Program Overview

Life, Death and Migrations (HIST*4450)

Course Details

The course code for Life, Death and Migrations is HIST*4450, with a section number of 01, and it is scheduled for the Winter 2025 term.

Course Synopsis

This seminar utilizes quantitative sources and methods to explore historical aspects of demographic experience and social inequality. It examines the value of such data for policy purposes and understanding social and cultural contexts. Students acquire skills for employment and graduate school by improving their capacity for quantitative description and analysis. During the first half of the semester, the historical experience of demographic change is surveyed, simple statistical concepts are reviewed, and direct 'hands-on' experience with databases is acquired. In the second half of the semester, students develop and report on independent research projects using quantitative evidence.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have acquired:

• Knowledge of demographic experience and social inequality
• Critical appreciation of the role of quantitative evidence
• Ability to communicate using both quantitative and qualitative evidence
• Capacity for independent research
• Understanding of quantitative methods

Prerequisites

The prerequisites for this course include 10.00 credits, including HIST*2450, and at least 1.00 credits in History at the 3000 level or above.

Method of Evaluation and Weights

The method of evaluation includes:

• Newspaper article commentaries - 05%
• Database creation, report & analysis - 20%
• Test - 10%
• Presentation of research proposals - 05%
• Independent research presentation - 10%
• Independent research essay - 40%
• Discussion (including feedback on student presentations) - 10%

Required Texts

The required texts for this course are:

• Pat Hudson and Mina Ishizu, History By Numbers: An Introduction to Quantitative Approaches (London: Bloomsbury, 2007)
• Massimo Livi-Bacci, A Concise History of World Population (Wiley-Blackwell, 5th edition 2012)

Departments and Schools

This course is associated with the following departments and schools:

• Department of History
• School of Languages and Literatures
• School of Fine Art and Music
• School of Theatre, English, and Creative Writing
• Department of Philosophy
• Interdisciplinary Programs

Centres, Institutes and Labs

The university is home to several centres, institutes, and labs, including:

• Centre for Scottish Studies
• Grounded and Engaged Theory Lab (GET)
• Interdisciplinary Design Lab
• The International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation
• The Humanities Interdisciplinary Collaboration Lab (THINC)
• The School of Fine Art & Music Print Study Collection