Sociology of Education

Sociology of Education explores education - in the broad sense of the word - as a social phenomenon. Education is thus related to the overall social structure, as well as to transformations in for example professional domains and to globalisation processes. A focal point in Sociology of Education research is the encounter between, on the one hand, the symbolic and material assets held by students and professors or by pupils and school teachers, and, on the other hand, the prevailing social and cultural order in the education system. Other significant areas of research are the history of and competition between educational institutions and how education is related to the structure of and struggles within various social fields, such as cultural, economic or political ones. As a discipline Sociology of Education is based on more general traditions in social and historical sciences.