Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Sociology of Education (Online)

EDUC 4600-30I

Course: EDUC 4600-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: TED
CRN: 30446

Course Description

This course provides an overview of the relationship between education and society, with a primary focus on its role in replication, reinforcement, and creation of inequality. Various sociological concepts, methods, and theories will be used to examine both historical and current issues in education such as inequity, social stratification, the “achievement gap,” and social and cultural capital. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

  • Sadovnik, A. (2015). Sociology of Education: A Critical Reader, 3rd Edition. New York: Routledge. ISBN: 978-1138843004

Learning Outcomes

Through this course, learners will:
  • 1. Synthesize interdisciplinary research: You will be able to integrate theories and research from sociology, economics, and public policy to analyze complex educational issues. This goes beyond simply reading a paper; it requires you to connect disparate ideas to form a more complete understanding.
  • 2. Critically analyze educational inequality: You will be able to identify and evaluate the historical and systemic causes of educational inequality. This outcome challenges you to move past surface-level observations and to delve into the root causes of achievement gaps.
  • 3. Connect theory to practice: You will be able to apply academic concepts to real-world educational contexts by directly observing and analyzing community organizations. The goal is to bridge the gap between abstract academic ideas and the lived experiences within schools.
  • 4. Evaluate the social and economic impact of education: You will be able to articulate how educational experiences and outcomes influence social mobility and economic opportunity. This outcome pushes you to consider the broader societal role of education, not just its function within a classroom.
  • 5. Propose evidence-based institutional improvements: You will be able to use your interdisciplinary knowledge and practical analysis to propose and justify potential improvements for educational institutions. This is the capstone of the course, asking you to move from analysis to action and to apply what you've learned to create positive change.

Course Requirements

  • 1. Discussions (20%): This will be in a traditional discussion board format. You will be required to sign up to be a discussion leader one week out of the semester.
  • 2. Critical Memos (30%): You will complete three critical memos each over a specific topic. More information is detailed in each separate Critical Memo assignment.
  • 3. Research Project (40%): Our largest and final assignment is a research project. There is some choice built into the assignment. Please see the assignment for more specific details.
  • 4. Zoom Sessions (10%): We will have three Zoom meetings throughout the semester. These are indicated in the modules and were discussed in the course introduction video.

Course Outline

Course Meetings
Asynchronous Discussion Zooms posted on Canvas | Canvas online instruction, interaction, and activities throughout the course.
This course is self-paced. All work is coordinated with your individual mentor principal, therefore, below is a schedule that captures the requirements of this course.
Week 1 | 1. Understand and apply normative perspectives on education and schooling.2. Understand and apply critical perspectives on education and schooling.3. Understand how philosophical and moral commitments affect the process of evaluation at all levels of schooling practice, leadership, and governance.
Week 2 | 1. Understand and apply normative perspectives on education and schooling.2. Understand and apply critical perspectives on education and schooling.3. Understand how philosophical and moral commitments affect the process of evaluation at all levels of schooling practice, leadership, and governance.
Week 3 | 1. Understand and apply normative perspectives on education and schooling.2. Understand and apply critical perspectives on education and schooling.3. Understand how philosophical and moral commitments affect the process of evaluation at all levels of schooling practice, leadership, and governance.
Week 4 | 1. Understand and apply disciplinary knowledge from the humanities and social sciences to interpreting the meanings of education and schooling in diverse cultural contexts.2. Understand how moral principles related to democratic institutions can inform and direct schooling practice, leadership, and governance.3. Understand the full significance of diversity in a democratic society and how that bears on instruction, school leadership, and governance.
Week 5 | 1. Understand and apply disciplinary knowledge from the humanities and social sciences to interpreting the meanings of education and schooling in diverse cultural contexts.2. Understand how moral principles related to democratic institutions can inform and direct schooling practice, leadership, and governance.3. Understand the full significance of diversity in a democratic society and how that bears on instruction, school leadership, and governance.
Week 6 | 1. Understand and apply disciplinary knowledge from the humanities and social sciences to interpreting the meanings of education and schooling in diverse cultural contexts.2. Understand how moral principles related to democratic institutions can inform and direct schooling practice, leadership, and governance.3. Understand the full significance of diversity in a democratic society and how that bears on instruction, school leadership, and governance.
Week 7 | 1. Understand and apply critical perspectives on education and schooling.2. Understand the full significance of diversity in a democratic society and how that bears on instruction, school leadership, and governance.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Students are deemed professionals in their field. This course is designed to encourage these professionals to look within to determine the perspectives they bring to their individual classrooms/schools. Work should be submitted by due dates. The nature of this material means that we move quickly and we cannot afford to allow late work to accumulate. Discussion posts only receive credit if they are posted by the due date. Assignments that are late receive a 10-point per day penalty for the first two days late, after three days the assignment is recorded as a zero. If you are unable to submit work on time, please reach out to me prior to the due date.

Attendance Policy

 This course is delivered in an asynchronous format, allowing you to access materials and complete assignments on your own schedule. However, periodic synchronous sessions are required for discussions, activities, or assessments. Attendance at these scheduled live sessions is mandatory. 

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

Course Meetings

Academic Integrity and AI generated work

This course is designed for a learning experience that is cultivated through the interaction of real-world learner experiences and course material, as well as other researched sources. It is only at this intersection of experiences and grounded ideas do learners fully investigate, problem solve and develop thinking as an administrator. As such, learners can only fully respond to course assignments by fully preparing their own work. Use of any AI tools such as ChatGTP to complete any aspect of assignments for this course is not permitted and will be viewed as plagiarism (passing off someone else's - or something else's - work as your own). If you find it valuable to use AI in your research for an assignment, please discuss this with me prior to completing the assignment.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.