What is the purpose of schooling in modern society? Does everyone have access to equal educational opportunities? How do experiences of education vary by race, class, and gender? What role does education policy play in maintaining or reducing social inequalities? In this course, we will employ sociological theories and research to explore current issues, debates, and policies in education. We will discuss the extent to which research informs education policy and students will research, design, and present their own solutions to current policy problems. Some of the topics we will investigate include trends in segregation both within and among schools and access to higher education.
Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate mastery of the core theoretical perspectives in the sociology of education
- Understand how to read and evaluate sociological research within an educational policy context
- Explain the ways in which social identities intersect to affect students' educational experiences and outcomes
- Recognize the role that education plays in both social reproduction and mobility
- Research how educational stratification is constructed and maintained at the micro and macro levels
- Create and communicate research-informed policy recommendations as to how educational inequities might be addressed
- Apply sociological perspectives to your own experiences with schooling in the process of developing a sociological imagination.
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Course Level: 2000-level
Credits: 4
M/Th 1:40PM - 3:30PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Course Frequency: Every 2-3 years
Categories: All courses , Fully In-Person , Sociology , Updates
Tags: education , gender , inequality , policy , race , social class