SOCIOLOGY 401/501 - SOCIAL CLASS AND SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
Textbook: Kerbo, Harold R.  Social Stratification and Inequality,
     2nd edition, McGraw-Hill, 1991. (Required).
Spring Semester, 1994
Austin - PH. 361, Ext. 2690.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

     1.   To provide a theoretical and conceptual framework for the analysis
          of structured social inequality, particularly in the U.S., even
          though these principles appear to be generalizable to the larger
          context.
     2.   To increase your understanding of the relationships between class,
          status and power - or economic standing, social prestige and
          political resources.
     3.   To acquaint you with some of the leading scholarship and
          literature in the field of social stratification.
     4.   To enhance you consciousness of the consequences of inequality in
          imperatively coordinated societies.
     
COURSE REQUIREMENTS

     1.   Class attendance is, of course, required and expected.
          Students who miss no more than 1 class period (excused
          or unexcused) during the semester will receive 5 bonus points 
          added to their final grade point total (Note: this is not intended
          to penalize absences, but to reward commitment and attendance).
          Each class will begin on time and students are expected to be on 
          time.  After the calling of the roll, the door will be closed. 
          Please do not enter the classroom after the door is closed.
     2.   Readings and class project:  In addition to the required text,
          each unit of the course will give attention to important works
          of scholarship and research.  Some of these are merely 
          suggested optional readings; however, some are specifically
          required (indicated below by **).  The required readings and the
          written critiques which accompany them combined with the class
          project will add up to the equivalent of one examination.  
     3.   Examinations.  There will be three examinations during the
          semester - each will count 25% toward your final point total. 
          Each examination will be approximately 50% essay (Blue Books are
          required).  All exams are to be taken at the scheduled times -
          Make-ups will be given only when absolutely necessary and there
          will be one designated day when all make-up exams will be given.
     4.   Grading scale:
          a.   Total points available = 400
          b.   A = 90% and above (360 points)
               B = 80 - 89% (320-359 points)
               C = 70 - 79% (280-319 points)
               D = 60 - 69% (240-279 points).
               F = below 60% (below 240 points)
               I - Incompletes will be given only in those cases where
                   failure to complete assigned work is due to   
                    circumstances beyond the student's control.



                        COURSE OUTLINE

Unit I - Basic outlines and Concepts - Chs. 1-3

     The first unit is, in many ways, the most important.  It addresses the
basic conceptual tools which will be used throughout the course: social
differentiation, social inequality, structured social inequality,
stratification, social status (SES), social class, social power and social
mobility.  A brief examination of the varieties of stratification in human
groups (primitive communalism, slavery, caste, feudal estate, class and SES)
provides an ideal typology for historical and comparative analysis.
     Chapter 2 examines the dimensions of inequality in the United States,
particularly the distribution of income and wealth and their implications for
the opportunity structure (life chances and life styles).  Specific attention
will be given to differential health care, legal rights, basic life
satisfactions, political opportunities and education.  A separate treatment
will be given to minority and gender stratification in this unit. 
     Chapter 3 provides a broad outline of the history of inequality in human
societies which will serve as the basis for examining the emergence of types
of stratification systems in response to changing modes of production and
social organization.

Additional readings:

    **Turner and Starnes, Inequality: Privilege and Poverty in   
          America, chs. 1-3. (pp. 1-74).
    **Goldberg and Kremen, "The Feminization of Poverty: Only in America,"
          Social Policy, 17(Spring, 1987):3-14.
     Rossides, Daniel. "The Class Position of American Minorities," in Social
          Stratification: The AmericanSystem in Comparative Perspective,
          198-233.
     Sudnow, David.  Passing On.
     Reiman, Jeffrey.  The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get
          Prison.
     Wilbanks, William.  The Myth of A Racist Criminal Justice   
          System.
     Charnofsky, Stanley.  Educating the Powerless.
     Kozol, Jonathan.  Death At An Early Age.
     Ryan, William.  Blaming the Victim.

EXAMINATION I - Chapters 1-3 plus lecture notes.


Unit II - Theoretical Approaches to Stratification (Chs. 4-5)

     Classical theory (18th and early 19th centuries) recognized the need for
an analysis of the social structural changes generated by the Industrial
Revolution and the shift from feudalism to capitalism, agrarianism to
industrialism and ruralism to urbanism.  Marx, Weber and Durkheim each offered
separate treatments of these issues which serve as the theoretical
underpinning of contemporary stratification theories: conflict,
multidimensional and functionalist.  Additionally, we will examine Lenski's
attempt to synthesize these approaches.


Additional Readings:

    **Marx and Engels.  The Communist Manifesto.
     Runciman.  "The Three Dimensions of Stratification," in  
          Andre Beteille, Social Inequality, 45-63.
    **Davis and Moore.  "Some Principles of Stratification,"  
          American Sociological Review, 10:242-249 (1945).
    **Lenski.  Power and Privilege, 1-23.
      Dahrendorf.  "On the Origin of Inequality Among Men." in  
          Essays on the Theory of Society, 151-178.
    **Orwell, George.  Animal Farm

EXAMINATION II - Chapters 4-5 plus lecture notes.

Unit III - Stratification Realities in the U.S. (Chs. 6-12)
 
     This unit applies the conceptual and theoretical principles from the
first two units to the current stratification realities of the U.S. and the
processes of legitimation which sustain the system.  Separate analyses of the
aristocracy, the corporate rich, the white collar world, the blue-collar
working stratum and the poor.  Of critical importance are the historical
factors which have shaped these realities and the socio-economic factors which
comprise them.

Additional readings:

       Domhoff, G. William.  Who Rules America?
       Parker, Richard.  The Myth of the Middle Class
       Sennett and Cobb.  The Hidden Injuries of Class.
     **Harrington, Michael.  The Other America. (Chapter 1, "The   
          Invisible Land," pp. 1-24).
     **C. Wright Mills.  The Power Elite, pp. 1-29
     **Turner and Starnes.  Inequality: Privilege and Poverty in 
          America.  Chs. 6-7  

EXAMINATION III - Chapters 6-12 plus lecture notes. (This will be the final
examination and will be taken at the appropriate time during final exam week. 
Since the exam is over new material only, all students, regardless of GPA,
class standing, etc., will be expected to take the final.