In collaboration with the departments of Anthropology, Economics, Geography, and Sociology, the Broom Center provides resources to support training in population studies and methods for UCSB graduate students via seminars, mentoring, and technical workshops. The Demography PhD Emphasis Program is the academic pathway for UCSB graduate students who wish to receive advanced interdisciplinary training in demography, in addition to their discipline-based courses of study.
Broom Center associates are graduate students who have been invited by existing Broom Center faculty members to participate in events, attend seminars, and apply for funding focused on the central themes of demography. Additionally, with the attendance of specific classes and a dissertation focused on demography, associates are able to add a demography PhD emphasis; resulting in a certificate upon receiving their PhD.
Why pursue the emphasis, versus simply being a Broom Grad Associate?
- Provides a valuable credential as well as additional expertise in a focused area of study
- Beneficial if future work might involve population-related research in a multidisciplinary setting
- Provides a broader interdisciplinary understanding of concepts and methods in demographic research, beyond the resources available in individual departments
- Completing all courses will make you a more well-rounded demographer (e.g. learn foundational methods like life tables)
- Increase your 'street cred' with other demographers – especially helpful for jobs/postdocs/fellowships with a demography bent
Broom Graduate Handbook, a living document, created by current Broom Graduate Associates.
This handbook provides guidance on topics from funding opportunities (conference funding, summer funding) and resources for research project (labs, workshops, directed skills training) to tips for organization and opportunities for community building! Please reach out to a lab manager (Madison Avila or Gabrielle Husted) with any follow up questions or comments.