1 SOC366-B1: People in Industry, Winter 2022
Instructor: Dr. Nicole Denier E-mail: nicole.[email protected]
Course time: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 10:00 am – 10:50 am, CAB265 Course Delivery: Triage (a mix of Online/Blended/Hybrid as permitted).
• When we are online: All content will be asynchronous and posted to eClass by Monday at 10 am. On Wednesdays at 10 am, I will host an optional Zoom drop-in class where we discuss weekly content and participation exercises.
• When we are in-person: Mondays and Wednesdays will be devoted to covering core concepts and lecture content, which will also be posted online. Fridays will be devoted to applications, including films, podcasts, and discussion questions. All efforts will be made to post course content and exercises online. Attendance is not graded, and therefore you may find it possible to complete much course material remotely but exams will be held in person on noted days so you will be expected to show up in person on those days.
Communication: I am available to talk or answer questions during my office hours or by e-mail. If you have a question that requires extended discussion, please see me during office hours. I will respond to e-mails within two business days. Please put ‘SOC 366’ in the subject line of all e-mails.
Office Hours: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Wednesdays. Please sign up for office hours here. Office hours will be held using Zoom unless alternate arrangements are made.
Prerequisites: Restricted to Engineering students. Not open to students with credit in SOC 363.
COVID-19
Our semester is not going to be typical as a result of the pandemic. I made the decision to offer an in-person course accompanied by necessary online materials to ensure that it is accessible as we experience a host of challenges right now, including dealing with health problems, care
responsibilities, the loss of community members, challenging or changing work schedules, financial hardship, bad internet, and travel complications. By offering both synchronous and asynchronous lectures and activities we can continue the course as the global health crisis evolves; I will be flexible and accommodating as situations change throughout the semester, and ask that you try your best to learn and engage with the class so that we can all have a positive experience. You will be expected to follow university public health measures, including masking for in-person interactions.
Course Description & Objectives
This course will challenge you to understand the role of engineers in driving industrial and social transformation, and provide insights into how such broad change impacts engineering work itself.
Work is a foundational force in our lives – it motivates years of study, structures who we interact with in our day-to-day lives, shapes our identities, determines the resources we have to secure health and well-being, and provides possibilities to transform the world. The past century has witnessed profound changes in the ways Canadians work. Globalization, technological change, and the rise of
2 disruptive competition, many claim, have threatened secure employment, with some going so far as to predict a future without work. Yet such change looks very different from different occupational and industrial vantage points. In this course, we will draw on insights from a diverse body of sociological research to understand the current nature and meaning of work in Canada and how the engineering profession fits into the broader patterns we observe. We’ll develop basic conceptual tools for talking about work. These tools help us trace sweeping, macro-level shifts in employment relations over the course of the second and third industrial revolutions. We’ll then focus in on organizational and management practices to understand how workplace social relations and policies foster productivity, innovation, and diversity. Finally, we’ll narrow in on individual careers,
discussing how individuals go about choosing career pathways and how employers, in turn, choose workers. In doing so, you will develop competencies to recognize the linkages between engineering and broader economic, cultural, and social dynamics.
Course Materials
Lectures, course content, assignments, and announcements will be posted to our eClass website – please do check it frequently to stay up to date. The majority of readings come from the following required textbook, available at the University of Alberta Bookstore. Additional required videos, podcasts, and readings will be posted to the eClass website. You can anticipate about 2-3 hours of readings, lectures, and videos/podcasts per week. If you are having trouble accessing eClass, alert me immediately.
Krahn, Harvey J., Karen D. Hughes, and Graham S. Lowe. 2021. Work, Industry, and Canadian Society, Eighth Edition. Nelson Education Ltd.
Class & Reading Schedule
Week Date Topic Reading Participation Exams
1 Jan. 5 - 7 Introduction KHL Intro #1
2 Jan. 10 - 14 The Old Economy KHL Ch 1 #2
3 Jan. 17 - 21 The New Economy KHL Ch 3 + podcast #3
4 Jan. 24 - 28 Designing Jobs KHL Ch 4 + podcast -- Exam 1 (Jan. 28)
5 Jan. 31 - Feb. 4 Managing Work KHL Ch 10 + podcast #4
6 Feb. 7 - 11 Innovation & Failure eClass posted reading #5 7 Feb. 14 - 18 Unions & Industrial Relations KHL Ch 11 + film #6 8 Feb. 21 - 25 Reading Week
9 Feb. 28 - Mar. 4 Labour Markets, Opportunity, Inequality KHL Ch 5 & eClass #7 Exam 2 (Mar. 4)
10 Mar. 7 - 11 Diversity at work KHL Ch 6 + podcast --
11 Mar. 14 - 18 Households, Family, & Care KHL Ch 7 & eClass #8
12 Mar. 21 - 25 The Meaning of Work KHL Ch 13 #9
13 Mar. 28 - Apr. 1 Alternative Approaches KHL Ch 12 #10
14 Apr. 4 - 8 Tech. Change & the Future of Work eClass reading #11
Exam 3 (Final Exam Period – Date TBD)
3 Course Requirements and Evaluation
You will be evaluated through a series of tests and your in-class contribution.
Participation Exercises 25%
Exams 75% (3 x 25%)
Participation: Your participation will be assessed through a series of short activities. There will be 10 activities, worth 2 or 3 points each, designed to check your understanding of core concepts as we progress through the semester.
Exams: Exams will contain a mix of multiple-choice, short answer, and/or essay questions based on readings, lectures, and discussion. Each exam will focus on material from the previous section of the course. Representative questions will be presented in class. The tests are designed to ensure that you are keeping up with and learning the material. The third and final exam will be held during the final examination period, the date determined by the registrar’s office and indicated on BearTracks.
Grading
Marks for graded course requirements are given in percentages, to which letter grades are 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, but will be rounded up to the next whole percentage point.
Letter % Points Descriptor
A+ 95-100 4.0 Excellent
A 90-94 4.0
A- 85-89 3.7
B+ 80-84 3.3 Good
B 75-79 3.0
B- 70-74 2.7
C+ 66-69 2.3 Satisfactory
C 62-65 2.0
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 Course and University Policies
Absences & Grading
Regular course attendance is crucial to learning. Consult the Attendance section of the University Calendar regarding absences that may be excusable and procedures for addressing course
components missed as a result.
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 Statutory Declaration" (to be obtained from the Office of the Registrar).
● For all other cases, such as domestic afflictions or religious convictions, the student should submit documentation appropriate to the situation. This could include the following:
o For a death in the family – a copy of the death certificate o For a religious conflict – a letter from the church or pastor o For a car accident – a copy of the accident report
o For other serious afflictions – consult the Instructor or Department about appropriate documents
Policy for Missed Tests: If you have an excused absence which requires you miss a test, you will be required to write a make-up exam or alternative assignment.
Policy for Missed Final Exam: If you miss the final exam, you must formally apply to your Faculty Student Services office to be considered for a deferred final exam within two working days from the date of the missed exam (or as soon as possible, considering the circumstances). I cannot approve or deny requests for deferred final exams. Refer to the Absence from Final Exams
information provided in the Attendance section of the University Calendar for full details.
Student Resources: The best all-purpose website for student services is:
https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students.
Academic Accommodations(1-80SUB):The University of Alberta is committed to creating work and learning communities that inspire and enable all people to reach their full potential. The
Academic Accommodations office promotes an accessible, inclusive, and universally designed environment. For general information or to register for services visit the Academic
Accommodations webpage.
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.
5 Land 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.
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.”
All students should consult the Academic Integrity website. If you have any questions, ask your instructor.
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). This includes virtual spaces.
Course Outline Policy: “Policy about course outlines can be found in Course Requirements, Evaluation Procedures and Grading of the University Calendar.”
