Theories of socio-demographic change

Teacher(s)

Conte Keivabu Risto; Rizzi Ester Lucia;

Language

French
> English-friendly

Main themes

The main topics are the following:
General elements of terminology (theory, explanation, causality, level of analysis, conceptual framework, etc.) ;
The main contemporary paradigms, from hard-line Malthusianism to anti-Malthusianism ;
Theories of demographic transition, from old to recent forms ;
The main theoretical approaches to fertility, classifications and typologies ;
Factors associated to nuptiality ;
Explanatory theories of mortality ;
An insight at the theoretical field in internal and international migrations ;
Interests, difficulties and limits of general or universal theories.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1.	Master theories and explanations in the field of social and economic demography, to develop a critical view on the related literature, ability to build hypotheses, and to interpret changes.

Content

This course addresses the broad challenge of understanding, explaining and theorizing in demography. At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Identify the major theories, doctrines and explanatory approaches specific to each major demographic phenomenon (fertility, union formation, mortality, migration, urbanization) or population-development relations;
• Identify intermediate theories;
• Identify the causal relationships between phenomena;
• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of micro, meso and macro analysis levels;
• Identify one or the other theoretical or explanatory approach for the Master's dissertation.

Teaching methods

The active pedagogy method is based on just-in-time teaching, work on small groups, and interactions via an online tool (Wooclap).

Evaluation methods

The intermediate works contribute to the final score with a weight of 0.10.
The critical reading of an article, presenting a theory related to the subject of the dissertation, and the proposal of 5-6 empirical articles related to the subject of the dissertation contribute to the final grade with a weight of 0.05.
The final dissertation contributes to the final grade with a weight of 0.30. Each of the parts of the work will be evaluated according to criteria of clarity and quality of the analysis.
The oral presentation of the final dissertation contributes to the final score with a weight of 0.55. The evaluation criteria of the oral presentation are:

• Clarity of the oral presentation and the slide show
• Quality of the presentation.
• Conclusion and answers to questions and criticisms

PLEASE NOTE:
- The grade of the continuous assessment is retained for the 2nd session. The grades of the the final dissertation and oral presentation replace the 1st session grades.
- The professor may propose to the jury to refuse the registration for the assessment of any student who has not regularly attended the course (i.e., more than four unjustified absences).
- The use of artificial intelligence is prohibited.

Other information

Introduction to demography (SPED 1211) is recommended.
COVID-19 : 
In yellow code, the auditorium is large enough to accommodate all the students in person. However, if the number of students is larger than expected or if the orange code is applied, then the teaching will switch to a comodal format (half of the cohort in the classroom, the other half in distance learning, alternately from one week to the next).
Regardless of the teaching mode, the evaluation mode remains the same. Classroom exercises are adapted to sanitation rules.

Online resources

Presentations and other resources are available on MoodleUCL.

Bibliography

Bibliographie mise à disposition à chaque séance en fonction du thème abordée.
Bibliography available at each session depending on the theme.

Faculty or entity

> PSAD