Introduction to Labor and Workplace Studies

(Formerly numbered Labor and Workplace Studies 10.) Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Assumptions about work, including why some work is favored, whether those with good jobs really are better people than those without, and how this understanding of work and value came to be common sense. Unpacking of these and other assumptions about work, value, and power, with focus on low-wage workers, their communities, and their place in contemporary society. P/NP or letter grading.

Review Summary

Clarity
6.7 / 10
Organization
3.3 / 10
Time
5-10 hrs/week
Overall
5.0 / 10

Reviews

    Quarter Taken: Fall 2023 In-Person
    Grade: A-

    This class is super easy, but it was far from perfect

    Here's all the graded stuff in the class:
    1. showing up to discussion (you don't have to participate)
    2. A 10-page paper that is graded very generously on a labor studies topic of your choosing
    3. A multiple choice final at the end of the quarter that's based on the reading (ours was canceled because of the graduate student strike)
    - You can ace the class without showing up to lecture

    There are a few caveats with this class
    1. The books are super expensive, which is super ironic because the professor (who wrote the books) is stealing what his students made (they slaved away at their minimum wage jobs to afford said books)
    2. Lecture was super boring in my opinion
    3. The reading is suuuper long (like 50 dense pages for some days)

    My suggestions to do well in the class are to show up to lecture, listen, read the required reading, show up to discussion, and meet with your TA about your paper before you turn it in. If you do all that, you're almost guaranteed to get an A

    6/10 would not take again but the class is doable

Course

Previously taught
24F 23F
Formerly offered as
LBR&WS 10

Grading Information

  • No group projects

  • Attendance required

  • No midterms

  • Finals week final

  • 100% recommend the textbook

Previous Grades

Grade distributions not available.