies in the domestic and global economies that have been detrimental to labor, and the economic and political dynamics leading to the current global economic crisis. Topics include neoliberalism, globalization, Keynesian economic policies, and the role of labor in  developing social and economic policy. (3 semester credits)

Comparative Research Methods - LBCR-4700
Comparative Research Methods is a required course for completion of the Bachelor of Arts degree from the NLC. It is an upper-division course designed to provide student with tools for conducting social science research about various problems in connection with their work and/or their course assignments, including but not limited to the completion of a well written research design for the required Senior Project. The course examines and compares various strategies for data collection and analysis, and provides an understanding of the appropriateness of each research method for addressing specific research problems.  The pre-requisite for registration in Comparative  Research Methods is the completion of most course credits for the B.A. degree, or the verification by the instructor of a work-place problem  which the student is responsible for solving. Course requirements include the submission of a final, well researched and written Methodology paper and the instructor’s review and approval of research instruments, such as interviews, surveys or other qualitative tools, which are indicated by the chosen research methodology strategies. (3 semester credits)

Senior Seminar - LBCR-4800
This course provides an opportunity for students to integrate their cognitive skills by bringing them to bear on a specific topic relevant to their major field of study and work experience. Each  student will choose an aspect of the seminar topics for extensive independent research (Senior Project). Students will present their results in both written and oral form and will be introduced to types of research papers, methodology, and citation forms. Students will be grouped by area of interest and faculty advisor. (3 semester credits) Permission of instructor advisor required.

Senior Project - LBCR-4900
Students are required to complete a Senior Project in conjunction with the Senior Seminar. The project should emphasize the student’s role in the labor movement in conjunction with classroom experience. Students use the Senior Seminar to select a topic and faculty advisor. Both oral and written presentation of the work is presented in the Senior Seminar. (3 semester credits) Permission of instructor advisor required.

Prerequisite course requirements, credit load, and/or course availability may affect a student’s individual progress. Consult an NLC Admissions Counselor at 301-431-5440 for individual program planning.

Course Descriptions

Bioterrorism: Agents and Emergency Response   LBSH-4590
An act of terrorism can occur anywhere, at any minute, when you would least expect it. No jurisdiction–urban or suburban, or rural–is totally immune. Despite our security consciousness, if terrorists intend to wreak havoc it will be difficult to stop them. This course is designed to provide workers with the knowledge and information on how best to respond to such an attack while providing a perspective of the historical, preparedness, response and psychological implications of terrorism and offers several modules designed to identify the biological agents of primary concern to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture which include Anthrax, Smallpox, Tularemia/Plague, and Botulism/Foodborne. (3 semester credits)

Case Studies in Occupational Safety and Health   LBSH-4555
This course is for Health and Safety majors and other interested students and introduces students to occupational health and safety tragedies through case studies of the events. Students will analyze information and determine the root cause of the incidents. (1 semester credit)

Hazardous Materials Transportation  LBSH-4600
Students in this course will be trained to recognize hazardous materials incidents in transportation. Students will learn methods, using multiple resources, of identifying the presence of hazardous materials in an emergency situation and how to initiate the emergency response sequence. This course addresses awareness level training requirements of both OSHA and DOT. (3 semester credits)

Industrial Hygiene   LBSH-4620
In this applied course, students are encouraged to collaboratively develop solutions to their industrial hygiene problems on the job. Industrial hygiene principles will be critiqued. Controversy regarding the use of permissible limits for exposure to hazards will be discussed. Students will learn to use the Internet and other resources to research workplace exposure issues. Solutions to problems on the job and/or case studies will be explored.
(3 semester credits)

Self-Directed Study in Occupational Health and Safety   LBSH-4550
This course is for Health and Safety majors and other students interested in pursuing a selfdirected study (reading and writing) of importance to them in the area of occupational safety and health. Students will work with faculty to determine scope of work and design of work product. (1 semester credit)

Workplace Hazards and the Law  LBSH-4601
This course is intended for students seeking a health and safety major and who want to make a difference in worker safety and health—protecting and preventing co-workers from becoming sick or being injured, or being killed in the workplace. This course examines workplace hazards—how to recognize, identify, and control hazards; workers’ rights and responsibilities associated with these hazards; and how working with unions on issues of safety and health can make a difference. (3 semester credits)