IthacaSeminar

Sex, Death and Migration

Fall 2007

Mary Ann Erickson, Ph.D.

ICSM-10111-01MW 9:00-9:50 amHill 59

F12:00-12:50 pmHill 59

Mary Ann Erickson, Ph.D.

Office: 421 Center for Health Sciences

Phone: 274-3705 (office), 273-8157 (home)

E-mail:

Office hours: Tues & Thurs 11-12; Fri 1:30-2:30

& by appointment

Course Description:

In this course we will use a demographic perspective to understand global social change and diversity. Demographic processes such as mortality, fertility and migration are reshaping our world in terms of age, gender, class, race, and ethnicity. We will apply knowledge of these processes to current issues such as population aging, immigration, health disparities and environmental sustainability.

Course Objectives:

Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Summarize the basic concepts and theories of demography.
  • Analyze population dynamics from a diversity perspective, the causes of rapid population growth, and the demographic transition.
  • Develop an awareness of the various dimensions of population diversity such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and class.
  • Evaluate the causes and consequences of population growth, including
  • population movements (immigration, migration, refugees) as a dynamic in social change;
  • population aging;
  • changes in ethnic and racial population within nations; and
  • environmental sustainability.

“Third hour” activities will:

  • Build a student-professor community
  • Locate and learn about resources on and off campus
  • Connect with the Ithaca community

Required Books:

Weeks, J.R. (2002). Population: An Introduction to Concepts and Issues (8th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Group.

PRB Bulletins, available online at www. prb.org.

Supplemental readings, provided throughout the semester.

Evaluation:

Short essays and presentations35%

4 quizzes20%

Final Project10%

Final Exam10%

“Third hour” activities25%

  1. Short essays and presentations. There will be 7 short assignments. These will be a mix of individual and group assignments. Some will be written and others will be in-class presentations.

Writing assignments should always be typed. Papers that receive a grade in the “A” range will be well-organized, thoughtful, and free of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

  1. Quizzes. Four quizzes will cover material from the book. Each quiz is worth 5% of the course grade. Content for the quizzes will be covered in study questions and/or in class discussion.
  1. Final project. Each student will participate in creating a poster to present at the Ithaca Seminar presentation day on Monday December 10. These posters can be on a topic of your choice and may be done individually or as part of a group.
  1. Final Exam. The final exam will be an individual take-home exam in which you write a short essay answering three of the five core questions.
  1. “Third Hour” Activities. As an Ithaca Seminar, this course includes one class meeting a week to build community and connect with the college and the Ithaca community. See separate syllabus for details.

Other Information:

  1. Professor availability: I am happy to meet with you individually or in small groups to discuss topics covered in class or other relevant issues. I encourage you to visit during office hours or to set up an appointment. E-mail is the easiest way to reach me with a quick question or to set up an appointment.
  1. Class attendance. Attendance is important, especially in a seminar. If you are sick or have a conflict with attending class, you must let me know. Conflicts with handing in papers or taking tests must be approved in advance or be due to a verifiable medical problem. Please refer to the college Attendance Policy in the current catalog.
  1. Special needs: In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodation will be provided to students with documented disabilities on a case by case basis. Students must register with the Office of Academic Support Services and provide appropriate documentation to the college before any academic adjustment will be provided.
  1. Academic Integrity: Appendix II of the Ithaca College Student Handbook outlines the college policies regarding the standards of academic conduct. Any evidence of academic misconduct will be referred to the college judicial system. ***This includes quoting from other sources without attribution in papers (plagiarism).***

Sex, Death and Migration

Tentative Schedule: Fall 2007

*Assigned readings should be completed by the date on the schedule.

Date

/ Topic / Readings / Assignments Due
The Demographic Perspective
W 8/29 / Introduction
W 9/5 / How Population Matters / Weeks 1
M 9/10 / Global Population Trends / Weeks 2
W 9/12 / Malthus and Marx / Weeks 3
M 9/17 / Demographic Transition / Weeks 3
Core Question 1: “Is the family in decline?”
W 9/19 / Fertility Processes / Weeks 6 / “Hometown” essay
M 9/24 / Family and Household / Weeks 10
W 9/26 / Choose “family” topic
M 10/1 / Work in groups / Quiz 1
W 10/3 / “Family” Topic Summary / Group presentation 1
Core Question 2: “Can we handle the aging of the population?”
M 10/8 / Mortality / Weeks 5
W 10/10 / Age Transition / Weeks 8
M 10/15 / Population Aging / Weeks 9
W 10/17 / Work in groups / Quiz 2
M 10/22 / “Aging” Topic Summary / Group presentation 2
Core Question 3: “How should the U.S. respond to illegal immigration?”
W 10/24 / Migration / Weeks 7
M 10/29 / Racial and Ethnic Diversity / PRB: America’s Diversity / Quiz 3
W 10/31 / What do we need to know? / PRB: Immigration
M 11/5 / Possible responses / Article critique
Core Question 4: “Will increasing population overwhelm world resources?”
W 11/7 / Urbanization / Weeks 11
M 11/12 / Environment / Weeks 12
W 11/14 / What do we need to know? / Quiz 4
M 11/26 / Class debate / Debate participation
Core Question 5: “Are population changes contributing to world conflicts?”
W 11/28 / Darfur / Short article response
M 12/3 / Middle East / Short article response
Summary and Integration
W 12/5 / Prepare for poster presentations
M 12/10 / *Poster presentations* / Emerson Suites
W 12/12 / Summary and Evalution

The final take-home exam will be due Wednesday December 19 at 1 pm. Final exams can be submitted in person or electronically.