Bachelor of Arts: Labour Studies Major (4-Year)

Number of credits required from Athabasca University: 30 credits.

Maximum credit awarded in this program for prior learning through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) processes: 9 credits.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of completing this program, students should be able to

• draw upon a wide range of evidence and practical background to create detailed, yet clear, proposals and arguments.
• demonstrate a sufficient level of understanding of background and context to employ that understanding routinely and systematically.
• show some understanding of purposive uses of conflict and resolution by labour in relation to its position in society and the economy.
• draw similarities and differences between, and argue relative merits of, group versus individualistic approaches to labour-related issues, problems, conditions and situations.
• show leadership potential and be selected for leadership roles on frequent occasions in relation to issues and problems of moderate difficulty or complexity.
• be depended upon to successfully plan for and solve problems, and resolve issues, in an efficient and democratic manner.
• express themselves verbally in understandable, thorough ways, useful in labour-related settings.
• be polished and persuasive in writing in terms appropriate to the audience in labour-related organizations.
• show evidence of complex and sophisticated approaches to theory and practice in the field.
• pose questions, dilemmas and insights regarding labour leading to useful, productive work and discussion in the field.
• take an active part in labour union activities, including committee, elected and/or appointed positions.
• engage in practical and successful activities that connect labour and related organizations in useful coalitions, co-operative and collaborative work and public influence.
• intervene knowledgeably and successfully in change and implementation in interest of labour.
• use a wealth of knowledge of both specialized and general labour roles, origins, development and allied causes and movements in their contexts.
• state ideas and describe conditions in down-to-earth, understandable terms.
• almost always show insight into basic, descriptive and complex, analytical levels of discussion and the relation between and among them.
• display evidence of detailed knowledge coupled with disciplined action in interests of the labour movement.

Possible Career Options

• Labour/Union Organizer
• Affirmative Action Co-ordinator
• Placement Manager
• Union Staff Representative
• Training Specialist
• Personnel Consultant
• Conciliator
• Employment Counsellor
• Human Resources Administrator
• Union Labour Educator
• Trade Union Officer
• English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher

Possible Further Education Options

At Athabasca University

• Master of Arts – Integrated Studies (MAIS)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Education in Distance Education (MEd)
• Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Distance Education Technology
• Master of Counselling (MC)
• Post-Graduate Certificate in Counselling

At Other Educational Institutions*

• graduate studies in labour studies, history, sociology or political science or other related/unrelated disciplines
• journalism
• education
• law
• library science
• police studies
• teaching English as a second language (TESL)

* Entrance requirements vary among educational institutions. It is the students’ responsibility to research the entrance requirements of other educational institutions.

Updated March 25, 2009