Politics of Immigration

Catalog description

This is a community engaged course that will explore the challenges faced by refugees, immigrants, and receiving societies in an increasingly globalized and transnational world. These issues will be approached from different theoretical and disciplinary models, as well as from a position of civic values and civic empathy. It will examine leading theories of international migration and models incorporation and will apply those theories toward understanding the situation of refugee and immigrant groups in both the American and European contexts. In addition to in-class readings, discussions and writing assignments, students will gain a greater understanding of the challenges faced by refugees, policymakers, and community organizations in Pittsburgh, through hands-on community engaged learning activities. Students registered for this class will be required to participate as mentors in an after school program at Duquesne University for refugee high school students through partnerships with ARYSE and JFCS. The after school program takes place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 4-6PM on Duquesne?s campus. Students are expected to arrange their schedules accordingly so that they can participate throughout the semester.