DSOC 2750

Immigration and a Changing America

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2015-2016.

Foreigners and their children represent 25% of the U.S. population, making the paradox of America's identity as a "nation of immigrants" truer today than ever. However, immigrants' choices about where to live, and the policies that shape their everyday lives, are changing rapidly. How do today's immigration patterns diverge from historical trends? How well are the new immigrants integrating in the economy and society? How do socially constructed categories like "high skilled" vs "low skilled", or "legal immigrant" vs "illegal alien", impact immigrant incorporation and well-being? And what happens to those whom the government decides do not belong? In this course you will explore these questions through critical reflection on classical immigration theories, ethnographic texts, independent research, and a personal U.S. immigration blog.

When Offered Summer.

Distribution Category (SBA) (HA) (D)

• Understand contemporary immigrant groups in the U.S., in terms of their socio-demographic characteristics, geographical distribution, and reasons for migration.
• Explain what is "new" about contemporary U.S. immigration, and historical turning points that have shaped the immigration policy of today.
• Demonstrate competency in the theories of immigrant assimilation and transnationalism, and apply these theories to analyze contemporary immigration experiences.
• Produce a well-argued paper on contemporary U.S. immigration, based on thorough secondary research.
• Prepare a personal blog about U.S. immigration and reflections on course learning that is accessible to a non-export public.
• Collaborate effectively with peers in an online, distance-learning environment.

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