SYLLABUS, SOC 4805/5805 Fall 2012
PRINCIPLES OF POPULATION -- SOC 4805, SOC 5805
Class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:45-4:00 pm in CR 115
Instructor: Dr. Anna Zajacova
Office: 421 Ross Hall
Email: zajacova@uwyo.edu
(Please write SOC 4805 or 5805 in the subject line)
Office hours: Tuesdays/Thursdays 12:30-2:00 pm, or by appointment
Prerequisite
SOC 1000 or equivalent and SOC 2070 or STAT 2070 or equivalent.
Course description :
Demography is a quantitative study of human populations. Demographers study population size and composition, changes in these parameters stemming from three basic demographic processes fertility, mortality, and migration, as well as the causes and consequences of demographic changes within the social and physical world. The field of demography intersects closely with sociology and other social sciences. By the end of the semester, this class will document how social phenomena must be studied within the context of the population and conversely, population issues must be understood within their social contexts.
This course is designed to introduce the field of population studies. It provides an overview of basic demographic processes (fertility, mortality, and migration), and structures (age and sex composition, family formation, socioeconomic diversity). We will explore the causes and consequences of these processes and structures as they relate to the social, economic, political, and cultural aspects of societies.
Course objectives:
At the completion of the class, students will

Understand basic demographic processes (fertility, mortality, and migration) and their implications to societies’ social, economic, and political structures.

Identify reliable sources of data and use basic demographic techniques to analyze them.

Interpret global, national, and local events within an appropriate demographic context.

Apply the course material to one’s own experiences.
Course structure :
The classes will combine lectures, class discussion, videos, hands-on exercises, and student presentations. In order to participate in the class, students are expected to complete the assigned readings before they are discussed in class. Typically, I will lecture on a particular topic, drawing on your readings and connecting the material to other fields of research, policy, and your everyday experiences. I will emphasize the critical aspects of the material and together we will discuss the implications of the demographic approach and findings.
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SYLLABUS, SOC 4805/5805 Fall 2012
Required reading :
Yaukey, David, Douglas L. Anderton, and Jennifer H. Lundquist. 2007. Demography: The
Study of Human Population, 3 rd
Edition . Long Grove, Il: Waveland Press.
Additional readings are listed under the Schedule of Topics below. I will typically send you pdfs of the papers to download and print. I may assign other readings for the third part of the class based on class interests. All reading assignment will be announced and emailed to you at least one week in advance.
4805 Grading :
Exam #1
Exam #2
Homework
Presentation
15%
15%
20%
10%
Paper
Final exam
15% (5% outline/first draft, 10% final draft)
25%
Exams . The two midterm exams will be (mostly) non-cumulative; the final exam is cumulative. All exams will comprise a mixture of short-answer, quantitative-problem, multiple-choice, true/false, and short-essay questions.
Homework. Regular homework will be assigned. The structure will vary: the homework may include a short essay, a mini-research assignment, or a more methodologically oriented problem such as calculating life expectancy for some population.
Paper . The paper will be submitted in two stages. First, you will submit an outline or mostly-completed first draft. After I grade the it and offer feedback, you will revise it. The length will 4-6 pages, Times New Roman 12pt font, double-spaced. We will begin discussing topics around mid-semester.
Presentation. You will do one short (10-13 mins) presentation on a specific topic during the latter half of the semester. Your presentation will be viewed as a part of the lecture, and you may also be asked to prepare exam questions from the topic you present on.
Please note . There will be no makeup exams or quizzes. Late assignments will get 20% off for each day past due, including holidays and weekends.
The final grade will be determined as follows:
90%-100%
80%-89%
70%-79%
60%-69%
0%-59%
A
B
C
D
F
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SYLLABUS, SOC 4805/5805 Fall 2012
PART I: POPULATION STRUCTURE
1.
Introduction to the field, Chapter 1.
Additional readings: Xie 2000, Haub 2002, McFalls 2007
2.
Sources of demographic data, Chapter 2.
Additional readings: Carl 2012, McFalls Box #4
3.
Population size and growth, Chapter 3.
Additional readings: Ehrlich 1968, Malthus 1798, Boserup 1981 McFalls pp.XXX
4.
Age and sex structure, Chapter 4.
Additional readings: Coale 1987, UN 2009, McFalls pp. 17-23
PART II: THREE KEY POPULATION PROCESSES
5.
Mortality, Chapter 5.
Additional readings: Omran 1971, McFalls pp. 8-11
6.
Fertility, Chapter 7.
Additional readings: Hirschman 1994, McFalls pp. 8-12
7.
Migration, Chapter 9.
Additional readings: Massey 1993, McFalls pp. 12-14
PART III: MAJOR TOPICS IN SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHY
Tuesday 10/30 and Thursday 11/1. HW #4 due 10/30
8. Morbidity and health
Readings:

Yaukey Chapter 6

Lamptey, P. R., J. L. Johnson, et al. (2006). “The Global Challenge of HIV and AIDS.”
Population Bulletin Vol. 61 No 1. Washington, DC, Population Reference Bureau.
Presented by Phil Heusser.

Link, B. G. and J. Phelan (1995). "Social Conditions as Fundamental Causes of
Disease." Journal of Health and Social Behavior Extra Issue: 80-94.
Presented by Sherri Sassnet
Tuesday 11/6: EXAM #2. Covers Mortality, Fertility, and International Migration.
Thursday 11/8
9. Marriage, family, and households
Readings:
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SYLLABUS, SOC 4805/5805 Fall 2012

Yaukey Chapter 8

Cherlin, A. J. (2005). "American Marriage in the Early Twenty-First Century." The Future of Children 15(2): 33-55.
Presented by Janelle Rottweiler
Tuesday 11/13. HW #5 due 11/13
10. Family planning and population policy
Readings:

Yaukey Chapter 7, pp. 227-233

Ashford, L. S. (2001). "New Population Policies: Advancing Women's Health and
Rights." Population Bulletin Vol. 56 No 1. Washington, DC, Population Reference
Bureau.
Presented by Alyssa Sorenson.

Morgan, S. P. (2003). "Is Low Fertility a Twenty-First-Century Demographic Crisis?"
Demography 40(4): 589-603.
Presented by Barbara Lasic.
Thursday 11/15 NO CLASS, INSTRUCTOR AT CONFERENCE
Tuesday 11/20. Paper draft due 11/20.
11. Population aging
Readings:

Jacobsen, L. A., M. Kent, et al. (2011). “America's Aging Population.” Population
Bulletin Vol. 66 No 1. Washington, DC, Population Reference Bureau.
Presented by Ana McCormick.

Bloom, D. E., A. Boersch-Supan, et al. (2011). “Population Aging: Facts, Challenges, and Responses.
” Program on the Global Demography of Aging Working Paper No. 71.
Cambridge, MA, Harvard University.
Presented by Jake Degenhart.
Thursday 11/22 NO CLASS, THANKSGIVING
Tuesday 11/27. HW #6 due 11/27
12. Internal migration and urbanization, Chapter 10
Readings:

Yaukey Chapter 10
 Montgomery, M. R. (2009). “Urban Poverty and Health in Developing Countries.”
Population Bulletin Vol. 64 No 2. Washington, DC, Population Reference Bureau.
Presented by Jason Jordan.
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SYLLABUS, SOC 4805/5805 Fall 2012
Thursday 11/29 and Tuesday 12/4
13. Population, development, and environment
Readings:

De Sherbinin, A., D. Carr, et al. (2007). "Population and Environment." Annual Review of
Environment and Resources 32: 345-373.
Presented by Scott Koenig.

Brown, L., G. Gardner, et al. (1998). “Beyond Malthus: Sixteen Dimensions of the
Population Problem.
” Worldwatch Paper No 143, NYU Press.
Presented by Dylan Kriescher and Anna Neary.

Easterbrook, G. (1997). "Forgotten Benefactor of Humanity." The Atlantic Monthly
279(1): 74-82.
Presented by Elisa Hunter.
Thursday 12/6
Review of the semester
WEDNESDAY 12/12 FINAL EXAM 3:30 PM, PAPER DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE
EXAM.
The instructor reserves the right to make changes in the syllabus.
Important dates:
August 28 Tuesday First class
October 2
November 1
November 15
November 22
December 6
December 11
Tuesday
Thursday
Thursday
Tuesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Exam #1
Exam #2
No class, instructor at conference
No class, Thanksgiving
Last class
Final exam 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Please note that I am not able to move the date of the final exam. Arrange all travel plans so they do not conflict with the scheduled final time.
Class participation :
Appropriate participating in class discussion is expected and encouraged.
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SYLLABUS, SOC 4805/5805 Fall 2012
Rights and responsibilities:
Please refer to the University of Wyoming Regulation 8-30 for information concerning your rights and responsibilities as a University of Wyoming student.
Accommodations :
If you have physical, learning, or psychological disabilities that require accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible. You must register with, and provide documentation of your disability to University Disability Support Services (UDSS) in SEO, room 109 Knight
Hall.
Academic Honesty:
The University of Wyoming is built upon a strong foundation of integrity, respect and trust.
All members of the University community have a responsibility to be honest and the right to expect honesty from others. Any form of academic dishonesty is unacceptable to our community and will not be tolerated. Attempts at cheating or plagiarism will result in a grade of F (0 points) for the assignment or exam, lowered final grade, or additional repercussions.
Suspected violations of standards of academic honesty should and will be reported to the instructor, department head, or dean. University regulations regarding academic honesty can be found at: http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/legal/universityregulations.htm
.
Classroom behavior:
Appropriate behavior is expected of all students, in order to facilitate a supportive learning environment. Any activities not related to the class material must be conducted outside of the classroom, including any online networking, or in-person communication. Phones must be turned off and no conversation or texting is allowed.
Complaints :
Student Complaints should be addressed through the following chain of authority:
1. Instructor (Dr. Anna Zajacova)
2. UW Sociology Department Chair (Dr. Donna Barnes)
3. UW Dean of Arts and Sciences (Dr. Oliver Walter)
4. UW Vice President for Academic Affairs (Dr. Myron Allen)
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SYLLABUS, SOC 4805/5805 Fall 2012
SOC 5805 – additional information for graduate students.
Graduate students will follow the same general materials as undergraduates in the class.
Additionally, they will 1) have some additional readings, 2) prepare a more in-depth class presentation worth 10% of the final grade on select topics according to an agreement with the instructor, and 3) write a longer and more complex paper.
The grading for 5805 will be as follows:
Midterm #1
Midterm #2
Homework
Paper
15%
15%
20%
20% (10% first draft plus 10% final draft)
Class presentation 10%
Final exam 20%
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