SDEV W3400x Human Populations and Sustainable Development
3 pts.Not offered in 2013-2014. Population processes and
their outcomes in terms of population size and distribution have a
fundamental role in sustainable development and also broad policy
implications. This course will introduce students to the scientific study of
human populations as a contribution toward understanding social structure,
relations, and dynamics, as well as society-nature interactions. The aim is
to offer a basic introduction to the main theories, concepts, measures, and
uses of demography. The course will cover the issues of population size,
distribution and composition, and consumption, at different scales from
global to regional to local, as well as the implications for
population-environment relationships. It will also address the fundamental
demographic processes of mortality, fertility and migration, including their
trends and transitions, We will consider these topics in the context of
economic development, sustainability and cultural change. The course will
also include an overview of basic demographic techniques and tools used for
identifying, managing, analyzing and interpreting population data, and an
introduction to population projections. Lab sessions will supplement readings
and lectures by enabling students to explore data sources, calculate rates,
and graphically represent demographic data. Offered in the Fall (even years).