Workplace Learning and Social Change

Workplace Learning and Social Change: Introduction

Lead Faculty of the Collaborative Specialization

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)

Participating Degree Programs

Adult Education and Community Development — MA, MEd, PhD
Industrial Relations and Human Resources — MIRHR, PhD
Rehabilitation Science — MSc, PhD
Social Justice Education — MA, MEd, PhD, EdD
Women and Gender Studies — MA

Overview

The Collaborative Specialization in Workplace Learning and Social Change is particularly suited to students interested in developing their understanding of work and learning trends in Canada and internationally, with a focus on the relationships between workplace learning and social change. The collaborative specialization has three intellectual objectives:

  • to situate workplace learning within broader social trends such as globalization, neoliberalism, and organizational restructuring;

  • to allow exploration of the connections between learning as an individual phenomenon and learning as a social/organizational and public policy phenomenon; and

  • to highlight the learning strategies that seek to foster social change through greater equality of power, inclusivity, participatory decision-making, and economic democracy.

Applicants to participating programs who are interested in participating in the collaborative specialization must apply to and be accepted by both the graduate unit and the collaborative specialization. For admission, applicants should submit a statement of interest to the collaborative specialization director.

Upon successful completion of the degree requirements of the participating home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization, students will receive the notation “Completed Collaborative Specialization in Workplace Learning and Social Change” on their transcript.

Contact and Address

Web: www.oise.utoronto.ca/lhae/collaborative-specializations/workplace-learning-social-change

Collaborative Specialization in Workplace Learning and Social Change
The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
University of Toronto
252 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1V6
Canada

Workplace Learning and Social Change: Master's Level

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants must apply to and be admitted to both the collaborative specialization and a graduate degree program in one of the collaborating graduate units.

  • Applicants must submit a statement of interest which includes:

    • relevant personal and/or professional experiences and motivation in seeking training in workplace learning and social change (all applicants)

    • a brief outline of their proposed research project (thesis students)

    • indication of their preference of supervisor, if any (thesis students).

Specialization Requirements

  • Individual student programs of study must meet the requirements of both the home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization. Normally, the selection of courses to satisfy the collaborative specialization requirements will not extend the program length.

  • Course requirements are as follows:

    • 0.5 core full-course equivalent (FCE) — WPL1131H Introduction to Workplace Learning and Social Change

    • 0.5 elective FCE in the area of workplace learning and social change.

  • In addition, students in a thesis-based MA program will be required to complete a thesis which incorporates issues of workplace learning and social change. A member of the collaborative specialization core faculty will serve as supervisor or committee member.

  • Course-only MEd students will be required to complete an additional 0.5 elective FCE in the area of workplace learning and social change.

Workplace Learning and Social Change: Doctoral Level

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants should apply to the collaborating degree program that corresponds most closely to their general background and interests.

  • Applicants must submit a statement of interest which includes:

    • relevant personal and/or professional experiences and motivation in seeking training in workplace learning and social change (all applicants)

    • a brief outline of their proposed research project

    • indication of their preference of supervisor, if any.

Specialization Requirements

Doctor of Education

Offered to students in the Social Justice Education program only.

  • Individual student programs of study must meet the requirements of both the home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization. Normally, the selection of courses to satisfy the collaborative specialization requirements will not extend the program length.

  • Course requirements are as follows:

    • 0.5 core full-course equivalent (FCE) — WPL3931H Advanced Studies in Workplace Learning and Social Change

    • 0.5 elective FCE in the area of workplace learning and social change.

  • In addition, students will be required to complete a thesis which incorporates issues of workplace learning and social change. A member of the collaborative specialization core faculty will serve as supervisor or committee member.

Doctor of Philosophy

  • Individual student programs of study must meet the requirements of both the home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization. Normally, the selection of courses to satisfy the collaborative specialization requirements will not extend the program length.

  • Course requirements are as follows:

    • 0.5 core full-course equivalent (FCE) — WPL3931H Advanced Studies in Workplace Learning and Social Change

    • 0.5 elective FCE in the area of workplace learning and social change.

  • In addition, students will be required to complete a thesis which incorporates issues of workplace learning and social change. A member of the collaborative specialization core faculty will serve as supervisor or committee member.

Workplace Learning and Social Change: Courses

Not all elective courses are offered each year.

Master's-Level Core Course

Course CodeCourse Title
WPL1131H
Introduction to Workplace Learning and Social Change

Master's-Level Electives

The list of electives is subject to change.

Course CodeCourse Title
IRE1362H
Organizational Behaviour
IRE1611H
Sociology of Work and Organizations
IRE1615H
Labour and Globalization
IRE1620H
Labour Relations Problems in Historical Perspective
LHA1113H
Gender and Race at Work
LHA1115H
Learning for the Global Economy
LHA1119H
Creating a Learning Organization
LHA1146H
Women, War, and Learning
LHA1147H
Women, Migration, and Work
LHA1148H
Introduction to Workplace, Organizational, and Economic Democracy
LHA1150H
Critical Perspectives on Organizational Change
LHA1182H
Nonprofits, Co-operatives, and the Social Economy: An Overview
LHA1195H
Technology @ Work: The Internet in Workplace Learning and Change
LHA5100H*
Special Topics in Adult Education and Community Development (Master's Level)*
LHA5800H*
Special Topics in Higher Education: Master’s Level*
SJE3916H
Women in Leadership Positions: Intersectionalities and Leadership Practices: Sociological Implications in Education
SJE5000H*
Special Topics in Social Justice Research in Education: Master's Level*
WGS426H1 / WGS1020H*
Gender and Globalization: Transnational Perspectives
WPL3930HPractitioner Communities in Workplace Learning
(Credit/No Credit. Prerequisite: WPL1131H or by permission of the instructor.)

*Special topics courses: Only the special topics course titles listed can be counted toward the WLSC specialization requirements in the current year. Please confirm current year courses with the WLSC administrator.

Doctoral-Level Core Course

Course CodeCourse Title
WPL3931H
Advanced Studies in Workplace Learning and Social Change

Doctoral-Level Electives

The list of electives is subject to change. Doctoral students can select an elective course from the list above or take one of the following to meet their elective requirement:

Course CodeCourse Title
LHA1108H
Adult Learning
LHA3183H
Introduction to Institutional Ethnography (RM)
LHA5105H
Special Topics in Adult Education and Community Development: Master’s Level
LHA6100H*
Special Topics in Adult Education and Community Development: Doctoral Level*
WPL3930HPractitioner Communities in Workplace Learning
(Credit/No Credit. Prerequisite: WPL1131H or by permission of the instructor.)

*Special topics courses: Only the special topics course titles listed can be counted toward the WLSC specialization requirements in the current year. Please confirm current year courses with the WLSC administrator.