You can earn a Certificate in Labour Studies on-campus or online, through full-time or part-time study. You can begin in the fall, winter, or spring.
Why would I want a Certificate in Labour Studies?
The Certificate is less intensive than a conventional degree, but still equips you with a cross-section of university-based knowledge and skills that will deepen your understanding, improve your job prospects, and prepare you for new or different roles. Whether you are a labour activist, interested in HR, or someone who sees the importance of learning more about work, our Certificate will benefit you. It provides students with a foundational knowledge of workplace issues, workers’ rights, labour relations, and the changing world of work. Plus, our department is home to cutting-edge and award-winning faculty members who are leaders in the field.
How can I earn the Labour Studies Certificate?
You can obtain a Certificate in Labour Studies online, through on-campus study, or with a combination of on-site and online learning. Each semester there will be some Labour Studies courses offered online.
The Certificate is earned through successful completion of 5.0 credits in Labour Studies with an overall average of at least 60%.
What courses will I need to take?
“LABR” is the short-form used for labour studies courses at Brock University. For certificate students, the prerequisite (the ‘key’ which unlocks the door to higher-level classes) for all higher level labour studies courses is two of our 100-level classes. So that’s two of:
LABR 1P94 Workplace Rights and Equity: An introduction to workers’ rights. Topics may include employment standards, workplace health and safety, and human rights protections.
LABR 1P95 Introduction to the Canadian Labour Movement: An introduction to Canada’s labour movement. Topics may include the historical development of unions, collective bargaining, unions in society and assessments of union effectiveness.
LABR 1P96 Labour Behind the Label: Introductory exploration of the global labour processes behind a number of everyday items such as a t-shirt, a cup of coffee, and a smart phone.
LABR 1P97 The Future of Work: Introductory exploration of emerging trends, patterns, and issues related to the future of work. Topics may include artificial intelligence, technological displacement, workplace surveillance, and the rise of the gig economy.
The remaining LABR courses for the Certificate are your choice: there are no other required classes. The Certificate allows you flexibility to take courses that reflect or expand your interests and goals. You can tackle particular issues, target and refine your abilities, or experience our innovative courses, some of which are unique in the world.
A full list of the core labour studies courses is available here.
Details about which courses are offered each semester (fall, winter, spring, summer), when, and how they are offered (e.g. on campus or online) are available through the timetable: https://brocku.ca/guides-and-timetables/registration/undergraduate/
At Brock, course codes with a ‘Q’ or ‘P’ (such as 2P00) are one semester courses and worth 0.5 credits. All labour studies courses are one semester courses/worth 0.5 credits. During the spring (May-June) and summer (July), courses may be delivered over two, three, four, or five weeks. The credit weighting does not change (a course worth 0.5 credits is still worth 0.5 credits). D2 means fall semester. D3 means winter semester. Spring and summer terms have different codes, but the dates are always listed and all of our spring and summer courses are offered in an accelerated format (two or three weeks).
The Registrar’s office web site is the source for a range of important information, including about dates: https://brocku.ca/registrar/
How long will it take to earn a Certificate?
It depends on how many courses you take. A full-time student could complete the Certificate more quickly than someone working full-time and registered in one course per semester, for example. Many labour studies courses are offered in each semester and there will consistently be online options. We also offer courses during the spring and summer sessions making year-round learning possible.
How much does it cost?
You can obtain a Certificate through full-time or part-time study. The difference between part-time vs full-time student is course load. A student is considered full-time when they register in 3.0 or more credits in the fall-winter session (1.5 credits/term), and part-time if their course load is lower.
Students registered in 4.0 or more credits in fall-winter are charged a flat-fee equivalent to 5.0 credits. Students registered in 3.5 or less credits are charged per credit. Further information about fees is available here: https://brocku.ca/safa/
More information, including about financial aid, is available here: https://brocku.ca/safa/
What is the application deadline?
There is no fixed deadline but we encourage you to apply at least two months before the term begins. Certificate students can begin fall, winter, or spring. Brock University has a dedicated team to respond to questions from potential students. Email futurestudent@brocku.ca and a real person will reply to you, answer your questions, and provide more information about what application documents are required. Staff are happy to talk with any potential student, even if you graduated from high school more than a few years ago!
You can also visit https://discover.brocku.ca/appointments to connect with an Evaluation Specialist. There is an option to book an appointment for in depth discussion or do a live chat.
For application details, fee and to apply, please click here.
Details about the Brock-UFCW partnership are here.