English

The course reviews number theory including the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, modular, and arithmetic; groups including definition, basic examples of groups, subgroups, normal subgroups, factor groups, isomorphisms, and homomorphisms, Lagrange's theorem, permutation groups, symmetric and alternating groups, finitely generated Abelian groups; rings including definition, basic examples of rings, isomorphisms and homomorphisms, ideals, factor rings, polynomial rings, factorization of polynomials as products of irreducible polynomials; and fields including characteristic, simple field extensions, finite fields.

This course explores the processes through which we come to experience our body as sexed, gendered, and sexualized, and situates them in particular political and economic contexts at specific historical moments. We take the “body” as a focal site through which power is exercised and subverted. Rather than viewing the body as what is “naturally” given, we examine how bodies are constantly made and remade through knowledge practices and political struggles. Drawing on the theories and methods developed in cultural anthropology, feminist and queer theories, and feminist STS (science and technology studies), we ask how the ideologies of normativity and productivity are built into seemingly “natural” bodies. We consider debates about reproduction, sciences of sex/gender/ sexuality, and experiences of illness that allow us to ask how bodies come to matter. Students develop the ability to critically analyze diverse materials ranging from pop culture to scientific literature that contribute to shaping the body as sexed, gendered, and sexualized; Students apply theories and methods from cultural anthropology, feminist and queer studies, and feminist science and technology studies (STS) to explore how power dynamics operate in the (re)construction of bodies; and Students enhance their ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds—through active participation in group discussions, projects, and interactive learning activities.

The main theme of the course is the interplay between Number Theory and rings. Students need to be familiar with the basics of prime numbers, unique factorization of integers and modular arithmetic. This is an advanced course with Fundamentals of Pure Mathematics as a prerequisite. 

The field of international relations and political science has given little attention to organized crime and corruption, which has become a focus of interest within these disciplines only recently. From an international relations perspective, it is worth investigating how organized crime is embedded in a larger political context, how politics interconnects with criminality on national and international level and how globalization affects internationalization of crime and corruption. The course covers definitional and conceptual issues related with organized crime, corruption, and terrorism; the impact of globalization on the internationalization of organized crime; the nexus and interaction between crime, corruption, and terrorism; variations in crime-terror nexus across different parts of the world; the anti-crime and anti-terrorism policies, and other issues.

Students are introduced to the entrepreneurial worldview that opportunities for innovation can be found across geographic, socioeconomic, industry, and cultural boundaries. Students must demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset through which they constantly seek to recognize innovation opportunities, across multiple contexts. Students are required to identify innovation opportunities that are local, national, and international in scope.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues have attracted enormous attention from investors, regulators, and other stakeholders. This course introduces the concept of sustainability reporting and responsible investing. It evaluates the potential benefits of firms disclosing ESG information, as well as significant challenges to be overcome, including the risk of greenwashing. Students learn about existing and emerging ESG regulations and frameworks for ESG performance metrics. The course also explores how key capital market participants, such as asset managers, analysts, and banks, could incorporate ESG information into their investment decisions.

This course is designed to introduce students to the main currents of Chinese ancient spiritual traditions, tracing into literary and philosophical texts the inner experience that they carry and interpret. Pondering over a selection of relevant excerpts, the students will navigate throughout Taoist, Confucian, Legist and early Buddhist traditions. Students will be able to understand and compare the structure of the spiritual world as suggested by various schools, mystics and authors, and to approach the journeys that have been undertaken into the inner world. The goal of the course is also to provide students with skills in comparative textural and cultural studies, by drawing their attention to the lived experience that lies behind major texts of Chinese culture.

The course develops an awareness of the structure and function of tropical forest ecosystems and provides an intellectually stimulating understanding of the biophysical, ecological and anthropic processes which characterize these environments. To develop an awareness of the human impacts on these important systems and the kinds of geographical tools available for monitoring, modelling, and mitigation of the worst effects of these impacts. 

This course promotes an understanding of core concepts in microbial growth and form, with an emphasis on diversity of function. It explores microbes, their major properties, and how they influence processes, such as global warming, acid rain, and nutrient cycling in the world. It examines how microbes interact with plants to influence crop production and spoilage, or affect the safety of the food we eat. The course also explores how microbes are exploited in the biotechnology industry, as well as how we might make new products in the future, using cutting edge technology, such as synthetic biology.

Jews and Christians in the ancient, medieval, and modern world were fascinated, scandalized, and inspired by religious difference and the challenges it posed to their intellectual, moral, and cultural projects. In this course, students focus on explorations of Jewish-Christian relations in various literary genre, and students discuss how they take up, question, and disrupt prevalent representations of "the other" and themselves.