Sociology 363: B1

Sociology of Work and Industry

Winter 2021

Instructor: Dr. Sarah Stahlke

Office Hours: Virtual meetings are available by appointment
Email: sarah.stahlke@ualberta.ca - Please use your U of A email address when
communicating with me via email. I am generally able to respond to
emails within 24 hours (often faster). I may not reply on weekends.

Course Day & Tuesday/Thursday – 12:30-1:50 pm

Time:

COURSE PREREQUISITE

Sociology 100 or consent of instructor

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Work, in various forms, is part of our everyday lives. Sociology offers us a perspective by which to
explore this fundamental aspect of life beyond our own understandings and to develop new ways of
seeing the connections among people, the work they do, and the contexts of their work. This course
focuses on work and work organizations in the past, present, and future. Students will be introduced to
historical dimensions of work, organizational analysis, management perspectives, labour relations,
labour markets and forms of work, inequalities in the world of work, and the meaning and experience of
work.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The overall objective of the course is to develop your sociological perspectives and understanding as
applied to work, employment, jobs, and industries/organizations. Specifically, you will be able to:
• Understand historical and contemporary contexts of work.
• Draw on diverse sociological theories, methods, and content knowledge to:
• Critically situate individual work experiences within broader social contexts and
relationships
• Be aware of forms of power and inequality and their impact on opportunities and
experiences at work
• Assess and evaluate trends and social practices around work, organizations, and work-
related policies

1
 • Make reasoned, well-supported, and coherent arguments about issues around work,
employment, jobs, and organizations

COURSE FORMAT

The objectives of this course will be met through a combination of formal lectures, discussion forums,
guest presentations, assigned readings, and audiovisual materials. The course will be delivered remotely
via Zoom and eClass. Lectures will be synchronous (real time) during scheduled class times. Some course
time will be allocated to asynchronous learning activities, such as discussion forums. Students will be
asked to access publicly available audiovisual materials or materials available electronically through the
university library.

CLASSROOM POLICIES/ATMOSPHERE

During synchronous classes, please mute your microphone when not speaking to avoid transmitting
distracting background noise. Questions and discussion during lectures are welcomed. You may interject
at an appropriate time with a question/comment or use the ‘chat’ function and I will respond as soon as
I am able. Students are not permitted to record or share course material. Respectful behaviour and
contributions to discussions are expected at all times.

COURSE MATERIALS

Required text:

Krahn, H., Hughes, K., & Lowe, G. (2021). Work, Industry & Canadian Society (8th edition). Toronto:
Nelson.

This text is available as an eBook and can be purchased through the following link:
https://www.campusebookstore.com/integration/AccessCodes/default.aspx?bookseller_id=10&Course
=Winter+2021+SOC+363+B1&frame=YES&t=permalink

Supplemental readings may be posted on e-Class.

Some students ask if they can purchase an older edition of the course text. Older editions might be quite
similar to the newest version, but I leave it up to you to determine any similarities and differences
between editions and to ensure that you are able to access the required content for the course.

Students will need access to a computer with a camera and a reliable internet connection.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Term Paper: 30% Due March 16

Synthesis Assignment: 20% Due April 1
Discussion Forums: 15% Ongoing throughout course
Take Home Final Exam: 35% Distributed April 15; Due April 22

2
EXPLANATORY NOTES ON COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Term Paper
This paper will provide you with an opportunity to apply course content to the analysis of a specific topic
within the sociology of work and industry.
Content:
Using sociological theories and content taught in the course, augmented with literature that you
find (at least two other credible sources), you will analyze and discuss the topic from a
sociological perspective. A list of possible topics will be provided; alternatively, you may come
up with your own topic idea, subject to instructor approval. Further assignment details will be
shared in class and on eClass.

Formatting:
• Papers should be 4-5 pages long (not including title page and reference list), double-
spaced, Times Roman 12 font (or equivalent size), 1-inch margins.
• Include a cover page and list of references. No abstract is required. Use any academic
formatting style (MLA, APA, etc. – the OWL Purdue writing website is a credible guide to
various formatting styles).
• Structure the paper with a distinct and concise introduction, an organized body with
headings and paragraphs, and a conclusion.
• Submit your paper as a Microsoft Word document to the assignment dropbox on eClass.
Name your file lastname.firstname.363paper.

Synthesis Assignment
This short written assignment [2 pages, double-spaced, Times Roman 12 font (or equivalent size), 1-inch
margins] will allow you to reflect on a point or topic discussed in class that stood out for you and give
you an opportunity to link class content to your work experience or career plans. In the space allowed,
you will be expected to indicate the topic of your assignment and provide a general summary of what
you learned about the topic from lectures, readings, or videos. Once you have introduced your topic,
you should indicate how and why this point stood out for you and how your thinking was changed or
challenged. Support for your reflections should be provided using text or class content; other sources
may also be used. You should conclude the assignment by indicating how you will apply what you have
learned about the topic in your working life. Further details about the assignment will be presented in
class.

Discussion Forums
Part of our course time will be spent in asynchronous discussions about course topics. Each week, I will
create discussion threads in eClass by posing a question or discussion topic relevant to the learning
activities (lectures, films, readings) for the week. You do not need to contribute to every discussion
thread if there is more than one, but I expect to see at least one post per week. These posts should be
substantial in nature and based on your original thinking. Please keep your posts within 150-200 words
so that it doesn’t become overwhelming for people to read. Please do not dominate the thread. You

3
may disagree with points begin made but you are expected to be respectful and constructive at all
times. Please try to post within 10 days of the start of the thread.

Final Exam
The final examination will be an open book, take home exam. It will cover content from the entire
course. You will be provided with 15 questions and you will choose 5 from the entire list to answer in
paragraph format. Answers for each question should be 300-350 words. Sample exam questions will be
posted on eClass prior to the distribution of the exam.

REPRESENTATIVE EVALUATIVE MATERIAL

Students will be provided with sample term work and exam questions via eClass two weeks prior to
assignment due date.

GRADING

Marks for graded course requirements are given in percentages, to which letter grades are also
assigned, according to the table below. The percentage mark resulting from all graded components
produces the final letter grade for the course. Marks for grades are not curved or scaled.

Letter % Pts Descriptor

A+ 95-100 4.0

A 90-94 4.0 Excellent

A- 85-89 3.7

B+ 80-84 3.3

B 75-79 3.0 Good

B- 70-74 2.7

C+ 66-69 2.3

C 62-65 2.0 Satisfactory

C- 58-61 1.7

D+ 54-57 1.3 Poor

D 50-53 1.0 Minimal Pass

F 0-49 0.0 Fail

4
LECTURE SCHEDULE

The course schedule is subject to adjustments and changes as the course progresses.

Week/Day Topic Readings, Activities,

Key Dates
Week 1 Introduction to course
Jan 12 & 14 Historical perspectives Chapter 1
Week 2 Current issues Chapter 2
Jan 19 & 21
Week 3 Employment trends Chapter 3
Jan 26 & 28 Work during pandemic Add/delete deadline: Jan 22
Week 4 Good jobs, bad jobs, unemployment Chapter 4
Feb 2 & 4
Week 5 Labour markets and inequalities Chapter 5
Feb 9 & 11
February 15-19 FAMILY DAY & READING WEEK – NO CLASSES
Week 6 Gender, employment and work Chapter 6
Feb 23 & 25 Film: Having it All
Week 7 Gender, employment, and work Chapter 7
Mar 2 & 4 Guest lecture: Rory Stahlke
Week 8 Organizing and managing work Chapter 8
Mar 9 & 11
Week 9 New organizational and management paradigms Chapter 9 & 12
Mar 16 & 18 Term paper due Mar 15
Week 10 Conflict and control Chapter 10
Mar 23 & 25
Week 11 Labour relations Chapter 11
Mar 30 & Apr 1 Guest lecture: Union rep
TBA
Synthesis assignment due
Apr 1
Week 12 Work values, job satisfaction Chapters 13 & 14
Apr 6 & 8 Last day to contribute to
discussions Apr 8
Week 13 Apr 13 – course wrap-up class Final exam due April 22
Apr 13 & 15 Apr 15 – final exam distributed (no class)

ATTENDANCE, ABSENCES, AND MISSED GRADE COMPONENTS

Regular attendance is essential for optimal performance. Regarding absences that may be excusable and
procedures for addressing course components missed as a result, consult the Attendance section of the
University Calendar.

5
Absence from Term Work

Students are required to contact me within two working days following the missed exam or term work
(or as soon as possible, considering the circumstances) to apply for an excused absence. Excused
absences are not automatic and are at my discretion. Below is a list of acceptable documentation to
support an absence:

• For incapacitating medical illness, students can present one of the following:

o “University of Alberta Medical Statement” signed by a doctor (this cannot be required, but
must be accepted if provided in lieu of other documents).

o “Request for Excused Absence or Deferral of Term Work” Faculty of Arts form

o For all other cases, such as domestic afflictions or religious convictions, the student should
submit documentation appropriate to the situation. Please discuss with me.

Policy for Missed/Late Assignments/Exams: Marks for late exams and assignments will be reduced by
5% per day unless prior arrangements have been made with the course instructor. Deferral of term work
is a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferral will be granted. Misrepresentation of
facts to gain a deferral is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour.

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

The best all-purpose website for student services on campus, including academic, financial, health,
safety, career development services and more is https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students/.

ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES

The University of Alberta is committed to creating work and learning communities that inspire and
enable all people to reach their full potential. Accessibility Resources promotes an accessible, inclusive,
and universally designed environment. For general information or to register for services visit the
Accessibility Resources webpage.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty.
Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold
the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves
with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at https://www.ualberta.ca/governance/)
and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism,
misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence
and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.”

6
Students are expected to engage in the highest level of honesty in their work. It is possible, however, to
violate academic integrity even if you believed you were being honest. The onus is on students to
understand the University of Alberta's expectations regarding academic integrity. Not knowing is not an
excuse. Resources and more information on the standards of Academic Integrity and the Code of
Student Behaviour can be found at https://www.ualberta.ca/currentstudents/academic-
resources/academic-integrity/.

An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she could
not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of fairness to other
students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. See the Academic Discipline Process.

AUDIO OR VIDEO RECORDING

“Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching
environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the Instructor or as a part of
an approved accommodation plan. Student or Instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or
used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or
distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).”

LEARNING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and
study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not tolerate
behaviour that undermines that environment.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE POLICY

It is the policy of the University of Alberta that sexual violence committed by any member of the
University community is prohibited and constitutes misconduct. Resources and more information can be
found at https://www.ualberta.ca/campus-life/sexual-violence

TRADITIONAL TERRITORIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the
histories, languages, and cultures of the First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada,
whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

COURSE OUTLINE POLICY

"Policy about course outlines can be found in Course Requirements, Evaluation Procedures and
Grading of the University Calendar."

COPYRIGHT: Sarah Stahlke, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta, 2020