Course Description:
How did the world’s population grow from 1 billion to 8 billion in just 200 short years? How did humans manage to double their life expectancy since 1900, and what does the future hold for human longevity? What are the causes and implications of dramatic declines in fertility around the globe? This course explores answers to these fundamental questions by introducing students to the study of human population, a field known as demography. The course is divided into four sections. We will begin by considering historical and current patterns of world population size and its environmental impact, along with common measurement tools used by demographers. We’ll then discuss in turn the three primary elements that have produced changes in population size, namely, mortality, fertility and migration. This portion of the class will explore major theories, measures, and challenges associated with each respective phenomenon. As we review these topics, we will consider a variety of issues that are intimately connected with demographic change: family change, aging, urbanization, and income inequality.
