Course Catalogue

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This course delves into historical and contemporary aspects of migration, borders, and (im)mobilities, drawing from sociological, social-anthropological, and policy perspectives. Emphasis is placed on understanding the role of borders in social structures and in everyday life. Key questions include colonial underpinnings of migration, the relationship between migration and race, factors shaping movements and perceptions, critical engagement with migration theories, and emerging theoretical debates. Additionally, the course explores (im)mobilities, policies addressing migration patterns, resistance, solidarity, and social justice as collective responses to (im)mobilities, migration management, and borders.?

20 contact hours over the course of a single semester. This will normally consist of 2 hours per week and may be a combination of lectures and seminars/workshops.

 *RUNS ALTERNATE YEARS*

In order to take this course you need to have met the requirements for entry into our Honours Programme. Basically, this means achieving a grade of 'D' or better in Sociology 1A and 1B and a 'C' or better in Sociology 2A and 2B. You also have to comply with the College of Social Science regulations for progression to Honours.

None

This course is being developed in conjunction with the course 'Multiculturalism, Migration and Belonging', offered in semester 2. While each course can be taken separately, students planning to take Multiculturalism, Migration and Belonging are strongly encouraged to take this course.

1. a 2,250 word essay (50% of overall mark)

2. a 2,250 project (50% of the overall mark)

 The project will take the form of a case study on a migration-related issue, that encapsulates broader theoretical and policy questions about migration. Students can focus on a specific geographical or transnational context, and on one or more migrant population. Students are strongly advised to focus on migration issues explored in the course.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course integrates theory, empirical research, and policy analysis to foster a comprehensive understanding of contemporary migratory movements. We will examine  the nature of contemporary migration, its relation to the past and  how it helps us to understand socio-cultural change in the present. The course requires active participation in discussions about why states use borders as a means of identifying who are 'wanted' and who are 'unwanted' migrants, how state practice is experienced, but also how it produces political responses and mobilizations.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of migration, borders, and (im)mobilities, integrating historical underpinnings, established theories and emerging theoretical frameworks from sociological, social-anthropological, and policy perspectives..

2.  Evaluate migration phenomena beyond local and national contexts, recognizing the interconnectedness of the regional and the global.

3. Apply historical and theoretical insights to thinking sociologically about migration policies (local, national, global), critically evaluating different state approaches and deconstructing key questions related to migration.

4. Apply knowledge to real-world scenarios, considering practical implications of migration theories and historical contexts in the formulation and evaluation of migration-related policies.

5. Develop advanced critical thinking skills through class discussions, assignments, and assessments, enabling analysis, evaluation, and articulation of perspectives on migration-related issues.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.