How is American society stratified on the basis of race and social class? What are the social categories of race and class and how are these defined and reified through institutional structures? What are the consequences of inequality for a democratic society? Through examinations of classical and contemporary sociological texts, we will identify and interrogate patterns of social stratification in the United States. Engaging with the current sociopolitical climate, we will investigate the ways in which struggles for power have been, and continue to be, waged on the battlegrounds of social identities.
Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate mastery of core sociological perspectives on social inequality
- Identify and explain trends in social stratification
- Develop the skills necessary to critically evaluate sociological research on race and class inequality
- Understand the intersectionality of identities and social forces at work in shaping one’s social position in the U.S.
- Evaluate the extent to which policies and institutional practices exacerbate or reduce social inequalities
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Course Level: 2000-level
Credits: 4
M/Th 3:40PM - 5:30PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Course Frequency: Every 2-3 years
Categories: All courses , Fully In-Person , Sociology , Updates
Tags: inequality , policy , race , social class