Applied demography involves the measurement and analysis of population change — through births, deaths, immigrating, aging and changes in family patterns such as divorce and cohabitation.
Gordon De Jong, professor of sociology and demography and co-founder of the Population Research Institute at Penn State, said the new program is timely because of the greater availability of data and an increasing emphasis on data-driven decision-making. “In an era of tight budgets, you have to know the population you’re serving,” he said.
The tools and methods taught in the certificate program are applicable to the work of market research analysts, political scientists, statisticians, local and regional planners and economists in both the public and private sectors, Santos said. A local government might use demographic analysis to know whether to build a new school or a nursing home, or where to locate a hospital. Or, a company might use demographic analysis of potential customers to determine where to locate a new business.
“This program will allow people who routinely work with demographic data and methods to augment their knowledge and skills, which in turn will help them meet their professional goals,” said John Iceland, head of Penn State’s Department of Sociology and Criminology.
“The fact that it's a World Campus program also permits people to continue their learning at a top program without taking a break from their work and careers.”
More information is available on the World Campus website.