Migration

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Present and evaluate arguments, explanations and theoretical perspectives, and discussing alternative viewpoints through written work
• Critically read results of previous research
• Self-management by combining your learning in lectures, seminar discussions and independent study
• Apply basic numerical techniques to solve practical or theoretical problems

The material covers ideas from many disciplines. Migration represents movement across space, influencing and changing the environments of both the origin and destination locations (geography). It is both affected by and affects population structures and compositions (demography). Migration is often caused by individual or household decisions for gains in economic welfare (economics), whilst being encouraged, controlled, or restricted by states (political science). Migration involves motives for leaving and adaptation to new societies (social psychology), and affects social and cultural systems (sociology). These issues (and more) are included in the topics and discussions contained in this course. In particular, we will be looking at the causes and consequences of migration, major population movements in history, current trends, data and measurement, migration and the labour market, brain drain and remittances, life course motivations, social networks and ethnic population change, migration analyses, refugees and asylum seekers, and migration policies.

Teaching and learning methods

If full face-to-face teaching has not been resumed by semester 2 of academic year 2020/21, teaching will be delivered by a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous online methods. The format may include lectures, videos, discussion boards, workshops and student-led seminars. In the evolving circumstances, face-to-face teaching opportunities will be explored where feasible and in line with guidance.

A range of resources will also be provided for further self-directed study. We will work with the UoS library to provide electronic copies of academic papers, books and reports. Also, direction and access to other sources of online materials.

Resources & Reading list

Journal Articles

Geist C and McManus PA (2008). Geographical mobility over the life course: Motivations and implications.. Population, Space and Place, 14, pp. 283-303.

Raymer J and A Rogers ( (2007). Using Age and Spatial Flow Structures in the Indirect Estimation of Migration Streams. Demography,, 44(2), pp. 199-223.

Bell M, Blake M, Boyle P, Duke-Williams O, Rees P, Stillwell J and Hugo G (2002). Cross-national comparison of internal migration: Issues and measures. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A, 165(3), pp. 435-464.

King, R (2002). Towards a New Map of European Migration. International Journal of Population Geography, 8(2), pp. 89-106.

Massey DS, J Arango, G Hugo, A Kouaouci, A Pellegrino and JE Taylor. (1993). Theories of international migration: A review and appraisal.. Population and Development Review, 19(3), pp. 431-466.

Zlotnik H (1987). The concept of international migration as reflected in data collection systems. International Migration Review, 21(4), pp. 925-946.

Arango J (2010). Explaining migration: a critical view. International Social Science Journal, 52(165), pp. 283-296.

Textbooks

UNHCR (2006). The state of the world's refugees: Human displacement in the new millennium. Oxford: Oxford University Press..

Winder R (2004). Bloody foreigners: The story of immigration to Britain. London: Abacus.

King R, Black R, Collyer M, Fielding A and Skeldon R (2010). The Atlas of Human Migration. London: Earthscan.

Castles S and Miller MJ (2009). The age of migration: International population movements in the modern world. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Assessment strategy

There will be opportunities to evaluate your progress towards the intended learning outcomes through formative assessments. These may take various forms such as quizzes, discussion boards, student presentations and summaries.

Summative assessment for the module will be made using two/three pieces of coursework. Among the types of coursework that may be used in this module are essays, reports, commentaries and briefing papers.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External