FYSP 021 - Learning and Labor: Education and the Market

FC SSCI WINT

4 credits
“Red for Ed” teacher strikes. Student loan debt. Standardized testing. Charter vs. public schools. For-profit education models. College admissions scandals. Each of these current events have elicited hearty debates about education in the US. In this course we will critically examine education as a social institution and its relationship to the economy. We will investigate sociological, humanistic, and political perspectives on questions like: What is the purpose of education? What is its role in society? Students will dip their toes into social scientific research and explore Oberlin College by creating an interview project and a final research essay. Off-campus field trips required.