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GEPL421 Advanced Population Studies

Updated: 06 January 2010
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 2 Off Campus C - Internet access required
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions GEPL321
Notes None
Combined Units GEPL321 - Advanced Population Studies
Coordinator(s) Neil Argent (nargent@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

Building upon knowledge and skills developed in GEPL322, this unit explores the myriad causes and policy implications of current trends and processes in the three key drivers of population change: fertility; mortality; and migration. GEPL421 provides an in-depth and critical examination of some of the major contemporary population debates, including the changing size and function of the family in developed and lesser-developed societies, the relationship between place and population health, and the dilemmas posed to national migration policies and programmes by heightened international and domestic population mobility. While the unit's focus is primarily on Australia, it situates its analyses within an appropriate international context. In addition to a deeper and broader understanding of contemporary demographic trends and their broader public policy impacts, students will develop the conceptual and practical skills and techniques necessary for conducting population research.

Materials Text information will be published prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Disclaimer Offer of some subjects is subject to viability. Information in these unit descriptions is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Essay 20% 2000
Assessment Notes
Population theory essay
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1-7
Report 40% 2500
Assessment Notes
Population research report
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 2-7
Review 40% 2500
Assessment Notes
Literature review
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 2, 3, 4 GA: 1-4

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. appreciate and critically appraise the public policy implications of contemporary demographic trends within Australia;
  2. interpret major demographic trends using appropriate theoretical frameworks and practical measures;
  3. understand and interpret major Australian population issues within an international context;
  4. demonstrate an advanced understanding of the relationship between demographic variables, place and population health; and
  5. independently conduct a population-related research project.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Students learn of the particular approaches and techniques used in population geography and these wil be assessed in Assignment 1.
True True False
2 Communication Skills
Students will be taught to communicate their understanding of key demographic concepts and processes in written form and will be assessed in these areas via all 3 assignments.
True True True
3 Global Perspectives
This unit explicitly adopts an international perspective and students will develop and demonstrate an appreciation of global diversity with regards to demographic issues. This appreciation will be assessed via all 3 assignments.
True True True
4 Information Literacy
Students are exposed to a wide range of textual and statistical sources of demographic information and scholarship and need to develop skills in the manipulation and analysis of these sources. This understanding will be assessed via all 3 assignments.
True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
The unit gives students a range of conceptual and practical skills in the analysis of demographic events and processes that they can use in their professional and personal lives. This understanding will be assessed via all 3 assignments.
True True True
6 Problem Solving
Students will learn to synthesize ideas and facts from a wide range of sources to develop logically consistent arguements in order to complete assessment tasks. This understanding will be assessed via all 3 assignments.
True True True
7 Social Responsibility
Students are encouraged to explicitly recognise the political, social and environment issues inherent in contemporary academic and public debates over various aspects of demographic change. This understanding will be assessed via all 3 assignments.
True True True
8 Team Work
Internal students are often asked to work together in practicals and tutorials. The unit also encourages all students to work collaboratively on unit content via the bulletin board.
False False True
   

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