English

This course discusses the biology of animals. The course covers:

• Animal form and function
• Water and Electroylyte balance in animals
• Animal nutrition
• Circulation
• Gas Exchange
• Animal Movement
• Chemical signals in animals
• Electrical signals in animals
• The Vertebrate Nervous System
• Animal Sensory Systems
• Animal Reproduction
• Animal Development
• Immune System in animals

This course takes a loosely chronological approach to global moments of encounter, challenge, resistance, and transformation over the past 500 years. It looks closely at political events, and views them through images and objects, manifestos and interventions. The course pays attention to issues of propaganda, resistance, civil rights, protest, and crisis. We take care to address contemporary transformations happening in museum and gallery spaces due to issues of equity, race, gender, culture and class. 

This course examines schooling across cultural borders; theories of development; New Zealand’s trade/aid relations with less developed countries; postcolonial theory and Western and Indigenous knowledges; the politics of English language teaching in non-English speaking settings and global flows of students/teachers and educational ideas.

This course examines historical biogeography of plants; plant adaptations and vegetation dynamics; world biome types; plants and society; and human impacts on vegetation.

This course explores Japanese culture by introducing the origins of modern Japanese society and enhancing students' understanding of the mentality of the Japanese people. This course operates under the assumption that understanding local culture is an important first step in becoming a global citizen, and thus focuses on the traditional culture of Miyagi prefecture. The course discovers and discusses several concepts related to Japanese culture and then analyzes Suzume Odori (Sparrow Dance). Students will also learn how to dance the Suzume Odori through classes and videos.

By the end of the course, students are expected to:
1) Describe what occurs in the Suzume Odori and the Sendai Aoba Festival.
2) Discuss modern Japanese society through Japanese cultural concepts.
3) Analyze the Suzume Odori using these concepts.

The course aims to introduce Chinese traditional culture to students through Chinese Kungfu training experience, improve their blood circulation and physical fitness, have basic self-defense method, and have experience of Jing ( Spirit ), Qi ( Air ), Shen ( Concentration of Mind ) in Chinese Kungfu.

Chinese Kungfu, (also known as Wushu or martial arts) is one of the most well-known physical arts of traditional Chinese culture which is also probably one of the earliest and longest-lasting sports using both brawn and brain. Based upon classical Chinese philosophy, Kungfu has developed as a unique combination of exercise, practical self-defense, self-discipline and art over its long history. It could be divided into two types: "external Kungfu" and "internal Kungfu". In external Kungfu, you exercise your tendons, bones, and skin. In internal kungfu, you train your spirit, Qi, and mind.

How does constrained writing paradoxically open up language? What overt and covert strategies have authors used to create work that is highly formal but also highly playful? The Paris-based literary movement OuLiPo has been the headquarters of constrained writing since its inception in the middle of the last century. The group is well-known for writers like Georges Perec and Italo Calvino but has also had a considerable presence in English, from members like Harry Matthews and Ian Monk to the Feminist OuLiPo collective, Foulipo. In this seminar we will focus on OuLiPo and OuLiPo-adjacent output in English; readings include Oulipo: A Primer of Potential Literature edited by Warren F. Motte.

This course explores key topics in moral and political philosophy. Students consider some of the key questions at the center of these disciplines. 

This course examines trees and their environment. A basic understanding of environmental and climatic effects on trees will underpin methods of species selection, growing and maintaining trees and site specific management.