Module SOCI3647: Sociology of Work and Professions

Department: Sociology

SOCI3647: Sociology of Work and Professions

Prerequisites

• At least 20 credits of level 2 modules from the Department of Sociology.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To develop students’ awareness of the key concepts and theoretical frameworks in the sociology of work and professions.
• To apply these theoretical approaches to specific examples of work sectors, occupations and professions.

Content

• This module will integrate key theoretical perspectives in the sociology of work and professions with substantive examples of work and occupations. Topics covered will include:
• Work in a historical context;
• Work and sociological theory;
• Gender and Work;
• Precarious work and the gig economy;
• Emotional labour and dirty work;
• Place and work.

Learning Outcomes

• Upon successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated:
• A critical awareness of the key debates concerning work and employment since the nineteenth century.
• A critical awareness of the key concepts and theoretical frameworks in the sociology of work and professions.
• A sociological framework engaging with key social and political debates concerning work and employment.

• Upon successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated:
• An ability to evaluate sociological arguments in the field of the sociology of work and professions.
• An ability to apply key sociological concepts and theoretical approaches to empirical examples of occupations and employment.
• An ability to critically engage with policy in the field of work and employment.
• An ability to make sociologically-informed arguments confidently in both written and oral forms.
• An ability to organise and present work in a scholarly way.

• Upon successful completion of this module, students will have demonstrated:
• An ability to communicate ideas and arguments in a clear and well-structured way in written work.
• An ability to take effective notes and synthesise information efficiently from diverse sources.
• An ability to work well both independently in self-directed study and collaboratively with colleagues.
• An ability to successful manage workload and time commitments.
• An awareness of their own transferrable skills and personal employability and of future relevant careers.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• During periods of online teaching, for asynchronous lectures in particular, planned lecture hours may include activities that would normally have taken place within the lecture itself had it been taught face-to-face in a lecture room, and/or those necessary to adapt the teaching and learning materials effectively to online learning.
• Teaching is delivered through lectures and seminars and structured around the learning outcomes detailed above.
• Lectures provide students with broad introductions to key concepts, theoretical frameworks and empirical examples in the sociology of work and professions. Lectures indicate the main issues that students should consider when undertaking independent learning and when participating in seminar discussions. Lectures encourage students to develop their skills in listening and selective note-taking.
• Seminars are structured around designated readings and a series of themes and/or questions related to both the reading and the lecture content. Seminars encourage students to develop skills in the evaluation and use of sociological theories and concepts and the formulation of theoretically-grounded arguments. Seminars also provide the space for students to engage in critical debates around current work and employment policy. Preparation for seminars encourages students to develop workload and time management, literature evaluation and synthesis and independent learning skills. Participation in seminars encourages students to develop key transferable skills such as oral communication and group work skills.
• A formative essay plan requires students to demonstrate their subject-specific knowledge of the key concepts and theoretical frameworks in the sociology of work and professions and apply some of these to their own experiences of work. This encourages students to demonstrate their subject-specific skills in the formulation of sociological arguments and the evaluation of sociological materials. In addition, students will also be required to demonstrate key transferable skills in literature and information searching and synthesis and written communication.
• The feedback students receive on their formative essay plan allows them to reflect on their knowledge and understanding and identify ways in which they may improve their performance ready for the summative reflective essay.
• The summative assessment is a reflective essay in which students critically examine their own relationship with the labour market through the application of the key concepts and approaches covered in the lectures to their labour market experiences.
• Preparation for the summative essay provides students with the opportunity to think in some depth about their employability and to produce an employability portfolio which they can use as the basis for CVs and post-graduation job applications. The summative essay itself encourages students to demonstrate their subject-specific knowledge in relating key concepts in the sociology of work and professions to their own employment experiences. It encourages students to develop subject-specific skills in evaluating sociological concepts and theories and in developing sociologically-informed arguments. The summative assessment encourages students to demonstrate transferable key skills in information and literature synthesis, written communication and self-directed study.
• Summative assessment: One reflective essay (2,500 words) which is based on the student's work experience. This essay will not be selected from a list of questions but the broad 'theme’ of the essay (for example, precarious labour or gender and work) will be taken from the topics taught. This essay will count for 100% of the module mark. Formative Assessment: An essay plan (500 words).

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One essay plan (500 words).

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University