Ateneo - UPO

The course provides an in-depth analysis of social phenomena related to migration, both by illustrating the main theories on the subject and by applying these theoretical frameworks to contemporary societies. Furthermore, the course aims to read and interpret the migration narratives produced by our societies, investigating their meaning in relation to ideological constructs, political parties' need for consensus, and the commercial success of the media.

M. Ambrosini (2020), Sociologia delle migrazioni, Bologna, Il Mulino; De Haas, H. (2024), Migrazioni. La verità oltre alle ideologie. Dati alla mano, Einaudi; A. Pogliano. Media, politica e migrazioni in Europa. Una prospettiva sociologica, Carocci, Roma 2019.

Basic Learning Objectives:
1. Knowledge and understanding: A basic knowledge of the main concepts and theories of the sociology of migration and their representations;
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: The ability to apply the knowledge learned to concrete dynamics of contemporary societies related to migration and its public representations.
Advanced Learning Objectives:
1. Knowledge and understanding: An in-depth knowledge of the main concepts and theories of the sociology of migration and the sociology of journalism applied to migration;
2. Communication skills: The ability to clearly present the acquired knowledge, demonstrating full mastery of the terminology and vocabulary;
3. Making judgements / Independent judgement: The ability to critically analyze the different theories and case studies examined during the course;
4. Learning skills: The ability to independently navigate the topics covered during the course and create connections between them.

There are no formal entry requirements.

The course utilizes a combination of lectures and interactive case study discussions. A variety of materials (still images, videos, and articles) will be shown and collectively discussed. Furthermore, students are encouraged to bring texts and media products related to the course topic to class for an open discussion on the content.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

For the Society and Migration Flows Module:
The exam will be oral and will cover the course materials. Grades are awarded on a 30-point scale based on the following criteria:
Knowledge and understanding of the main topics covered: up to 18 out of 30 points (minimum passing grade);
Ability to present the acquired knowledge clearly and effectively: up to 6 out of 30 points;
Ability to make connections between the topics covered and examine them critically and with independent judgement: up to 6 out of 30 points.

For the Migration Narratives Module:
The exam will be written and will last two hours. It will consist of 6 questions, and students must choose and answer three of them. There is no difference in requirements between attending and non-attending students.
The questions are based on the required textbook. Answers based solely on lecture notes that clearly indicate a lack of in-depth study of the textbook will not receive a passing grade. Attending students may expand upon their answers by referring to materials analyzed during lectures or class discussions; however, the core basis for the answers remains the study of the textbook, which class attendance is intended to facilitate.
Grades are awarded on a 30-point scale based on the following criteria:
Knowledge and understanding of the main topics covered: up to 18 out of 30 points (minimum passing grade);
Ability to articulate concepts in a complex manner and general lexical appropriateness: up to 7 out of 30 points;
Ability to make connections between the topics covered and examine them critically and with independent judgement: up to 5 out of 30 points.
To achieve a high grade, in addition to presenting the topics comprehensibly and consistently with what has been studied and learned, students must demonstrate that they have grasped the critical cruxes of the relationship between migration narratives and migration policies across the various areas of analysis. Furthermore, they must demonstrate that they understand and can effectively account for the triangulation between politics, media, and public opinion regarding contemporary migration issues. Finally, they must show that they have understood the main mechanisms of discourse reproduction.

The course will address the following topics:
The characteristics of past and contemporary migration;
The main theories on human mobility;
The main theories on integration;
Migration and integration policies in Europe;
The role of social networks in migration and integration processes;
The role of the labor market in migration and integration processes;
The role of cultural diversity in integration processes;
The construction of public discourse on migration;
The main journalistic mechanisms of migration news production;
The impact of the visual in reinforcing migration stereotypes, spectacularizing the migration phenomenon, and supporting the main frames of migration;
The role of the audience and public opinion in sustaining migration discourses.

Integration of the gender dimension:
The course applies a gender perspective to the study of migration: labor, families and relationships, policies and services.

Basic Expected Learning Outcomes:
Acquire the fundamental tools for the analysis of migration processes and the journalistic and political production of migration narratives (knowledge and understanding);
Apply the theoretical knowledge acquired to real-world processes in contemporary societies related to migration (applying knowledge and understanding).

Advanced Expected Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding: Know the main theoretical approaches to migration and its media and political representations;
Communication skills: Present the acquired knowledge clearly and correctly, demonstrating full mastery of the discipline's terminology and vocabulary;
Making judgements / Independent judgement: Critically compare the different theoretical perspectives analyzed, also in order to develop an independent view of contemporary migration processes and their public representations;
Learning skills: Acquire sound text analysis skills, including the ability to make connections between different topics.