SOCIOLOGY OF MIGRATION

This course forms part of the core educational activities of the Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Social Work (Scienze della Società e del Servizio Sociale), providing students with the analytical frameworks needed to examine the key features and social dynamics of contemporary societies.
The course offers an introduction to the sociology of migration and intercultural relations in contemporary societies, paying particular attention to the conditions and mechanisms that structure access to rights and forms of belonging in destination contexts. The course pursues the following specific objectives:
• To provide foundational knowledge regarding the multiple drivers of contemporary international migration;
• To deliver in-depth insights into the dimensions, patterns, and impacts of migration within Europe and Italy;
• To equip students with core competencies and skills applicable to further academic study and social work practice.
The course content builds directly upon and ensures continuity with prior coursework in the Bachelor's degree programme.

Knowledge and Understanding
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
• Demonstrate a general overview of the phenomenon of migration in Europe and its associated social, political, and cultural dynamics among others;
• Identify and understand the primary conceptual and methodological tools used to analyze migration, as developed within contemporary sociological and interdisciplinary literature;
• Master domain-specific terminology, key research themes, and central debates in the field of migration studies. Particular emphasis will be placed on the plurality of analytical approaches, as well as the practices and tensions that characterize the production of knowledge on migration-including through a decolonial perspective.
Applying Knowledge and Understanding
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
• Clearly present and articulate the main concepts and themes covered throughout the course;
• Correctly apply specialized terminology in the field of migration studies and intercultural relations;
• Construct concrete examples to support or critique an analytical hypothesis;
• Gather and curate information, critically identify and engage with relevant national and international literature, and develop reasoned analyses by applying acquired knowledge, drawing on pertinent examples developed independently and/or collaboratively.
Making Judgements
Students will be able to identify, critically assess, and distinguish between different perspectives and claims within public and policy debates surrounding migration and intercultural relations.
Communication Skills
Students will be able to:
• Engage with peers in a reflective, dialogical, critical, and respectful manner, grounding their positions in scientific literature and debates
• Communicate ideas and findings effectively to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Learning Skills
Students will be able to critically navigate required readings and Course resources on Moodle platform, establishing meaningful connections across different theoretical approaches, concepts, and empirical contexts.

No prior prerequisites are required for this course

The course aims to develop and deepen theoretical and methodological tools for analysing migratory processes through the study of classic and recent categories, practices, theories, and methodologies.
Starting from the historical and contemporary drivers of migration, the course will focus on the main ways immigration has been studied in Europe, and specifically in Italy, exploring: living conditions, employment, and participation of people with a migration background, migration policies, social and media representations, and open questions. Course content is organised around specific thematic hubs that will be presented during the first lecture.
The first part of the course includes an introductory module dedicated to defining key concepts and reconstructing the main theoretical frameworks-how the phenomenon has been analysed and continues to be studied. It will also offer an in-depth focus on aspects of immigration in Italy, concluding the module with practices of agency, mobility, and forms of subjectivation of migrant individuals.
The second module will provide theoretical and methodological tools for an interdisciplinary, intersectional, and critical analysis of migration, drawing primarily on sociological lenses and focusing on interconnected themes that cross the various dimensions of the migratory experience: border crossing and management; migration policies; data production and usage; public and media representations; practices of access to and protection of rights; the Reception and Integration System (Sistema di Accoglienza e Integrazione - SAI); the presence and labor of people with a migration background; dynamics linked to gender and racialization processes; citizenship, belonging, and differential forms of access to rights.
The third module of the course will be dedicated to social policies. Among the topics addressed: processes of vulnerabilisation, inequalities, and access to rights - focus areas for social work- such as: access to health and social services; unaccompanied foreign minors; education and migration; older adults with a migration background; trafficking, exploitation, conditions of vulnerability and dependence; transformation of services and the role of people with a migration background working within services, practices, and perspectives.
The fourth and final module is dedicated to forms of agency, mobilization, and rights claim-making, with a focus on the active participation of migrant individuals and forms of participation and representation across various decision-making spaces-from local and national politics to trade unions and civil society organizations-up to sites of knowledge production.
Throughout the course, experts with professional, associative, and research backgrounds on the topics addressed will also be involved, as well as social workers who will present and discuss issues, practices, and cases drawing directly from their field experience.

The required reading list will be provided in the 'Detailed Syllabus' document, which will be made available on the Moodle platform prior to the start of the course.

Written examination. For further information regarding module reading lists and materials, as well as the format of the examination, please refer to the course Moodle platform.
The examination aims to assess students' knowledge and understanding of the core concepts and contents of the course, their ability to apply the acquired knowledge, to establish connections between concepts, approaches, and contexts, and to critically analyze the material.
Learning outcomes are assessed by means of a written examination.
In accordance with university regulations, students with a certified Specific Learning Difficulty are eligible to use a computer and are entitled to 30% additional time. To request these accommodations, students must contact the Disability Services Office, which will provide the lecturer with the list of registered students with an Specific Learning Difficulty certificate prior to the exam.

written

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

Grading Scale:
Grade Band A (Marks 18–22): Satisfactory knowledge and applied understanding of the course syllabus; limited ability to gather and/or interpret data, and to formulate independent arguments and interpretations; satisfactory communication skills, particularly regarding the use of course-specific terminology.
Grade Band B (Marks 23–26): Good knowledge and applied understanding of the course syllabus; good ability to gather and/or interpret data, making independent judgements; good communication skills, particularly regarding the use of course-specific terminology.
Grade Band C (Marks 27–30): Very good to excellent knowledge and applied understanding of the course syllabus; very good to excellent ability to gather and/or interpret data, making independent judgements; fully appropriate communication skills, particularly regarding the use of course-specific terminology.
Grade Band D (30 cum laude / Distinction): Awarded for excellent knowledge and applied understanding of the course syllabus, as well as outstanding independent judgement and communication skills.

The course alternates lectures with seminars and interactive discussions, during which specific topics will be explored in greater depth. To bridge theoretical learning with local practical applications, each module will feature a seminar with guest speakers. These professionals will contribute to the discussion by sharing their expert experiences, intervention strategies, and insights into the networks and organisational contexts in which they operate.
Students are encouraged to participate actively from the very first session by contributing reflections, asking questions, raising issues for discussion during lectures and seminars, and engaging with previously assigned readings.
All relevant course information (final syllabus, reading materials, and examination details) will be made available on the Moodle platform.

Accessibility, Disability, and Inclusion
Ca' Foscari University complies with Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and reasonable adjustments available to students with disabilities or Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs). If you have a physical, visual, or hearing impairment, or any other condition covered by Law 17/1999, or a Specific Learning Difficulty (Law 170/2010), and require support (classroom assistance, assistive technologies for examinations, individualized exam arrangements, accessible reading materials, note-taking support, specialist academic tutoring, sign language interpreters, or other services), please contact the Disability and SpLD Office at disabilita@unive.it.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development