Postgraduate Course: Social Demography (PGSP11629)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course provides a social scientific study of human populations, including their size, composition, and components of change (mortality, fertility, and migration) in a global perspective. We will critically discuss questions such as:
- How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected life expectancy around the world?
- Why has the average number of children per woman declined to very low levels in some countries, but not in others?
- What are the causes and consequences of population ageing?
- To what extent does immigration change the population composition of a country?
This course combines theoretical foundations with hands-on activities and analysis of demographic data. The theories covered include the Demographic Transition and Second Demographic Transition; the compression and expansion of morbidity hypotheses; and migrant fertility assimilation. In the lectures, you will engage with current debates about the validity of these theories, using examples from countries around the world. In the lab classes, you will learn how to calculate and interpret the main indicators used by demographers, such as Life Expectancy at birth and the Total Fertility Rate. You will also have opportunities to discuss social and political implications of this demographic analysis.
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| Course description |
By the end of this course, students will understand the fundamental concepts of Social Demography, and will be able to critically apply and interpret demographic analysis using real-world data.
The course contents include:
- The Demographic Transition theory and how it can be used to understand mortality and fertility change across world regions
- Health and mortality: theories and debates (e.g., compression vs. expansion of morbidity) and measures (e.g., life expectancy, lifespan inequality)
- Union formation and fertility: theories and debates (e.g., the Second Demographic Transition) and measures (e.g., age at first marriage and fertility rates)
- Population ageing: theories and debates (e.g., crowding in vs. crowding out of government and family support to older adults) and measures (e.g., old-age dependency and support ratios)
- Migration: theories and debates (e.g., migrant fertility assimilation) and measures (e.g., net migration rates).
In the lectures, students will learn about the main theories and concepts in Social Demography, and engage with current debates about the validity of existing demographic theories for explaining population change around the world. In the lab classes, students will learn how to calculate and interpret demographic indicators to discuss the associated social and political implications.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 25 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 11,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
175 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Policy Brief, 40%
Essay, 60%
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| Feedback |
Feedback on all assessed work shall normally be returned within three weeks of submission. Where this is not possible, students shall be given clear expectations regarding the timing and methods of feedback. Formative feedback will be given throughout the course to student-led discussions about the validity of various demographic theories across different world regions and countries (weeks 2-10). |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate extensive, detailed and critical understandings of the main theories in Social Demography
- Apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to forefront issues or issues that are informed by forefront developments in Social Demography
- Apply knowledge, skills and understanding in planning and executing a significant project involving demographic analysis and argument
- Use a wide range of routine skills and a range of advanced and specialised skills to communicate demographic analysis to different audiences including ability for critical evaluation of graphical and numerical data
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Reading List
Holdsworth, C. et al. (2013) Population & Society. Sage
Hinde, A. (1998) Demographic Methods. Routledge
Dyson, T. (2010). Population and Development: The Demographic Transition. Zed Books
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Throughout the course, students will develop the following skills:
- Ability to critically analyse and understand theoretical and empirical work
- Ability to evaluate the validity of different arguments
- Numeracy skills
- Writing skills
- IT/software skills
- Ability to work individually as well as in teams to formulate arguments that are put forward for discussion
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alan Marshall
Tel: (0131 6)51 1462
Email: Alan.Marshall@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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