Population and development

This course aims to introduce students to a range of development related issues in population.  It examines topical issues in population, distribution and dynamics which are relevant to development and development interventions, with a particular focus on fertility and mortality in developing countries.  Data collection methods are a constant theme and we reflect on how these influence both academic and interventionist perspectives on population issues. 

By the end of the course students should be able to: demonstrate understanding of demographic variation and the forces of demographic change in developing countries; appreciate the complexity and ramifications of interventions and change in demographic behaviour; demonstrate an awareness of data collection and interpretation problems faced by field researchers and fieldworkers using population data; show sensitivity to different disciplinary approaches to and interpretations of demographic issues.

Assessment: students submit two essays of 2,500 words.  One (the best) of these will form the final assessment