Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2016 - LBST 311 D200

Labour and the Environment (3)

Class Number: 8795

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 6 – Dec 5, 2016: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 20, 2016
    Tue, 11:59–11:59 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Strongly recommended: LBST 101 and 30 credit hours.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

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.

COURSE DETAILS:

Climate change has significant impacts on the nature of work and working people. Conversely, workers have a vital political role to play in determining how the issues associated with climate change will be addressed. As the world’s climate goes through radical changes, workers face unprecedented challenges as governments craft policy to mitigate or adapt to the many dimensions of anthropogenic climate change.

The course will critically examine the changing and sometimes controversial relationships between trade unions, environmental groups and other political and economic forces, how work in various industries contributes to climate change, and how climate-change policies affect workers in different ways. The course will pursue an understanding of the consequences of climate policies for different categories of workers, identified by economic sector, geographic location, gender, migration and immigration, and Aboriginal status.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

By the end of this course, students will have learned:
• how workers’ organizations are responding to climate change;
• how work practices can become more environmentally responsible;
• how government policy on climate change affects work and workers;
• how different types of work contribute to climate change;
• what alternatives there are.

Grading

  • Seminar participation: 15%
  • Mid-term Exam: 20%
  • Research Essay/Annotated Bibliography (due in 3 stages): 40%
  • Final Exam: 25%

NOTES:

There is one midterm exam and a final exam for this course. Term papers or annotated bibliographies will total approximately3000 to 3500 words (ten to twelve pages) and critically engage an appropriate range of scholarly sources. Research papers will be completed in three stages – proposal, draft outline and final paper – with topics chosen to explore an aspect of the course of special interest to the student and not covered in the required readings. A detailed description of the term paper assignment will be distributed with the course syllabus during the first session of the course. Seminar participation is integral to the course and will be based on weekly assigned readings.

REQUIREMENTS:

All assignments in this course must be completed for a final grade to be assigned.

All students are expected to read SFU’s policies concerning academic honesty and student conduct [S 10.01 and S10.04]. The policies can be read at this website: www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student.html

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

A courseware package containing assigned readings for LBST 311 will be available through the SFU bookstore. Links to download online copies of the required readings from the SFU library will also be posted on Canvas.

RECOMMENDED READING:

An extensive list of supplementary readings will be available in the full syllabus for LBST 311.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS