Class Matters: Poverty, Prosperity, and the American Dream

1 Course Unit

Despite the United States being “the land of opportunity,” economic inequality is at an all-time high. The gap between the poorest and richest Americans continues to widen. Intergenerational social mobility continues to decline, and the “American Dream” of economic prosperity is becoming increasingly difficult to attain. So, who is rich and who is poor? How are income and wealth distributed in America? What are the causes and implications of this distribution? In this course, we will answer these questions from a sociological perspective. In the process, students will gain a fuller understanding of social class and how it relates to various domains such as family life, housing, education, employment, healthcare, and the legal system. Not Offered Every Year 1 Course Unit