Department of Sociology & Crime, Law and Justice

Search Query:

SOC 023 - Population and Policy Issues

Demographic changes are some of the most important factors in understanding the future of specific professions, our nation, and the world.  This course introduces students to the discipline of demography, including an overview of demographic issues, theories of population, and major findings from demographic research. Focusing on the state, national, and global level, students will learn how the discipline of demography and how population structure and age are related to social institutions and public policy issues.  Students will receive hands-on experience with the data and methods used by professional demographers and health and urban planners.  Thus, this course should provide students with 1) a global perspective on population changes, 2) knowledge of demography research and theory, 3) analytical skills for the application of demography to public policy, 4) an awareness of how the diversity of a population (e.g., age structure, race, ethnicity, sex, and culture) is related to public policy, and 5) the active learning of demographic techniques. 

 

The instructors encourage discussion and questions in all sections.  Assessment is based on objective tests taken in class, writing assignments, and student research projects called population analysis exercises. The analysis exercises allow students to use the data and methods of professional demographers.  Some sections will also hold in-class debates and will require the performance of in-class assignments.

 

This course meets a General Education requirement in Social and Behavioral Sciences.   Currently at University Park two sections are offered each Fall Semester, one section in Spring Semester, and often one section in a summer session.  All sections have an enrollment limit of 100.