Sociology of Adult Education
(6 credit hours)

This course is designed to introduce the sociology of education concepts and their application to the adult learner. The emphasis will be on the development of an understanding of the concepts of social class, mobility and organization and cross-cultural education, and their application to formal and informal learning situations. Educational issues such as priority groups, accessibility, training versus education, the labour market determining educational need, multi-cultural classrooms and education as economic development will be explored. Case studies, problem solving, simulation exercises and critical examination will complement the theoretical presentations.

Course Topics
• Conceptual framework of education
  
• Social structure, processes and interaction
  
• Social class, political ideology and power
  
• Cultural awareness, racism, values and perceptions
  
• Adult education and social mobility
  
• Adult education as a social and economic policy
  
• Multi-cultural education issues
  
• Accessibility, equality and social/political theory of learning