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Foundations in the Sociology of Education is a module in the 1st Year of the BA Education Studies at the ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Institute of Education.  The module allows students to explore current and enduring educational questions through a sociological lens and to identify the relationships between education and social inequalities.  Special attention is paid to issues of social justice, inclusion/exclusion and possibilities for social transformation.  The module considers various axes of power, identity and institutional organization, including sessions focused on social class, race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality and learner and teacher identities.Ìý

Over the course of the module, we will explore how the work of some key theorists and selected research in sociology of education can help us to better understand these educational issues and how we might respond to them. Whilst individual sessions deal with discrete topic areas, emphasis is being placed on establishing links and drawing out shared approaches.  The course will introduce sociological and education concepts you will encounter in other areas of your degree.  You will become familiar with a range of theoretical perspectives and apply them to current institutional and professional contexts. The module will enable you to draw on sociology as a discipline to understand and critically evaluate educational practices and will provide you with a solid foundation in the sociological underpinnings of education.Ìý

Foundations in the Sociology of Education provides students with a range of employment-related expertise, including:Ìý

• an appreciation of the connections between individual behaviour and social structures, helping you to understand the life choices that individuals make in today’s world;Ìý
• the ability to describe and explain social structures, helping you to investigate and propose changes to the organisation of educational settings and other groups in contemporary society.Ìý

Teaching Delivery: This module is taught in 10 weekly lectures and 10 weekly seminars.ÌýÌý

Indicative Topics:Ìý

• Introduction to the Sociology of EducationÌý
• Social Class I: Mapping the English Educational SystemÌý
• Social Class II: School StrategiesÌý
• Gender Equality, Education and FeminismÌý
• Sexuality in EducationÌý
• Critical Race Theory in EducationÌý
• Museum of London & IOE ArchivesÌý
• Learner IdentitiesÌý
• Teacher Identity and ProfessionalismÌý
• The Sociology of Education: Review of ModuleÌý

[Indicative lecture topics, based on module content in 2023/24, subject to possible changes]Ìý

Module Aims:Ìý

• To develop awareness of the position and contribution of sociology in analyzing enduring and fundamental educational questions, in particularly the relationship between education and social inequalities;Ìý
• To acquire the conceptual tools for employing a sociological lens to key debates in education;Ìý
• To consider key research studies in the sociology of education and begin to identify different theoretical and methodological approaches;Ìý
• To construct and sustain academically coherent arguments.Ìý

Recommended Readings:ÌýÌý

• Gewirtz, S. & Cribb, A. (2009) Understanding education: a sociological perspective, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 3-25 (Chapter 1: Understanding Education: the Role of Sociology).Ìý
• Bartlett, S. and Burton, D. (2012) Introduction to Education Studies (3rd edition), London: Sage. (Chapter 10 ‘Social factors, gender, ethnicity and achievement’)Ìý