Master's Programme in Sociology of Education

In the Master's Programme in Sociology of Education at Uppsala University, education is explored as a social phenomenon, in the broad sense of the word. It is related to the overall structure of society and social transformations, such as processes of globalisation, individualisation, marketisation and privatisation. A focal point of the programme is the encounter between the symbolic or material assets held by pupils and school teachers, or students and professors, as well as their embodied dispositions and beliefs, and the prevailing social and cultural order in the educational system. Other important areas of study are the rise and transformation of educational systems, the history of and competition between educational institutions, the significance of education for the class structure and the relation that education upholds with cultural, economic and political fields. As a discipline, Sociology of Education is based on more general traditions in the social sciences and humanities. With a strong emphasis on training in scientific research – including critical and analytical thinking, construction of research objects, research planning, and practice using a variety of research methods and techniques – the programme prepares you for a career in research and in fields where theoretical, empirical and analytical training is advantageous, such as policy development, data analysis, and education administration and evaluation. The language of instruction is English.