Work and Employment Relations major
The Work and Employment Relations major focuses on the dynamics of workplace relations between employers and employees as well as the wider impact of employment relations on the economy, society and politics. You will study how work is organised, the way employees are managed, the role of unions, how cooperation and negotiation can be developed, and how conflict can emerge and be managed. The nature of employment relations in both Australia and other countries is examined using institutional and sociological perspectives.
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) evaluate and understand key concepts, theories and practices in employment relations as well as have an understanding of perspectives on the transformation of work and society drawn from relevant social (sociology, labour studies) and legal studies (employment law) disciplines; (2) apply relevant theories to practical contexts and issues; (3) understand the interests of workers, unions, managers, employers and the State within the workplace and the broader social context of work; (4) understand how to formulate appropriate responses to relevant policy and managerial issues; (5) understand principles of ethical behaviour and social responsibility in contemporary organisations and society; (6) use effective communication skills, both written and oral; and (7) work and manage teams.
Broadening guidelines
All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.
Work and Employment Relations can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
BP001 Bachelor of Arts
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
Overview of unit sequence
Work and Employment Relations is a degree-specific single major comprising:
- two Level 1 units
- two Level 2 units
- four Level 3 units
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2 |
Level 1
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | EMPL1101 | Introduction to Employment Relations |
|
| S2 | EMPL1206 | Social Relations of Work |
|
Level 2
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | EMPL2202 | Australian Employment Relations |
|
| S2 | EMPL2309 | Work and the Law |
Level 3
Take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | EMPL3208 | Managing Diversity |
|
| S2 | EMPL3241 | International Employment Relations |
|
| S1 | EMPL3270 | Negotiation: Theory and Practice |
|
| S1 | EMPL3301 | Globalisation and Work |
|
Choosing your degree-specific major
Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music
You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.
Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
This comprehensive degree does not require you to choose a degree-specific major.
General degrees
You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.
To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .
To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.
The following example illustrates how the Work and Employment Relations degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Arts course.
There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .
Choosing a second major
You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. and Bachelor of Science courses, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.
The following example illustrates how the Work and Employment Relations degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Arts course.
For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .