International Migration: Trends, Causes and Impacts

USF Course Code: ANT 4930

Prerequisite: none; taught in English.

Audience: ISA students

Contact hours: 45 hours

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I. Course Description: 
This course explores the theme of immigration, combining an anthropological perspective that causes and trends and links those trends with political decisions, policies and governments. By comparing the scenario in Europe and in the USA, students shall gain a general understanding of recent migration trends, causes, and the overall socio-cultural, political and economic impact of these movements. The responses of political bodies to this demographic evolution shall be studied along with the effects of emigration on the countries of origin.

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II. Learning outcomes: 
This course will teach participants:

1. Students will gain knowledge in the following areas:
•    Migration as a complex phenomenon with historical, political and social ramifications. 
•    Current trends in migration, their causes and consequences, focusing on Europe and USA. 
•    Policy contexts framing international migration at the national, regional and local levels from a holistic perspective. 
•    International migration from the point of view of sending and receiving societies and focusing on specific population groups. 
•    The political, social and cultural effects of migration in our societies and current debates about future prospects. 

2. Practice based learning:
•    Critical sense of international migration issues and current anthropological and political debates. 
•    Communication, reading and writing skills. 
•    Time management. 
•    Giving and accepting feedback. 
•    Teamwork. 

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III. Course contents (order of content may be modified):

UNIT 1 - INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION TODAY -
International migration throughout history: comparing the past and today.
- Countries of origin, migration routes and host societies: a transnational approach.
- Migration causes and types of movements.
- Main theories of international migration.

UNIT 2 - FLOWS AND COMPONENTS
- Main flows:
o Europe: from the South (Africa and Asia), East (Europe) and West (Latin America).
 USA: from the South (Latin America) and from the rest of the world.
- Statistical and demographic analysis (how many arrive, how and why, who are they, how many return).

UNIT 3 - POLICY FRAMEWORK
- Migration policies in Europe and Spain: historical approach
- Introduction to migration policies in the USA (students? practical work).
- Integration policies: health, education, housing, labour market,
- Measuring integration: economic, social, cultural, political, religious

UNIT 4 - ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC IMPACT
- Global economic and demographic impacts:
o In countries of destiny
o In countries of origin
- Global socioeconomic impacts:
o Money and other remittances.
o When the young and the best leave? (from brain drain to brain gain)

UNIT 5 - POLITICAL IMPACTS
- Political impacts:
o Migrants, political participation: transnational perspective
o Pro- and anti-immigration politics: in Europe and the USA
- International migration and global governance

UNIT 6 - MANAGING CULTURAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY
- From assimilation and integration to multicultural and intercultural societies
- Migrants, ethnic groups and minorities
- Relations between natives and migrants

UNIT 7 - WHAT NEXT?: THE INEVITABLE FUTURE?
- International migration is here to stay
- Emergence of complex mobility strategies
- The increasing multi-ethnic and multicultural societies
- A return to nationalist policies?

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IV. Bibliography: 
Compiled by lecturer and online resources

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V.I. How to succeed in this course
To successfully complete this course, attendance is essential as enables the necessary participation. Both spontaneous and prepared interaction are categories used in the evaluation. Due to the amount of content covered in this course, reading prior to the class sessions is essential and will help you to become an active learner. 

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VI. Grading scale

La calificación final del curso utilizará la siguiente escala/ Final grades will be calculated according to the following scale:
94 - 100 A
90-93 A -
87 -89 B +
84 - 86 B
80 - 83 B -
77 - 79 C+
74 - 76 C 
70 - 73 C-
67 -69 D+
64 -66 D
60 -63 D-
0-59 F

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VII. Course policies

VII.I. Attendance
Class attendance is mandatory and is taken every class day and reflected in the course attendance sheet. 
An 85% attendance rate is required for the successful completion of the course. Perfect attendance will be taken positively into account in the participation section. 
If a student exceeds this limit, 1 point will be taken off of the final grade (Spanish grade). Reaching a 20% of unexcused absences means that the transcript for this subject will show “not attended course”. 
Excused absences: Medical Certificates that will be considered only if issued by a physician (not notes from the family explaining the student’s absence). The certificates must include the exact dates for which a student should be excused for having missed classes. Courses cannot be audited, so attendance is possible only for students enrolled in a specific class. 
Punctuality: Students are expected to arrive on time to class and to return directly to class after class breaks. Arriving 10 minutes late (or more) and/or early class departures are considered unexcused absences and will be taken into account as half an absence. 
 
Attending class is not only the presence in the classroom. The professor will encourage active participation in the course and it will be taken into account as part of the evaluation.  

Auditors: Courses cannot be taken as auditors, thus attendance is possible only for students enrolled in a specific class.

VII.II. Conduct in class
Students who actively participate in classroom activities and who maintain a professional and respectful attitude will be evaluated positively. Students must not eat or use laptops during the class (unless specifically authorized by the teacher).  

VII.III. Late work 
One half point will be taken off (from the learning activities grade) for homework that is submitted late repeatedly. Late assignments will be corrected but will not be graded. 
Missing a class does not release the student from completing the homework assigned or studying the topics covered in class that day.

VII.IV. Make-up Exams
If a student cannot be present for an examination for a valid reason (see V.II.) and approved by the professor and academic direction, a make-up exam will be given.

VII.V. Exam retention
After exams are graded, the teacher will review the examination with the class and collect all exams. The exams will be retained for one semester following the current one, and then they will be destroyed.

VII.VI. Academic Honesty
Students are expected to act in accordance with their university standards of conduct concerning plagiarism and academic dishonesty.

VII.VII. Special accommodations 
Students with special needs who require reasonable accommodations, special assistance or specific aid in this course (either for properly making-up classes, taking exams, etc.) should direct their request to Academic Coordination during the first days of the course.

Teaching staff is required to report any disclosures harassment or violence of any kind.