Department of Sociology

Social Stratification
7.5 ECTS credits

Teacher: Jan O. Jonsson

Course at advanced level for students who want an introduction to classic theory and
contemporary research on social stratification. The course provides an overview of some
classic and recent theory and research in (a) social mobility and inequality of educational
opportunity, (b) theories of social class with empirical applications, and (c) social
stratification in other dimensions, viz. gender, family, poverty, and elites. The focus will be
on both descriptions of social stratification in modern societies, and on explanations. The
course literature includes some relatively demanding texts for which prior knowledge in
statistical methods is an asset. Particular attention is devoted to comparative research and
to empirical examples from Sweden.

The course will be given during weeks 35-39 2011.

Department of Sociology

Course Syllabus: Social Stratification

1. General information

The course consists of 7.5 ECTS credits.

2. Decision

The syllabus is approved by the head of Department on behalf of the board of the
Department of Sociology at Stockholm University as of 2009-09-24.

3. Entrance qualifications

Bachelor´s degree.

4. Course organization

The course is provided at full time during 5 weeks. Course participants meet approximately
twice a week for lectures and discussion of literature. Examination is done by means of
active participation in discussion and by the writing of an independent course paper.

5. Course contents

Course at advanced level for students who want an introduction to classic theory and
contemporary research on social stratification. The course provides an overview of some
classic and recent theory and research in (a) social mobility and inequality of educational
opportunity, (b) theories of social class with empirical applications, and (c) social
stratification in other dimensions, viz. gender, family, poverty, and elites. The focus will be
on both descriptions of social stratification in modern societies, and on explanations. The
course literature includes some relatively demanding texts for which prior knowledge in
statistical methods is an asset. Particular attention is devoted to comparative research and
to empirical examples from Sweden.

6. Learning outcome

After accomplishing this course, participants are expected to be able to:

In terms of knowledge and understanding:

* Understand the meaning of central concepts and theories in social stratification and class
theory.
* Be able to identify important similarities and differences between different theories of
social stratification.
* Understand how theories of social stratification are tested empirically

In terms of accomplishment and competence:

* Be able to account for, and to analyse, the content of central classical and modern texts in
social stratification in a lucid and well argued manner.
* Be able to use relevant parts of stratification theory to analyse contemporary social
phenomena.

In terms of values and evaluation:

* Be able to critically assess classical and modern sociological theories of social

stratification in terms of their merits and limitations.

7. Instruction and examination

Course work and examination consist of discussion of lecture contents and the writing of a
course paper on a topic related to the course contents. The course work is evaluated
according to the following degrees:

A = Excellent. This grade is given when the student in his or her work produces
innovative ideas to specific research question(s), synthesizes them to a higher analytical
level, and provides a very relevant, critical, well formulated and well connected review of
the topic related to his or her specific research question(s).

B = Very good. This grade is given when the student in his or her work
synthesizes ideas at a high analytical level, and provides a relevant, thorough, critical, well
formulated and well connected review of the topic related to his or her specific research
question(s).

C = Good. This grade is given when the student in his or her work provides a
relevant, thorough, critical, well written and well connected review of the topic related to
his or her specific research question(s).

D = Satisfactory. This grade is given when the student in his or her work provides
a relevant and accurate review of the topic he or she adresses.

E = Sufficient. This grade is given when the student in his or her work provides
an accurately formulated but not entirely focused review of the topic he or she addresses.

Fx = Insufficient. This grade is given when the student in his or her work provides
a limited and/or only partly relevant review of the topic he or she addresses.

F = Fail. This grade is given when the student in his or her work provides a
limited and irrelevant review of the topic he or she addresses.

E is needed to pass the course. Fx indicates that the student is offered the opportunity to
upgrade his or her exam. Students with grade F or Fx are entitled to another examination as
long as the course is provided in order to achieve grade E at least. A student with E is not
entitled to another examination to raise his or her degree.
8. Literature

Grusky, David and Szonja Szeleniy (eds.): The Inequality Reader.

Contemporary and Foundational Readings in Race, Class, and Gender
March 2011, Boulder, Col: Westview Press. Trade Paperback · 784 Pages

Texter, artiklar, som meddelas senare (läggs ut som länkar; viktigt att alla studenter
har tillgång till SU:s elektroniska bibliotekssystem)

9. Course Schedule Fall 2011 – Social Stratification

Lect Day Time Place Topic

1 To 1/9 13-15 F271 Introduction, classical theory

2 On 7/9 10-12 B900 Class theory and modern applications

3 Fr 9/9 10-12 B900 Intergenerational processes – social mobility

4 On 14/9 10-12 B900 Family structure and social stratification

5 Fr 16/9 10-12 B900 Gender inequality

6 On 21/9 10-12 F271 Poverty

7 Fr 23/9 10-12 F271 Elites

8 Ti 27/9 TBA Confer. Family demography & child well-being

Student papers due: Sunday 2/10, 23:59

Course assistant: Eva-Lisa Gustafsson, SOFI (eva-lisa.gustafsson@sofi.su.se)