Please note:
To view the Fall 2024 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2024/fall.html.
Labour Studies Major
The major in labour studies offers a comprehensive approach to labour, working people and labour movements in Canada and internationally. Students gain a solid understanding of capitalism and the forces shaping work and employment today, as well as important transferable skills such as critical thinking, economic and social analysis, writing, and research.
Admission Requirements
Students may declare this plan upon successful completion of one labour studies course and upon application to the Undergraduate Advisor in the Labour Studies Program.
Program Declaration
Students may declare labour studies as their major either upon completion of LBST 101, or during the course of their degree, subject to a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average (CGPA). Historically, students have applied for program declaration during the term they are completing their final lower division required courses; however, for the new major students are given the opportunity - and encouraged - to declare earlier. Students declare their major through the labour studies advisor.
Program Requirements
Students complete minimum 120 units, as specified below.
Lower Division Requirements
Students complete a minimum of 21 units, including the following required courses
one of
Introduces concepts of equality, inequality, diversity, and inclusion as we experience them at work. Includes discussion of what counts as work, who does paid and unpaid work, and how workers challenge inequality and discrimination. Examines how contemporary experiences in Canada of inequality at work are shaped by ongoing colonialism, racialization, gendering, class and other forms of social difference. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Xinying Hu |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Introduces key concepts and approaches for understanding the character and organization of work, employment relations, worker’s rights, and labour movements in contemporary society. Explores who does paid and unpaid work and under what conditions through the study of trends and issues, including migration and immigration, unionization, precarious employment, and automation. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Sessional |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
and
Explores how people experience paid and unpaid work in the global economy. Focuses on processes such as migration and economic structuring, and applies critical development studies and critical geopolitics to study labour and employment. Explores links between capitalism, urbanization and labour struggles. Examines labour internationalism and global labour rights. Prerequisite: Strongly Recommended: LBST 101. Students with credit for LBST 230 under the title "Workers and Global Capitalism" or "Work and Employment in a Globalized World" and IS 221 may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
OL01 |
Sessional |
Online |
Introduces students to labour research through methodology and research methods for social change. By exploring what methodology is, the methods common in labour research, and understandings of social justice, students gain experience of quantitative and qualitative approaches, including survey research. Focuses on using and interpreting quantitative data and statistics for social justice and social change. Prerequisite: LBST 100 or LBST 101 or with permission of instructor. Quantitative.
plus at least 12 units taken from the following
An overview of the broad economic trends in the development of the world economy over the last five decades with reference to the major debates related to economic interdependence, development and growth, globalization, and the role of the major multilateral economic institutions (IMF, World Bank, OCED, ILO, UN). (lecture/tutorial). Breadth-Social Sciences.
The principal elements of theory concerning money and income, distribution, social accounts, public finance, international trade, comparative systems, and development and growth. Quantitative/Breadth-Soc.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Brian Krauth |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 10:30–11:20 a.m. |
Burnaby Burnaby |
D101 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D102 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D103 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D104 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D105 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D106 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D107 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D109 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D110 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D111 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D112 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D113 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D114 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D200 |
Vasyl Golovetskyy |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
D201 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D202 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D203 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D204 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D205 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D206 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D208 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D209 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D210 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D900 |
Yan Yan |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, Fri, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
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 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 113 with a minimum grade of A-. Students who have taken ECON 305 or 381 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative.
An introduction to key concepts and contexts in contemporary geographical approaches to social practices, meanings, and struggles. Prerequisite: One of GEOG 100, INDG 101, SA 101, or SA 150. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Katie Gravestock |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
D101 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D102 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D103 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 4:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
An historical and comparative survey of feminisms and feminist activism in Western European, North American, and Global communities. Students who have completed WS 102 may not take GSWS 102 for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.
A survey of major themes in Canadian social history, which is the examination of past lived experiences. Particular attention will be paid to developing an anti-racist and feminist historical analysis of how race, gender, sexuality, and class shape everyday life, and how and why lived experiences change over time. Prerequisite: Recommended: HIST 101 and 102W. Breadth-Humanities.
Introduces concepts of equality, inequality, diversity, and inclusion as we experience them at work. Includes discussion of what counts as work, who does paid and unpaid work, and how workers challenge inequality and discrimination. Examines how contemporary experiences in Canada of inequality at work are shaped by ongoing colonialism, racialization, gendering, class and other forms of social difference. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Xinying Hu |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Introduces key concepts and approaches for understanding the character and organization of work, employment relations, worker’s rights, and labour movements in contemporary society. Explores who does paid and unpaid work and under what conditions through the study of trends and issues, including migration and immigration, unionization, precarious employment, and automation. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Sessional |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Income distribution and conditions of employment are a primary factory in social determinants of health. Even when jobs are available, deteriorating working conditions, wages and benefits, and increasing employment insecurity threaten health for many. Explores work and health in Canada in relation to income, gender, race, migration, and technological change and the legal and policy protections for health and safety in the workplace. Prerequisite: LBST 101 or LBST 100, or permission of the instructor. Students with credit for LBST 230 under the title "Work and Health" may not take this course for further credit.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Amy Krauss |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
A seminar devoted to the in-depth examination of a topic in Labour Studies not regularly offered by the Program. The course may be repeated for credit when different topics are offered. Prerequisite: Strongly Recommended: LBST 101.
A comprehensive introduction to the study of politics and government for both political science majors and students specializing in other disciplines. The course will explore the major concepts, methods, approaches and issues in political science, as well as the primary components of government structure and the political process. Students with credit for POL 101W may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Logan Masilamani |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
D101 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D102 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D103 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D104 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D105 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D106 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D107 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D108 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D109 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 4:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D110 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D111 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D900 |
Logan Masilamani |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Surrey |
D901 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D902 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D903 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D904 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D905 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D906 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
Introduces quantitative research techniques in political science. Introduces important analytical and conceptual skills necessary to understand and evaluate quantitative political science research. Corequisite: POL 200W or permission of department. Quantitative.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
B100 |
Mark Pickup |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
B101 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 3:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
B102 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 5:30–7:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
B103 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
B104 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 5:30–7:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Explores how sociologists study, describe, and explain social life. Introduces the sociological perspective and applies it to fundamental social process and everyday issues. As we consider phenomena ranging from interactions among individuals to societal and global inequalities, students critically examine social issues to build their understanding of the world. Breadth-Social Sciences.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Baran Fakhri |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
D101 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D102 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D103 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D104 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D105 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D106 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D107 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D108 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D109 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D110 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D111 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D112 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D113 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D900 |
Sessional |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Surrey |
D901 |
Sessional |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
D902 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D903 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D904 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D905 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
|
D906 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
|
Surrey |
Examines Canadian society from the perspective of the social sciences. Students apply sociological and anthropological concepts to analyze issues in modern societies, focusing on Canada as a case. Topics include class structure, the nature of Canada's population, regional variation, gender relations, multiculturalism, and colonialism. Students with credit for SA 100W are not eligible to take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Social Sci.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Sessional |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Explores how sociologists and anthropologists investigate social relations and contexts. Students learn to develop research questions and turn them into research projects. Introduces data collection techniques and related ethical issues, the relationship between theory and research, and other fundamental concepts and issues involved in conducting qualitative and quantitative research. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150. Quantitative.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Sessional |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
D101 |
Sessional |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Descriptive and inferential statistics aimed at students in the social sciences. Scales of measurement. Descriptive statistics. Measures of association. Hypothesis tests and confidence intervals. Students in Sociology and Anthropology are expected to take SA 255 before this course. Intended to be particularly accessible to students who are not specializing in Statistics. Prerequisite: Recommended: 30 units including a research methods course such as SA 255, CRIM 220, POL 200W, or equivalent. Students cannot obtain credit for STAT 203 if they already have credit for - or are taking concurrently - STAT 101, 201, 205, 285, or any upper division STAT course. Quantitative.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Joan Hu |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 10:30–11:20 a.m. |
Burnaby Burnaby |
OL01 |
Wei Lin |
Online | |
OP01 | TBD |
* Students may take more than one offering of LBST Selected Topics courses for credit and towards the major, as long as the topic for each offering is different.
** Students with credit for LBST 230 under the title "Workers and Global Capitalism" or "Work and Employment in a Globalized World" may not take this course for further credit.
Upper Division Requirements
Students complete a minimum of 30 units, including
Provides a comprehensive understanding of the contemporary structure, issues, and perceptions of labour unions and other forms of working-class organization and social movements. 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. Prerequisite: LBST 100 or LBST 101 or on permission of instructor. Students with credit for LBST 301 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.
plus 21 units taken from the following
Takes a broad approach to gender, placing it dialogue with race and ethnicity, class, nation, and space, to think through the complex dynamic between gender and labour from a variety of perspectives. Explores workers’ lived experiences of gender regimes while critically examining how gender ‘matters’ within the workplace. Prerequisite: 30 units including LBST 100 or three units in GSWS or WS or GDST. Students with credit for GSWS 305 (or GSWS 308) may not take this course for further credit. Students with credit for LBST 331 under the title Gender - Paid and Unpaid may not take this course for further credit.
An exploration of critical and radical political economy traditions in Labour Studies with a focus on how these approaches have diverged from, and provided alternatives to, classical and orthodox economic understandings of labour and labour markets. Prerequisite: Strongly Recommended: LBST 101.
An exploration of the expanding forms of unfree labour in capitalist economies as products of changing labour processes, global labour markets, and the policies of neoliberalism and 'austerity'. Prerequisite: Strongly Recommended: LBST 101.
Technological change and globalization are constantly transforming the nature of work under capitalism. These transformations are examined in the historical development of work, the changing nature of the labour process and how automation and artificial intelligence might transform work in the future. Prerequisite: Strongly Recommended: LBST 101 and/or 301. Breadth-Social Sciences.
An introduction to collective bargaining: it will cover the legal requirements of the Labour Code, the bargaining process and the organizational structure and components of collective agreements, including the grievance-arbitration process. Prerequisite: Strongly Recommended: LBST 101 and at least one other Labour Studies course.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
E100 |
Sonya Sabet-Rasekh |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 5:30–8:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Explores working class politics and the labour movement in the context of neoliberal economic and public policy, recurring economic crises, the changing nature of work, and declining union membership. Explores electoral politics and organized labour's relationship to political parties. Examines community unionism and workers' roles in social movements focused on civil rights, gender, and the environment, among others. Prerequisite: 30 units. Strongly Recommended: LBST 101. Breadth-Social Sciences.
The changing relationships between unions and environmental groups; how work in various industries contribute to climate change; and how climate-change policies affect workers in different ways. The consequences of climate policies for different categories of workers, identified by economic sector, geographic location, gender, ethnicity, and Aboriginal status. Prerequisite: 30 units. Strongly Recommended: LBST 101.
Global labour migration has increased substantially in the last several decades. What factors contribute to the current wave of labour migration? Which countries send and receive migrants, and what is the role of internal migration? What challenges do migrant workers face in their host countries? This course will examine these questions to uncover the nature, trends and impacts of this growing phenomenon. Prerequisite: Strongly Recommended: LBST 101. Students who have taken LBST 330 Global Labour Migration may not take this course for further credit.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Xinying Hu |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
An introduction to labour and employment law in Canada, covering both union and non-union sectors. The course will focus variously on: the principles and practice of the BC Labour Relations Code, the Canada Labour Code, BC Employment Standards Act. BC Human Rights Code, the Workers Compensation Act (WorkSafeBC), and the contested history of labour legislation and related common law. Prerequisite: Strongly Recommended: LBST 101.
Explores the representation of the working class in Canada and the United States through popular culture including the mediums of film and television. Prerequisite: 30 units. Students with credit for LBST 330 under the title "Labour and Film" may not take this course for further credit.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
B100 |
John-Henry Harter |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Examines contemporary debates in Labour Geography and geographical approaches to work and employment. Lectures explore the relationships between space, place and labour market change in the context of globalization and uneven development. Prerequisite: 60 units; LBST 101 or GEOG 221. Students with credit for GEOG 328 may not take this course for further credit.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Sessional |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
An examination of contemporary debates in Labour Geography, surveying geographical approaches to work and employment. Lectures will explore the relationships between space, place and labour market change in the context of globalization and uneven development. Prerequisite: At least 45 units, including GEOG 100 or LBST 101. Students with credit for LBST 328 may not take this course for further credit.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Sessional |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Selected topics in areas not currently offered within the undergraduate course offerings. Students may take more than one offering of LBST Selected Topics courses for credit, as long as the topic for each offering is different. Prerequisite: Strongly Recommended: LBST 101 and/or 301.
Selected topics in areas not currently offered within the undergraduate course offerings. Students may take more than one offering of LBST Selected Topics courses for credit, as long as the topic for each offering is different. Prerequisite: Will vary according to topic. LBST 101 is strongly recommended for all upper division LBST courses.
Explores community-labour organizing strategies and theories that workers and communities have used to effect social change. Beyond the formal labour movement, we focus on marginalized workers and communities who have turned to one another to amplify their power and fight against diverse forms of injustice. Students develop their organizing and critical analysis skills through popular education and a decolonial praxis. Prerequisite: LBST 100 or 101 or permission of instructor. Students with credit for LBST 330 under the title "Action and Change: Community-Labour Organizing 101" may not take this course for further credit.
Selected topics in areas not currently offered within the undergraduate course offerings. Students may take more than one offering of LBST Special/Selected Topics courses for credit as long as the topic for each offering is different. Prerequisite: Will vary according to topic. LBST 101 is strongly recommended for all upper division LBST courses.
Allows students to pursue in greater depth a particular issue or topic in labour studies. It will be offered either as an individual reading course or as small seminars, depending upon student and faculty interest. Independent research in a selected labour studies area, under the direction of a single faculty member. Papers will be required. May take twice for credit. Variable units: 1, 2, 3, 4. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division labour studies. Recommended: At least three upper division courses in labour studies.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
John-Henry Harter |
TBD |
plus six units which can be taken from the list of upper division LBST courses or from the following
Introduces students to the economics of imperfect competition. Topics covered include the theory of the firm, market structure, and various aspects of firm strategy such as pricing, advertising, product differentiation, and innovation. Related questions of public policy will also be addressed. Prerequisite: ECON 201 with a minimum grade of C-; 60 units. Quantitative.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Marie Rekkas |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
D101 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D102 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D103 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D104 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D105 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D107 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
|
D108 |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
|
Burnaby |
Topics discussed in this course are: gains from trade in a classical world; the modern theory of international trade; factor price equalization; empirical tests and extensions of the pure theory model; economic growth and international trade; the nature and effects of protection; motives and welfare effects of factor movements; multinational enterprises; the brain drain; customs union theory; pollution control and international trade. Prerequisite: ECON 103 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 113 with a minimum grade of A-; ECON 105 with a minimum grade of C- or ECON 115 with a minimum grade of A-; 60 units or permission of the department. Students with credit for ECON 442 cannot take this course for further credit. Quantitative.
Analysis of the economics of the labor market with particular emphasis on the roles of skills, technology, discrimination, market power, family life, and public policy in determining wages and working conditions. Prerequisite: ECON 201 with a minimum grade of C-; 60 units. Quantitative.
A study of how markets, firms and other institutions are organized using information and transaction cost theories. Topics covered may include: theories of the firm (governance, structure, ownership, signaling and screening behavior); theories of non-market institutions (marriage, non-profit organizations, governments); institutional theories of growth and economic history; and the organization of markets (reputations, contracts, vertical control). Emphasis will be given to covering a limited number of issues and theoretical perspectives in detail rather than attempting a broad survey of new institutional economics. Prerequisite: ECON 302 with a minimum grade of C-. Students with credit for ECON 426 may not take this course for further credit. Writing.
Seminar focusing on public policy as it relates to employment and income security. Special emphasis will vary from term to term, but may include such topics as examinations of current manpower, welfare and public insurance programs, labor legislation, and private institutional practices (such as union-management pension arrangements) that may affect income security. Prerequisite: ECON (or BUEC) 333 with a minimum grade of C-.
Takes a broad approach to gender, placing it dialogue with race and ethnicity, class, nation, and space, to think through the complex dynamic between gender and labour from a variety of perspectives. Explores workers’ lived experiences of gender regimes while critically examining how gender ‘matters’ within the workplace. Prerequisite: 30 units including three units in GSWS or WS or GDST or LBST. Students who have taken GSWS 308, LBST 305, LBST 331 under the title Gender - Paid & Unpaid, or WS 310 under the title Women and Work may not take this course for further credit.
Examines the forces involved in displacements and global migration. Centring both the exploitation involved in the extraction of land and labor, and the modes of belonging and resistance of migrants and immigrants, the course explores the gendered, economic, border and racial regimes involved in contemporary global migration and nation-building. Prerequisite: 15 units.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
May Farrales |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 12:30–4:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Explores a variety of feminist research methods including the definition of feminist research, the quantitative/qualitative controversy, action research, participant observation, survey, ethnography, case study, oral history, transnational study, interviews and research ethics. Prerequisite: 30 units, including three units in GSWS or WS or GDST. Students who have taken WS 208 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 six units of lower division history. Recommended: HIST 101, 102W and 204.
Selected problems in the history of Canadian agriculture and industrial development, migration and settlement, labor, native policy and class structure. Content may vary from offering to offering; see course outline for further information. HIST 428 may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Recommended: HIST 101, 102W.
Explores ideas, people, and movements of social criticism and social justice, stressing history as a way to understand and engage the present. Content may vary from offering to offering; see course outline for further information. HIST 463W may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Prerequisite: 45 units including nine units of lower division history. Students with credit for HIST 412 or HIST 412W cannot take HIST 463W for further credit when offered with the course topic "Marxism.". Writing.
Major public policy issues affecting Canadian and international health care systems. How the public policy process affects financing, delivery, and regulation of health programs and services. Theories of policy development in the health sector. Evaluation of the extent to which evidence influences policy decisions. Controversies, including: finance, regulatory issue, system restructuring, models of governance, public vs. private service delivery and resource allocation. Prerequisite: 60 units including one HSCI course with a minimum grade of C-.
Introduces intermediate quantitative methods and data analysis. Teaches students how to build statistical models and apply them to social and political research. Also covers the fundamentals of probability, sampling, and causal inference; students will learns how to conduct their own data-driven research. Prerequisite: POL 201 or permission of instructor. Quantitative.
Examines issues where ideas about males and females either explicitly or implicitly influence policy makers. Focuses on current public policies and their relationship to women on topics such as sexuality and violence, economic security, race and inequality, and climate change. Prerequisite: 30 units. Students with credit for GSWS (or WS) 350 may not take this course for further credit. Students who have taken this topic under GSWS (or WS) 320 may not take this course for further credit.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Sahar Zaman |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
An introduction to the political economy and culture of capitalism in relation to global problems. Case studies may focus on issues of population, famine, disease, poverty, environmental destruction, social inequality, and nation-state violence. Resistance, rebellion and social movements in response to these problems also will be addressed. Writing/Breadth-Social Sci.
This course examines how the organization of control (formal and informal) affects both individuals and society. It will investigate how control takes form, how it functions, the ideologies supporting it, and the resistance it produces. We will ask the following questions: who are the agents of social control; who or what do they control; and how do they control? Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
An examination of the relations of power and authority. This course will analyze the interrelations of family, church, class, interest groups, etc., particularly as they influence and are influenced by the state. The relations of law and ideology to the structures of government will form the context for this analysis. The course may also focus on broad theoretical questions of contemporary political interest. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
Marx’s Capital is a central reference point across the social sciences. It has been maligned and criticized by many, but it has also inspired and guided the activities of numerous political parties, trade unions, social and revolutionary movements, and scholarly fields. Prerequisite: SA 150.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Gary Teeple |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, Thu, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Examines the methods, concepts and statistical procedures central to quantitative sociological research. Emphasizing the meaningful application of statistical analysis to social issues, the course provides intermediate quantitative research skills. Students use statistics software to conduct applicable statistical analyses and interpret results. Prerequisite: SA 255 and SA 257. Quantitative.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Suzanna Crage |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
Addresses the historical, global dimensions of the social and ecological by examining hegemonies of capitalism from the colonial to the neoliberal era. Explores deepening commodification in the neoliberal "sustainability by algorithms" approach, animated by powerful discourses of crisis, climate change, food security, and development. Considers resistance possibilities. Prerequisite: SA 101 or 150 or 201W.
Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
D100 |
Yildiz Atasoy |
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
|
Burnaby |
* Students may take more than one offering of LBST Selected Topics courses for credit and towards the major, as long as the topic for each offering is different.
** Completion of GSWS 322, POL 315, or SA 355 is strongly recommended.
Graduation Requirements
In addition to the normal university degree requirements, the Labour Studies Program requires a minimum 2.00 LBST cumulative grade point average (CGPA) (calculated on all LBST courses completed at SFU), and a minimum 2.00 LBST CUDGPA (calculated on all upper division LBST courses completed at SFU) for graduation with a labour studies major.
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Degree Requirements
For all bachelor of arts (BA) programs, students complete 120 units, which includes
- at least 60 units that must be completed at Simon Fraser University
- at least 45 upper division units, of which at least 30 upper division units must be completed at Simon Fraser University
- at least 60 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 overall CGPA of at least 2.0, and program CGPA and upper division program CGPA of at least 2.0 on the course work used to satisfy the minimum program requirements. FASS departments may define additional GPA requirements for their respective programs.
Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements
Students admitted to Simon Fraser University beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.
WQB Graduation Requirements
A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit
Requirement |
Units |
Notes | |
W - Writing |
6 |
Must include at least one upper division course, taken at Simon Fraser University within the student's major subject; two courses (minimum three units each) |
|
Q - Quantitative |
6 |
Q courses may be lower or upper division; two courses (total six units or more) | |
B - Breadth |
18 |
Designated Breadth |
Must be outside the student's major subject, and may be lower or upper division: Two courses (total six units or more) Social Sciences: B-Soc |
6 |
Additional Breadth |
Two courses (total six units or more) outside the student's major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements). Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas. |
Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit
- At least half of the program's total units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
- At least two thirds of the program's total upper division units must be earned through Simon Fraser University study.
Elective Courses
In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.