Course Profiles of Social Relations Department Courses
This is an introductory course aiming to increase understanding of students on fundamentals of population studies such as concept and definition of fertility, fecundity, mortality, morbidity, migration, urbanization and world’s and regional population trends and patterns. More specifically, the course will cover: nature and scope of population studies; relation of population studies with other disciplines; concept and definition of fecundity, fertility, crude birth rate, age-specific fertility rate, total fertility rate, gross reproduction, net reproduction, and population momentum; crude death rate, age-specific death rate, cause-specific death rate, neonatal and post-neonatal mortality, still-birth, infant mortality, under-five mortality, maternal mortality rate and ratios, life expectancy, crude rate of natural increase; morbidity, incidence rate, prevalence rate, and case fatality rate; migration, in-migration, out-migration, immigration, emigration, gross and net migration; urbanization, over urbanization , counter urbanization, primate and mega city . The course will also examine current and projected world population growth, population growth (current and projected) by regions, population growth (current & projected) by developed and developing countries, and population growth (current & projected) by SAARC countries. The course materials will be presented by holding both theoretical and practical classes. In practical classes students will be given hands-on-training in calculating various demographic parameters covered by the course using Bangladesh data.
This course aims to develop students’ skill in conducting research work utilizing quantitative and qualitative research tools. The course includes ethics in social science research, including population research, nature of scientific research, research process, hypothesis development, research design, data collection methods, questionnaire design and administration, sampling considerations, use of statistical methods of data reduction and analysis, format and style of writing the research report. It also deals with tools and techniques of Rapid Appraisal and focus group discussions. In addition to participation in theoretical classes, students are required to undertake independent research projects to sharpen their research skills.
The course will enable students to calculate and apply various mathematical and statistical tools for population analysis. It will cover following topics: set theory, exponential and logarithms functions, introductory calculus and curve fitting, determinants and matrices, linear algebra, measures of central tendency and measures of dispersion, test of hypothesis, scatter diagrams, correlation, regression, multivariate analysis, non-parametric tests and the statistical fallacies. In addition to theoretical lectures, students are required to participate in practical classes. In practical classes, students will be given hands-on-training in calculating these mathematical and statistical measures covered by the course.
The objective of the course is to make students familiar with the basic demographic methods for population analysis. The course includes sources of demographic data, methods of evaluation of census data and measures of population growth, measures of fertility, mortality, migration, urbanization, and life table construction. The course will also introduce methods of population projections. In addition to theoretical lectures, students are required to participate in practical classes. In practical classes, students will be given hands-on-training in the basic techniques of population analysis covered by the course using Bangladesh data.
The course aims to increase awareness of students in level and trend in population size, growth and distribution; major population, gender, RH challenges of the country and national response to meet these challenges. The course will cover the following topics: sources of population data; trends in population size, growth and distribution, age-sex composition of the population, sex and dependency ratio; population distribution by rural, urban, division, district and sub-division; levels and trends in nuptiality, fertility, mortality, morbidity, literacy and educational attainment; labour force participation rate, occupation and industrial distribution by sex and rural-urban areas and region. The course will also examine the socio-economic implications of major population, gender and reproductive health challenges such as population momentum, high adolescent fertility, maternal and child mortality, rapid urbanization and high growth of labour force, environmental degradation, high prevalence of gender based violence and girls’ trafficking, to name but a few and policy and programme response to meet these challenges. In addition to holding theoretical lectures, tutorial classes will be organized for in-depth discussion on major population, R.H and gender issues of Bangladesh. Students will be asked to prepare term papers on major population and development issues as part of the course requirement.
The course will orient students with the evolution of population theories from Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Confucius, Chanakya, Graunt and Petty, Car Saunders, Malthus, Marx and Engle to Demographic Transition, Neo-classical Population Theory, Threshold Hypothesis and differential fertility and distribution justice hypothesis.
The course will expose students to a variety of national and international instruments related to population policy and programme. It will cover the following topics: definition and scope of population policy, types of population policies, concept of population influencing and responsive policies. The course will also cover international population policy instruments such as Bucharest (1974), Mexico (1984), Cairo (1994), Rio (1992), Bali (1992), Beijing (1995), Copenhagen (1996), Bangkok (2002) and population policy and Programme in Bangladesh and methods of programme monitoring and evaluation.
The objective of the course is to increase awareness of students on levels and trends, determinants and consequences of urbanization and migration and policies and programmes on urbanization and migration. The lecture will cover the following topics: (i) definition, types of migration and terminology, (ii) level and pattern of internal migration, (iii) level and pattern of international (in and out) migration, (iv) global patterns of migration, (v) relationship between migration and poverty, (vi) migration theories, (vii) consequences of internal and international migration, (viii) national and international migration policy regimes, (ix) definition and urban poverty, housing and social problems and (xii) urbanization policies and programmes.
The purpose of the module is to improve understanding of students on definition and basic concepts of Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Health (RH) and components of RH- family planning, maternal care, Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), Reproductive Tract Infection (RTI), HIV and AIDS, sexuality, unmet need for family planning, quality of family planning services, adolescent and male reproductive health, major reproductive health issues of men, women and adolescents, and human sexuality and gender relations. The course will also cover laws on marriage, Islamic perspective on family planning and national and international policies and programmes on RH/Family Planning.
The Module aims to increase better understanding of students on the concept and definition of population, gender and development, major gender issues in the country and its underlying causes, evolving concept of development and national and international instruments on gender and development. The lecture will cover the following topics: (a) concept and definition of: gender and sex, gender equality, equity and women’s empowerment, gender stereotypes, gender mainstreaming in the context of development policy planning, gender analysis and meaning and interpretation of gender in development; (b) causes, consequences and policy implications of major gender issues such as: under count of women’s work in national GDP, Gender gap in educational attainment rates, under representation of women in higher level decision making, gender based violence, gender stereotyping, and female headed households. The lecture will also introduce newly emerged concepts of development such as head count ratio, human development index, human vulnerability index, poverty ratio gap, gender development index and gender empowerment index and national and international (WSSD, ICPD, Beijing, CEDAW, MDGs) instruments on population, gender and development.
The objective of the course is to improve understanding of students on the linkages between population size, growth and environment and awareness on national and international instruments on environment. The lecture will cover the following topics:(1) pathways (a) sub-division, (b) depletion and (c) degradation of renewable resources, through which population size and growth affects environment, (ii) trends in population size and rate of growth on the one hand and availability of agricultural land, land use, food security, clean water, forest, bio-diversity and urban environmental problems (sanitation, solid waste, water and air pollution, energy consumption, emissions and urban health) on the other in Bangladesh. The lecture will also examine linkages between population, migration and the rural environment and relationship between health, mortality and environment and review national and international instruments on population and environment.
The Module will examine, among other things, the dynamics of relationship between population and poverty and gender dimension of poverty. The lecture will cover the following topics: (a) theoretical and empirical relationship between population and economic growth, population and poverty reduction, population and savings and investment, population and human resource development at national and household level; (b) concept and interpretation of demographic bonus/window of opportunity and relationship between demographic bonus and economic growth; (c) role of policies and programmes in translating window of opportunity emerging from fertility and mortality decline into economic growth, (d) relationship between reproductive health and poverty, poverty and mortality, (e) paradigm shift in concept and definition of development from income consumption to autonomy and dignity, (f) world, regional and national trend in gender and poverty and (g) national (IPRSP/PRSP/National Development Plans) and international instruments (WSSD, MDG) on poverty reduction.
The course will orient students with the fundamentals of computer and its utilization in statistical and demographic analysis. The course will cover the following topics: basics of window operating system, excel, power point and use of statistical packages such as SPSS, SAS in data entry and analysis and demographic software such as MORTPAK-LITE, FIV FIV, POPDEV, etc in population analysis. Hands-on training will also be given in the utilization of Internet in searching for wide variety of websites, particularly those related to reproductive health, population, gender and development.
The Module aims to increase awareness on the levels and trends of adolescent population, their development concerns and national responses to meet the current and emerging needs of adolescents. The course will cover the following topics: trends in adolescent population size, growth and their distribution by sex for the country, rural-urban, division and sub-divisional level; and development challenges of adolescents such as demand for education, employment and skill development, including life skill training, reproductive & sexual health needs of adolescents such as early marriage, early motherhood, unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and infertility and its implications on economy and service delivery. The course will also closely examine the adequacy of existing policies and programmes to meet the needs of the adolescent population.
The purpose of this course is to introduce relatively advanced demographic methods for population analysis. The course will cover the following topics: importance of indirect techniques; evolution of indirect techniques; demographic models (stable & quasi-stable population); model life tables- UN Model Life Table, UN Model Life Tables for developing countries, Coale and Demeny Regional Model Life Tables, Lederman’s System of Model Life Table and Brass Logit Life Table); methods of estimation of fertility based on information of children ever born, own children and age distribution; methods of estimation of child mortality based on information of children ever born and surviving, orphan hood and widowhood; methods of estimation of adult mortality from information on the distribution of death by age, and inter-censal survival estimates; survival methods of measuring migration and methods of population projections at national, sub-national and sectoral levels. In addition to theoretical lectures, students are required to participate in practical classes. In practical classes, students will be given hands-on-training in the advanced techniques of population analysis covered by the course using Bangladesh data.
The course aims to increase awareness of students on level and trend in population ageing, socio-economic challenges of ageing and policy response to population ageing. The course will cover a wide range of topics including: global, regional and national trends and prospects of ageing, causes and challenges (demographic and social including health) of ageing, and its implications on economy and service delivery, lessons learnt on population ageing from developed countries, changing role of the family and community in providing support and national and international policy responses to population ageing.
The course aims to increase awareness of students on levels and trend in HIV/AIDS-its causes and consequences and policy response to HIV/AIDS. The course will cover the following topics: global, regional, and national levels, trends and prospects of HIV/AIDS; knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its prevention among population of Bangladesh; demographic, economic and social consequences of HIV/AIDS at national, household and individual level; methods of data collection on HIV/AIDS and also review national and international responses to HIV/AIDS.
The course will cover following topics: concept and definition of gender equity, equality, women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming, theoretical approaches to gender, sex-role socialization, structure and ideology, sex differences in intellectual functioning and the culture of masculinity, instruments of women’s empowerment, political and economic empowerment of women: cross cultural perspective.
The course aims to provide students with a good knowledge on how health of a foetus, or an individual, or the parents or the neighborhood environment influences the population parameters at large. In turn how the population parameters affect the individual health, parental health and the neighborhood environment in short. The course covers the following topics: (i) Puberty, marital or extra-marital sexual union, conception, pregnancy maintenance, foetal wastage, stillbirth, live birth, postpartum amenorrhea etc), (ii) interaction between parental health on the one hand and the conception, pregnancy and survival of births on the other, (iii) interaction between neighborhood variables such as water, sanitation, industrial pollution, poultry and diary farm and the health of pregnant mother and her foetus, (iv) attrition process of different sub-groups of population because of differential death experiences, (v) construction and comparison of life-tables of different sub-groups of population (vi) computation of age sex structure of population and other demographic parameters from incomplete or faulty data.
Introduces application of basic microeconomic concepts and tools to resource allocation and policy problems facing health-sector decision makers. Covers the application of demand concepts to health care-seeking behavior and their implications for marketing and for the design of insurance programs. Uses basic concepts of cost and production theory to examine problems in efficiency measurement and issues of market structure and antitrust policy. Demonstrates the application of basic demand and production concepts to cost-benefit analysis and related techniques. Economic approaches to evaluating performance of national health care systems are also examined. In addition to theoretical classes, students will be required to participate in practical classes, in which they will be given hand-on-training in the application of economic concepts and tools to health care-seeking behaviour, cost-benefit analysis and evaluation of national health care system of Bangladesh.
The course will cover following topics: rational choice theory, games theory, firm survival analysis, global population dynamics and consumer demographics, demographic forces shaping world economic order, global economy and consumers’ behaviour change, application of demographics in forecasting demand for products and business decision-making. Students will be also trained on basic survey research tools to assess consumers’ choice for products. Practical classes will be also organized to provide hands-on-training to students on application of concepts and tools covered in this course in analyzing business trends in Bangladesh.
A student will be required to complete (a) a thesis on a population, reproductive health, gender and related topic approved by the faculty of MPRHGD through a full semester internship with a population, reproductive health or allied institution and (b) present the thesis in a seminar to be organized by the MPRHGD Department. Two persons will supervise the thesis- one from the mentor institution and the other from the MPRHGD Department.
The objective of the course is to get the students acquainted with major thematic areas of national importance in Bangladesh. Taught from an interdisciplinary perspective, this course covers the following topics: origin and historical development of the nation; geographic features, natural resources and environmental issues; major issues relating to culture and society including cultural change, social inequality and urbanization; important themes relating to the functioning of the state include judicial, administrative and legislative systems, public administration and governance; featured issues of economic and social development comprising several topics such as economic trends and planning, poverty eradication, role of NGOs, donors and the civil society.
| Credits | 3 |
| Pre-requisite | ENG102 |
The objective of this course is to introduce the culture and civilization of eastern part of the world. The specific goal is to make the students familiar with different religions, culture and heritage, and intellectual tradition of this region. Major topics include: a brief study of the life of early man; an analytical view about cultural settings of our present and ancient civilizations; various features of Eastern epistemology; an elaborate discussion about various features of culture and heritage of our subcontinent especially in Bangladesh; cultural contact between the East and the West; and contributions of some major scholars of Eastern tradition.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: None
The objective of this course is to help students learn basic environmental problems and ecological principles, develop their ability to use these principles to interpret ecological problems and understand the repercussions of environmental mismanagement. Topics include: Environment science, input reduction, population bomb, resources, ecology and population, abundance control, community diversity, energy flow, type of species, demography, resource management, biodiversity, pollution, controlling pollution, water pollution, air pollution, ethics.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: None
The aim of the course is to introduce students with some masterpieces of western literature. The course includes selections from William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Anthon Chekov, Guy de Mupassant, Robert Frost, T.S. Elliot.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: None
This introductory course on Psychology aims at familiarizing the students of other disciplines with the central concepts and theories of Psychology. It covers both the traditional areas of Psychology and applied topics, including the biological foundations of behavior, sensation, perception, learning, memory, abnormal behavior and treatment and health psychology. The course will not only provide the students with a conceptual overview of understanding human behavior and mental processes, but also a pathway to self-understanding, offer the potentials of a future career, and will give them an opportunity for intellectual discovery.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG102
Industrial Psychology (I/O Psychology) is the applied field in which the principles of psychology are used to provide insights into how organizations function, and why they do what they do. This course is based on the science of peoples’ behavior at work and the application of psychological principles of organizational and work settings. The purpose of I/O Psychology is to provide how it will directly influence ones lives as job applicants, trainees, employees, managers, coordinators, and consumers, in brief, the nature of work in modern society. It is going to make students familiar with Job Analysis, Performance Appraisal, Assessment Methods for Selection and Placement, Selecting Employees, Training and Development, Theories of Employee Motivation, Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment, Productive and Counter Productive Behavior, Working Conditions, Employee Health and Safety from behavioral perspective.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: None
This course is designed to familiarize students with some fundamental problems and issues in philosophy. As a course in a second or higher order discipline concerned with critical thinking, this can help us improve our ways of making sense of the world. This would provide an opportunity for cultivating the skills of evaluating arguments and developing the habits of cooperative rather than adversarial argumentation for problem solving and effective deliberation. The topics to be discussed include: Definition, Nature and Scope of Philosophy; Thinking as the way we make sense of the world; Problem Solving as Thinking Critically; Theories of Reality; Knowledge; Values; Theories of Truth; Proofs for the existence of God; Problem of Freedom of Will; Mind-Body Relation; Existentialism, Pragmatism and Logical Positivism as philosophical trends.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: None
Social Psychology mainly focuses on understanding how and why individuals think and feel as they do in social situations. It seeks to understand the cause of social behavior and thought or identifying factors that shape our feelings, behavior and thoughts in social situations. This course is intended to make students sentient of the application of the information of social factors or social behavior in the field of their interest. Students will be proverbial with social perception, cognition, attitudes, social identity, prejudice and discrimination, interpersonal attraction and relationship, social influence, prosocial behavior, aggression, and groups and individuals.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG102
The study of International Relations attempts to analyze world events and speculate future in a systemic way. The basic objective of this course is to understand the world that is fast changing. Towards this end, this course intends to equip the students with knowledge and analytical tools necessary to comprehend, evaluate, and respond to an increasingly complex array of problems both at the national and international levels. The course focuses on such key areas as Theories of International Relations, Concept of Power, War and Peace, Diplomacy, United Nations, Regional Organizations, Nuclear Arms Race, Inter-State Conflict and Cooperation, International Terrorism and Counter Terrorism, Third World Poverty, International Development, and Globalization.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG 102
The broad objective of the course is to examine the basic tenets of newspaper journalism in one hand and media studies on the other. Journalism: The specific objective of the course in Journalism is to how research, organize and write stories; understand the internal structures of newspapers; advertising, circulation and readership and editorial policies of the newspapers; different political systems in which media exists, newspaper censorship and laws of libel as well as ethical issues. Media Studies: The students will be introduced to the various forms of media including print and electronic such as newspaper, radio and television; conceptual learning about operating system of different form of media especially the applications of information technology in TV; news script writing for print and TV media.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG 102
The course focuses on conceptual overview and practical tools for understanding the role of women in development process. It discusses the interrelationship between various development issues and gender. The course helps students to become aware of gender issues in both theoretical and Bangladesh contexts. It also attempts to help students to contribute to the efforts to eliminate all forms of gender discrimination in Bangladesh society. The course examinees the role of women in economic development. Students are expected to gather knowledge and skill to develop a career plan in the perspective of gender. The course includes feminist analysis of international relations and development theories and Women Development Policy and Programme in Bangladesh. Topics include: Sex and Gender, Society; Patriarchy; Men-Women relationship in the patriarchal society, Theories of WID, WAD and GAD, Gender role, division of labour and gender needs. Women’s reproductive health and right, Adolescence health care in relation to gender, Health and nutritional and HIV/AIDS issues in relation with gender, Gender and poverty, Gender and environment, Violence against women, One stop crisis centre visit/ Visit to a village, Case preparation, CEDAW and its clauses, Constitutional and fundamental rights of women, Beijing platform for action(PFA), Anti-dowry laws, and labour laws.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG101
This course would provide an opportunity of gaining elementary competence in German language. It would enable the course participants to verbally act and react in simple everyday life situation.
Credits 3; Prerequisite: None
The course provides an introductory look at the theories and concepts, which form the foundation of development. The student throughout the course will be facilitated to critically assess contemporary development issues such as poverty, gender discrimination and lack of access to natural resources. Key theoretical concepts such as modernization, liberalism, development projects and human rights will be addressed along with the usefulness of social research.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG 102
This course will allow the students to develop their basic communication skills in French. Speaking a new language helps one to get to know another people and culture, as language and culture go hand in hand.
Credits 3; Prerequisite: None
This course has been designed to provide understanding of the basic competence in Spanish course. Speaking more than one language is a skill which will increase the marketability of student.
Credits 3; Prerequisite: None
The objective of the course is to familiarize students with the basics of Chinese language. Employers tend to prefer candidates who speak one or more foreign languages and the fact is that the global economy depends on communication; China plays a vital role in world economy Chinese language plays an imperative role in business.
Credits 3; Prerequisite: None
The course focuses on essentials of Arabic Language. The course is designed to express basic capability in it. Interest in the Arabic language has increased greatly throughout the world.
Credits 3; Prerequisite: None
The primary objective of this course is to familiarize students with the basic concepts and principles of public relations. At the end of the course, students should have attained knowledge and understanding of the role and functions of public relations in an industrialized society, the basic tools, process and theories of public relations which include research, planning, communication, evaluation and the use of dynamic communication strategies to achieve organizational goals. This course also strives for a better understanding of public relations activities, impression management and how public relations works during crisis situations in personal and organizational arena.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG 102
This course has been designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of basic principles of globalization and social identity from an analytical perspective. The course will aid the students to make analytical conclusions regarding key social issues such as migration, governance, terrorism, globalization and international trade. From a developing nation perspective, the course will also shed light on the debate between the Asian and Western Value systems, and thus provide a comprehensive view of people’s perceptions of the globalizing world.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG 102
This course will focus on contemporary socio-economic and politico-military security issues in the context of Asia-Pacific region. The course will make an attempt to introduce key elements of global and regional security---nuc1ear security threats, rise of strategic powers and forms and dimensions of security in relation to national and international politics. The course also explores future perception of threats and preventive mechanisms to develop confidence building among the actors. It will address both theoretical and applied knowledge of security discourse in the context of global politics. The objective of the course is to examine the rationale of the security studies and to consider the implications of traditional security in the context of international relations and politics.
Credit: 3; Prerequisite: ENG102, GEN210
স্নাতক (Undergraduate) পর্যায়ের ছাত্রছাত্রীদের বাংলা ভাষায় লিখন ও সৃজনদক্ষতা বৃদ্ধির লক্ষ্যে এই কোর্সটি প্রণীত হয়েছে। মাতৃভাষায় দক্ষতা বৃদ্ধি যে-কোনো মানুষের প্রকাশ ক্ষমতার পূর্বশর্ত। মাতৃভাষায় দক্ষতা অন্য ভাষা শিক্ষণের ক্ষেত্রেও পূর্বশর্ত হিসেবে কাজ করে। সেদিক বিবেচনা করে এই কোর্সে বাংলা ভাষার অতি আবশ্যক কতিপয় বিষয় পাঠ্যসূচির অন্তর্ভূক্ত হয়েছে। এই কোর্সে বাংলা ভাষার ধ্বনি, শব্দগঠন, বানানের নিয়ম, উচ্চারনরীতি, প্রয়োগ-অপপ্রয়োগ, পরিভাষা, সমার্থ শব্দ, চিঠিপত্র ও দরখাস্ত লিখন, সাহিত্যের বিভিন্ন রূপকল্প (কবিতা, উপন্যাস, ছোটগল্প, নাটক, প্রবন্ধ) অন্তর্ভূক্ত করা হয়েছে।
Prerequisite: None, Credit: 3
The main objective of this course is to let students know the history of the emergence of Independent Bangladesh which had been achieved through the lots of sacrifice from all sorts of people. It will also help to understand the true meaning of the spirit of independence and get pledged to uphold that without any compromise. The course includes:
Background- the rule of Colonial power and their Divide and Rule policy, Politics of revivalism of religious nationalism by both Hindu and Muslim community. Hindu-Muslim relation- disparity, distance and distrust. Two nation theory, partition of India. Bengali Muslims’ role in the creation of Pakistan.
Disillusionment- Question of state language. Response of the Bengali intelligentsia. Disparity and emergence of the notion: ‘one nation and two economy’. Consolidation of power by Punjab-dominated military & civil Bureaucracy. Deprivation and economic plundering, internal colonialism.
Movements- Language movement of 1952. Student movement against the education policy and constitutional movement of 1962. Sheikh Mujib’s 6-point movement for autonomy in 1966. Mass Upsurge of 1969 and Rise of a charismatic leader of the people. Awakening and unification of the emerging nation. Refusal of the Pakistani Janata to hand over the power to the elected representative, crackdown and genocide to the recommended reading level. Non-cooperation movement in 1971. Liberation War of 1971. Birth of a nation.
Fight on and off front- Freedom fighters, Sector commanders, Guerilla warfare, Mass participation in war, women’s participation in the liberation struggle. Participation of ethnic minorities.
Safe repressions and anti-liberation activities- Operation search light, Genocides, Mass exodus, Life at refugee camps. Women as war victims. Sufferings of children. Arson look & Destruction, Collaboration politician, committed activists and fortune seekers in peace committees and armed cadres like Rajakar, Al-Badar, Al Shams.
War by media and cultural front- Participation and initiatives in diplomatic and cultural front. Role of the media especially the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, Akashvani and BBC, British and Indian newspaper, Concert for Bangladesh, Musical squad of Muktijuddha Sahayak Samity. Break through news by some leading journalists like Simon Dring etc, role of the foreign governments: India, USSR and the East European countries. USA, UK, China, Non-aligned countries, etc. role of the United Nations and demographic forces of the world including USA.
Credit: 3; Prerequisite: ENG102
This course is designed to introduce ethical and spiritual commitment in the profession in order to maintain higher standard at work environment. More specifically, the course will focus on moral character, character development, moral leadership, developing mortality in organization, moral behavior, characteristics of moral standards, moral issues and ethical principles, moral obligations, spirituality, natural laws-the concept of a moral being, duties and rights, applying natural laws, moral decision-making process-steps in the decision making process, making ethical decisions, decision strategies, personal mortality, codes of professional conduct-purpose of a code of conduct, critical elements in the development of a code of professional conduct, rules of professional conduct, professional standards.
Credits: 3; Pre-requisite: ENG 102
Reproductive Health and Rights: Definition, concepts of reproductive health, reproductive rights and ICPD. Population dynamics, scopes and components of reproductive health, MDGs, indicator and source of data.
Family Planning: Definition and rationale of family planning, unmet need for family planning, health impact of family planning, relevance of family planning to population policies; ICPD principles, male involvement and Islamic view on family planning, definition of sexual health, principles of quality controls.
Maternal Health: Maternal mortality and morbidity- causes, trend, health and social significance, safe motherhood policies and programs, unsafe abortion- causes, incidence and prevention, emergency obstetric care and post abortion care.
STIs/HIV/AIDS, Tobacco and Food Habit: Epidemiology, causes, risk factors, way of prevention, high risk group AND policy of HIV/AIDS, socio cultural determinants and health effects of tobacco use among young people, food safety vs street foods- scope of hygiene and health promotion among adolescents and youths.
Human Sexuality and Gender Relation: Interrelationship between human sexuality and gender relations, violence against women (sexual and gender-based violence), access to information, education and services to achieve good health including sexual health and exercise reproductive rights and responsibilities, laws on marriage and divorce.
Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH): Definition and basic concept, ASRH: issues, current status, magnitude of problems, teen-age pregnancy, unsafe abortion, STIs/HIV/AIDS, policies and programmes for adolescents on SRH: information and services to meeting SRH needs of adolescents.
Adolescents and Youth Friendly Health Services: Youth-friendly services: The opportunities and obstacles, role of Government, UN and other agencies, MDG, national policy focus on adolescent and youth health, national policies on HIV/ AIDS and STD related issues.
Male involvement in Sexual and Reproductive Health: Present status of male participation in RH/FP, problems and issues in male involvement, current policies and programmes to promote male involvement, need for advocacy, broader information/education programmes to promote male participation in RH/FP.
Global Landmark events on Reproductive Health Policies and Programs: Reproductive health (ICPD, 1994), Safe Motherhood Conference, Nairobi (1987), Reproductive health (Beijing, 1995), Safe Motherhood Inter-Agency Technical Consultation, Colombo (1997), Reproductive health policies and strategies in Bangladesh.
Credits: 3; Pre-requisite: None
Public Health and Epidemiology: Basic concepts - Health, Public Health and Primary Health Care: concepts and definitions; scopes and opportunities on a historical perspective; Epidemiology: definition, conceptual evolution from study of epidemics to a health research methodology; Chain of infection, Epidemic and Endemic diseases.
Defining Health problems - Epidemiological and statistical methods; Epidemiological studies: Measures of disease frequency and trends: rates, ratios, incidence and prevalence, sampling, errors; validity and reliability; Communicable and non-communicable diseases; Morbidity and Mortality, Sources of Data.
Causation of diseases and Transmission of Infections - The concept of multiple causation, ecological, establishing a cause of a disease; Ecological triad: host, age and environment; Disease communicability, magnitude and variation of disease spread; Direct and indirect transmission, exposure and its potentials; Carrier and resistance to infection; Movement of Disease in Time, Place and Person, population at risk, Emerging (new viral infections) and re-emerging diseases (tuberculosis, malaria).
Organizing and presenting health related data: Concepts and Tools - Presentation of health data in tabular and graphical formats, Presentation of health information as numbers and proportions, Comparison of magnitude of different health problems’ Basic concepts and measures of statistical inference, Use of bio-statistical methods in epidemiology.
Prevention and Control measures - The scope of prevention: Chronic non communicable disease; Levels of prevention: primordial, primary, secondary and tertiary prevention; Preventing spread of communicable diseases; Ten most common public health problems of Bangladesh; Screening, surveillance and Control of environment
Ecology - Basic principle of law of ecology; Spectrum of infection; Biological gradient of disease; Human ecology; Frontier of ecosystem: Atmospheric ecology.
Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology- Environment and Health; Exposure, dose and risk assessment; Injury epidemiology; Zoonosis and veterinary public health.
Health Policy and Planning with Practical on Public Health Research - Health policy: use of epidemiological information for the purpose; Program planning: the planning cycles; Practical on public health research.
Credits: 3; Pre-requisite: None
Introduction Population Studies is a multidisciplinary course aims to provide fundamentals of the dynamics of human populations in relation to the changes in their sizes, structures and distributions. Population changes have implications for the environment, employment, work, family relations; health, ageing and urbanization and explore the broader nature of social and economic change and the impact of demographic change on the natural environment. Population studies is an essential component of many activities like social and market research, environmental use, administration, in particular people centered development planning and forecasting.
Outcome: This course will improve student’s understanding the demographic phenomena (birth, death, migration) and on how decision-making regarding these life events (e.g. its timing) is influenced by the historical, economic, societal, cultural, and medical context of the country as well as society.
Specific topics to be covered: The course will cover the following broad topics: population structure, composition and changes, fertility, mortality, migration, family and households, health and morbidity, urbanization and urban problems, and its differentials by social class, race, ethnicity, gender other social and economic issues.
Detail Course outline:
Introduction: Concept of demography. Why study demography? Demography and population studies, sources of population data.
Population Perspectives/ Theories: Pre-modern doctrines (Ancient Judaism; Oriental Philosopher; Confucius; Plato; Aristotle; Cicero; St Augustine; Ibn Khaldun; Mercantilism;), Modern Theories (Malthus; Neo-Malthusian; Marxian; Cornucopian; Demographic transition theory)
World and Bangladesh Population Growth: World population growth and prospects. Population growth of Bangladesh. Stable and stationary population Zero population growth, Population momentum
Population Structure: What is age/sex structure? Population pyramid, Impact of mortality/migration on the age/sex structure. Age-structure transition and demographic dividend
Fertility: Concept and measurement (Crude birth rate. General fertility rate. Age specific fertility rate. Total fertility rate. Gross reproductive rate. Net reproductive rate and determinants of fertility, Causes of high and low fertility.
Fertility Theories: Davis-Blake Model, Bongaart’s Model, Thompson-Notestein Model), New Home Economic Theory (Schultz’s Model, Caldwell’s Intergenerational Wealth Flows Theory); Fertility Regulation Costs (Easterline Model), Diffusion theory of fertility.
Mortality: Components of mortality (lifespan, longevity). Measurement of Mortality (Crude death rate. Age specific death rate etc), Causes of death and its determinants (Social class differentials in mortality, sex differentials in mortality, age differentials in mortality, Urban and rural differentials in mortality).
Migration: Definition. Causes and consequences of migration. Characteristics of migrants. Theories of Migration
Population Growth and Economic Development: The debate: Population growth a stimulus to economic development. Population growth unrelated to economic development. Population growth detrimental to economic development. Population growth and food crisis.
Population Growth and Urbanization: Demographic components of urbanization. Impact of population process on urbanization. Impact of urbanization on the human condition.
Population Policy: What is population policy? Who needs a population policy? Family planning and beyond family planning. Population
Population Dynamics of Bangladesh: Fertility situation in Bangladesh, high fertility and fertility changes; Infant, Child, Maternal mortality levels and factors influencing mortality levels; Migration trends over time, population program of Bangladesh- its strengths and weaknesses.
Credits: 3; Pre-requisite: None
The objective of the course is to get the students acquainted with major thematic areas of national importance in Bangladesh. Taught from an interdisciplinary perspective, this course covers the following topics: origin and historical development of the nation; geographic features, natural resources and environmental issues; major issues relating to culture and society including cultural change, social inequality and urbanization; important themes relating to the functioning of the state include judicial, administrative and legislative systems, public administration and governance; featured issues of economic and social development comprising several topics such as economic trends and planning, poverty eradication, role of NGOs, donors and the civil society.
| Credits | 3 |
| Pre-requisite | ENG102 |
The objective of this course is to introduce the culture and civilization of eastern part of the world. The specific goal is to make the students familiar with different religions, culture and heritage, and intellectual tradition of this region. Major topics include: a brief study of the life of early man; an analytical view about cultural settings of our present and ancient civilizations; various features of Eastern epistemology; an elaborate discussion about various features of culture and heritage of our subcontinent especially in Bangladesh; cultural contact between the East and the West; and contributions of some major scholars of Eastern tradition.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: None
The objective of this course is to help students learn basic environmental problems and ecological principles, develop their ability to use these principles to interpret ecological problems and understand the repercussions of environmental mismanagement. Topics include: Environment science, input reduction, population bomb, resources, ecology and population, abundance control, community diversity, energy flow, type of species, demography, resource management, biodiversity, pollution, controlling pollution, water pollution, air pollution, ethics.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: None
The aim of the course is to introduce students with some masterpieces of western literature. The course includes selections from William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Anthon Chekov, Guy de Mupassant, Robert Frost, T.S. Elliot.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: None
This introductory course on Psychology aims at familiarizing the students of other disciplines with the central concepts and theories of Psychology. It covers both the traditional areas of Psychology and applied topics, including the biological foundations of behavior, sensation, perception, learning, memory, abnormal behavior and treatment and health psychology. The course will not only provide the students with a conceptual overview of understanding human behavior and mental processes, but also a pathway to self-understanding, offer the potentials of a future career, and will give them an opportunity for intellectual discovery.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG102
Industrial Psychology (I/O Psychology) is the applied field in which the principles of psychology are used to provide insights into how organizations function, and why they do what they do. This course is based on the science of peoples’ behavior at work and the application of psychological principles of organizational and work settings. The purpose of I/O Psychology is to provide how it will directly influence ones lives as job applicants, trainees, employees, managers, coordinators, and consumers, in brief, the nature of work in modern society. It is going to make students familiar with Job Analysis, Performance Appraisal, Assessment Methods for Selection and Placement, Selecting Employees, Training and Development, Theories of Employee Motivation, Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment, Productive and Counter Productive Behavior, Working Conditions, Employee Health and Safety from behavioral perspective.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: None
This course is designed to familiarize students with some fundamental problems and issues in philosophy. As a course in a second or higher order discipline concerned with critical thinking, this can help us improve our ways of making sense of the world. This would provide an opportunity for cultivating the skills of evaluating arguments and developing the habits of cooperative rather than adversarial argumentation for problem solving and effective deliberation. The topics to be discussed include: Definition, Nature and Scope of Philosophy; Thinking as the way we make sense of the world; Problem Solving as Thinking Critically; Theories of Reality; Knowledge; Values; Theories of Truth; Proofs for the existence of God; Problem of Freedom of Will; Mind-Body Relation; Existentialism, Pragmatism and Logical Positivism as philosophical trends.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: None
Social Psychology mainly focuses on understanding how and why individuals think and feel as they do in social situations. It seeks to understand the cause of social behavior and thought or identifying factors that shape our feelings, behavior and thoughts in social situations. This course is intended to make students sentient of the application of the information of social factors or social behavior in the field of their interest. Students will be proverbial with social perception, cognition, attitudes, social identity, prejudice and discrimination, interpersonal attraction and relationship, social influence, prosocial behavior, aggression, and groups and individuals.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG102
The study of International Relations attempts to analyze world events and speculate future in a systemic way. The basic objective of this course is to understand the world that is fast changing. Towards this end, this course intends to equip the students with knowledge and analytical tools necessary to comprehend, evaluate, and respond to an increasingly complex array of problems both at the national and international levels. The course focuses on such key areas as Theories of International Relations, Concept of Power, War and Peace, Diplomacy, United Nations, Regional Organizations, Nuclear Arms Race, Inter-State Conflict and Cooperation, International Terrorism and Counter Terrorism, Third World Poverty, International Development, and Globalization.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG 102
The broad objective of the course is to examine the basic tenets of newspaper journalism in one hand and media studies on the other. Journalism: The specific objective of the course in Journalism is to how research, organize and write stories; understand the internal structures of newspapers; advertising, circulation and readership and editorial policies of the newspapers; different political systems in which media exists, newspaper censorship and laws of libel as well as ethical issues. Media Studies: The students will be introduced to the various forms of media including print and electronic such as newspaper, radio and television; conceptual learning about operating system of different form of media especially the applications of information technology in TV; news script writing for print and TV media.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG 102
The course focuses on conceptual overview and practical tools for understanding the role of women in development process. It discusses the interrelationship between various development issues and gender. The course helps students to become aware of gender issues in both theoretical and Bangladesh contexts. It also attempts to help students to contribute to the efforts to eliminate all forms of gender discrimination in Bangladesh society. The course examinees the role of women in economic development. Students are expected to gather knowledge and skill to develop a career plan in the perspective of gender. The course includes feminist analysis of international relations and development theories and Women Development Policy and Programme in Bangladesh. Topics include: Sex and Gender, Society; Patriarchy; Men-Women relationship in the patriarchal society, Theories of WID, WAD and GAD, Gender role, division of labour and gender needs. Women’s reproductive health and right, Adolescence health care in relation to gender, Health and nutritional and HIV/AIDS issues in relation with gender, Gender and poverty, Gender and environment, Violence against women, One stop crisis centre visit/ Visit to a village, Case preparation, CEDAW and its clauses, Constitutional and fundamental rights of women, Beijing platform for action(PFA), Anti-dowry laws, and labour laws.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG101
This course would provide an opportunity of gaining elementary competence in German language. It would enable the course participants to verbally act and react in simple everyday life situation.
Credits 3; Prerequisite: None
The course provides an introductory look at the theories and concepts, which form the foundation of development. The student throughout the course will be facilitated to critically assess contemporary development issues such as poverty, gender discrimination and lack of access to natural resources. Key theoretical concepts such as modernization, liberalism, development projects and human rights will be addressed along with the usefulness of social research.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG 102
This course will allow the students to develop their basic communication skills in French. Speaking a new language helps one to get to know another people and culture, as language and culture go hand in hand.
Credits 3; Prerequisite: None
This course has been designed to provide understanding of the basic competence in Spanish course. Speaking more than one language is a skill which will increase the marketability of student.
Credits 3; Prerequisite: None
The objective of the course is to familiarize students with the basics of Chinese language. Employers tend to prefer candidates who speak one or more foreign languages and the fact is that the global economy depends on communication; China plays a vital role in world economy Chinese language plays an imperative role in business.
Credits 3; Prerequisite: None
The course focuses on essentials of Arabic Language. The course is designed to express basic capability in it. Interest in the Arabic language has increased greatly throughout the world.
Credits 3; Prerequisite: None
The primary objective of this course is to familiarize students with the basic concepts and principles of public relations. At the end of the course, students should have attained knowledge and understanding of the role and functions of public relations in an industrialized society, the basic tools, process and theories of public relations which include research, planning, communication, evaluation and the use of dynamic communication strategies to achieve organizational goals. This course also strives for a better understanding of public relations activities, impression management and how public relations works during crisis situations in personal and organizational arena.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG 102
This course has been designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of basic principles of globalization and social identity from an analytical perspective. The course will aid the students to make analytical conclusions regarding key social issues such as migration, governance, terrorism, globalization and international trade. From a developing nation perspective, the course will also shed light on the debate between the Asian and Western Value systems, and thus provide a comprehensive view of people’s perceptions of the globalizing world.
Credits: 3; Prerequisite: ENG 102
This course will focus on contemporary socio-economic and politico-military security issues in the context of Asia-Pacific region. The course will make an attempt to introduce key elements of global and regional security---nuc1ear security threats, rise of strategic powers and forms and dimensions of security in relation to national and international politics. The course also explores future perception of threats and preventive mechanisms to develop confidence building among the actors. It will address both theoretical and applied knowledge of security discourse in the context of global politics. The objective of the course is to examine the rationale of the security studies and to consider the implications of traditional security in the context of international relations and politics.
Credit: 3; Prerequisite: ENG102, GEN210
স্নাতক (Undergraduate) পর্যায়ের ছাত্রছাত্রীদের বাংলা ভাষায় লিখন ও সৃজনদক্ষতা বৃদ্ধির লক্ষ্যে এই কোর্সটি প্রণীত হয়েছে। মাতৃভাষায় দক্ষতা বৃদ্ধি যে-কোনো মানুষের প্রকাশ ক্ষমতার পূর্বশর্ত। মাতৃভাষায় দক্ষতা অন্য ভাষা শিক্ষণের ক্ষেত্রেও পূর্বশর্ত হিসেবে কাজ করে। সেদিক বিবেচনা করে এই কোর্সে বাংলা ভাষার অতি আবশ্যক কতিপয় বিষয় পাঠ্যসূচির অন্তর্ভূক্ত হয়েছে। এই কোর্সে বাংলা ভাষার ধ্বনি, শব্দগঠন, বানানের নিয়ম, উচ্চারনরীতি, প্রয়োগ-অপপ্রয়োগ, পরিভাষা, সমার্থ শব্দ, চিঠিপত্র ও দরখাস্ত লিখন, সাহিত্যের বিভিন্ন রূপকল্প (কবিতা, উপন্যাস, ছোটগল্প, নাটক, প্রবন্ধ) অন্তর্ভূক্ত করা হয়েছে।
Prerequisite: None, Credit: 3
The main objective of this course is to let students know the history of the emergence of Independent Bangladesh which had been achieved through the lots of sacrifice from all sorts of people. It will also help to understand the true meaning of the spirit of independence and get pledged to uphold that without any compromise. The course includes:
Background- the rule of Colonial power and their Divide and Rule policy, Politics of revivalism of religious nationalism by both Hindu and Muslim community. Hindu-Muslim relation- disparity, distance and distrust. Two nation theory, partition of India. Bengali Muslims’ role in the creation of Pakistan.
Disillusionment- Question of state language. Response of the Bengali intelligentsia. Disparity and emergence of the notion: ‘one nation and two economy’. Consolidation of power by Punjab-dominated military & civil Bureaucracy. Deprivation and economic plundering, internal colonialism.
Movements- Language movement of 1952. Student movement against the education policy and constitutional movement of 1962. Sheikh Mujib’s 6-point movement for autonomy in 1966. Mass Upsurge of 1969 and Rise of a charismatic leader of the people. Awakening and unification of the emerging nation. Refusal of the Pakistani Janata to hand over the power to the elected representative, crackdown and genocide to the recommended reading level. Non-cooperation movement in 1971. Liberation War of 1971. Birth of a nation.
Fight on and off front- Freedom fighters, Sector commanders, Guerilla warfare, Mass participation in war, women’s participation in the liberation struggle. Participation of ethnic minorities.
Safe repressions and anti-liberation activities- Operation search light, Genocides, Mass exodus, Life at refugee camps. Women as war victims. Sufferings of children. Arson look & Destruction, Collaboration politician, committed activists and fortune seekers in peace committees and armed cadres like Rajakar, Al-Badar, Al Shams.
War by media and cultural front- Participation and initiatives in diplomatic and cultural front. Role of the media especially the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, Akashvani and BBC, British and Indian newspaper, Concert for Bangladesh, Musical squad of Muktijuddha Sahayak Samity. Break through news by some leading journalists like Simon Dring etc, role of the foreign governments: India, USSR and the East European countries. USA, UK, China, Non-aligned countries, etc. role of the United Nations and demographic forces of the world including USA.
Credit: 3; Prerequisite: ENG102
This course is designed to introduce ethical and spiritual commitment in the profession in order to maintain higher standard at work environment. More specifically, the course will focus on moral character, character development, moral leadership, developing mortality in organization, moral behavior, characteristics of moral standards, moral issues and ethical principles, moral obligations, spirituality, natural laws-the concept of a moral being, duties and rights, applying natural laws, moral decision-making process-steps in the decision making process, making ethical decisions, decision strategies, personal mortality, codes of professional conduct-purpose of a code of conduct, critical elements in the development of a code of professional conduct, rules of professional conduct, professional standards.
Credits: 3; Pre-requisite: ENG 102
Reproductive Health and Rights: Definition, concepts of reproductive health, reproductive rights and ICPD. Population dynamics, scopes and components of reproductive health, MDGs, indicator and source of data.
Family Planning: Definition and rationale of family planning, unmet need for family planning, health impact of family planning, relevance of family planning to population policies; ICPD principles, male involvement and Islamic view on family planning, definition of sexual health, principles of quality controls.
Maternal Health: Maternal mortality and morbidity- causes, trend, health and social significance, safe motherhood policies and programs, unsafe abortion- causes, incidence and prevention, emergency obstetric care and post abortion care.
STIs/HIV/AIDS, Tobacco and Food Habit: Epidemiology, causes, risk factors, way of prevention, high risk group AND policy of HIV/AIDS, socio cultural determinants and health effects of tobacco use among young people, food safety vs street foods- scope of hygiene and health promotion among adolescents and youths.
Human Sexuality and Gender Relation: Interrelationship between human sexuality and gender relations, violence against women (sexual and gender-based violence), access to information, education and services to achieve good health including sexual health and exercise reproductive rights and responsibilities, laws on marriage and divorce.
Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH): Definition and basic concept, ASRH: issues, current status, magnitude of problems, teen-age pregnancy, unsafe abortion, STIs/HIV/AIDS, policies and programmes for adolescents on SRH: information and services to meeting SRH needs of adolescents.
Adolescents and Youth Friendly Health Services: Youth-friendly services: The opportunities and obstacles, role of Government, UN and other agencies, MDG, national policy focus on adolescent and youth health, national policies on HIV/ AIDS and STD related issues.
Male involvement in Sexual and Reproductive Health: Present status of male participation in RH/FP, problems and issues in male involvement, current policies and programmes to promote male involvement, need for advocacy, broader information/education programmes to promote male participation in RH/FP.
Global Landmark events on Reproductive Health Policies and Programs: Reproductive health (ICPD, 1994), Safe Motherhood Conference, Nairobi (1987), Reproductive health (Beijing, 1995), Safe Motherhood Inter-Agency Technical Consultation, Colombo (1997), Reproductive health policies and strategies in Bangladesh.
Credits: 3; Pre-requisite: None
Public Health and Epidemiology: Basic concepts - Health, Public Health and Primary Health Care: concepts and definitions; scopes and opportunities on a historical perspective; Epidemiology: definition, conceptual evolution from study of epidemics to a health research methodology; Chain of infection, Epidemic and Endemic diseases.
Defining Health problems - Epidemiological and statistical methods; Epidemiological studies: Measures of disease frequency and trends: rates, ratios, incidence and prevalence, sampling, errors; validity and reliability; Communicable and non-communicable diseases; Morbidity and Mortality, Sources of Data.
Causation of diseases and Transmission of Infections - The concept of multiple causation, ecological, establishing a cause of a disease; Ecological triad: host, age and environment; Disease communicability, magnitude and variation of disease spread; Direct and indirect transmission, exposure and its potentials; Carrier and resistance to infection; Movement of Disease in Time, Place and Person, population at risk, Emerging (new viral infections) and re-emerging diseases (tuberculosis, malaria).
Organizing and presenting health related data: Concepts and Tools - Presentation of health data in tabular and graphical formats, Presentation of health information as numbers and proportions, Comparison of magnitude of different health problems’ Basic concepts and measures of statistical inference, Use of bio-statistical methods in epidemiology.
Prevention and Control measures - The scope of prevention: Chronic non communicable disease; Levels of prevention: primordial, primary, secondary and tertiary prevention; Preventing spread of communicable diseases; Ten most common public health problems of Bangladesh; Screening, surveillance and Control of environment
Ecology - Basic principle of law of ecology; Spectrum of infection; Biological gradient of disease; Human ecology; Frontier of ecosystem: Atmospheric ecology.
Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology- Environment and Health; Exposure, dose and risk assessment; Injury epidemiology; Zoonosis and veterinary public health.
Health Policy and Planning with Practical on Public Health Research - Health policy: use of epidemiological information for the purpose; Program planning: the planning cycles; Practical on public health research.
Credits: 3; Pre-requisite: None
Introduction Population Studies is a multidisciplinary course aims to provide fundamentals of the dynamics of human populations in relation to the changes in their sizes, structures and distributions. Population changes have implications for the environment, employment, work, family relations; health, ageing and urbanization and explore the broader nature of social and economic change and the impact of demographic change on the natural environment. Population studies is an essential component of many activities like social and market research, environmental use, administration, in particular people centered development planning and forecasting.
Outcome: This course will improve student’s understanding the demographic phenomena (birth, death, migration) and on how decision-making regarding these life events (e.g. its timing) is influenced by the historical, economic, societal, cultural, and medical context of the country as well as society.
Specific topics to be covered: The course will cover the following broad topics: population structure, composition and changes, fertility, mortality, migration, family and households, health and morbidity, urbanization and urban problems, and its differentials by social class, race, ethnicity, gender other social and economic issues.
Detail Course outline:
Introduction: Concept of demography. Why study demography? Demography and population studies, sources of population data.
Population Perspectives/ Theories: Pre-modern doctrines (Ancient Judaism; Oriental Philosopher; Confucius; Plato; Aristotle; Cicero; St Augustine; Ibn Khaldun; Mercantilism;), Modern Theories (Malthus; Neo-Malthusian; Marxian; Cornucopian; Demographic transition theory)
World and Bangladesh Population Growth: World population growth and prospects. Population growth of Bangladesh. Stable and stationary population Zero population growth, Population momentum
Population Structure: What is age/sex structure? Population pyramid, Impact of mortality/migration on the age/sex structure. Age-structure transition and demographic dividend
Fertility: Concept and measurement (Crude birth rate. General fertility rate. Age specific fertility rate. Total fertility rate. Gross reproductive rate. Net reproductive rate and determinants of fertility, Causes of high and low fertility.
Fertility Theories: Davis-Blake Model, Bongaart’s Model, Thompson-Notestein Model), New Home Economic Theory (Schultz’s Model, Caldwell’s Intergenerational Wealth Flows Theory); Fertility Regulation Costs (Easterline Model), Diffusion theory of fertility.
Mortality: Components of mortality (lifespan, longevity). Measurement of Mortality (Crude death rate. Age specific death rate etc), Causes of death and its determinants (Social class differentials in mortality, sex differentials in mortality, age differentials in mortality, Urban and rural differentials in mortality).
Migration: Definition. Causes and consequences of migration. Characteristics of migrants. Theories of Migration
Population Growth and Economic Development: The debate: Population growth a stimulus to economic development. Population growth unrelated to economic development. Population growth detrimental to economic development. Population growth and food crisis.
Population Growth and Urbanization: Demographic components of urbanization. Impact of population process on urbanization. Impact of urbanization on the human condition.
Population Policy: What is population policy? Who needs a population policy? Family planning and beyond family planning. Population
Population Dynamics of Bangladesh: Fertility situation in Bangladesh, high fertility and fertility changes; Infant, Child, Maternal mortality levels and factors influencing mortality levels; Migration trends over time, population program of Bangladesh- its strengths and weaknesses.
Credits: 3; Pre-requisite: None
