Multicultural Society
Course code
RAS6021.YK
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Multikultuuriline ühiskond
Course title in English
Multicultural Society
ECTS credits
4.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2023/2024 Spring semester
Gerli Nimmerfeldt (language of instruction:Estonian)
lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
The course aims to create possibilities for acquiring knowledge in background and practices of contemporary multicultural society by introducing social scientific theories and empirical research on international migration and the integration of immigrants and their children. Second, the course aims to provide opportunity for conducting a small-scale sociological research which allows the students to practice the methodological skills in content analysis in studying a selected research problem specific to the field of migration and integration studies.
Brief description of the course
The course consists of introductory lecture, 8 thematic lectures/seminars, 2 practical classes on research methodology and feedback on group work. The course ends with a mini-conference for presenting the results of media content analysis conducted in combination of individual and group work.
This course gives students an overview of historical background and contemporary modes and mechanisms of multicultural society and introduces them to social scientific theories and empirical research in the research field of international migration and integration.
The introductory lecture presents definitions of key concepts in migration and integration studies and introduces dominant theoretical frameworks in social sciences. The thematic lectures/seminars look at migration processes at local, European and global levels, put migration trends and patterns in historical perspective, introduce their push and pull factors, and explain their social, political and demographic impacts on both sending and receiving societies. Besides, the modes and practices of managing migration are discussed from the perspective of global justice and inequality. Some migration flows and types are looked at in more detail, for example labour migration, transnational academic mobility, and principles and procedures of international protection. Second focus of the thematic lectures/seminars is on immigrant integration and different political models implemented in Western societies. In addition, based on theoretical literature and empirical studies different ways for the conceptualisation and operationalisation of immigrant integration is contemplated. The specifics of second generation and their integration are discussed separately. Finally, the case of Estonia - the roots and consequences of today’s multicultural society - is examined and explained.
This course gives students an overview of historical background and contemporary modes and mechanisms of multicultural society and introduces them to social scientific theories and empirical research in the research field of international migration and integration.
The introductory lecture presents definitions of key concepts in migration and integration studies and introduces dominant theoretical frameworks in social sciences. The thematic lectures/seminars look at migration processes at local, European and global levels, put migration trends and patterns in historical perspective, introduce their push and pull factors, and explain their social, political and demographic impacts on both sending and receiving societies. Besides, the modes and practices of managing migration are discussed from the perspective of global justice and inequality. Some migration flows and types are looked at in more detail, for example labour migration, transnational academic mobility, and principles and procedures of international protection. Second focus of the thematic lectures/seminars is on immigrant integration and different political models implemented in Western societies. In addition, based on theoretical literature and empirical studies different ways for the conceptualisation and operationalisation of immigrant integration is contemplated. The specifics of second generation and their integration are discussed separately. Finally, the case of Estonia - the roots and consequences of today’s multicultural society - is examined and explained.
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- knows the essence of migration processes and their relation to social, political and demographical challenges to contemporary multicultural society;
- is familiar with key concepts and main theoretical claims in migration and integration studies;
- is able to create meaningful associations between modern societal phenomena and topics covered during the course;
- knows how to apply media content analysis and has improved knowledge and skills in preparing and conducting a sociological research;
- has developed skills for participation in group discussion and writing up a research report;
- has acquired the experience of presenting and discussing research results in the format and style of academic conference.
- knows the essence of migration processes and their relation to social, political and demographical challenges to contemporary multicultural society;
- is familiar with key concepts and main theoretical claims in migration and integration studies;
- is able to create meaningful associations between modern societal phenomena and topics covered during the course;
- knows how to apply media content analysis and has improved knowledge and skills in preparing and conducting a sociological research;
- has developed skills for participation in group discussion and writing up a research report;
- has acquired the experience of presenting and discussing research results in the format and style of academic conference.
Teacher
Gerli Nimmerfeldt, Marion Pajumets, Jelena Helemäe ja Tanel Vallimäe
Prerequisite course 1
Prerequisite course 2
Study programmes containing that course