Introduction to Migration Studies - Period 1 STEM in Amsterdam Program Fall 2019 Semester - Amsterdam

This course introduces students to the study of migration in a wide range of academic disciplines, with special emphasis on socio-economic and cultural history, social and cultural anthropology, and migration and citizenship law. It is intended to acquaint students with theoretical and methodological insights from these disciplines and to familiarize them with old and new concepts in the broad and interdisciplinary field of migration studies. In this course, students focus on the agents of migration, the migrants themselves, as well as the international state and non-state actors and networks that are involved with and also impact the daily lives and activities of these agents of migration. Why do people migrate across borders? What are the different forms of migration and how do specific migration patterns come into being? And when and why do states aim at structuring migration? Students tackle basic concepts and theories, such as the push-pull model, structural migration theory, transnationalism, and the concept of diaspora. They also study the global history of migration from 1500 onwards, gaining insight into colonial and postcolonial migration patterns, and the ways in these may or may not continue to influence contemporary migrations. Lastly, students look at the ways in which
societies organize and respond to immigration and emigration. In this first part of the course, students not only focus on European history and society, but also gain insight into African, Asian and American migrations. The course also offers in-depth views into the research of experienced migration scholars in the fields of migration and citizenship law, the anthropology of migration and identity, and socio-economic migration history. Guest lecturers tell you about their own experience as a migration researcher. During the seminars, students experiment with the different sources and methods from each discipline.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) awards credits based on the ECTS system. Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.