English

This course is an introduction to critical thinking and the analysis of argument. It examines arguments drawn from diverse sources including journalism, advertising, science, medicine, history, economics, and politics. It also will grapple with scepticism, conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, and fallacies.

Topics in Linguistics 1 is a topical course in which the subject of inquiry may change from term to term. Each offering of this course focuses in-depth on a specific area of linguistics, and students should expect the course to be comprehensive and advanced.  

The course topic for Fall 2025 is Psycholinguistics. This offering of the course focuses on the cognitive processes involved in language acquisition, production, and comprehension. Students explore how language is processed at various levels, including speech perception, word and sentence processing, and discourse understanding. The course also examines the neurological and psychological foundations of language, as well as the development of language in early childhood and the processing of bilingualism and sign language. By engaging with theoretical models and experimental findings, students gain insight into how language behavior illuminates our understanding of the mind and brain. 

Students are encouraged to have a basic understanding of at least three core areas within theoretical linguistics, such as phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. This course is not recommended for students with little or no background in theoretical linguistics. 

This is a course for beginners in Gaelic, enabling students to acquire basic language skills in speaking, reading, writing and listening. Students will be introduced to the grammatical framework of the language and will develop appropriate vocabulary through the study of some Gaelic prose texts; an overview of the historical and sociolinguistic context of Gaelic and of the history of Gaelic literature. 

This course explores the history of social and political thought, focusing on an alternating set of formative texts and their authors. Global early modernity and the Age of Discovery saw the rise of various imperial powers, within and beyond Europe, as well as rapid economic transformation. The onset of modernity and the Age of Enlightenment further strengthened the secular state and witnessed the sustained critique of inherited political and moral ideas. These developments spawned new works of political, moral, and social philosophy that often became famous in their own day and have intrigued intellectual historians and philosophers ever since. The main purpose of this module is to investigate selected texts in order to ascertain their conceptual significance, but also to attempt to understand the historical circumstances in which they were born, and which they themselves influenced. 

Laboratory skills are essential for students who want to pursue a Life Science oriented master study. In this course, get acquainted with the basic laboratory skills in biochemistry. Training involves safety and Good Laboratory Practice, as well as some essential biochemical techniques like DNA isolation, enzyme kinetics, absorption spectrophotometry, and protein gel electrophoresis. Determine the presence of sugars and identify the types of sugars in unknown samples, solving a sugar-riddle. Work in teams of two and prepare your own protocol for each practical.  This course is designed to be taken in combination with SCI2035 Biochemistry. Students who wish to take this course should concurrently enroll in SCI2035 Biochemistry or have taken SCI2035 Biochemistry prior to enrolling in SKI2086. 

This course explores mental health issues, relational conflicts, and environmental challenges in modern society while emphasizing resilience as one of the key factors in prevention and recovery. Students learn and apply strategies to strengthen resilience and navigate life’s challenges. Through discussions and activities, students develop inner strengths, build healthier relationships, and promote mental health for themselves and others. 

Topics include Depression, Anxiety, Perfectionism, Attention-related issues, Relationships, Society and culture, Digital world, Connections, Perseverance, Self-regulation, Postivity, Self-care, Resilience and community. 

This course offers an introduction to the history of modern Eastern Europe, with a focus on the region’s politics, society, and culture, from the late 19th century to the present. It traces the collapse of the Ottoman, Habsburg, and Russian empires; the rise of nationalism and creation of nation-states; the impact of the world wars; the establishment and evolution of communist regimes; and the region’s transition to democracy after the fall of communism in 1989. Through engagement with primary sources, memoirs, literature, artistic works, and major historiographical debates, the course explores how the countries of the region continue to grapple with the questions of identity, memory, power, and belonging raised during Europe’s tumultuous twentieth century.

This seminar explores Plato’s views on akrasia and its reception in the Platonic tradition, especially by Plotinus. The exploration begins with a close reading and discussion of several key passages in Plato’s dialogues before moving on to equally careful readings of key passages in the later tradition. Students discuss various versions of akrasia (synchronic, diachronic, knowledge-based, belief-based, etc.) and some views found in the secondary literature. No knowledge of Ancient Greek is required, but at times the Greek text is discussed in a manner accessible to all.

This course is a shared exploration of the history of relations between the United States and China from the 1770s to the present.  The course begins with the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), through the Republican period (1911-1949), and through the current era (1949-present).  

The course also explores cultural history – examining the dominant national mythologies of the United States and China, and how these have developed since the respective nations’ beginnings, including mythologies in popular culture and more official national mythologies. It examines the layers of national narratives in different periods both in terms of how the two powers perceived and depicted themselves, and how they perceived and depicted each other. This theme concludes with an exploration of the most recent national narratives, incorporating popular and official voices in Beijing and Taipei, Hollywood and Washington, and more.