INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL THEORY AND EDUCATION
An introduction to the social and theoretical character of education through the development of social theory from the Enlightenment (late 18th c.) to the present. Provides a space of inquiry and understanding of the main and often conflicting themes that give education its social and critical character. Focusing on how social theory impacts and shapes educational policy, discusses the role that education plays on a wider horizon of the school, society and the polity as an ever-changing community.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Junior standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Breadth - Humanities or Social Science Level - Advanced L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify how social theory emerged from the Enlightenment to the present day. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Demonstrate how social theory contribute to education's wider purposes and practices. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Contextualize education through a better understanding of critical theory and thinking. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Draw from social theory to analyze/evaluate a variety of social issues as they emerge in educational policy and governance. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Analyze educational policies and social issues. Audience: Graduate 6. Approach method, theory, and practice as avenues of discovery and creation. Audience: Graduate 7. Engage with social and critical theory through one's own research projects and interests, with the aim of discovering new junctures that open other avenues and possibilities of being, knowing, making and doing. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Identify how social theory emerged from the Enlightenment to the present day. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Demonstrate how social theory contribute to education's wider purposes and practices. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Contextualize education through a better understanding of critical theory and thinking. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Draw from social theory to analyze/evaluate a variety of social issues as they emerge in educational policy and governance. Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Analyze educational policies and social issues. Audience: Graduate 6. Approach method, theory, and practice as avenues of discovery and creation. Audience: Graduate 7. Engage with social and critical theory through one's own research projects and interests, with the aim of discovering new junctures that open other avenues and possibilities of being, knowing, making and doing. Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027