US Population Issues

Welcome to the Home Page and On-line Syllabus for

U.S. Population Issues
SYD 4021: Fall 2009

Prof. Tanya Koropeckyj-Cox
Mon, Wed, Fri – 1:55 – 2:45 pm; Little Hall – Room 121

Department of Sociology
Office: 3353 Turlington Hall                                                             Office hours:
Phone: 392-0265 ext. 251                                                                     Mon 11:45 am – 1:15 pm; 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Email: tkcox@ufl.edu                                                                               Wed 11:45 am – 1:15 pm   or by appointment

Announcements
Please check at least once every week for updates on specific reading assignments and other information.

** Reading assignments and schedule have been updated -- see below.

Exam 2 has been moved to MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23.
Material on Exam:
- mortality differentials (ch. 5)
- fertility (ch. 7 & Morgan & Taylor)
- age and sex composition (ch. 4)
- migration (ch. 9 & America's Diversity)

Not on exam -- ch. 6, 8, 11

I will have extra office hours on Thurs., Nov. 19, 1:00-3:30pm
and Fri., Nov. 20, 11:45am - 1:15pm
Please feel free to come by to review, ask questions, or
review any slides from the exam-related material.

*******
Small take home assignment (worth 5 points) -- due Monday, Nov. 16
Go to the Census Scope web page (see below).
Choose 2 states, and print off their population pyramids:
http://www.censusscope.org/us/chart_age.html
Write a 1-2 page (double-spaced) reaction essay in which you
- compare the pyramids from the 2 states
- be sure to discuss: sex ratio; proportions of old, middle, and young;
relative cohort sizes; any "bumps" or "dips";
and the demographic factors that may be related to these differences in the states.
Use class notes and chapter 4 as a guide. Due in class on Monday, Nov. 16.

Instructions for Assignment 2 are now posted on E-Learning.
The assignment is due December 2.

*******
tkc 11/18/09

Students are responsible for reading the full version of the syllabus and checking it on-line regularly for updates, announcements, and the most current information.

This course is designed to introduce students to major issues related to population size and growth, population processes, and composition in the United States. The course covers both historical and contemporary issues. It also introduces some basic measures and data sources used to study populations.

Objectives:

Develop an understanding of the basic concepts that are used to describe and study populations. We will focus on the three major demographic processes that shape population growth and composition – mortality, fertility, and migration.
Review the historical background for understanding population issues, particularly the dramatic growth and diversity of the U.S. population and the forces that have shaped it.
Develop an understanding of how populations are measured, including the U.S. Census and vital statistics, and how to access and interpret these numbers.
Use and interpret basic demographic measures, including the balancing equation, growth rates and compounded growth, population pyramids, and measures of mortality, fertility, and migration.
Develop an awareness of contemporary social issues and make connections between historical population processes, social consequences, and policy implications.

Required Reading:

Texts: Demography, 3rd edition. David Yaukey, Douglas L. Anderton, & Jennifer H. Lundquist. Waveland Press. 2007 (DEM)

Florida's Megatrends: Critical Issues in Florida. David R. Colburn & Lance DeHaven-Smith. University Press of Florida. 2002. (FL)

On-Line readings - Course reserve (ARES) -- free on-line sources

News: Students are expected to read at least one major newspaper 2-3 times per week (most are available free on-line). Students are also encouraged to explore on-line news, government reports, data, etc.

The course combines lectures, in-class discussion, assigned readings, and internet resources. Readings are assigned for nearly every class. You are strongly encouraged to do the readings before coming to each class. Class attendance is required. Unannounced, in-class writing assignments and pop quizzes will be given over the course of the term and will count toward your final course grade (20 points, or 10% of the grade). Up to 3 excused absences are allowed. Missing more than 3 classes will seriously hinder your success in the course and must be discussed with the instructor as early as possible.

Course Requirements and Grading:

Exams:

Exam 1 October 2 35 points

Exam 2 November 23 35 points

Take-Home Assignments:

Assignment 1 Due September 23 25 points

Assignment 2 Due November 30 35 points

Assignment 2

presentation week of Nov 30 15 points

News Essay
Essay

Due on day of group presentation 20 points

Group presentation 10 points

In-class writing and pop quizzes 10 points

Small Take-Home Exercises (~3) 15 points

TOTAL 200 points

Instructions for take-home assignments, news essays, and presentations will be discussed in class and posted on-line. Each take-home assignments involves individual on-line (and/or library) research, some calculations (or spread sheet work), and an essay (~4-6 pages). Assignment 2 also requires an in-class presentation of no more than 8 minutes. The news essay is an individually completed summary-critique of a newspaper article. The news essay presentation should outline the highlights from each group member’s news article and include critique and discussion questions for the class (no more than 10 minutes total).

Exams may include various question types, including multiple-choice, short answer, and essay.

**** This course does not fulfill Gordon Rule requirements. ****

Topics may shift according to the pace of the class. Deadlines and exam dates will not change.

Schedule and Readings

Week 1

Aug. 24 Introduce course and syllabus

Aug. 26 Basic concepts; why demography

Aug. 28 Defining our terms; Population size and growth; U.S. in a global context
Demography text, chapter 1 (pp. 1-15)

Week 2

Aug. 31      Components of population change and Estimating growth rates
                                        DEM pp. 39-46
                                        http://edr.state.fl.us/population/censuscomponentsofchange.pdf
                                      -- components of change for the state of Florida

Sept. 4      Population growth
                                       "Quiz" due in class -- see E-Learning
                                       Extra office hours: 11:45am - 1:00pm; 3:00 - 4:00 pm (after class)

Sept. 9        Comparing state and local growth
                     Population growth and its implications -- discussion
                                    Small Take-Home Exercise 1 Due in class.
                            *** Assignment 1 instructions are posted on E-Learning (due Sept. 23).
                                     Note: You may choose any 3 states, not limited to the ones you used for small take-home exercise.

Sept. 11     Population growth and its implications -- discussion (continued)
                                    DEM, pp. 46-68 -- Come prepared to discuss!!

Sept. 21 Internal Migration, Population Density, and Urbanization
DEM, pp. 304-308, ch. 10

Week 12

Nov. 9 Migration – Concepts and Historical Background
DEM, pp. 287-325

Nov. 13       Immigration and Population Diversity -- -- news essay presentations
                                       DEM, Ch. 11
                                       PRB Report (on-line) – "America’s Diversity: On the Edge of Two Centuries"
                                                 http://www.prb.org/source/ReportonAmericaTwoCenturies.pdf

                                       Recommended Web reading:
                                           www.ilw.com -- "Five Myths about Immigration" by D.S. Massey

Nov. 25    NO CLASS
                    Demography of Florida
                                Florida Megatrends: pp. 1-115

                     *** AUDIO assignment -- Florida Ethnic Diversity and Immigration:
                                  http://www.flheritage.com/preservation/folklife/voices.cfm

                            Prepare a 2-page reaction essay with your response to the audio clips. Be sure to consider and
                          address the following questions. (5 points)
                                     1. What struck you as interesting or surprising?
                                     2. How does the audio clip material relate to the material in the textbook and Florida Megatrends?
                                     3. What are some of the similarities and differences in the circumstances of the different communities?
                                            How are these differences related to social capital, circumstances of migration, and institutional
                                            contexts upon arrival to Florida?

Nov. 30       Discussion of Florida population diversity
                                  Come prepared to discuss Florida Megatrends (pp. 1-115) ***
                                  Recommended: Skim on-line resources and current Florida population statistics

Dec. 4 Continued discussion of Florida Counties, Population Aging, and Migration

Dec. 7    Contemporary Concerns -- The Demographics of Disaster
                                     "Katrina: Demographics of a Disaster." The Urban Institute, Sept. 5, 2005.
                                              http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/900835_katrina_factsheet.pdf