SOC/POEC 6350 Social Stratification

Fall 2010 Tuesday 7:00 - 9:45 p.m. Classroom: FO 2.608

Dr. Richard Scotch Email: richard.scotch@utdallas.edu Office: GR3.510
Phone: 972-883-2922 Office Hours: Tuesday 6-6:45 p.m. and by appointment

Social stratification is at the core of sociology and much of social science. Social stratification refers to
social inequality, including inequalities of class, social status, race and ethnicity, and gender. By the end
of this course, students should be knowledgeable about the major theoretical approaches in sociology
concerning social inequality; the causes and consequences of poverty; the various social policies that
address social inequality and its consequences; and the nature of social inequality in developing,
industrial, and emerging post-industrial societies.

Course requirements include weekly essays and a research paper on a topic related to social
stratification. The essays will typically involve summarizing and critically evaluating the required
course readings in 1-2 (double-spaced) pages, and will count a total of 50% toward the total course
grade. The research paper will involve a literature review of a topic related to social stratification. The
paper should be 12-15 double-spaced pages, and will count for 50% of the total course grade. Paper
topics are subject to the approval of the instructor. To encourage student to begin working on the paper
early in the semester, they will be required to submit a topic statement (due September 21) and an
annotated bibliography (due October 19). The research paper is due on November 16, and should be
submitted both in hard copy and through turnitin.com. A handout on the research paper will be
distributed in class during the early weeks of the semester. Each student will make a short class
presentation on their paper in November.

While there is no formal grade for class participation, regular attendance and participation in class
discussion (or lack thereof) will be taken into account in determining the final course grade. The
grading scale to be used will be: A+ 97-100, A 93-96, A- 90-92, B+ 87-89, B 83-86, B- 80-82, C+ 77-
79, C 73-76, C- 70-72, F 69 or less.

Readings for the course will be assigned from 1) two required books which have been ordered at both
the UTD Bookstore and Off Campus Books; and 2) additional readings that will be made available
through electronic reserve or the class eLearning site.

David Grusky (editor), Social Stratification: Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological
Perspective, Westview Press, 2008 [Grusky]

David J. Harding, Michele Lamont, and Mario Luis Small (eds), Reconsidering Culture and
Poverty, The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 629: May
2010. [Annals]

Course Outline (subject to revisions announced in class)

August 24 Introduction to the Course

Grusky (1): pp. 2-28

August 31 Durkheim and Functionalism

Grusky (2-5, 16): pp. 30-53, 159-164
Course Outline (continued)

September 7 Marx and Weber

Grusky (9-10; 13): pp. 74-97, 114-132

September 14 Jobs, Income, and Mobility

Grusky (7, 19-22, 45): pp. 61-66, 187-204, 420-425

September 21 Elites
Grusky (8, 28-29, 31-33): pp. 67-72, 268-285, 290-310
RESEARCH PAPER TOPIC STATEMENT DUE

September 28 Poverty
Grusky (35-39, 43-44): pp. 317-371, 400-417

October 5 Race and Ethnicity

Grusky (65-73): 624-703

October 12 Race, Class, and Place

Grusky (42, 74-76): pp. 393-399, 691-727

October 19 Culture and Poverty Revisited I

Annals: pp. 1-143
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE

October 26 Culture and Poverty Revisited II

Annals: pp. 146-225

November 2 Inequality and Education

Farkas, (eLearning)

November 9 Gender and Occupations

Grusky (77-83): pp. 730-785
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

November 16 Sex Segregation and the Gender Gap in Income

Grusky (84-91): pp. 786-860
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
RESEARCH PAPER DUE

November 23 Disability and Inequality

eLearning reading to be announced
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

November 30 Globalization and the Future of Inequality

Grusky (100-102, 109-111): pp. 966-999, 1036-1062
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
Email Use

The instructor will not communicate with students on issues related to grading or assessment through
any email account other than a UTD student account.

In-Class Computer and Cell Phone Policy

Use of electronic equipment such as laptop/notebook computers and cell phones can be distracting to the
conduct of a seminar-style class such as this course. Accordingly, cell phone use (including texting) will
not be permitted in this course while class is in session and computer use by students in class is subject
to the discretion of the instructor.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses which
are listed in the Academic Calendar for Fall 2010. It is the student's responsibility to complete the proper
paperwork for drops and withdrawals from any class, and the instructor cannot drop or withdraw any
student.

Incomplete Grade Policy

Incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the semester’s end and only if
70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade for this course must be resolved
within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the Spring 2011 semester. If the required work to complete
the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by that deadline, the incomplete grade
will be changed automatically to a grade of F.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities, of the
university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. In attempting to resolve any student grievance
regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the
student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The UT Dallas faculty expect a high level of responsibility and academic honesty from our students.
Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the
student for that degree, it is imperative that students demonstrate a high standard of integrity in
academic work. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions
related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work
or material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following
acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of
academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings. Plagiarism, especially from the web, from
portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with
under the university’s policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details).
Disability Services

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable
adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. Students seeking such
accommodations should first register with the UT-Dallas Office of Disability Services, and request any
provisions through that Office. It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need
for such an accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty
members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring
special accommodation should contact the professor after class or during office hours.

Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the
travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from
property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated. The student is encouraged to
notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance
of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the
assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to
a maximum of one week.

Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for
the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student to be
knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. The
University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and
established due process, as defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The
University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. A student at the university neither
loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal,
state, and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules.
Students are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes
place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.