Education and Inequality

2025/2026

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Purpose
The purpose of this course is that students obtain a broad knowledge in the field of educational sociology, which enable them to apply different sociological theories to current issues on social inequality in education. During the course students are learning to reflect on and apply theories in relation to concrete analyses of education.

Content

This course will present various sociological aspects of education both theoretical and empirical. Despite large investments in the Danish education system, social inequality in education is still an issue. Although education is one of the sociological areas that theoretically and empirically is very well researched, it is still unclear what causes social inequality in education, and thus how to break the social inheritance. Likewise, there is a lack of consensus on the effect of social inequality in education on other areas (e.g. health) and later in life (e.g. job opportunities). In this course, we will examine the importance of education in a wide range of stages from kindergarten to university, with particular emphasis on causes and consequences at the various stages.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

  • knowledge within the area of ​​the course at a basic level

Skills

  • formulate, assess, and communicate central issues within the area of the course.
  • illuminate, discuss, and analyse current issues within the thematic framework of the course in a sociological perspective.

Competences

  • Able to reflect on central issues within the theme of the course, including competing theoretical perspectives, methods, and areas of application.

Type of instruction

The module is a theoretical course module that is run as lectures.

Exam

Exams

Name of examEducation and Inequality
Type of exam
Written exam
The module concludes with an individual written exam of 24 hours' duration.
ECTS5
Assessment7-point grading scale
Type of gradingInternal examination
Criteria of assessmentThe criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Facts about the module

Danish titleUddannelse og ulighed
Module codeBASOC202210C
Module typeCourse
Duration1 semester
SemesterAutumn
ECTS5
Language of instructionEnglish
Location of the lectureCampus Aalborg
Responsible for the module

Organisation

Education ownerBachelor of Science (BSc) in Sociology
Study BoardStudy Board of Sociology and Criminology
DepartmentDepartment of Sociology and Social Work
FacultyFaculty of Social Sciences and Humanities