Global Work & Labour Studies BA Honours
Honours Degree Overview: Four Years
York’s Global Work & Labour Studies program—the only one of its kind in Canada—offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding these global transformations. If you’re interested in global politics, economic change, labour rights, law, and the reorganization of work, this program equips you to analyze and shape what comes next.
You’ll examine how global economic forces, trade agreements, technological change, and legal frameworks shape work and workers’ lives worldwide. Key areas include global production networks, international migration, labour standards, and employment relations.
Courses address pressing issues such as artificial intelligence, automation and robotization, gig and migrant work, labour and employment law, remote work, occupational health and safety, climate change, and changing working conditions across regions.
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First year will introduce you to the university environment, provide you with general education courses, and expose you to the general topics of the Program/Stream.
Program Core Requirement:
- SOSC 1510 6.0
General Education Requirements:
- 9.0 credit from Humanities or Social Science
- 6.0 credit from Humanities or Social Science (whichever is not taken in 1)
- 6.0 credit from Natural Science
In your second year, you will complete your introductory tour through the fundamentals of the Program/Stream.
Program Core Requirement:
- SOSC 2210 6.0
- SOSC 2000 6.0
Additional GWLS Couse
- SOSC 2211 6.0
- SOSC 2213 3.0
In the third year, you will explore the Program/Stream's specialized fields while focusing more on your particular interests.
Select from Focuses in 3000 or 4000 level chosen from the list of Work and Labour Studies courses
- SOSC 3125 6.0
- SOSC 3130 6.0
- SOSC 3169 3.0
- SOSC 3200 3.0
- SOSC 3210 6.0
- SOSC 3211 3.0
- SOSC 3230 3.0
- SOSC 3242 3.0
- SOSC 3243 3.0
- SOSC 3280 3.0
- SOSC 3290 3.0
- SOSC 3380 6.0
- SOSC 3444 3.0
- SOSC 3815 3.0
- SOSC 3980 3.0
- SOSC 3981 3.0
- SOSC 3982 3.0
- SOSC 3993 3.0
- CMDS 3213 3.0
- SOCI 3355 3.0
- SOCI 3600 3.0
In the fourth year, your classes will be smaller, and you will have several elective course options.
Select from Focuses in 4000 level chosen from the list of Work and Labour Studies courses.
- SOSC 4210 3.0
- SOSC 4230 3.0
- SOSC 4240 6.0
- SOSC 4250 3.0
- SOSC 4252 3.0
- SOSC 4260 6.0
- HIST 4051 6.0
- HIST 4505 6.0
- POLS 4091 3.0
- POLS 4406 3.0
- POLS 4470 3.0
- SOCI 4620 3.0
Our Program is perfect for the twenty-first century learner. With diverse students in mind, we offer flexible study options – single or double majors and minors – allow you to tailor your degree. Popular pairings include Law and Society, Criminology, Business and Society, Health and Society, and International Development Studies.
Students enrolled in the 90 credit degree must complete 12 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level chosen from the list of Work and Labour Studies courses.
Student enrolled in the 120 credit degree must complete 24 credits at the 3000 or 4000 level chosen from the list of Work and Labour Studies courses, with at least 12 credits taken at the 4000 level.