SOCY7502 · Sociology
Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
This course covers historical and contemporary contributions to sociological and political economic approaches to work. The first third focuses on history and theory. We will read influential classic authors such as Marx, Weber, Thompson, Du Bois, Marglin, Burawoy, Folbre, Eric Williams and others. This section syntheses wage labor, unpaid household labor and enslaved labor. In the second half of the course we look at contemporary workplaces, focusing on issues of racism and sexism, precarity and privilege, and consent and control. Examples of types of workplace settings include gig labor, professional workers, and healthcare. The last sections of the course focuses on technology, working hours and the future of work.
Course experience
Averages use the original five-point historical evaluation scale.
Organization
4.8 / 5
How well the course was organized
Challenge
4.7 / 5
How intellectually challenging students found it
Attendance
4.8 / 5
How necessary attendance was
Assignments
4.8 / 5
How helpful assignments were
Weekly effort
~7
hours per week
Estimated from the original workload response buckets. Individual sections may differ.
Instructor options
Ratings below reflect only recovered evaluations connected to this course.
Across time
Section-level results available in the recovered archive.
Fall 2024
1 section