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Demography

Sociology    Social and Cultural Anthropology    Demography

Demography is the study of changes in the size and structure of populations. Central interests of demography include the study of population growth, fertility, marriage, mortality and migration. Population phenomena and demographic events cannot be viewed in isolation. In fact they are central to the research questions that social scientists are addressing today and will discuss in the future. For example, the social implications of migratory flows on regional development, changes in population age structure and the relationship between population growth and the sustainability of the world's natural resources are all important questions in demographic research.

When population phenomenon and the processes that influence them are studied, questions like those presented above are often formulated into the research design. Furthermore, the behaviour, choices and social activities of individual people more or less directly influence demographic phenomena. By analysing demographic phenomena, demography also attempts to provide social interpretations of people's choices and actions.

Studying demography prepares students to work in research and planning that requires knowledge of population phenomena. In fields, that require planning and research, such as education, health care, human resource management as well as societal phenomenon, a specialisation in demography, complemented with a strong command of statistical methodology is a definite advantage. Moreover, students will develop the ability to analyse population phenomena. In addition to working at a national level, demographers are also involved with international development. Through co-operation with specialists from other fields, demographers can address the demographic problems in developing countries.

The Department of Sociology provides the most comprehensive demography education in Finland. In addition to studying for a degree in demography, students can select to study demography as a minor subject to the general sociology study line or another subject.