Population studies and societal challenges, 7.5 Credits

Contents

The course gives an overview of population dynamics over various time periods, and how this relates to current societal challenges, such as population growth, ageing, inequality, poor health and urbanization. The main themes revolves around the drivers of demographic changes, especially how fertility, mortality and migration changes over time. The course provides knowledge on key demographic and social theories and include practical exercises in population analysis. 

This is a course at Master's level in a MSc-degree at Umeå University.

Expected learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
After completion of the course the student should be able to:
-    Describe and show insight in the meaning of central demographic concepts and theories,
-    Describe the most important changes in mortality, fertility and migration, and have insight in what demographic research says about the incentives for population change,
-    Show insight in the theoretical framework which forms the basis of the common demographic models and methods.

Skills and abilities
After completion of the course the student should be able to:
-    Apply relevant concepts and theoretical explanations of the incentives for population dynamics, in time and space,  
-    demonstrate the ability to perform basic demographic analyses,

Judgment and approach
After completion of the course the student should be able to:
-    Critically assess, problematize and evaluate demographic research outcomes,
-    Value the relevance of different theoretical explanatory models for analyzing population dynamics in different contexts and time periods.

Required Knowledge

The requirements are 120 ECTS from an internationally recognized university. Special requirements: 60 ECTS in any of the subjects: human geography, geography, statistics, sociology, economics, history, epidemiology, psychology, demography, population studies or other related subjects. You will also need at least 7.5 ECTS of quantitative methods or equivalent. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.

Form of instruction

The tuition consists of a combination of lectures, seminars and computer practicals, where the students are expected to take active part. The spoken and written language of the course is English.

Examination modes

Examination is based on written assignments that are orally presented at examining seminars and individually written reports. The grades Pass with distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U) are used. In order to pass the course and receive a grade, all examinations and assignments need to be completed and receive the grade Pass.

Examination based on the same syllabus as at the ordinary examination is guaranteed during two years after the first registration to the course.

Students who have passed an examination cannot redo the examination to receive a higher grade.

It is not possible to appeal against a received grade, i.e. to get it examined by a higher authority, but a student can always criticize the grading or ask another examiner to reconsider the examination.

When a student has failed an examination on two occasions, he or she has a right to have another grading teacher. A written request for an alternative examiner should be handed to the program coordinator.