Syllabus {NOT FINALIZEd: DRAFT} MALAS 600 C
U.S.-Mexico Transborder
Populations and Globalization Norma Ojeda, Ph.D. – Office: NH 211
Spring Semester 2012
Telephone (619) 594 –
1320
nojeda@mail.sdsu.edu
COURSE PRESENTATION
An international border
of almost two thousand miles long, a long history of international migration,
and daily interaction between social groups and people living in both sides of
the U.S.-Mexico Border for more than a century has made this region a highly complex
and intriguing social space. More recently, the war on terrorism, an increasing
globalized economy and growing social transnationalism are changing the social
dynamics of the U.S.-Mexico Border. Sociological analysis of the relationship
between population and social change at the U.S.-Mexico border region is needed
in order to understand the new transborder and transnational relations in the
future of this region and of the two nations involved. Particular attention
will be paid to the transborder and transnational life-styles of population
groups and families.
organization of the
course
The course is organized in two different parts.
The first part is oriented to provide students with a sociological framework to
understand and analyze the transborder dimension of the population and society in
the United States – Mexico border region. This part of the course is based on a
series of lectures that combine some classical sociological theories with
contemporary conceptual contributions from Border Studies and Transnational Migration
Studies. One field trip to the U.S. - Mexico border is included to support the
learning experience of students. The second part of the course is oriented to
help students in the development of critical thinking and social analysis
skills on U.S.-Mexico transborder and transnational issues. For this purpose,
students will be required to deconstruct and analyze pre-selected research
papers on key border issues. Additionally, students will conduct individual field
research in a border community. Active participation of students is expected
through student’s presentations in class and participation in class
discussions. Guest speakers may be invited to share their empirical research on
border issues with students.
LEARNING GOALS
-
Introduce
students into the sociological study of the transborder dimension of the
U.S.-Mexico Border Region.
-
Introduce
students into the border studies perspective of the U.S.-Mexico Border Region.
-
Analyze
some of the basic demographic, social and cultural characteristics of border
communities.
-
Develop
a critical thinking about some of the most salient social challenges of the
U.S.-Mexico Border Region under the process of a globalized economy, and
increasing border security.
REQUIRED TEXTS
1. Ojeda, Norma. U.S./Mexico Transborder Populations and Social Change—Selected
Readings for
Sociology
554 and Chicana and Chicano Studies 554. San Diego, Calif.: Aztec Shops Customized
Materials, 2012. The reader is available on
campus at Aztec Bookstore.
2. Additional Readings
are available on Blackboard through the SDSU website.
GRADing
Evaluation of students’
learning will be done by means of one research paper, one oral presentation in
class and a series of six brief reading reports of approximately 2-3 pages long
each. The research assignment will be approximately 8-10 pages long. Satisfaction
of Course Requirements listed above may prove beneficial in borderline cases. Student
may have the opportunity of earning extra credit along the semester.
Student’s
Presentation in Class
Students will prepare an individual oral and
power point presentation in class of approximately 15-20 minutes on one
pre-selected transborder border topic. For this purpose, students will use
information from their own field research assignment. Presentations in class
will take place during the second part of the semester. Once the dates for the
student presentations in class are established, there will be NO
rescheduling of those dates. Handouts with instructions for each reading report,
research assignment and student’s presentation in class will be distributed in
class and posted on blackboard.
The
final grade will be calculated using the following distribution of points:
Brief
reading reports will represent 30 points (5 points each)
Presentation
in class will represent 30 points
Research
paper will represent 40 points
There
will be no final exam.
Grading Scale.
Number of points
Grade
95 - 100 A
77 - 79 C+
90 - 94 A- 74 - 76 C
87 - 89 B+ 70 - 73 C-
84 - 86 B 60 - 69 D
80 - 83 B- Less than 60 F
COURSE
requirements
* Punctuality and regular
class attendance (80 %)
* One field trip to the U.S.-Mexico international
border
* Active participation
in class debates
* Student’s oral
presentation in class presented on the agreed upon date
* Writing assignments presented on the dates
specified
* Cell phones, pagers, etc. turned
off
* Text messaging and sending
e-mails in class are not allowed
* The use of lap-top computers in
class requires the professor’s previous authorization
cheating and plagarism are serious academic offenses. students involved in any of these two types
of offenses may be suspended from class and in some cases from the university.
For more information about this, please consult the website of the Center for SDSU-
student rights and responsabilities (www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/index.html).
COURSE
OVERVIEW
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Week 1.
1/19 Introduction
1. Defining the U.S.-Mexico Border Region
Video presentation: “Unfinished
Business,” The Border. KPBS -
Television, 1999.
.................................................................................................................................................................
Week 2.
1/26 2. Demographics and Geography of the U.S.
– Mexico Border Region
Video
presentation: “Divided People,” The Border. KPBS – Television, 1999.
.................................................................................................................................................................
Week 3.
3. U.S. – Mexico Border People
2/2 Ojeda, reader: chapter 1 “Borderlands and Borderlanders”
and
chapter 2 “The U.S. – Mexico Borderlands” by
Oscar J. Martinez.
Video presentation:
“Winter Migrants” The Border. KPBS – Television, 1999
>>>>TURN IN FIRST
READING REPORT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 4. 3.
The U.S.-Mexico Transborder Urban Space
and Social Context
2/9 3.1. BEFORE NAFTA – The North
American Free Trade Agreement
Ojeda, reader: chapter 3 “The
Formation of an Urban System along the U.S.-
Mexico Boundary” and chapter
4 “Dimensions of Transboundary Urban Space”
by Lawrence A. Herzog
Video presentation: “No
a Drop” The Border. KPBS – Television, 1999
>>>>TURN IN SECOND READING
REPORT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 5.
2/16 3.2 AFTER NAFTA
Ojeda,
reader: chapter 5 “U.S. Border States and Border Relations” and
chapter 6 “Trade,
Investment, and Manufacturing” by J. Anderson and J. Gerber
Video
presentation: “Titanic” The Border. KPBS – Television, 1999
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 6
2/23 4. Using Sociological Theories in the Study of
the Border
Ojeda, reader: chapter 7 “Conflict
Theory,” by Wallace and Wolf.
Supplemental
reading: Ojeda, “In Silence and Alone: Abortion across the Border” (blackboard)
Video
presentation: “El Traspatio”/ “The
Backyard.”
>>>>TURN IN THIRD
READING REPORT
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Week 7.
3/1 Using Sociological Theories (continuation…)
Ojeda, reader: chapter 8
“Symbolic Interactionism” by R. Wallace and A. Wolf.
Supplemental
presentation: Rosemary Serra, “Social Networks” (power point)
Video:
“Culture Clash”. KPBS – Television, 1999.
>>>>TURN IN FOURTH
READING REPORT
.................................................................................................................................................................
Week 8.
3/8
5.1. Mexico – U.S. Migration: the human side and
the numbers
Reading: Nevins, Joseph. “Security in an Age of
Global Apartheid” (on blackboard)
Video:
“Dying to live,” The University of Notre dam
.................................................................................................................................................................
Week 9
3/15 5. 2. Mexico – U.S. Migration: the politics
Reading: Sassia Sassen, A New Policy Landscape.
Parallax, 2005, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 35-45. Routledge,
Taylor
and Francis Group (internet reading)
Video: “Deportations
undocumented migrants” by Maria Hinojosa, PBS, 2011 (October).
>>>>>TURN
IN FIFTH READING REPORT
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Week 10
3/22 6.
Globalization and Trasnationalism
Ojeda, reader: chapter 9 “Migration and other Modes
of ‘Transnationalism’: Towards Conceptual
Cross-Fertilization” by Steven Vertovec.
Video:
The Mediterranean Border
>>>>>TURN
IN SIXTH READING REPORT
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Week
11
3/29 Spring Break – campus closed
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Week 12
4/5 6. Globalization
and Trasnationalism (continuation…)
Pieret
Hondagneu-Sotelo and E. Avila “I’m Here, but I’m There”: The meaning of Latina
Transnational
Motherhood” (reading
available on Blackboard)
Supplemental reading:
Norma Ojeda. “Familias Transfronterizas
y Familias Trasnacionales: algunas
reflexiones.” (Blackboard)
..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Week 13.
4/12 9. Field Research on U.S.-Mexico Border
Issues
9.1. Student’s
presentations
.................................................................................................................................................................
Week 14.
4/19
9.2. Student’s Presentations
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Week 15
4/26 9.3. Student’s Presentations
.................................................................................................................................................................
Week 16
5/3 9.4. Student’s
Presentations
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Week 17 TURN IN RESEARCH
PAPER (All students)
5/10 Professor’s office: 4 – 5 PM
