What does the study of forced migration involve?

Forced migration as a field of study is evolving. Critics have pointed out that the subject area lacks a unified theory and agreed-upon terminology, and academic researchers still tend to identify themselves with a particular discipline (e.g., sociology, anthropology, law, geography, etc.). In response, a wide variety of resources in the form of atlases, dictionaries and handbooks have been published to help define the field and its concepts. (You can view a list here; see especially the The Oxford Handbook of Refugee and Forced Migration Studies.) Moreover, a number of programs focusing on different aspects of forced migration have been established at academic institutions around the world. For example, the Refugee Studies Centre in Oxford offers an MSc in Refugee & Forced Migration Studies, while the Center for Migration and Refugee Studies at the American University in Cairo offers an MA in Migration & Refugee Studies. Students can also gain an MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies via distance study through the University of London. Alternatively, there are also short-term training courses available for professional development purposes. Check out ReliefWeb’s Training Opportunities page for more information.