Study programmes

The study of demography covers the reproduction of human populations taking into account the wider context, causes and consequences. The main processes studied consist of changes in the demographic structures, including family and household structures ones, and their components – fertility, mortality, immigration and emigration. Demography also addresses formation and dissolutions of families, in particular nuptiality and divorce. Moreover, the study programme focuses on research concepts and methods concerning basic demographic processes and processes that influence demographic reproduction, the regional differentiation of human population development, a basic user knowledge of statistical software applications and the teaching of the principles governing population theories and population policy concepts. Particular attention is also devoted to the selection of the topic and elaboration of the Master’s thesis under the supervision and consultations of experts in the field. Students are required to select a significant part of their study programme from two groups of compulsory elective courses based on their own choices and preferences, thus enabling them not only to expand their methodological knowledge (advanced demographic analysis methods, higher-level of SAS statistical software usage and supplementary disciplines such as econometrics, sample surveys, family and household demography), but also to study wider population conditions (population development in the Czech Republic in the context of the current development of the populations of other European countries, demographic ageing, the impact of social inequalities on health and, thus, mortality levels and other applied demography topics). Graduates are prepared for working at scientific research institutes or in the field of applied practice, as well as for continuing their studies at the doctoral level.