English

This course examines a selection of twentieth-century Spanish films, using cinema as a lens to explore the complex and ever-evolving concept of Spanish national identity. From the veiled satire in the early years of Franco's dictatorship to the vibrant self-expression of the post-Franco era, we will explore how filmmakers have grappled with themes of identity, tradition, regionality, gender, and social change.

This course introduces students to a variety of methods to interpret, analyze, and understand popular music and its impact on society. Each week focuses on a selected genre or thread in modern popular music, from rock and roll to hip-hop to underground and dance music. By examining these genres and threads, students are encouraged to use theoretical frameworks that help reveal the cultural and musical significance of the chosen examples. These frameworks include media theory, gender and performativity, and the critical examination of race and identity. It also focuses more broadly on how popular music propagates itself over time via its relationship to technology, cultural and subcultural movements, and political currents. Although the course does introduce and employ a few musical-analytical concepts, it is an elective course and has no prerequisites.

This course will introduce the principles of kinetic theory and thermodynamics. Students learn to use the zeroth law of thermodynamics to describe scales of temperature; use the first law of thermodynamics to investigate changes in internal energy, involving the exchange of heat and/or work; apply the second law to heat engines and calculations of efficiency; show how the second law leads to the concept of entropy; use thermodynamic potentials for different thermodynamic conditions; and basics of kinetic theory.

This course provides an understanding of the structure and function of macromolecules such as nucleic acids and proteins in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and introduces key molecular biology techniques, thereby laying a solid foundation for medical research.

This course surveys major marine organisms and the habitats and community structures in which they occur, with emphasis on trophic interactions and the functioning of marine ecosystems. The course examines how environmental conditions, biological adaptations, and ecological processes influence the distribution and organization of marine life. Attention is also given to marine resources and their use by humans, as well as to the design, implementation, and interpretation of marine ecological research.

This course provides an overview of the major branches of mass media in the dominant European markets, with a focus on the transition from traditional mass media to digital media. After an introduction to media history, theories, and current research, the course examines specific industries such as television, radio, music, film, and print. Theories and models of mass communication are introduced and analyzed against their practical application in the markets studied in the course. Students compare how political and regulatory influences impact different sectors of the media in several European countries. The course is taught using a mix of lectures, case study discussions, student presentations, and site visits.

Upon completion of the course, the student is able to: Understand the chemical and biological composition of soils and their importance for ecosystem functioning; explain the role of microbial biodiversity in biogeochemical cycles (C, N, P, S) and soil health; analyze the interactions between soil microorganisms, soil fauna and plants; assess the effects of global changes on soil biological functioning; use scientific concepts and terminologies to describe soil biological and biochemical processes and their environmental implications; and relate theoretical knowledge to case studies applied to sustainable management and climate change mitigation. Topics include: 

Soil Biochemistry and Functionality:
- Soil composition: organic and inorganic components.
- Chemical properties: pH, cation/anion exchange capacity, adsorption.
- Microbial enzyme activity and nutrient cycling (C, N, P).
- Role of organic matter in regulating ecosystem services.
- Strategies for soil management and climate resilience.
Soil Biology and Global Changes:
- Microbial biodiversity and interactions with soil fauna.
- Microbial regulation of biogeochemical cycles (C, N, P, S).
- Impacts of climate change, land use and pollution on soil biology.
- Role of soil in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage.
- Soil-climate feedback mechanisms.

This course considers histories and theories of modern and contemporary art. It provides an overview of the heterogeneous and experimental development of modern and contemporary art. Artistic responses to society, politics, science, and technology are discussed. The module also addresses the practices of governing institutions of the contemporary art world, such as art markets and museums. Furthermore, the course features visit to (local) art institutions, including the Jan van Eyck Academie.

This course provides an overview of societal, cultural, and literary developments in the North Atlantic island of Iceland, from its settlement in the late 9th Century through the end of its Commonwealth Period in the later part of the 13th Century. The main focus of the course is the rich literary heritage of medieval Iceland. Students engage with a representative selection of texts, covering a range of genres and topics. By undertaking guided readings and analysis against a background of pertinent historical, and cultural developments, the course reviews the value of these texts as literary artefacts and historical source materials.