This course introduces students to key perspectives and themes in the sociology of education. Sociology of education studies education as an integral part of larger social systems and institutions, often with a critical view on the ways in which education is implicated in the relations of power and inequality that traverse these systems and institutions.

Theoretical perspectives covered in this course include the functionalist, the Marxist/Marxian, and various other critical perspectives hinging on social differences such as culture, power, gender, race/ethnicity. Other important themes such as neoliberal-ism/ization, globalization and inter-/trans-national mobility, curriculum, critical pedagogy and alternative education, are also examined.

•To be familiar with the major cultural, intellectual, and political developments such as the rise and the expansion of religions and the ways in which they influenced the life of people, and how their material life changed over time.

•Centrality and decentralization in Asian history
•The great works in Asian history – Analects, Mozi, Dao de jing, Rig Veda, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita, Lives of the Jain elders
•Developments in Panyu and south China in the ancient period
•Greek sources in painting a picture of Mauryan India as well as trade and travel in the Indian Ocean
•Records of I-Tsing and picture of polities of classical Southeast Asia
•The Silk Road as a theme in cross-regional interactions
•Orientation to and report based on the Asian Civilizations Museum
•Optional: Visit to Borobudur

•Bachelor of Arts (Honours), or equivalent, in a relevant discipline, or
•Bachelor of Arts, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline, and at least two years of professional working experience

All Educators