English

This course investigates the history of science since its birth, from the time of Galileo through the discovery of the special theory of relativity by Albert Einstein. The course focuses on how revolutionary transitions in human history always stem from scientific observations of natural phenomena followed by the leading escape from scientific absurdity by physicists like Galileo, Newton, and Einstein. 

No course prerequisites are required, and this course is open to non-science majors. 

This course provides a solid understanding of classic and contemporary psychological theory and research in Social Psychology which covers key research in social thinking, influence, and inter-group behavior. Students learn to describe and evaluate major models and theories within social psychology; critically analyze the role of culture in social behavior with a focus on the difference between collectivist and individualistic cultures; explain the main theories of social facilitation and social loafing; analyze key issues in the study of group behavior such as communication, status, roles, and leadership; evaluate the empirical evidence of theories and intergroup conflict comparing realistic conflict theory with that of social categorization theory; critically analyze evidence where social psychology has helped solve an applied problem such as leadership education or prejudice; and to apply their knowledge to real-world situations.

This is a graduate level course that is part of the Laurea Magistrale program. The course is intended for advanced level students only. Enrollment is by consent of the instructor. The course focuses on the diverse methodologies employed in gender and feminist studies in an interdisciplinary perspective. In particular, the course moves from the debates between second and third wave feminism, the course investigates some feminist research methods in literary criticism focusing on how feminist and gender studies challenge the major methodologies employed for the interpretation of literary texts written by both men and women. The course provides students with critical tools which enable them to re-read women’s access to knowledge and education, the canon formation, and the process of exclusion and inclusion of female writers from and within the literary canon and the public sphere. The course is divided into two parts. The first part introduces students to the main important methodologies in women’s and gender studies with specific reference to the rise of feminist literary criticism and to some manifestos of second and third wave feminism(s) and their temporal rhetoric of “awakening” and “space.” In particular, it explores the debates on canon formation and female genealogy and explains the notion of re-vision, resisting reading, and situated knowledge. It also examines the categories of gender, class, ethnicity, race, and sexuality and their interconnection. The second part of the course is devoted to the close-reading of some extracts from emblematic literary texts written by women in different historical moments. These texts which significantly belong to different literary genre, are explored in order to interrogate how women negotiated their agency in the public sphere, in the print market and in the political, economic, and social order. They are also examined in order to discuss the way in which they resist or perpetuate patriarchy, gender inequality, and a heterosexual politic of desire and sexuality. But they are also interrogated to see how they contributed, together with their interpretation and appropriation across time and space, to place the female self within a specific social order, to define the otherness of race and gender, and to establish relations of power between men and women, but also subjects who become geographically, ethnically, and culturally distinct. Required texts covered in this course may include: Margaret Cavendish, THE CONVENT OF PLEASURE, (1668); Aphra Behn, OROONOKO, 1688; Mary Astell, A SERIOUS PROPOSAL TO THE LADIES, PART 1 (1694/1696); M. Shelley, FRANKENSTEIN, 1816 (1831); and C. Bronte, JANE EYRE.

At an empirical level, this course provides a solid knowledge in Lebanese history, mainly in the major violent episodes of its trajectory: the civil war (1975-1990), Israeli occupation (1982-2000), and Hezbollah's intervention in Syria (since 2013). It also presents a specific understanding of a practice of power far removed from what can be observed in Western democracies. Without being an authoritarian regime, the Lebanese political staff has always had a particular definition of ruling, a special understanding of democracy, that goes beyond the usual features shared by consociational systems everywhere else in the world (Switzerland, Belgium, Bosnia). This course is hence thought-provoking in political science, as it introduces models of ruling usually unfamiliar, models that are more frequent than typically imagined. By doing so, the course also triggers a shared reflection on theoretical concepts of political science, and a questioning of the universality of some of what Western political sociology sees as basic elementary truths and rules of the game in politics-in-practice. The course addresses Lebanese contemporary history; the notion of militancy in contexts of violence; a critical notion of foreign intervention, peacemaking, peacebuilding, state building, reconciliation, and transitional justice; and a good command of a particular case of consociational politics.

This course introduces methodologies in geographical research, including research design, data collection and organization, interpretation, and analysis of results. Emphases are placed on how to undertake field surveys and how to analyze geographic information by exploring topics such as urban sustainability and the impact of COVID-19 on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The course enables students to acquire familiarity with, and practice of, quantitative and qualitative research methods in urban geography. Different ways of presenting and interpreting research results from geographic perspectives will be examined. The course also explores how to draw inferences from maps, graphs, and other sources to seek spatial patterns, relationships, and connections.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
(1) Understand the “field” – that is a complex social, environmental, and economic space in which we apprehend the world.
(2) Understand the “fieldwork” – that is a vital geographical tool for investigating the characteristics of the real world.
(3) Undertake geographical fieldwork that involves formulating a geographic inquiry question, gathering data, analyzing the results, and reaching conclusions.
(4) Understand the interconnectedness of human, social, economic, and environmental sustainability through conducting a field-based student term project.

 

The European Union (EU) is one of the world's largest and most important economies. Those interested in doing business with the EU member states must know the rules and the practice of relevant laws. This introductory course deals with the subject from several perspectives, including a social and economic perspective. It provides the fundamental tools needed to be able to do business with the EU, whether they live in Europe or elsewhere. Students gain a broad understanding of both the practical and theoretical aspects of European business law, regardless of if they have prior legal knowledge or not. The course focuses on topics central to business law and economic analysis, such as free movement law, competition law, environmental law, trade law, and state aid law. A general understanding of the EU's legal system and an exploration of the basic constitutional foundations of the EU is gained.

This course introduces the concept of public space not only from a theoretical point of view but also through uses and behaviors taking place in urban public spaces, including gender inequalities. Methods of urban ethnography are considered for this purpose. All along the course, specific attention is paid to questioning links between theories and practices. Public space is a topical issue which plays a major role in our society and in our everyday lives. The course focuses on different disciplinary approaches (such as political philosophy, sociology, and urban studies) in order to identify the many meanings the concept can carry. It develops arguments to engage in the current debate around the supposed end of public space.

This course represents an introduction to international marketing and develops knowledge of the international environment and international marketing. The increased scope, risk, and complexity faced by the international marketer is due to the increased level of uncertainty from operating in diverse and less understood environments. Emphasis is placed on the identification of challenges presented by international marketing to equip students to deal with differences, opportunities, and threats emerging from diverse economic, demographic, political/legal, cultural, technical, and competitive environments. The impact of international issues is related during the course to the marketing decision-making task at three levels; the macro level at which country selection decisions are made; national level at which market entry decisions are made; and market level where marketing mix decisions are made.

This course develops students' understanding of, and ability to analyze, poetic and poetic-dramatic texts. Covering a substantial range of poets and texts from different literary periods, it fosters wide and varied reading, introduces students to theories of and about poetry ("poetics") and helps students to understand, appreciate, and employ the expressive resources of language.

The course introduces students to the idea that economics, like all of the natural sciences, can be a laboratory science. Students study the role laboratory experiments can play in testing economic theories, as well as suggesting new ones. This is achieved through a series of topics in experimental economics, including market experiments, individual decision making experiments, and game theory experiments.