ESC3701
ASSIGNMENT 2
DUE ( ) 2025
, ESC3701 Assignment 2 2025
ASSIGNMENT 02: SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION (PART B)
(SHORT QUESTIONS) (100 Marks) – on the myUnisa Moodle platform
DUE DATE: To be communicated on myUnisa
UNIQUE NUMBER: To be communicated on myUnisa
Question 1
Functionalism is one of the major theories in Sociology of
Education.
Provide a brief explanation of what Sociology of Education is, as discipline
entails.
Sociology of Education is the study of educational structures, processes, and practices from a
sociological perspective. It examines how education as a social institution interacts with
society and how it is influenced by various social forces, including politics, economics, and
culture (Saha, 2008: 300). This field is considered both a part of sociology and education, as it
analyzes social patterns within educational systems to understand their role in shaping
individuals and society.
At a micro level, Sociology of Education investigates how variations in school practices, such
as different teaching methods, affect student performance. At a macro level, it explores how
social structures and forces create differences in educational institutions (Saha, 2008: 300).
The discipline draws from various sociological theories, including functionalism, conflict
theory, and symbolic interactionism, to explain the functions and inequalities within education.
Early sociologists like Emile Durkheim and Max Weber laid the foundation for the discipline.
Durkheim viewed education as a mechanism for social integration and the transmission of
societal values, while theorists like Talcott Parsons emphasized its role in maintaining social
order and preparing individuals for future roles (Durkheim, 1898; Parsons, 1959). Additionally,
Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital highlights how education maintains social
stratification by favoring those with certain cultural resources (Bourdieu, 1977).
ASSIGNMENT 2
DUE ( ) 2025
, ESC3701 Assignment 2 2025
ASSIGNMENT 02: SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION (PART B)
(SHORT QUESTIONS) (100 Marks) – on the myUnisa Moodle platform
DUE DATE: To be communicated on myUnisa
UNIQUE NUMBER: To be communicated on myUnisa
Question 1
Functionalism is one of the major theories in Sociology of
Education.
Provide a brief explanation of what Sociology of Education is, as discipline
entails.
Sociology of Education is the study of educational structures, processes, and practices from a
sociological perspective. It examines how education as a social institution interacts with
society and how it is influenced by various social forces, including politics, economics, and
culture (Saha, 2008: 300). This field is considered both a part of sociology and education, as it
analyzes social patterns within educational systems to understand their role in shaping
individuals and society.
At a micro level, Sociology of Education investigates how variations in school practices, such
as different teaching methods, affect student performance. At a macro level, it explores how
social structures and forces create differences in educational institutions (Saha, 2008: 300).
The discipline draws from various sociological theories, including functionalism, conflict
theory, and symbolic interactionism, to explain the functions and inequalities within education.
Early sociologists like Emile Durkheim and Max Weber laid the foundation for the discipline.
Durkheim viewed education as a mechanism for social integration and the transmission of
societal values, while theorists like Talcott Parsons emphasized its role in maintaining social
order and preparing individuals for future roles (Durkheim, 1898; Parsons, 1959). Additionally,
Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital highlights how education maintains social
stratification by favoring those with certain cultural resources (Bourdieu, 1977).
