English

This course illuminates the role of dynamics in climate change and variability through presenting some major climate phenomena in the climate system. These phenomena include monsoons, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, the Madden-Julian Oscillation, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, thermohaline circulation, and global warming.

By studying Principle of Economics, students should learn some basic knowledge of Economics, master fundamental economic concepts and use economic theories to analyze micro- and macroeconomic phenomena in our daily life. In addition, students should lay a solid foundation to study further economic courses.

This course introduces soil mechanics and engineering geology for geotechnical engineering applications such as foundations, rail construction, and tunnels. It considers the fundamental mechanics of soils as a heterogeneous mixture of air, water, and solid particles and the origin of these materials from their parent rocks. It analyses the deformation of natural and man-made structures that comprise or are built upon soil, and the flow of fluids within them. It develops an understanding of how the fundamental principles of geological sciences influence the design and construction of engineering structures.
 

To be a successful industry leader, it is important to be able to efficiently manage various types of engineering projects. With this in mind, this course offers essential concepts, tools, and techniques of project management, presented through engaging case studies. By understanding the concepts and analytical frameworks of project management, students acquire practical knowledge and skills in project management, as well as the ability to conduct project risk analysis and management for analyzing recent or ongoing large-scale infrastructure projects. Additionally, the course provides a solid introduction to project financial management, covering aspects such as planning, estimating, budgeting, funding, managing project expenses, and billing.

The number of international migrants has rapidly grown over the last few decades. This course explores the economic determinants and consequences of international migration, and sheds light on the often controversial policy debates surrounding immigration. Students apply basic economic theory and empirical methods to understand the decision to migrate, the effect of immigration on labor markets and government budgets, the effect of diversity on economic performance, the effect of high-skilled emigration on source countries and immigration policies. The course has a strong focus on the empirical evidence on immigration and trains students' ability to critically assess this evidence.

This course introduces students to ideas about objects and helps them achieve a broad understanding of many of the ways in which objects function in human societies, in the recent as well as more distant past. The course provides a comprehensive introduction to the interdisciplinary study of "objects in cultures;" and it demonstrates how societies create objects which in turn create individual identities, and reify cultural traits. 

This course, "Gaming, Esports, and Interactive Narratives," offers a comprehensive exploration of the gaming and esports landscape, covering the cultural, artistic, and technical dimensions of games. Students examine complex questions about games' potential to achieve a depth of character development and insight into the human experience comparable to novels or films. Through literary criticism, postmodern theory, and cinema studies, we analyze how interactive narratives and visual design contribute to unique player experiences. Additionally, students gain an advanced understanding of the cultural and aesthetic history of games. A distinctive feature of this course is its integration of industry expertise. Gen G—one of the largest and most innovative companies in gaming— provides guest lecturers throughout the semester, including influential figures from the gaming industry, professional gamers, and experienced developers. These guest speakers offer valuable insights into the latest trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the gaming industry today. Guided by a "learning by doing" philosophy and a problem- and project-based learning (PBL) approach, students explore interactive narrative design and develop advanced game literacy. Hands-on assignments introduce students to the game development process, emphasizing game design principles and team collaboration. Through this approach, students understand the diverse roles within a game development team, gaining insights into how each role contributes to the overall design and player experience—laying the foundation for creative and collaborative project work.

This course provides students with an introductory overview of health systems and policies that can shape an individual’s and the population’s wellbeing. The course uses Singapore’s healthcare system as a case study to explain the organization of health systems and the policy responses to public health challenges.

This course introduces key concepts of the service-dominant logic of business on an international scale. Focusing on themes such as co-production, service leadership, and service competition, the course familiarize students with current academic theories, while frequent guest speakers emphasize how these are applied in practice across the private, public, and Third sector, and across developed and emerging countries. The course is an essential asset for anyone planning a career in service industries, with relevance for consulting, retail, healthcare, hospitality, the arts, or financial services. The course also introduces the role of services in development, drawing from global case studies.
 

This course develops students skills and knowledge in 'expanded' sculptural practice through a focus on the iterative and process-based potentials of the medium. Through studio-based learning, students will develop skills in mold making and casting. Key themes and processes such as material transformation, translation, mirroring, inversion, and mimicry will be investigated in relation to broader strategies of installation art and considerations of embodied experience.