MS Labor Studies - Union Leadership and Activism for Educators at University of Massachusetts Amherst

Programme overview

ULA for Educators is a limited-residency, part-time route to the MS in Labor Studies for people with a bachelor's degree who work in pre-K through higher education, scheduled around a school-year calendar. It is described as the only graduate programme of its kind in the US.

Faculty: College of Social and Behavioral Sciences | Department: Labor Center | Duration: 2.5 years part-time | Intake: July (residency) and January (online semester); deadlines April 1, 2027 for July 2027 and October 1, 2026 for January 2027 | Study mode: full-time | Location: Amherst, MA, United States

What you will study

Students attend three 10-day July residencies on campus and take two 10-week remote spring courses (February to mid-April, with weekly synchronous evening sessions). Topics include public sector labor law, public policy, organizing, strategic research, collective bargaining and the economic and historical context of public education unions. The degree comprises six residency courses plus two remote courses and a capstone paper.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

ULA for Educators: open to anyone with a bachelor's degree who works in pre-K through higher education. Labor Studies MS (all tracks, Labor Center): complete the UMass Graduate School online application and meet Graduate School admission requirements; all undergraduate degrees are accepted. Submit a personal statement (interest in labor studies, unions, building power or organizing; relevant background; career goals), unofficial transcripts from all previous universities where at least nine credits were completed, an updated resume, and two letters of recommendation. International students must take the TOEFL. GRE is not required but is considered if submitted. Deadlines: April 1, 2027 for July 2027 admission and October 1, 2026 for January 2027 admission (online semester); applications accepted on a continuing basis depending on space.

Requirements published at program group level.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Intake: July (residency) and January (online semester); deadlines April 1, 2027 for July 2027 and October 1,

Duration: 2.5 years part-time

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