English

This course examines Australian politics with an emphasis on what makes Australia unique and how its democratic institutions have developed over time. It concentrates on formal political institutions, including the constitution, parliament, the executive, the bureaucracy, federalism and the High Court. It also examines the role of political parties, the Australian electoral system, voters and voting behavior, lobby groups, social movements and the media. It considers the benefits and limitations of the Australian political system in the face of major policy challenges such as climate change, asylum seekers, gun control, marriage equality and economic crisis.

This graduate course varies depending on the research topic but may include weekly lab meetings, presentations of up-to-date research articles, and participation in scientific discussion with the instructor and lab colleagues related to the topic of brain and consciousness.

This is the first of a pair courses that build towards an overarching understanding of cultures of the French-speaking world in their historical and geographical diversity. It focuses on a range of primary materials in French that are diverse in various senses, notably: chronologically, in genre/medium, and in terms of the origins and identities of the authors/filmmakers. Students are expected to read and study these works intensively in order to participate fully in seminar discussion, and to get the most from lectures offering a framework of historical contexts and critical approaches. The course eases the transition from school to university through a focused introduction to materials and skills of critical analysis, in writing and more widely, that forms the basis of more advanced study in subsequent years. It is designed for students who have not reached the equivalent of A-level standard in French, with French-language materials studied in translation.

This course examines the ethical, environmental and social problems associated with consumerism, and examines in detail some of the creative, ingenious and determined responses to these problems.

Originated from Stanford University’s Life Design Lab (Bill Burnett and Dave Evans), this course employs a method called “design thinking” to help students from any program develop a constructive and effective approach to finding and designing their vocation after university. Through small group discussions, in-class activities, personal reflections and individual coaching, this course teaches students to use design thinking to explore many of life’s major challenges, such as pursuing careers they love and finding personal fulfillment. Topics include the integration of work and worldviews, ideation techniques, a portfolio approach to thriving, designing to increase balance and energy, and how to prototype all aspects of life. The course touches on the realities of engaging the workplace, and practices that support vocation formation throughout the career of students. The capstone assignment is the creation of an “Odyssey Plan” focusing on taking actions in the 3-5 years following their graduation. For Engineering students only. Graded P or F.

The contemporary era is marked both by a proliferation of screens through which we access ‘content’, as well as fundamental and ongoing shifts in the media industries, largely driven by digital innovation. Given this context, this course provides students with a scholarly understanding of a range of screen media, past and present, in order to better comprehend continuities and disruptions. Students examine how formal elements combine to create meaning in screen texts and they are introduced to a wide array of critical terms through which they will develop their own analyses. Through a number of detailed case studies encompassing film, television as well as emergent “new media” forms, the course provides a foundation of methods and skills for researching and studying screen media in varied forms and contexts.

This course examines the relationship between words and music, discussing ways in which language and music can interact, and the different ways in which words and music may construct meaning. Examples are drawn primarily from Western art music. No prior knowledge of musical notation is necessary to take this course. Students should, however, expect to learn and use appropriate terms and concepts to describe and analyze set works. The syllabus draws on works composed in different cultural contexts to illustrate both short and longer sung musical genres, including some excerpts of longer, dramatic works. This course is intended to be of particular interest to students of English and other modern languages, but is open to all with an interest in music and lyrics.

This advanced course covers the dynamic interactions between humans and technology. Specifically, we trace the evolution of computer-mediated communication (CMC), explore impression formation, identity, and well-being online, and extend into human–machine communication (HMC) with AI, social robots, and algorithmic media. Students critically examine theories, research, and ethical issues shaping the future of communication. Students should expect to do extensive research and produce a research paper and final paper presentation.  

Topics include Computer-mediated communication, Impression formation and relationship development, Communication and self, Psychological well-being and social support, Merging mass and interpersonal communication via interactive communication technology, Are computers social actors?   

This seminar examines the historical emergence and theoretical foundations of property and wealth through the combined lenses of sociology and economics. It explores how ownership, inheritance, and taxation have been theorized and institutionalized from early human societies to contemporary capitalism, and how these processes have produced and sustained social inequalities, including gendered disparities.