Sociology 216DU - Special Topics in Sociology: 'Schooling in American Society'

At no time in history have schools been as important to society as they are in contemporary America. Young people spend a large proportion of their lives in millions of classrooms across the country where they learn to inhabit social identities, professional categories, and status positions. This course provides an opportunity to evaluate this situation using classical and contemporary sociological perspectives on mass schooling. It highlights issues facing the future of education, the role of schooling in struggles for economic and racial justice, and how the aspirations of individuals and families interact with states to shape and legitimize the American social and economic order.

Prereq: SOCI-123.