UCSSCSOC367.5 ECTSEnglishBachelor
Sociology of Migration and Integration
Faculteit—
NiveauBachelor
Studiejaar2026-2027
Beschrijving
Course goals
After completing this course students are able to:Based on readings, assignments, presentations and class discussions, students will obtain (1) knowledge of the main theories and some main empirical findings in the field of international migration and immigrant integration; (2) ability to apply this knowledge to a specific topic or to high-quality data on international migration and integration (3) ability to critically evaluate empirical research on international migration and immigrant integration.
Relationship between assessment and learning goals:
The final course grade is based on 3 elements: a paper, an exam, and a presentation.
1. Paper (30%): this tests students’ knowledge of the main theories on migration, and ability to apply these insights to a specific migration flow (course goal 1 and 2). Write a short paper (1500 words) on immigration patterns (i.e. volumes, dynamics, types and possible causes) in a specific country you are interested in. Search and use migration data to give an overview of the number of migrants, where they come from, when and how they arrived. What are the main theories relevant to explain these patterns?
2. Written exam (40%): this tests students’ knowledge of, and ability to apply, main theoretical insights on migration and integration to specific topics and contexts (course goal 1 and 2). The exam will be based on the course readings, lectures and class discussions and will take place during class hours.
3. Presentations (30%): The presentation focuses on the topic of that week. Students are expected to organize half a seminar in which they use additional material complementing the mandatory readings. Examples include extra empirical studies (course goal 1), critical discussions of literature (course goal 3) and reflections on broader (societal or scientific) relevance, using illustrations (e.g., audio-visual) and clear questions for group discussion (course goal 2).
Relationship between assessment and learning goals:
The final course grade is based on 3 elements: a paper, an exam, and a presentation.
1. Paper (30%): this tests students’ knowledge of the main theories on migration, and ability to apply these insights to a specific migration flow (course goal 1 and 2). Write a short paper (1500 words) on immigration patterns (i.e. volumes, dynamics, types and possible causes) in a specific country you are interested in. Search and use migration data to give an overview of the number of migrants, where they come from, when and how they arrived. What are the main theories relevant to explain these patterns?
2. Written exam (40%): this tests students’ knowledge of, and ability to apply, main theoretical insights on migration and integration to specific topics and contexts (course goal 1 and 2). The exam will be based on the course readings, lectures and class discussions and will take place during class hours.
3. Presentations (30%): The presentation focuses on the topic of that week. Students are expected to organize half a seminar in which they use additional material complementing the mandatory readings. Examples include extra empirical studies (course goal 1), critical discussions of literature (course goal 3) and reflections on broader (societal or scientific) relevance, using illustrations (e.g., audio-visual) and clear questions for group discussion (course goal 2).
Content
This course offers a comprehensive overview of key issues in the study of international migration and immigrant integration. We take a dynamic approach that follows migrants’ journey from their origin countries to their receiving societies and examines the interethnic relations that develop therein. The course is structured around three main themes: theories of immigration and immigration governance; categorization of migrants; integration outcomes and policies. We combine a multidimensional perspective (comparing the integration of immigrants and their descendants in various domains of life, including the education system, the labor and housing markets, the neighborhood, politics, etc.) with a cross-national lens (comparing classical immigration countries and more recent immigrant-receiving countries) and a multilevel and multiactor analytical framework (considering immigrants in relation to both their home/sending and host/receiving countries, and the networks of actors with which they interact, such as families, ethnic communities, government agencies, local administrators, NGOs, etc.).
The course has a strong empirical focus: we will critically analyze and discuss empirical studies that test theoretically derived hypotheses in various contexts. The perspective we adopt is primarily sociological but we also borrow insights from other disciplines such as human geography, political science, social psychology, economics and anthropology.
Format
Students read the obligatory literature before each meeting and prepare it in an active and analytical way. During the meeting, the teacher will introduce the main themes and theories in the format of a short lecture and will coordinate class assignments, activities in small groups and plenary discussions. The plenary class reflection will follow from discussions in small subgroups on issues and questions raised by the teacher or suggested by students. The role of the teacher is to provide feedback when necessary and to make sure that all important issues and questions are properly covered, so that the learning goals of the course are successfully achieved. Moreover, documentaries or podcasts have to be watched before or during class meetings as background material for group activities.
Each student will also be a moderator for the first half of one of the lectures, during which they will present additional empirical or theoretical insights related to the topic of the meeting. The moderator will prepare a meeting of 40 minutes in total. For instance, the student can introduce the topic and context, summarize an article (related to the topic of the week) and discuss the additional insights of this article in relation to the obligatory readings in about 10 minutes, use the following 20 minutes for class activities related to the topic (e.g., audiovisual illustrations from specific contexts with clear discussion questions, roleplaying, critical reflection on methodological issues) and the remaining 10 minutes for a (plenary) group discussion based on well-focused relevant questions prepared beforehand.
The course has a strong empirical focus: we will critically analyze and discuss empirical studies that test theoretically derived hypotheses in various contexts. The perspective we adopt is primarily sociological but we also borrow insights from other disciplines such as human geography, political science, social psychology, economics and anthropology.
Format
Students read the obligatory literature before each meeting and prepare it in an active and analytical way. During the meeting, the teacher will introduce the main themes and theories in the format of a short lecture and will coordinate class assignments, activities in small groups and plenary discussions. The plenary class reflection will follow from discussions in small subgroups on issues and questions raised by the teacher or suggested by students. The role of the teacher is to provide feedback when necessary and to make sure that all important issues and questions are properly covered, so that the learning goals of the course are successfully achieved. Moreover, documentaries or podcasts have to be watched before or during class meetings as background material for group activities.
Each student will also be a moderator for the first half of one of the lectures, during which they will present additional empirical or theoretical insights related to the topic of the meeting. The moderator will prepare a meeting of 40 minutes in total. For instance, the student can introduce the topic and context, summarize an article (related to the topic of the week) and discuss the additional insights of this article in relation to the obligatory readings in about 10 minutes, use the following 20 minutes for class activities related to the topic (e.g., audiovisual illustrations from specific contexts with clear discussion questions, roleplaying, critical reflection on methodological issues) and the remaining 10 minutes for a (plenary) group discussion based on well-focused relevant questions prepared beforehand.
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