Professor Carlson / Spring 2014 / BEL 635 / WED 8:30-11:00AM Professor Carlson / Spring 2014 / BEL 635 / WED 8:30-11:00AM
Students are expected to uphold the Academic Honor Code published in the Florida State University Bulletin and the Student Handbook. The Academic Honor System of the Florida State University is based on the premise that each student has the responsibility (1) to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in the student's own work, (2) to refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the university community, and (3) to foster a high sense of integrity and social responsibility on the part of the university community.
Students with disabilities needing academic accomodation should: (1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disabilities Resource Center; (2) bring a letter to the instructor during the first week of class, indicating the need for and type of accomodation requested.
Organization and Format: The seminar meets once per week for 150 minutes, with one 10-minute break. At each meeting, participants discuss the content, background and applications of methods of demographic analysis covered in one chapter of the course text: Preston S, Heuveline P, Guillot M. 2001. Demography: Measuring and Modelling Population Processes. (London: Basil Blackwell Publishers). In some weeks, additional readings and topics complement the basic text. Computer spreadsheet assignments illustrate examples using demographic data. Practice on computers with the spreadsheet assignments forms part of each class meeting. Participants must complete each assignment (spreadsheet and associated essay) independently and return it for evaluation prior to the next meeting. Course grade is based on level of mastery of material in these assignments and a final examination.
Course Objectives: At the end of the course, the student will be able to: 1) calculate standard demographic measures from original empirical data; 2) use standard demographic techniques to evaluate data quality and to make adjustments for deficiencies detected in empirical data; 3) apply standard demographic techniques for estimating missing or incomplete data; and 4) utilize standard cohort-component methods for making population projections.
Components of Course Grade:
THREE-FOURTH of the course grade will be based on students' calculations and written comments related to spreadsheet assignments from the course text and other readings. ONE-FOURTH of the course grade will be based on a written cumulative final examination.