Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Sociology of Education (Online)

EDUC 4600-30I

Course: EDUC 4600-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Teacher Education
CRN: 32725

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

All additional readings will be posted in the Canvas modules. They are posted by week and should be read as part of the class time for that week.

Learning Outcomes

  • Principle #1: The educator understands and can apply disciplinary knowledge from the humanities and social sciences to interpreting the meanings of education and schooling in diverse cultural contexts.
  • Principle #2: The educator understands and can apply normative perspectives on education and schooling.
  • Principle #3: The educator understands and can apply critical perspectives on education and schooling.
  • Principle #4: The educator understands how moral principles related to democratic institutions can inform and direct schooling practice, leadership, and governance.
  • Principle #5: The educator understands the full significance of diversity in a democratic society and how that bears on instruction, school leadership, and governance.
  • Principle #6: The educator understands how philosophical and moral commitments affect the process of evaluation at all levels of schooling practice, leadership, and governance.


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. Final 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

Week 1: Sociological Theories
Week 2: Sociological Theories
Week 3: Organization and Processes of Schools
Week 4: Identity and Inequity: Race, Class, & Ability
Week 5: Identity and Inequity: Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Religion
Week 6: Education Reform
Week 7: Issues in Education 


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


Late Work:
Late assignments have an automatic 20% deduction. You have one week from the due date to submit the late assignment. If you submit an assignment after this one-week deadline, it will not be graded, and you will receive a zero on that assignment. 

Discussion boards will not be accepted late since they are time-sensitive communications. You cannot ask for an extension on a discussion board assignment. If you are traveling, please plan accordingly in order to be able to take time to post on the discussion board that week.


Extensions:
Extension requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any requests for an extension should be put into writing for me to consider. If requesting an extension, you must indicate the assignment you are requesting an extension for, the basic reason for the request, and the date that you will have the assignment completed, which I will need to approve. If an extension request is granted, you will be held to the date agreed upon from the written request and additional extensions WILL NOT be granted. 


Attendance Policy


Students are expected to put as much time and attention into an online course as they would a seated course. Students should be spending a minimum of three hours a week in the Canvas course completing the readings, watching videos, participating on the discussion boards, and completing other coursework. 

The instructor has access to a report that indicates the time each student spends in the Canvas platform and what online materials the students have accessed. 

Course Fees

There are no fees associated with this course. 

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.