Teaching plan for the course unit

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General information

 

Course unit name: Processes of Human Migration

Course unit code: 360941

Academic year: 2025-2026

Coordinator: Cristina Lopez Villanueva

Department: Department of Sociology

Credits: 3

Single program: S

 

 

Estimated learning time

Total number of hours 75

 

Face-to-face and/or online activities

30
 

-  Lecture with practical component

Face-to-face

  

15
 

-  Problem-solving class

Face-to-face

  

15

Supervised project

20

Independent learning

25

 

 

Learning objectives

 

Referring to knowledge

  • Understand and distinguish the basic concepts and terminology of migration as a social process.
  • Identify the main dimensions that explain migration.
  • Be familiar with the principal theoretical and explanatory approaches to the study of migration.
  • Understand the historical evolution of international migration and relate it to economic, political, and social change.
  • Understand the mechanisms of migrant incorporation and relate them to the migration policies employed.
  • Analyse the migratory processes of Spain and Europe in the context of a globalised society.
  • Recognise the basic components of social inequalities in migration according to gender, age, nationality, ethnicity or origin.
  • Understand the social, economic and environmental impact of migration.

 

Referring to abilities, skills

  • Learn and apply analytical techniques for studying migration processes.
  • Identify and use documentary and statistical sources for the study of migration.
  • Develop the ability to critically analyse information and discourse on migration.


 

 

Referring to attitudes, values and norms

  • Develop an open and reflective approach to critical analysis.
  • Develop respect for diversity and difference.

 

 

Teaching blocks

 

1. Migration as a social process. Definitions and concepts

1.1. Introduction: migration as a social process

1.2. Definitions and concepts

1.3. Type of migratory flows

1.4. Statistical and documentary sources for studying and measuring migration

2. Historical evolution of international migration

2.1. Pre-modern migration (before 1850)

2.2. Modern migration (1850-1973)

2.3. Contemporary migration (since 1973)

3. Theoretical approaches to the study of migration

3.1. Pioneers: Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration and the classical push-pull theory

3.2. The causes of displacement and theoretical approaches: labour market theory; dual labour market theory; theory of global interdependence

3.3. Sustainability of migratory flows: social networks theory; migratory systems theory

4. Globalization of migration. Global migration systems

4.1. The new migration map: movements in Africa; the Americas, and Asia and European migration systems

4.2. New mobilities: migration and the environment; digital nomads and expats

4.3. Differences by gender, age, origin and generation

5. Migration policies, integration and citizenship

5.1. Migration policies: control of flows and permanence

5.2. Irregular immigration

5.3. Refugees and asylum

5.4. Social inclusion of immigrants. Models of incorporation

6. Migration in Spain

6.1. Internal migration

6.2. Evolution of international migration

6.3. Economic cycles, mobility and changes in social and residential patterns

 

 

Official assessment of learning outcomes

 

Continuous assessment

a) Presentation and discussion: theoretical approaches to the study of migration (20% of the overall grade).

b) Case study (40% of the overall grade).

c) Written exam (40% of the overall grade).

 

Examination-based assessment

The single mode of assessment consists of a final exam, held on the date set by the Academic Council. This exam requires students to answer and develop responses covering the topics discussed in class.


Repeat assessment

Students who fail the course (whether opting for the continuous or single mode of assessment) are entitled to be re-evaluated. This resit adheres to the same format as that of the single mode of assessment.

 

 

Reading and study resources

Check availability in Cercabib

Book

Koser, Khalid (2007). International migration: a very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Catāleg UB  Enllaç

Castles, Stephen; Miller, Mark, (2009).The age of migration: international population movements in the modern world. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Catāleg UB  Enllaç

Domingo, Andreu (Ed.) (2016). Inmigración y diversidad en España. Crisis económica y gestión municipal. Barcelona: Icaria. 

Catāleg UB  Enllaç

Arango, Joaquín; Garcés, Blanca; Mahía, Ramón; Moya, David (Dir.) (2021). Inmigración en tiempos de Covid-19. Anuario CIDOB de la Inmigración 2020. Barcelona: CIDOB <https://www.cidob.org/es/publicaciones/serie_de_publicacion/anuario_cidob_de_la_inmigracion/inmigracion_en_tiempos_de_covid_19_anuario_cidob_de_la_inmigracion_2020>

Pāgina web  Enllaç

Consejo Económico y Social (2019). Informe 2019. La inmigración en España: efectos y oportunidades. Madrid: Consejo Económico y Social. 

  http://www.ces.es/documents/10180/5209150/Inf0219.pdf

Catāleg UB   Enllaç

Portes, Alejandro; Rumbaut, Ruben (2009). Legados: la historia de la segunda generación inmigrante. Barcelona: Hipatia

Versiķ en línia (2011)  Enllaç

Sen, Amartya (2009). Identitat i violència.  Barcelona: La campana

Catāleg UB. Versiķ en castellā (2007)  Enllaç

Habermas, Jürgen (1999). La inclusión del otro: estudios de teoría política. Barcelona: Paidós. 

Catāleg UB  Enllaç

Morrison, Andrew R.; Schiff, Maurice; Sjöblom, Mirja (Eds.)(2008). The international migration of women. Washington: Palgrave Macmillan

 

 

Catāleg UB  Enllaç

Oso, Laura; López-Sala, Ana; Muñoz-Comet, Jacobo (2021). Migration policies, participation and the political construction of migration in Spain. Migraciones, (51), 1-29. <https://doi.org/10.14422/mig.i51y2021.001> <https://revistas.comillas.edu/index.php/revistamigraciones/article/view/16736>

Pāgina web  Enllaç

Chamie, Joseph (2020). International migration amid world in crisis. Journal on Migration and Human Security (83) 230-245

<https://doi.org/10.1177/2331502420948796>

OECD (2021). International migration outlook 2021. OECD <https://www.oecd.org/migration/international-migration-outlook-1999124x.htm>

Chapter

Sassen, Saskia (2007). La conformación de los movimientos migratorios internacionales. En Sassen, Saskia.  Una sociología de la globalización. (165-204). Buenos Aires: Katz.

Catāleg UB   Enllaç

Sutcliffe, Bob (1988). Migración y teorías  En Sutcliffe,Bob. Nacido en otra parte : un ensayo sobre la migración internacional, el desarrollo y la equidad. (19-54) Bilbao: Hegoa.

Journal

VVAA (2007) . Immigració. Les onades immigratòries en la Catalunya Contemporània. Nadala 2007, 41. Fundació Lluís Carulla.

Article

Massey, Douglas S., Arango, Joaquín;  et al. (1993). Theories of international migration: a review and appraisal.  Population and Development Review [en línia] Septiembre de 1993, vol. 19, núm. 3, p. 431-466 

Electronic text

IOM (2022). World migration report 2022. Geneva: International Organization for Migration