Bachelor of Arts in Demography

The Bachelor’s Degree in Demography program at the University of Zambia is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyse population dynamics and their impact on social, economic, and environmental development. Graduates of this program will be well-prepared to work in various sectors, including government agencies, research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations, where they can contribute to policy formulation, planning, and implementation of population-related programs. Aligned with the University of Zambia’s mission, “To provide quality and relevant higher education, research and innovation that shape the future of society” this program aims to support national and global development efforts by producing highly skilled demographers. With a strong emphasis on teaching, research, and innovation, the program seeks to address the growing demand for professionals who can provide data-driven insights into population trends, health, migration, and socio-economic development.

Data about the population and its characteristics are useful for planning, policy making, and monitoring of programmes and evaluation of development plans. Thus, the country requires highly trained personnel capable of designing and conducting censuses and sample surveys in a scientific manner. Furthermore, the country requires trained and skilled personnel to analyse demographic data, presentation and reporting as well as integrate population variables into development planning. The country is also in need of trained and skilled personnel capable of conducting population projections, to meet need for data on the population size during the intercensal period. There is also need for demography graduates to have the capacity and skills to monitor and evaluate development plans and programmes implemented in the country.

The programme is intended to contribute to the production of high-quality human resource with demographic and statistical skills, research methods in demography and related fields. The aims of the programme include;

1. To equip students with advanced demographic, statistical, and research skills for collecting, analysing, interpreting, and reporting population data using appropriate scientific methods.

2. To develop competent professionals capable of applying demographic knowledge and research methods to address population and development challenges and inform evidence-based policy and planning.

By the end of the programme graduates are expected to:

1. Define key demographic concepts, including population, fertility, mortality, morbidity, and migration, and describe their relevance to socio-economic planning and policy development.

2. Identify and describe major demographic theories and apply them to explain real-world demographic events and population trends.

3. Analyse the interrelationships between fertility, mortality, and migration and assess their implications for societal structures, health systems, and economic growth.