Main Content
Syllabus
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
HRER 816: Labor Market Analysis - Neoclassical economic and institutional theoretical perspectives on labor supply, demand for labor, internal labor markets, wage determination and labor policies. (3 credits)
Overview
This course is intended to help you analyze issues surrounding work, the market for labor, and the employment relationship in a rigorous, systematic way. It will explore the interdependence of the economy, workplace structures, labor organizations, household and family structure, and public institutions and policies. The course will examine the structures and processes that comprise the labor market and the range of theoretical perspectives that can be used to understand its operation. It will frequently contrast the dominant paradigm—the neoclassical economic model—with alternative perspectives on a variety of issues.
The scope of the course will include analyzing the level and types of employee compensation, employment opportunities, labor force trends, work and non-work time, earnings inequality, gender differentials, work-life conflict, and occupational safety and health. It also examines how labor markets, employers and workers are affected by interventions such as government regulatory policy, such as minimum wage laws and overtime rules, as well as by various types of labor unions, discrimination, globalization and technological advancements.
PROFESSOR: Welcome to HR ER 816, Labor Market Analysis. As participants in this online course, you bring a wealth of experiences, practical knowledge, and education to this course. As participants in this class, we can look forward to sharing insights and information with each other as the course progresses.
Whether this is your first online class or you are an online veteran, you know that learning online is different from the traditional classroom. However, both methods provide the same academic content, academic rigor, and opportunity for interaction with the instructors and other students. A primary goal of this course is to enable you to comprehend and critically analyze the functioning of labor markets and labor market outcomes using different economic models or lenses.
Yes, this course uses economic analysis to explore the interdependence of the economy, workplace structures, labor organizations, household and family structures, and public institutions and policies. Yes, economics is a subject that for many students requires a bit more time and effort to really understand, as economics uses its own jargon and theories to make sense of complicated human interactions. Having said that, the intent of the course is not for you to necessarily master complex economic theory, but instead to see how economic theories can add to your tool box as a human resources professional.
By the end of the course, you should be able to use the tools of economic analysis to make informed decisions about work related issues and labor policies. How does comparing costs and benefits come into play for employees and for workers? What kind of costs, and how are they measured? What kind of benefits, and how are they measured?
How does this play into the firm's bottom line? How and why do institutions matter? What are institutions?
The first half of the course develops the traditional model of economic analysis and is the most technical part of the semester. The second half of the semester introduces alternative economic models as we apply what was learned through the exploration of various workplace issues-- discrimination, work family balance, and innovations, for example. As advanced students and practitioners in the field of labor and labor relations, I believe it is important for you to become proficient at creating knowledge and not just absorbing information.
This will be achieved through a variety of readings, exercises, and assignments each week that ask you to use and apply concepts that were developed in the lesson. The instructors are there to help and guide you along the way. So do not hesitate to ask questions. Best wishes for a productive semester. I hope you enjoy this class as much as I do.
Course Goals and Objectives
COURSE OUTCOME: Use economic concepts developed in the course to analyze a "real-world" human resources issue by breaking it down into component parts, applying economic theory to explain the issue, making comparisons, distinguishing cause and effect relationships, and then making policy suggestions consistent with economic theory.
After successfully completing the course, you will be able to:
- Comprehend* terminology, measures, and concepts used to analyze the supply of labor (individuals in a household) and demanders of labor (businesses) in a market economy.
- Identify and discuss institutional and social forces that shape the labor market and labor market decisions.
*To comprehend something means you have an understanding and ability to describe it in your own words, paraphrase, give examples, and to translate it from one form to another (words to numbers and numbers to words).
Course Structure
The work for each week includes:
- Lesson Commentary: The lesson commentary provides a brief overview of the subject to be covered during the week. It also includes a brief discussion of an issue of particular relevance to the week's subject. The online lesson commentary should be read first.
- Readings: After reading the lesson Commentary (located in Course Content link on the left side menu), complete the assigned readings.
- Activities: The last component of each week's work is the activities. These may include individual or group activities. PLEASE NOTE: This course is organized on a schedule with submissions due from students each week.
IT IS CRITICAL that you keep up with the readings and the submissions. In fairness to students who get their work in on time, late work will receive significant penalties. If you have work or family obligations that will make it difficult to meet a course deadline, please plan ahead so that you will be able to turn your work in on time. You might consider beginning to work on readings and activities on the Monday they are first assigned in order to ensure that last minute job or personal crises or emergencies will not prevent you from meeting course deadlines.
Students please note: The Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations does not view Wikipedia as a valid source for information cited in academic work. It can be a useful tool for quickly finding general information on subjects or as a starting point for research. However, students should not cite Wikipedia as a source in papers, reports, assignments, etc.
Some of your assignments will include Group Work.
As a Penn State student, you have access to Lynda.com, your one-stop shop for video tutorials on Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and hundreds more topics--all free to active Penn State faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students. Take tutorials to help with coursework, learn techniques for your own projects, and build tech skills to boost your résumé. Tutorials are not required or graded.)
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Additional Readings: Will be posted in E-Reserves and you can access them via the course Web site.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Specifications
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
The World Campus follows the same grading system as the Penn State resident program. The grades of A, B, C, D, and F indicate the following qualities of academic performance:
A = (Excellent) Indicates exceptional achievement
B = (Good) Indicates extensive achievement
C = (Satisfactory) Indicates acceptable achievement
D = (Poor) Indicates only minimal achievement
F = (Failure) Indicates inadequate achievement necessitating a repetition of the course in order to secure credit
| Assignment | # of Points | Total Number of Points |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson 01 Part 1 | ungraded | |
| Lesson 1 part 2, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15 | 50 points each | 550 |
| Lesson 06 Group Work (includes Assessment and Feedback) | 125 points | 125 |
| Lesson 11 Group Work (includes Assessment and Feedback) | 125 points | 125 |
| Annotated Bibliography | 200 points | 200 |
| Course Total | 1000 |
| Lesson | Group Work (Discussion Forums) | Assignment | Points Per Assignment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Part 2 |
Lesson 01 Part 2 Assignment |
50 |
|
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2 |
|
Business Bio |
Ungraded |
|
2 |
|
Lesson 02 Assignment |
50 |
|
3 |
Lesson 03 Assignment |
50 |
|
|
4 |
|
Lesson 04 Assignment |
50 |
|
5 |
|
50 |
|
| 5 | Mid-Course Survey | ungraded | |
|
6 |
|
100 |
|
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6 |
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25 |
|
| 7 | Lesson 07 Assignment | 50 | |
|
8 |
|
Lesson 08 Assignment |
50 |
|
9 |
|
Lesson 09 Assignment |
50 |
|
10 |
|
50 |
|
|
11 |
Lesson 11 Group Work |
|
100 |
|
11 |
|
25 |
|
|
12 |
|
Lesson 12 Assignment |
50 |
|
14 |
|
Annotated Bibliography |
200 |
|
15 |
|
Lesson 15 Assignment |
50 |
| Course Total | 1000 |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Deferred Grades
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Course Grades--You have the opportunity to earn 1000 points through the various categories outlined above. At the end of the semester, your instructor will assign grades based on a standard grade distribution as shown below:
| Grade | Minimum % |
|---|---|
| A | 93 |
| A- | 90 |
| B+ | 87 |
| B | 83 |
| B- | 80 |
| C+ | 77 |
| C | 70 |
| D | 60 |
| F | < 59 |
Course Schedule
REMINDER: All assignments are due by 11:59 p.m. ET, Sunday night of the week assigned, unless otherwise noted below. Late work will receive significant penalties.
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Readings: |
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Assignments: |
Review the Canvas Student Orientation Complete and submit the Lesson 01 Getting Started Individual activities. Participate in the Practice Discussion. Complete and submit the Lesson 01 Part 2 Assignments. |
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Readings: |
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Assignments: |
Complete and submit the Lesson 03 Assignment. |
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Readings: |
E-Reserves:
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Assignments: |
Complete and submit the Lesson 06 Group Work discussions. Complete and submit the Lesson 06 Assessment and Feedback. You are required to log in and complete Part 1 by Wednesday, Part 2 by Friday, and Parts 3 & 4 by Sunday. |
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Readings: |
E-Reserves:
E-Reserves:
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Assignments: |
Complete and submit the Lesson 11 Group Work discussions. Complete and submit the Lesson 11 Assessment and Feedback. You are required to log in several times this week, beginning on Monday. |
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Readings: |
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Assignments: |
Complete and submit the Lesson 12 Assignment. |
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Readings: |
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Assignments: | Complete and submit the Lesson 14 Annotated Bibliography Assignment. |
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
Please note that course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. The course instructor and any teaching assistant(s), of course, have access to the course throughout the semester. Each course offered via the World Campus has several instructional design staff members assigned to assist in managing course content and delivery. These instructional design staff members have access to the course throughout the semester for this purpose. Also, World Campus technical staff may be given access in order to resolve technical support issues. In addition, mentor, department head, or program chair may be provided with course access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. Each of these individuals will keep confidential all student course and academic information.
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.