Introduction to the study of structured social inequalities and poverty; major theoretical approaches; findings from key empirical studies, with emphasis on Canada. Prerequisite: One of SOC 100 or 300.

The course explores inequality and social stratification from the perspective of race, ethnicity, religion, gender and class.  Moreover, we consider social inequality in the context of education, work and poverty.  Our objective is not only to understand the source/cause of social inequality; we will also debate possibilities for alleviating social inequality.  One of the key themes in the course will be the relationship between social inequality and the law: Does the law and the Canadian legal system facilitate social inequality? Can it be a vehicle for challenging inequality? A portion of this course draws on the tradition of historical sociology, exploring sociological questions in an historical context as well as attempting to understand contemporary phenomena by engaging the past.  The course emphasizes inter-disciplinary learning.

Visit the updates page regularly for news and corrections.

Teaching Assistant: Tyler Moroniuk, tmyroniu@ualberta.ca Office Hours: 1:00pm to 2:00pm, Thursdays

SOC 260 Schedule Change Notice

• Thursday, 18 March 2010 class cancelled.
• However, Tutorial D is still scheduled for 18 March 2010; Tutorial D students attend tutorial (Tory 1-93) from 2:45pm to 3:20pm.
• Professor Special Office Hours: 12:00pm to 2:00pm, Thursday, 18 March – North Power Plant (temporary location of the Sociology Department), in the same building as Dewey’s (entrance around the corner).
• Teaching Assistant Special Office Hours: 2:00pm to 2:45pm (Tory 1-93).
• Professor & Teaching Assistant regular office hours will also take place as regularly scheduled.

Reseach Tools &
Writing Tips

Will Kymlicka. The New Debate Over Minority Rights (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2005). (includes 2005 postscript).

After-class tutorials take place in the classroom.

Tutorials for Weeks 8 & 9 take place in Tory B-65.

Tutorial Groups

Tutorial Group A: Begin to Gormley

Tutorial Group B: Gossain to Makinaw

Tutorial Group C:Maloney to Shumilak

Tutorial Group D: Slu to You

Tutorial Marks

Please see me in person (not by email) if you have any questions regarding the grade, or if there was an error with your student number/grade.

Visit the section on Research Tools for preparing submissions for this course.