380.655.01
Social and Economic Aspects of Human Fertility
Location
East Baltimore
Term
2nd Term
Department
Population, Family and Reproductive Health
Credit(s)
2
Academic Year
2018 - 2019
Instruction Method
TBD
One of the sessions (November 22) will need to be made up/re-scheduled and the make-up date is Monday, November 26, 12:00-1:20p.
Thursday, 12:00 - 1:20pm
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
Yes
Grading Restriction
Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
One Year Only
Resources
Each year in the world there are about 146 million births, 57 million deaths, and population growth of about 89 million--about 243,000 per day, or 10,000 an hour. Birth rates range from about 7 children per woman in some countries (producing rapid population growth) to just over 1 child per woman (which can produce population decline) in others. What explains these wide variations, and can they be affected by policy? These are important questions, and this course attempts to survey what behavioral scientists know about, and how they approach, these issues.
The study of fertility is an integral part of population studies (along with mortality and migration) and gives essential background for those studying women’s, infant and perinatal health. This course will cover social and economic theories of fertility, will explore fertility transitions in India, China, the USA and Sub Saharan Africa, will examine major distal and intermediate determinants of fertility and will consider policies affecting fertility around the world. The course will be based on readings that are discussed by student and faculty participants.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
- Describe the classic theories of fertility decline, and identify those explaining low and high fertility
- Describe how factors such as gender roles, education, family and social class affect fertility through the proximate determinants
- Evaluate literature on fertility and present it in a professional manner