There are several ways to get involved with the Office of Population Research. Explore the opportunities below and learn more about the interdisciplinary work that goes on in the department.
Take Population Courses
Although there are no official POP courses for undergraduates, there are several population courses offered in related fields like sociology, economics, and public policy that are taught by OPR-affiliated faculty. Examples of courses like this are:
SPI 330 / SOC 328 - Population, Society, and Public Policy
GHP 351 / SPI 381 / EEB 351 / POP 351 - Epidemiology: An Ecological and Evolutionary Perspective
SOC 329/LAO 329 - Immigrant America
GSS 420 / SOC 420 / GHP 420 - Born in the USA: Culture and Reproduction in Modern America
SPI 331 / SOC 312 / AAS 317 - Race and Public Policy
SOC 366 - Social Determinants of Health
Beyond content knowledge, taking classes in statistics, coding and computer science, and advanced math like linear algebra and multivariable calculus are encouraged.
Consider taking the following graduate seminar sequences as a senior:
POP 501 - Survey of Population Problems
POP 502 - Research Methods in Demography
Get Involved in Research
There are several OPR projects and center affiliates that undergraduates can look into for research projects. There are also research opportunities with specific faculty. Undergraduate students are welcome to attend the weekly Notestein Seminars to learn about population research.
Undergraduates can also do their Junior Papers and Senior Theses on a population-related issue. There might even be a chance to attend or present at the Population Association of America conference.
You are also welcome to attend research and coding workshops hosted by OPR, including the The Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Summer Data Workshop.
Consider Graduate Programs in Population Studies and Demography
If you are looking for ways to continue your population and demographic knowledge, consider furthering your education at a graduate program.
Some programs for PhDs in Population Studies and Demography in the United States Include:
Princeton University
UC Berkeley
University of Pennsylvania
Other graduate programs have population centers where doctoral students are involved. Some examples include:
Cornell Population Center
CU-Boulder Population Center
Duke Population Research Center
Minnesota Population Center
Michigan Population Center
Pennsylvania State University Joint Demography Program
UNC-Chapel Hill Pop Center
Georgetown University
University of Texas, Austin
University of Washington
Brown University
Florida State University
Ohio State University
See Population Research in Action
Population and demographic research cross-cuts with many of the important issues of our time. Work at OPR tackles global health, child development and family formation, migration as well as public policy issues like immigration, eviction, education, poverty, and much more.