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SOC30350

Academic Year 2024/2025

Social Stratification (SOC30350)

Subject:
Sociology
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Sociology
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Jack Bwalya
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This course looks firstly at how work is organized in our society. It examines the division between mental and manual labour. It introduces students to major concepts such as Taylorism and Fordism that seek to explain why this division emerged. It also explores how different groups fare in the labour market, e.g., migrants, women and white-collar employees. It looks at union-employer conflicts and examines new forms of work organisation. The second part of the course aims to introduce students to both conceptual and empirical issues relating to social stratification. It looks at how Marx, Weber, Durkheim, and Bourdieu define and deploy the concept of class.
The last part of the course expands the perspective to encompass global inequality, exploring its manifestations on a global scale, within the African context, and in Ireland. The course engages with the multifaceted nature of inequality, shedding light on the various forms it can assume and the pivotal role that education plays in shaping these complex societal dynamics.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Students who successfully complete this course should be able to describe how Taylorism and Fordism influenced the division of labour, to compare how different social groups such as migrants fare in the labour market, to describe the main structures through which conflict between employers and unions are organized, to identify the complex and multileveled nature of stratification, to state the rival definitions of class, and to locate how inequality is both a global and societal phenomenon. They should also have a familiarity with stratification and work processes on a national and international level.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20
Seminar (or Webinar)

1
Specified Learning Activities

10
Autonomous Student Learning

92
Total

123

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
lectures and essays

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Work & Social Stratification (SOC20020)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): End of term assignment consisting of 2000 word essay Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No
Group Work Assignment: students will now engage in group discussions Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be provided on assessed coursework as individual comments published in the VLE, in group sessions at lectures/seminars, and/or in person during office hours as appropriate.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 15:00 - 15:50
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