(Same as Sociology M175.) Lecture, four hours; discussion, one hour. Study of how U.S. educational system both promotes socioeconomic opportunities and maintains socioeconomic inequalities: historical and theoretical perspectives on role of education in U.S. society; trends in educational attainment; ways in which family background, class, race, and gender affect educational achievement and attainment; stratification between and within schools; effects of education on socioeconomic attainment, family, health, attitudes, and social participation; educational policies to improve school quality and address socioeconomic inequalities. Letter grading.