Hands-on Learning - Department of Social Science

Experiential education gives you the chance to apply the concepts and theories you study to real‑world challenges. You’ll participate in guided, practical learning experiences—in the classroom, in workplaces, in the community, and abroad—collaborating with organizations and contributing to meaningful projects that support their goals.

Earn course credit while gaining in‑demand skills and industry experience through placement and work‑integrated learning opportunities. These unpaid, part‑time positions place you within an organization to work on a clearly defined project, giving you hands-on experience, valuable networking opportunities, and insight into the kinds of roles and work environments you may pursue after graduation.

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Hands-on Learning Courses

This course equips students to engage with workplace, community and society-wide issues by developing strategic research, advocacy, communications and organizational skills. Participants work individually and in small groups to address typical issues confronting unions and other social movement organizations. The course provides opportunities for experiential education in researching strategic questions and designing campaigns for change directly with non-profit, labour and community-based groups.

The course provides students who have academic or experiential background in industrial relations with the opportunity to increase their knowledge of collective bargaining, labour-management relationships and internal union and management decision-making processes through a year-long simulation. As a member of the union or management team, each student is involved in researching, planning, negotiating and administering a collective agreement. During the first term members of the course prepare for and negotiate a new collective agreement. During the second term, they administer their agreement through the grievance/arbitration process. This is a structured simulation whose chief purpose is to provide an interesting and engaging opportunity to develop research, analytic and communications skills and to learn more about the policy, practice and substance of labour relations in Canada today.

The purpose of the course is to provide students with first-hand experience of the way different organizations pursue workplace improvements and broader social and political change for all working people. The course has both seminar (in-class) and placement (cooperative learning) components. The placement will take place each week during the fall and winter terms. The placement component of the course involves work directed by a supervisor (usually a staff person or leader of a union, community-based or social justice organization). Students will be assigned to specific supervisors by their Professors. The seminars component of the course will take place every other week. Each week, one or two students will lead the seminar discussion. The seminars will focus on key issues in work and labour market restructuring, including in-class activities, assignments and discussions of readings, and will be linked to experiences in the placements.

You could work here!

With more than 25 placement partners located in the public and private sectors, community-based, nonprofit groups and trade unions, you will find one that’s right for you!

Ontario Council of Hospital Unions
Power Lab
York South-Weston Tenant Union
Canadian Union of Public Employees
Amalgamated Transit Union
CUPE 4400: Toronto School Board Workers
Canadian Media Guild

Ontario Nurses' Association
CWA Canada - The Media Union
United Steelworkers
Broadbent Institute
Disability Justice Network of Ontario
Workers’ United
United Food and Commercial Workers – Canada

SEIU Healthcare
Canadian Union of Postal Workers
CUPE 4948: Toronto Public Library Workers’ Union
Canadians for Tax Fairness
Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation

FAQ

What is a placement?

You will apply for a position within an organization, where you’ll practise and develop the skills learned in your course.

Will I be paid?

No. You’ll receive course credit because each placement experience is tied to a particular course.

Will I be graded?

Yes. You’ll be assigned a supervisor who will guide you through the experience and evaluate your performance.

How long is the placement?

You will work part-time so you can continue your studies. The length varies by course.

How do I apply?

You’ll get a job description that outlines the application process, which usually involves a resumé and cover letter, interview and references.

Will I be insured while on placement?

Students who are on an unpaid placement are fully insured by York University.

My placement at The Power Lab aims to create more diverse and equitable economies from a community led perspective by teaming up with a number of partners that have a passion for community organizing. Doing a co-op placement has been extremely beneficial to my academic career as it has given me a different perspective on community organizing and diverse and equitable economies that could not have been learned in a lecture.

— Giulia D’ingillo, Work & Labour Studies Student