EDU 295ST: Sociology of Education

Catalog

Special Topic: Sociology of Education. Also listed as SOC-295. This special topic course examines education as a central social institution and explores its role in shaping individual lives and broader societal structures. Education is often portrayed as "the great equalizer", a neutral, merit-based path to opportunity and social mobility. Throughout the course, we will confront this paradox to understand how certain disparities significantly affect students' educational outcomes and their broader life trajectories. Through a sociological lens, students will analyze how education intersects with issues of power, inequality, and social change. Topics include the historical development of schooling, educational policy, curriculum and pedagogy, race, class, and gender dynamics, school discipline, and education reform. Students will critically engage with theories and research to understand education's dual function as a mechanism for both social reproduction and transformation. Prerequisite: SOC-111 or EDU-101