Global Migration and Health

Course Number
CHL5113H
Series
5100 (Social and Behavioural Health Science)
Course Instructor(s)
Andrea A. Cortinois

Course Description

Over the past few decades, the reorganization of production and labour markets resulting from economic globalization, widening socio-economic inequities, conflict, natural disasters, environmental degradation and, more recently, climate change have combined to become increasingly significant forces shaping international migratory fluxes.

Migration impacts the health status of those who move and of individuals, communities and entire societies in countries of origin, transit, arrival and resettlement. Given the significance of international migration, it is important to understand the role this phenomenon plays as a social determinant of health, its interactions with other determinants, as well as the implications migration presents in terms of health care delivery and policies.

CHL5113 adopts an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating scholarly work from the fields of public health, the social sciences, law, and human rights to help students achieve the course learning goals.

CHL5113 is cross-listed with the fourth-year undergraduate course HST405 – Global Migration and health, which is part of the Health Studies Program at University College. While graduate and undergraduate students share time in the classrooms, CHL5113 is designed to be a relevant graduate course and the two courses have separate syllabi and different sets of assignments.

Course Objectives

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

  1. define key terms and explain core concepts related to the migration process;
  2. recognize the essential features of the migration phenomenon;
  3. summarize and differentiate the root causes of migration;
  4. interpret migration as a social determinant of health and debate its interactions with other determinants;
  5. learn how to locate and assess additional resources and identify further opportunities for personal and professional development in the migration & health field;
  6. understand the health impact of migration in terms of the lived experience of individuals and communities; and,
  7. apply critical, practical and creative thinking to specific migration & health issues.

Course Activities

The course will include both asynchronous and synchronous online activities. Synchronous class time will be held weekly, according to the School timetable, and take place on the Zoom platform. For the most part, lectures will be pre-recorded and should be watched before class. All synchronous online activities, with the exception of breakout group discussions, will also be recorded and made available to students for asynchronous review. Depending on the future evolution of the pandemic, some face-to-face activities might be possible. Further clarification on the nature and objectives of synchronous and asynchronous online activities, detailed written instructions, and evaluation rubrics for each graded activity will be made available to students on Quercus.

Pre/Co-Requisites

None.