This course will teach the fundamentals of demography and the influence of population processes on society. Students will learn both methods used to quantify populations and portions of the population as well as the social implications of population change.

course description

The populations around us constantly change and being able to predict that change can improve the lives of people around the world. Interested in education policy? Demographers use their methods to predict population change to estimate how many schools to build. How about climate change? Economists use demographic estimates to predict how much energy will be used in the future. The social safety net? Social security depends on accurate actuarial estimates using demographic methods to ensure sufficient funds to pay to beneficiaries.

We will talk about some of these examples and basic methods used to make these estimates.

course objectives

• describe how the demographic processes of fertility, mortality, and migration affect societ;
• knowledgeably consume demographic information in contemporary public debates; and
• conduct and interpret basic demographic calculations;