Module ANTH3501: Social and Evolutionary Demography

Department: Anthropology

ANTH3501: Social and Evolutionary Demography

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To give students an understanding of three major theoretical approaches in the study of population and population dynamics:
• Formal demography
• Anthropological demography (social anthropological perspectives)
• Evolutionary demography
• To enable students to apply theoretical perspectives from these different approaches to the understanding of contemporary population issues in industrialised and low-income countries.

Content

• The course comprises three components which can be taught in any order without loss of coherence:
• Formal approaches within demography: demographic theory, basic principles, concepts and methods (including fertility and mortality rates, population structures)
• Social anthropological approaches to population studies: qualitative approaches to understanding demographic problems, working at the interface of demography and anthropology, anthropological critiques of demography.
• Evolutionary anthropology: applying evolutionary theory to demographic problems, working at the interface of demography and biology, testing hypotheses using demographic data
• Each of these theoretical approaches will be applied to a selection of key issues in contemporary population studies. These will vary from year to year, in order to keep the course relevant, up-to-date and drawing on tutors’ current areas of research. Examples may include: demographic and social impacts of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, strategies for safe motherhood in developing countries, the role of kin and wider social networks in reproductive decision-making, the relationship between health and reproduction, fertility decline and ageing populations in Europe, migration and mobility, etc.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand three major theoretical approaches to the study of populations and population dynamics:
• Formal demography
• Anthropological demography (social anthropological perspectives)
• Evolutionary demography
• Be familiar with a broad range of current demographic issues in industrialised and low-income countries.

• Understanding of, and ability to use, key formal demographic concepts and methods.
• Ability to apply the different theoretical approaches to current population issues.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary way in the field of population studies
• Ability to understand and critically evaluate specialist literature in the field of population studies
• Ability to present demographic data effectively

• Be able to present a coherently argued essay.
• Be able to present an academic poster.
• Manage time effectively to work to deadlines

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures will introduce students to the key concepts, theories and methods of each approach to population studies (i.e. formal demography, evolutionary demography, (social) anthropological demography).
• Seminars will give students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of these key concepts, theories and methods by applying to particular ‘real life’ population issues. There will be an element of choice of topics, to enable students to pursue their interests in greater depth. Seminars will be based around student group presentations followed by more general discussion.
• Methods classes will give the opportunity for students to familiarise themselves with, and practise using, key methods in formal, evolutionary and anthropological demography.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Two class-based group presentations + group preparation of hand-outs summarising the key issues. Self-assessment worksheets on formal demography.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University