English

This course examines how comparisons can be made between languages with respect to their sound systems, lexical-semantic structures, sentence patterns, and pragmatic properties. Through systematic analysis, students gain understanding from research findings in language typology, language universals, and language acquisition. This course focuses on the basic characteristics of English and Chinese, and some salient contrasts between them. The approach is largely descriptive without assuming prior knowledge of theoretical syntax. The course also considers how comparisons between languages may help students associated with problems of translation and language teaching/learning. 

This course examines the constitution and mutual entanglements of selected religions and cultures originating and thriving in varied regional contexts. It focuses on highlighting the symbolic (visual, aural) expressivity of religions via ritual, myth, and rational speculation and its impact on high and popular cultures.

A time series consists of a set of observations on a random variable taken over time. Time series arise naturally in climatology, economics, environment studies, finance and many other disciplines. The observations in a time series are usually correlated; the course establishes a framework to discuss this. This course distinguishes different type of time series, investigates various representations for the processes and studies the relative merits of different forecasting procedures. Students will analyze real time-series data on the computer. Topics: Stationary and the autocorrelation functions; linear stationary models; linear non-stationary models; model identification; estimation and diagnostic checking; seasonal models and forecasting methods for time series. 

This course examines the discipline of communication studies and looks at the role theory plays in its study. It explores the range of concepts and models used to describe, explain and study the human experience of communication and presents different ways of thinking about communication as influenced by cultural, historical, and academic perspectives.

This course offers a comprehensive examination of the dynamic interplay between religious freedom and secularism in the diverse cultural landscape of the Americas. From the early colonial encounters to the contemporary socio-political debates, it explores the complex interactions between religion, state, and society in shaping the religious and secular identities of the Americas. Competing understandings of religious freedom and secularism in human rights (what they are, what they should be, and how they operate) are examined. The course is organized into two sections each with a distinctive set of themes: the first section focuses on the conceptual approaches to religious freedom and secularism in the Americas, including historical context. The second section focuses on the circulation of ideas among the continent and beyond, by exploring the transnational impact of politics of religious freedom and secularism in the world.

The course provides a wide-ranging introduction to fundamental principles of chemical structure and reactivity for students who intend to major in Science or Engineering disciplines. The topics covered will include the electronic structure of atoms and and how that relates to the properties of the elements; ways in which the properties of substances are determined by their composition and bonding; nature of the interactions, and reactions, between substances; importance of energy, and energy flows, in understanding chemical and physical processes; and importance of chemistry in understanding ourselves, in our society, and in our environment.

This course is a painting studio course focusing on two main approaches: creative expression and technique building via the perspective of contemporary art from the 20th and 21st centuries, and a central emphasis upon the concept of 'multi-sensory art' which is an emerging technique used to create new art by combining visual and sound elements.  

Students will learn about sound art and techniques for manipulating digital sound on a computer to gain a basic understanding of sound in art, exploring the connection and mapping between painting and sound(music), with a focus on visualizing and spatializing sound (music) or sonifying paintings and images. Students will work on a final project using the above techniques.  

This course uses Berlin as a case study to analyze the origins of hate discourses and the so-called "gender ideology" by integrating key concepts of queer theory and gender studies into the discussions to explore the cultural politics of emotions and affect. Questions posed include why has Berlin become one of the foremost LGBTQIA+ capitals in the world? What social and political challenges does the Berlin queer community face, such as the emergence of a new wave of far-right movements? Students examine the evolution of a contemporary, multicultural, and artistic queer Berlin. Topics include the 1920s, the rise of fascism and Nazi atrocities, the division of Germany, and its different approaches to sexual liberation movements. The course considers the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the Reunification of Germany and the 1990s to understand today's vast and diverse queer scene. It explores recent theoretical advancements in critical queer and gender studies, complemented by workshops and cultural excursions, covering topics such as body politics, queer diaspora and migration, and critical solidarity.

This course explores the complex historical and contemporary dynamics of German colonialism, anti-colonial resistance movements, and the impact of colonialism on present-day German society. Divided into four themes that intersect throughout the classes, the course provides a comprehensive understanding of the German colonial past, anti-colonial struggles in Berlin, contemporary Berlin as a site of colonial heritage, and the emergence of post-colonial and decolonial movements in the city. The first main theme is the German colonial era, which examines key historical events, colonial practices, and the territories under German control. The course explores Berlin as a physical and symbolic space that reflects the remnants of German colonialism and consider how these remnants shape the city's identity. The second focuses on resistance movements against colonization. It studies the diverse strategies and initiatives employed by individuals and communities who fought against German colonialism both in the colonies and in Berlin and the capital of the German empire. The third theme investigates the effects of colonialism on contemporary German society. It examines how colonial legacies continue to shape social, political, and cultural structures in Germany today. Topics include the influence of colonialism on immigration policies, racial dynamics, cultural heritage, and the representation of marginalized communities. The fourth theme engages with postcolonial and decolonial contemporary movements. It critically examines different theoretical frameworks and approaches used to deconstruct colonial power structures, challenge Eurocentric narratives, and envision alternative futures. It also explores the global context of decolonial movements and their relevance to Germany and Berlin specifically.

The course takes its starting point in the recurrent discussion on how to manage risks and build security to avoid crises in organizations. The course provides the tools to understand risk management, taking into account perspectives from the social sciences, business administration, and the humanities.