INTERNATIONAL DEMOGRAPHY
The exam is oral and includes: a) the discussion of an additional reading on a topic to be agreed in advance (1/3 weight in the overall assessment); a series of questions aimed at ascertaining the knowledge of the main demographic analysis tools and of the topics covered during the course (weight: 2/3 in the overall assessment).
In the winter session, following the course, the exam can also be written and performed on the computer. The written exam will include 5 exercises, each of which will be assigned the same weight in determining the overall grade.
Online Examination in case of need:
The exam will be oral on Teams including: a) the discussion of an additional reading on a topic to be agreed in advance (1/3 weight in the overall assessment); a series of questions aimed at ascertaining the knowledge of the main demographic analysis tools and of the topics covered during the course (weight: 2/3 in the overall assessment).
The course aims to provide students with the knowledge essential to a correct understanding of the main demographic problems, making them able to use the methodological tools necessary to face the analysis and measurement of the structural characteristics of populations and of the demographic movement (natural and migratory).
In addition, some topics of general demographic interest will be proposed, aimed in particular at the students of the International Security and Cooperation course.
At the end of the course the student will have:
(1) Knowledge and understanding skills
The student will be able to: -understand the main demographic behaviours of the different populations - insert demographic behaviours in the vast sphere of social and economic development; analyse, in a comparative perspective, the problems related to the dynamics of mortality, fertility, migration and to foresee evolutionary scenarios for the future. The hours spent in the computer lab (for the students of the Department of Economics) make the student able to know how to produce summary indicators and analysis for the study of demographic phenomena with a good level of autonomy.
(2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The student will be able to apply the most appropriate analysis techniques and methodologies for the analysis of the main demographic phenomena, realizing convincing comparisons over time and space
(3) Autonomy of judgment
Ability to interpret demographic phenomena, analysed through the use of appropriate indicators and methodologies, framing them in the appropriate reference context and conducting correct comparisons over time and space.
(4) Communication skills: although the course does not provide specific activities aimed at developing communication skills, the student will be able to operate within diverse working groups, using the appropriate demographic analysis perspective. The student will also be able to produce summary reports on the main demographic phenomena.
5) Learning skills:
At the end of the course, the student will be able to use the demographic analysis techniques and methodologies to deepen the related themes in the context of advanced specialized courses.
5) Learning skills
At the end of the course, the student will be able to use the main demographic analysis methodologies and techniques to deepen the related topics in advanced specialized courses.
Course contents:
This course introduces the basic techniques of demographic analysis. Students will become familiar with the sources of data available for demographic research. Population composition and change measures will be presented. Measures of mortality, fertility, marriage and migration levels and patterns will be defined. Life table, standardization and population projection techniques will also be explored.
Reference books
M. Livi Bacci, Introduzione alla demografia, Torino, Loescher, 1999.
Other readings will be recommended during the course
The course includes lectures mainly carried on line, with the use of power point presentations.
It also includes (for the students of Economics) a series of tutorials with exercises (using spreadsheet software) on the main topics covered during the lectures.
It includes a series of additional thematic lessons for students of Security and International Cooperation.
Availability of providing supporting material and bibliographic references also in English for the Erasmus and foreingn students.
Educational material containing examples, and exercises done during classes and lab tutorials, is available on the course web page on https://edisea.uniss.it/
For information relative to student tutorials, see:
www.edisea.uniss.it
email: lpozzi@uniss.it
phone: +39 079213031