soc 203 course outline for fall 2014 2

Ryerson University
Sociology 203
Social Class and Inequality
Fall 2014
The goal of this course is to introduce students to one central and dominant themes in sociology: inequality. In this course we deal with inequality that is socially structured and is a recurring feature in society. Structured inequality refers to the process by which groups or individuals with abundant social and economic resources can obtain greater access to societal privileges than individuals or groups lacking in these resources. In this course, we will deal with inequality as it relates to: social class, gender, race and ethnicity, age, education, the labour market, and health.
Instructor: Dr. S. Guzzo
Office Location and Hours: TBA
Email: sguzzo@ryerson.ca
Required Textbooks:
Social Inequality in Canada, Patterns, Problems, and Policies, Fifth Edition, edited by
Edward Grabb and Neil Guppy. Toronto: Pearson, 2009.
Theories of Social Inequality 4TH OR 5TH EDITION by Edward Grabb. Pearson. 2002 or
2007.
Evaluation:
Mid-term Exam:
Independent Research
(25% essay, 10% Presentation)
Final Examination
Participation
Total

30% (multiple choice)
35% (see blackboard for a list of topics)
30% (multiple choice, not commutative)
5%
100%
Topics to be covered:

Week 1 is the week of Sept 2.
Week 1:

Introduction to the Course:
Readings: Grabb Chapter 1

Week 2:

Conflict theory
Readings: Grabb Chapters 2 & 3: Marx and Weber

Week 3:

Functionalist theory:
Readings: Grabb Chapters. 4 & 5

Weeks 4-5:

Social Stratification:
Readings: Grabb and Guppy pages 1 to 149.

Week 6:

READING WEEK

Week 7:

Social Stratification:
Readings: Grabb and Guppy pages 1 to 149

Week 8:

Midterm Exam

Week 9-10:

Education
Readings: Grabb and Guppy pages 150 to 189

Week 11-12: Gender Inequality:
Readings: Grabb and Guppy pages 191 to 236.
Week 12-13: Race and Ethnicity:
Readings: Readings: Grabb and Guppy pages 237 to 304

.