Social Stratification
Examines classical and contemporary theories of social inequality, US patterns of class, race, and gender inequality, and connections to globalization, immigration, and politics.
Summary
Past student reviews · John Logan
Reviewers noted high stress and significant memorization demands, stating they did not know what to study until days before exams.
What you’ll be able to do
Critically evaluate major sociological theories of stratification, including functionalist, Marxist, Weberian, and elite theories, and apply them to historical and contemporary contexts of inequality.
Analyze the structure and dynamics of social class in the United States, identifying patterns and mechanisms of socio-economic inequality and mobility using empirical data and scholarly interpretations.
Explain how race, ethnicity, and gender intersect with class to shape life chances and social outcomes, drawing on current and historical research, case studies, and theoretical frameworks.
Assess the impact of economic transformations - such as globalization, deindustrialization, and welfare policy changes - on social stratification patterns in the U.S. and globally.
Synthesize and communicate sociological knowledge about inequality through clear written arguments and oral presentations, connecting academic research to real-world events and policy debates.
Critically interpret and engage with primary texts in the sociology of inequality, demonstrating an ability to identify core arguments, assess evidence, and reflect on their contemporary relevance.
Collaborate effectively in small groups to research, report on, and discuss current events related to social stratification, developing teamwork, analytical, and presentation skills.
Source: UW Guide
Grade history
↗All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors
Prerequisites
Course mapSOC 181,SOC/C&E SOC 140, 210, or 211
- take all
This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.
Prerequisite text tree
Professors
Spring 2027No instructors recorded for this selection.
Historical instructors & teaching patterns
JOHN LOGAN is recorded teaching in Spring 2018, Fall 2018. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Calendar & sections
Spring 2027Schedule loads here as you scroll.
| Section | Mode | Enrolled / capacity | Waitlist |
|---|
Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections.
Meeting source records
Student experience
the class
Past student reviews · John Logan
Past students described the course as feeling more like a history class than sociology, with a focus on memorization rather than analysis.
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2019: 3.50 GPA, 78.6% A/AB (n=14 letter grades); Fall 2021: 3.33 GPA, 57.7% A/AB (n=26 letter grades); Fall 2024: 3.41 GPA, 70.6% A/AB (n=17 letter grades).
difficulty & workload
Past student reviews · John Logan
Reviewers noted high stress and significant memorization demands, stating they did not know what to study until days before exams.
Past student reviews · John Logan
One student described the class as the worst of their undergraduate experience and criticized the instructor's suitability for the role.
Topics
- Theories of social inequality
- US inequality patterns and trends
- Inequalities by class, race, and gender
- Inequality, globalization, immigration, and politics
Skills
- Evaluate sociological theories of stratification (functionalist, Marxist, Weberian, elite) and apply them to inequality contexts.
- Analyze US social class structures, inequality patterns, and mobility mechanisms using empirical data.
- Explain intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, and class in shaping life chances and social outcomes.
- Assess impacts of globalization, deindustrialization, and welfare policy on global and US stratification.
- Interpret primary texts in sociology of inequality, identifying arguments and assessing evidence.
- Collaborate in small groups to research and present on current events related to social stratification.
Grades
Latest available · Fall 2024— not enough history to project Spring 2027.
Grade distribution · % of letter grades
Grades over time
Through Fall 2024
More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data
Not enough comparable courses for Spring 2027 in UW–Madison.
Sources & history
Catalog & offerings
Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.
Catalog observation history
Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.
Selected offering source records
No offering records for the selected term.
Raw records
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Student reviews
Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.
Read original reviews
Grade history
Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.
Explore recorded gradesRecorded 2026-10-14
Model outputs & technical records
LLM outputs across runs
Full model traces
Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.
Model & dataset provenance
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"observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
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