This course examines structured inequality (also known as stratification) by reviewing some of the most important answers to the question that drives most stratification research: "Who get what and why?"  We will read theoretical and empirical works that discuss the origins of stratification as well as the different forms it takes.  We will also study social mobility and examine how and, more importantly, why a person's place in the social hierarchy is connected to race, gender, education, social networks, labor markets, and other social structures.  By the end of the course, you will be familiar with the major sociological approaches to the study of stratification, be able to explain the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, and make your own contributions to our understanding of stratification.