|
Quick |
Population Reference Bureau, |
Gapminder |
Sociology / Demography C126
Social Consequences of Population Dynamics
Welcome to the web page for Sociology / Demography
C126, Social Consequences of Population Dynamics, being taught at the University of California, Berkeley, during
the Fall semester of 2007. This course
examines population growth and other demographic changes (such as population
aging and international migration) in an historical context. The instructor is Prof. John Wilmoth, and he is joined
by two teaching assistants, Mr. Romesh Silva and Mr. Emilio Zagheni, both Ph.D.
candidates in Demography. The lecture portion of the class meets
Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 2 until 3:30 pm, in 130 Wheeler Hall, beginning
Tuesday, August 28. Every week, students
must also attend a separate 1-hour section, which will be led by one of the
teaching assistants (note that regular attendance in sections is mandatory).
A general overview, including information
about logistics, readings, examinations, and other requirements, is contained
in the course
syllabus. Students who wish to add
the course should note that it is cross-listed in both the Department of Sociology and the Department of Demography (for this
reason the course number appears as ‘C126’ in the General Catalog, the Schedule of Classes, and
elsewhere). Even if all slots are filled
in one department, there may still be space under the listing for the other
department. The course content,
requirements, and grading standards are identical in either case.
Students may be interested to note that this
course fulfills one requirement of the minor in
Demography.
OVERVIEW
Rapid change in
the size and composition of human populations is a defining characteristic of
the Industrial Era. During this period,
population growth has accelerated, resulting in a seven-fold increase in world
population since 1750. In many countries
today, this growth has slowed down or come to a halt, but in others it
continues unabated. At the same time,
the population age structure in much of the world is growing older due to a
steady increase in life expectancy coupled with a falling birth rate. These population changes raise a number of
complex and important social issues: the
impact of population growth on human societies and the physical environment,
the role of demographic and economic imbalance in international relations and
immigration, and the effect of population aging on societal mechanisms for
caring for the young and the elderly.
This course
presents an introduction to demography, or the study of human populations. The focus is on historical population change
broken down into its various components:
mortality, fertility, marriage, and migration. The course explores both the causes and
consequences of historical demographic trends, especially with regard to the
population issues mentioned above. There
are three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion section per week. A research paper and regular attendance (both
lectures and sections) are required.
LECTURES
Eight lectures to be given by the professor
are listed below along with their anticipated dates (always subject to
change). As indicated on the syllabus,
these are the major presentations by the professor during the semester, so
attendance on these days is especially important. Although these lectures should begin on the
dates shown here, those requiring more than one class period will be finished
on later dates. Most of the remaining
class time will be devoted to discussions of assigned readings and research
projects.
|
1) |
Aug 30, Sep 1 |
|
|
2) |
Sep
13, 18 |
|
|
3) |
Sep
25, 27 |
|
|
4) |
Oct
2, 4 |
|
|
5) |
Population Growth,
the Environment, and Sustainable Development |
Oct
9, 11 |
|
6) |
Population Policy
and Family Planning Programs |
Oct
23, 25 |
|
7) |
Population
Aging and Public Support for the Elderly, Part 1 |
Oct
30, Nov 1 |
|
8) |
Immigration
to the United States in Historical Perspective, Part 1 |
Nov
13, 15 |
By clicking on the links above, you can obtain
a summary of the lecture (identical to the handout distributed in class). However, please note that each of these links
will be active for only 1-2 weeks during the semester (beginning the date of
the lecture itself). Students should
attend all lectures and collect the handouts as the semester progresses.
HANDOUTS
Course handouts will become available online
as soon as they are distributed in lecture (or section):
RESEARCH PAPERS
A major component of the class is an
original research paper written by each student. Here are some suggestions for sources of
demographic or other data that could be used for
research papers or other projects. (NB –
These links to possible data sources were compiled mostly by course TAs from
previous semesters, so it is likely that some of them no longer work. As always, surf at your own risk!) There is some similar information about
possible data sources on Prof. Wilmoth’s links page (similar
caveats apply).
CONTACT
INFORMATION
|
Name |
Prof. John Wilmoth |
Mr. Romesh Silva |
Mr. Emilio
Zagheni |
|
Tuesday, 3:30 – 5:30 pm |
Wednesday, 1 – 2
pm |
Tuesday, 9 – 10
am |
|
|
Telephone |
642-2707 (office hours only) |
Please use email |
Please use email |
|
Email |