PBB124 Sociology of Education

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Tomáš Lintner, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Bc. Veronika Tesařová, DiS. (assistant)
prof. Mgr. Klára Šeďová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. Mgr. Klára Šeďová, Ph.D.
Department of Educational Sciences – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. et Mgr. Adéla Zajíčková
Supplier department: Department of Educational Sciences – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 8:00–9:40 B2.23, except Mon 20. 4. to Fri 24. 4.
Prerequisites
PBB011
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 10 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 4/10, only registered: 1/10
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract

The Sociology of Education course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic relationship between society and education. By adopting a sociological perspective, the course delves into the intricate processes that shape and are shaped by education. It explores how educational systems and institutions reflect and influence broader societal structures, values, and inequalities. Throughout the course, students will examine the multifaceted roles of various actors involved in education, including students, teachers, parents, policymakers, and educational institutions. By analyzing these actors' interactions, beliefs, and practices, students gain insight into the social forces that impact educational experiences and outcomes. Drawing from a wide range of sociological paradigms, the course encourages students to critically analyze education as a social institution.

The Sociology of Education course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic relationship between society and education. By adopting a sociological perspective, the course explores the intricate processes through which education both shapes and is shaped by broader social structures, cultural norms, and power relations.

A distinctive feature of the course is the systematic integration of the YoungLink application, a scalable digital tool for assessing peer relations and social dynamics in educational settings. Across the semester, students will engage with real and simulated data collected through YoungLink, learning how digital sociometric instruments can be used to map classroom networks, detect inequalities, identify vulnerable students, analyze patterns of bullying and exclusion, and inform evidence-based interventions.

The course connects sociological theory with practical data analysis. Students will work with anonymized YoungLink datasets to examine patterns of friendship, exclusion, status hierarchies, and social integration, thereby linking classical and contemporary sociological theories to real educational environments.

Throughout the course, students will examine the roles of various actors involved in education, including students, teachers, families, policymakers, and institutions. By analyzing interactions, beliefs, and practices through both theoretical frameworks and empirical data, students gain insight into the social forces that shape educational experiences and outcomes.

The course is supported by the MPSV grant no. Z.03.03.01/00/23_051/0004970, priorita OPZ+: Sociální inovace, which enables the integration of innovative digital tools and applied data analysis into teaching.

Learning outcomes
By the end of this course;
- Students will have acquired a comprehensive understanding of the key concepts, theories, and methodologies used in the field of Sociology of Education.
- Students will develop the ability to critically analyze the intricate relationship between education and society. They will be able to examine how educational processes, structures, and institutions are shaped by social factors such as class, race, gender, and culture.
- Students will gain insight into the roles played by various actors within the educational sphere, including children, teachers, families, and policymakers.
- Through studying the school as an institution and teaching as a profession, students will develop a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics within educational settings. They will examine the organizational structures, power dynamics, and institutional practices that shape the educational environment.
- Students will explore the family as a source of educational inequalities, considering the impact of socio-economic backgrounds, cultural capital, and parental involvement on educational outcomes. They will also analyze the broader educational system as a source of inequalities, examining factors such as tracking, standardized testing, and access to resources.
- Students will develop an awareness of the challenges and crises that education faces in contemporary society. They will examine the impact of societal issues such as poverty, globalization, and technological advancements on education.

- Students will critically engage with the concept of a knowledge society and its implications for education.
- Students will develop awareness of how digital tools and data analytics can inform educational policy and practice, particularly in relation to the roles of teachers, social pedagogues, and school psychologists in shaping school climate and addressing peer dynamics.

Key topics
  • 1. Introduction to sociology of education
  • 2. Children as social actors
  • 3. School as institution
  • 4. Teaching as profession
  • 5. Family as a source of inequalities in education
  • 6. Educational system as a source of inequalities in education
  • 7. Societal crises as challenges in education
  • 8. Knowledge society as a vision of future

  • 9. Scalable Digital Tools for the Assessment of Peer Relations: The YoungLink Application
  • 10. Data Analysis of Peer Networks: Interpreting and Applying YoungLink Outputs in the Context of Bullying Prevention and School Climate
  •  11. Ethical Dimensions of School Climate Measurement and Sociometric Assessment
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
in-person lessons, online materials
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
compulsory attendance of all lessons and completion of weekly tasks
Language of instruction
English
Study support
https://elf.phil.muni.cz/25-26/course/view.php?id=791
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2027.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2026/PBB124