Labour Studies

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The School of Labour Studies offers an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Labour Studies. Both programs are offered on a full-time and part-time basis. The prime objective of the M.A. program is to introduce candidates to a variety of theoretical approaches and policy debates that relate to the question of working in modern societies —from working for wages in industrial, service and informal settings, to the unpaid and social necessary work that maintains households. The Ph.D. program offers an opportunity for candidates to conduct advanced research and prepares them for work in academia, public policy and/or advocacy. Both programs draw on labour process theory and political economy, and adopt an intersectional approach that highlights how colonialism, racism, the sex-gender system and capitalism structure work experience and worker agency.

Email:  lsgrad@mcmaster.ca

Phone: 905 525-9140 Ext. 24692
Website: http://labourstudies.mcmaster.ca

Faculty / Fall 2026

Professors

Associate Professors

Assistant Professors

David Goutor, B.A. (UofT), M.A. (UofT), Ph.D. (UofT)
Geraldina Polanco, B.A. (UBC), M.A. (Concordia), Ph.D. (UBC)
Tommy Wu, B.S. (Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh), M.S. (Columbia, New York), Ph.D. (CUNY)

Associate Members

Nibaldo Galleguillos/(Political Science and Global Peace & Social Justice), B.A. (Chile), M.A., Ph.D. (Toronto)
Peter Graefe/(Political Science) B.A. (McGill), M.A. (York), Ph.D. (Montréal)
Stephen McBride/(Political Science) B.Sc. (London), M.A., Ph.D. (McMaster)
Ian McKay/(Wilson Institute for Canadian History) B.A., M.A. (England), Ph.D., LL.D., FRSC, (Dalhousie)
Sean O’Brady/(Political Science), B.A. (Montreal), M.A. (Carleton), PhD. (Montréal)
Robert J. O’Brien/(Political Science) B.A. (Carleton), M.Sc. (London), Ph.D. (York)
Geraldina Polanco/(Sociology) B.A. (British Columbia), M.A. (Concordia), Ph.D. (British Columbia)
Tony Porter/(Political Science) B.A. (McGill), M.A., Ph.D. (Carleton)

Adjunct Lecturers

Chantal Mancini/(Social Sciences) B.A. (Western, Ontario), M.A., (Western, Ontario), Ph.D.(McMaster) 

Professors Emeriti

Programs

• Labour Studies, M.A.

• Labour Studies, Ph.D.

• Labour Studies Courses

Return to: Faculty of Social Sciences