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Labour Studies Minor
Program Requirements
Students complete 24 units comprised of the following.
Lower Division Requirements
Students complete nine lower division units including
Introduction to key concepts necessary for understanding the character and organization of work in contemporary society. The discussion of such issues as how our society decides who works, what the work will be, and under what conditions people work, will be situated in the context of current debates, trend and issues.
and the remaining six untis chosen from the following.
Basic analysis of the labor market and the industrial relations system with emphasis on the major issues of public policy in Canada. Prerequisite: ECON 103 or 200 and 105 or 205. Students who have taken COMM 280, ECON 301, 305 or 381 may not take BUEC 280 for further credit. Quantitative.
An introductory study of Canada's political economy, stressing the interrelated nature of Canada's economic and political life. The course focuses on current economic problems and policies, taking into account the geographical, historical and political environments. Topics include the resource and industrial structures, research and development, the public sector, fiscal and monetary policy, the role of the state, trade and foreign ownership, energy, regional disparity, corporate concentration and the political economy of federalism. This course is identical to POL 223 and students cannot take both courses for credit. Equivalent Courses: POL223.
The principal elements of theory concerning utility and value, price and costs, factor analysis, productivity, labor organization, competition and monopoly, and the theory of the firm. Students with credit for ECON 200 cannot take ECON 103 for further credit. Quantitative/Breadth-Soc.
An introduction to the social and participatory basis of Canadian politics, covering topics such as political culture, regionalism and other political divisions, political parties, elections, interest groups and new social movements. Prerequisite: POL 100 or 101W or 151 or permission of department.
An introductory study of Canada's political economy, stressing the interrelated nature of Canada's economic and political life. The course focuses on current economic problems and policies, taking into account the geographical, historical and political environments. Topics include the resource and industrial structures, research and development, the public sector, fiscal and monetary policy, the role of the state, trade and foreign ownership, energy, regional disparity, corporate concentration and the political economy of federalism. Recommended: POL 100 or 101W. This course is identical to CNS 280 and students cannot take both courses for credit. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Upper Division Requirements
Students complete 15 upper division units including
This course will give students a comprehensive understanding of the contemporary structure, issues, and perceptions of labour unions and other forms of working-class organization. It will focus on external and internal problems that the labour movement faces, such as labour law and state policy, employer strategies, bureaucracy, racism and sexism. The treatment of labour in the media and popular culture will provide an understanding of how labour is viewed in society, how labour views itself, and how working-class culture informs and is informed by the larger culture. Recommended: LBST 101.
The remaining 12 units chosen from the following:
Examination of the day-to-day administration of various employment systems in both unionized and non-unionized settings. Employment systems have implications for how conflicts between employee and employer interests are resolved, for the attainment of due process in the workplace, and for the flexibility and efficiency of work organization. Characteristics and outcomes of various employment systems will be examined. Prerequisite: BUS 381 and 360W; 60 units.
Negotiation is the art and science of securing agreements between two or more parties that are interdependent and who are seeking to maximize their outcomes. The purpose of this course is to understand the theory and processes of negotiation as it is practiced in a variety of settings. The course will allow participants the opportunity to develop these skills experientially and to understand negotiation in useful analytical frameworks. Prerequisite: BUS 272, 360W, and either 374 or 381; 60 units. Students with credit for BUEC 485 may not take BUS 485 for further credit.
Interpersonal and group behavior in organizational contexts, including group development, team building, interpersonal communications, interpersonal conflict, group problem-solving and decision-making. Prerequisite: BUS 360W, BUS 374 or 381; 60 units.
Topics will include the content, quality and character of jobs that involve computer supported cooperative work systems, the influence of managerial goals and workplace relations on the design and choice of computer supported cooperative work systems, issues arising in developing and implementing computer supported cooperative work systems, and using data which results from their use. Prerequisite: 75 units including CMNS 253 (or 253W). Recommended: CMNS 353 and 362.
Analysis of leading issues in Canadian economic history. The historical experience of other areas will be examined when useful contrasts can be made. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or 301; 60 units.
Analysis of the economics of the labor market with particular emphasis on wage determination, the concept of full employment, and manpower policies. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or 301; 60 units. Quantitative.
Relationships between multinational corporations and local development with reference to resource based towns in British Columbia. An analysis of the implications of changes in employment, organization, technology and resource utilization for community economic development. Prerequisite: At least 60 units including GEOG 323 or 383.
Explores the nature and conditions of women's paid and unpaid labour in the economy as well as various theories which explain labour market discrimination, the impact of national public policies on women's labour and the transnational interconnections that affect women's paid and unpaid labour. Prerequisite: 30 units including three units in GSWS or WS or GDST. Students who have completed SA 335 or WS 310 under the title Women and Work may not complete this course for further credit.
A specific topic within the field of women's studies, not otherwise covered in depth in regularly scheduled courses, will be dealt with as occasion and demand warrant. Prerequisite: 15 units.
An examination of feminist, Marxist and anti-racist theories pertaining to the historical development, social construction, and interactive nature of race, class and gender relations. Prerequisite: 15 units. Students with credit for either GSWS 301 (or WS 301) or GSWS 310 (or WS 310) as Special Topics: Race, Class and Gender may not take this course for further credit.
An examination of the history of labor, primarily in English Canada, during the 19th and 20th centuries. The evolution of trade unions and labor-political movements will be examined together with the impact of industrialization, the rise of mass production, changing patterns of immigration and other contexts of working-class culture and material life. Special attention will be paid to British Columbia as a case study. Historically the course examines 'working class history' as a particular way of studying the past. What is the concept of 'the working class'? Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: HIST 101, 102 and 204.
This course aims to provide a basic understanding of Marx's theory of history and to introduce students to some of the important ideas used by Marxists in the writing of history. Readings for the course will include some of Marx' original work, the writings of historians who have been influenced by Marx as well as selected writings from some of Marx's critics. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history.
Selected problems in Canadian ideas and attitudes on such topics as the arts, religion, education, minority and native cultures, nationalism, and Canadian historiography. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: HIST 101, 102.
Selected problems in the history of Canadian agriculture and industrial development, migration and settlement, labor, native policy and class structure. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: HIST 101, 102.
The application of psychological principles and methods to the study of human performance at work. A systems approach will be taken to study the interactions among the individual worker, his/her task, groups of workers, and the management structure of the organization. Prerequisite: PSYC 210 or both of BPK (or KIN) 207 and STAT 201. Corequisite: STAT 201 may be taken concurrently. Recommended: KIN 180. Students with credit for KIN 381 may not take this course for further credit.
The focus of this course will be the study of the physical environment and its effects on the health, safety and performance of the worker. Physical problems associated with noise, vibration, lighting, radiation, dust and ventilation will be examined together with methods of recognition, treatment, protection and prevention. Prerequisite: REQ-BPK (or KIN) 142, 201, 205. Students with credit for KIN 382 or BPK (or KIN) 480 may not repeat this course for further credit. Quantitative.
In an era of globalization, what scope remains for national politics? Does globalization lead to a deficit of democracy? This course examines the challenge that globalization poses for the Canadian political system. Emphasis is placed on globalization's impact on the organization, activities and role of Canadian State. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
An introduction to the study of the international political economy, with an emphasis on the interaction between the state and markets, and the basic political-institutional relationships of trade, money and finance, international investment, foreign debt and foreign aid. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
Examines the ways in which economic and political forces are constantly changing the nature of work. The focus will be on both paid and unpaid labor; the problems of inequality; and the ways in which workers have organized to protect their interests. The course material will deal mainly, although not exclusively, with the political economy of labor in contemporary Canada. Prerequisite: Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.
The legislature, political parties, pressure groups, relations with other governments, and other aspects of the policy process. Prerequisite: Eight upper division units in political science or permission of the department.
A study of the sources, development and effects of social movements in transitional and modernized societies. Specific types of movements will be analysed. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
An examination of how sociological and anthropological theories and methods can be applied to the examination of social problems and issues which become the object of social policy. A central concern of the course is the question of how social issues are defined as problematic. Particular attention will be given to gender, ethnicity, class and generation. Substantive examples of social policy issues will be selected from a number of fields. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
An examination of the social and political implications of the global economy. Topics to be considered include the influence of neo-liberal economics, the decline of the national welfare state, transnational political agencies and public policy, the internationalization of culture, the global labour market, the 'world city' hypothesis, ethnic resurgence and alternatives to these developments. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
Students may substitute relevant special topic courses, with labour studies approval.
* when topic is appropriate
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Major Requirements
For all bachelor of arts (BA) programs (except the honours program), students complete 120 units, which includes
- at least 60 units that must be completed at 間眅埶AV
- at least 45 upper division units, of which at least 30 upper division units must be completed at 間眅埶AV
- at least 65 units (including 21 upper division units) in Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses
- satisfaction of the writing, quantitative, and breadth requirements
- an overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division CGPA of at least 2.0, and a program (major, joint major, extended minor, minor) CGPA and upper division CGPA of at least 2.0
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