SOCIOL 707 : Special Topic: Governing Population and Society

Arts

2024 Semester Two (1245) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores the relationship between population, state and society with a particular emphasis on the settler colonial and post colonial context of Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific. Social theories of biopolitics, gender, racism and technology are examined in order to develop critical insights into population ‘problems’ of migration, borders, fertility/mortality, citizenship and diversity.

Course Overview

The government of population has been central to the formation of modern nations, the process of colonisation and the maintenance of settler colonialism that continues in Aotearoa New Zealand today. And yet, population is often taken for granted as simply being an objective measure of the number of people in a particular place, how fast or slow it is growing and how mobile people are.

This course draws on sociological theories and research to critically examine the construction of the idea of population and its use in governing societies. In particular, we explore: how population has been key to the art and technique of government; the role of measuring and governing population in colonialism and settler colonialism; border control and migration management; the relationship between population control, environment and racism; and new technologies of population management. The course provides space for students to apply critical perspectives to current population policies and challenges. 

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically evaluate sociological literatures on population and government (Capability 3 and 4)
  2. Articulate and apply critical studies of population to evaluate population policies (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  3. Communicate and explain population research and policy within their wider social, cultural, economic and political contexts (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)
  4. Present and discuss your own independent research on population (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)
  5. Reflect and discuss other students' work through constructive and supportive critique (Capability 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Research essay 50% Individual Coursework
Research dialogue and commentary 30% Individual Coursework
Presentation 20% Individual Coursework

Module

  1. Population, State and Society
  2. Colonialism and Settler Colonialism
  3. Border Control and Migration Management
  4. Environment, Racism and Population Control
  5. New Technologies of Population Management

Workload Expectations

This course is a 30-point course. 

For this course, you can expect a 3-hour seminar each week, 8-10 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5-7 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.

Seminars will not be available as recordings. 

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

This course is not available for delivery to students studying remotely outside NZ in 2024.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Seminars will 

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student feedback received during and following this course will be used to improve the learning experience. Attention will be paid to the introduction of key concepts and the pace of learning.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 31/10/2023 08:51 p.m.