UA Local 1 Associate Degree Program

‌‌‌The United Association Local 1 in New York City has established a partnership with the Harry Van Arsdale, Jr. School of Labor Studies at SUNY Empire State College to enable members and apprentices to earn an Associate in Science in Labor Studies degree.

Educational Requirements

An Associate in Science degree requires 64 credit hours, of which 32 must be in liberal arts and at least 24 must be earned through SUNY Empire. Local 1 apprentices and journey workers apply 40 credits of their ACE-evaluated apprenticeship or other college-level study toward meeting the requirements of an Associate in Science degree in Labor Studies. This fully transferable degree can be used as a basis for further study at any 4-year college.

General Education Credits

To satisfy the SUNY general education requirements, associate degrees must include courses in seven areas, including: mathematics, science, other world civilizations, social science, American history, humanities, and basic communication. The ACE evaluation determined that two general education requirements – mathematics and science – are met in the apprenticeship program. Taking six courses through the Harry Van Arsdale, Jr. School of Labor Studies fulfills the remaining general education requirements.

Program of Study for the Associate in Science Degree

There are six required courses for the Associate in Science degree. Each course is worth 4 credits.

College Writing and Effective Communication
Labor and Management in the Pipe Trades
Literature and Society
Arts and the Trades or Critical Reading Strategies
United States History
Class, Race, and Gender in Modern Society or Global Civilization

For more information about the UA Local 1 associate degree program, contact James McMahon, coordinator of student services, at 646-230-1355 or james.mcmahon@esc.edu.