Courses master Population Studies

University of Groningen

What will you learn?

The programme of the master Population Studies consists of the following

courses in 2017/2018. The links more information about the courses will be
available as soon as possible.

Migration , Families & Households (5 EC)

This course encompasses the three main types of residential relocations:

residential mobility, internal and international migration, in relation to family
and household dynamics. A life course perspective is used to determine
how migration of individuals (at the micro level) is shaped by events in
individual lives, such as leaving the parental home, marriage, divorce, child
birth and retirement. It also examines how life events of significant others
such spouses, children and parents shape migration decisions of the
individual. The course contextualizes the manner in which the decision to
migrate is influenced by the family and the household (at the meso level)
and the housing and labour markets as well as welfare regimes (at the
macro level). The course takes a critical view on the inequalities people
experience either on migration or due to migration both within and outside
family and household settings.

Lecturers: R. Rutigliano, prof. Clara Mulder, dr. Michael Thomas

Contemporary Population Issues (5 EC)

This course handles the most current population issues (such as population
decline, ageing and migration flows) on macro and micro context. We will
discuss the research that has been done on these topics, but also take it to
the level of policy and practice. How are research, policy and practice on
population issues related and what can we learn from it? Through
discussions, lectures, and group projects, students will learn about
population policies and practice and about the role of science in the
development, implementation and evaluation of these policies and practice.

Coordinator: dr. Billie de Haas

Population, Health and Place (5 EC)

Health influences every life stage, effects the ageing process, and is
shaped by the geographical context. This module is about the dual link
between health - both at the individual and population level - and place or
geography. In the course, we adopt both a global and a local perspective.
At the population (macro) level, we study questions such as: What is the
importance of the (geographical) context to population health? What are
geographical differences in health and trends therein over time? But also at
the individual (micro) level we will unravel the interlinkages between health
and the life course. In so doing, we look, for example, at how ageing and
health are perceived in different cultural contexts; or at the inequalities that
people experience when ageing in a nursing home, or when living with a
disability.

Lecturers: dr. T. C. Vogt, prof. Fanny Janssen , dr. Louise Meijering, prof.
Hinke Haisma

Working with data in Population Research (5 EC)

The course provides an overview of different demographic data sources,

techniques of data collection, and analytical measures. Data sources that
we introduce you to include census, register data, and surveys. The
covered quantitative and qualitative techniques of data collection include
surveys, focus-group discussions, in-depth interviewing, and observation.
The concepts, measures and methods used in the analysis of macro-level
demographic data that we discuss include population pyramid, rates,
probabilities, age standardization, decomposition methods, fertility analysis,
mortality analysis and migration analysis.

Focus is on practical issues, such as which data to use for which research
question, how to actually obtain demographic data, how to interpret often
used demographic measures, and how to conduct demographic analyses.

Lecturers: M. Reus Pons, prof. Fanny Janssen , A. Bieberstein, B. de Haas

Life Tables and Population Projections (5 EC)

In this course, students are introduced to three main demographic

techniques used in the social sciences: the life table, population projections
and survival analysis. After this module, participants (a) know the
fundamental ideas behind these techniques, (b) are able to apply the
techniques, using Excel and SPSS, (c) can interpret the most important
outcomes of the techniques, and (d) know how the life table technique can
be applied to a whole range of topics within the social sciences.

Lecturers: dr. Fanny Janssen , prof. Leo van Wissen , Sergi Trias Llimós ,
dr. T. Emery

Advanced Statistical Analysis (5 EC)

This course focuses on models for the description and analysis of

demographic events and social relationships, such as linear regression,
logistic regression and event history models. You will obtain substantial
knowledge and practical experience concerning statistical models for the
analysis of discrete and continuous time processes in life domains such as
fertility, employment, migration, and health.

Lecturers: prof. Clara Mulder , dr. Mark van Duijn

Master Thesis Population Studies (20 EC)

The Master's thesis topic is integrated in the research themes of the

Population Research Centre or the Netherlands Interdisciplinary
Demographic Institute. This comprises topics such as population decline,
population ageing, global migration, life of migrants, healthy ageing in
society, families, households, residence, causes of death, lifestyle, child
health, nutrition, access to health care, place making of elderly. Master
thesis seminars, instructions and milestones will be organized for input,
feedback and the development of competences and skills. During the
National Demographic Conference the students will meet established
professionals in the field.
Lecturer: Billie de Haas, MSc

Electives (10 EC)

Examples of potentially interesting elective modules are Population &

Development, Geographical Information Systems, 'Arbeid en Levensloop'.
For an overview of other possible courses within the university, please
visit course catalogue Ocasys.