English

This course provides an extended overview of American cultural history ranging from the period of British settlement in the 17th century to contemporary issues in US society. Students read influential texts (speeches, legal documents, essays, etc.) by authors such as John Cotton, Thomas Jefferson, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, Martin Luther King, Betty Friedan, and Ta-Nehisi Coates. Throughout the readings, the class explores public rhetoric as a key factor shaping the cultural trajectory of the United States. After a brief introduction to basic methodologies of cultural analysis, students investigate the rhetorical, structural, and discursive features of the primary texts through close readings. The course explores select representations from the fields of visual culture, art, and film, and a selection of key terms that are essential for understanding the evolution of American public discourse and intellectual history.

This course aims to build foundational knowledge of global policy frameworks, systematically introducing core concepts, historical evolution, and key actors (states, international organizations, NGOs, etc.) of global public policy. Combining contemporary issues such as climate change, global health, and digital governance, it cultivates students' basic capabilities to analyze transnational policy challenges and governance mechanisms through real-world cases like the Montreal Protocol and COVID-19 vaccine distribution. It also covers cutting-edge topics such as technological governance and regional integration to solidify the cognitive foundation of global governance.

Political sociology includes the study of the state, political institutions, social movements, nationalism, international relations, and many other areas. Given the broadness of the subfield, no two political sociology syllabi are alike. This course studies three main topics: the state, war, and democracy.  

The course begins with classical theory of the state and an introduction to some theories of state formation. It then proceedsto classic texts on war, as well as a recent synthesis of the sociology of war. Finally, the course concludes with a study of democracy, the readings of which span the Enlightenment to the late 20th century.  

Based on these texts, the class should begin to grasp a set of conceptual and theoretical tools that can help them understand how the world works today. What is society’s relationship with the state? How did modern states come into being? Why do wars break out? Are wars rational? Are they inevitable? What is the nature of democracy? Is it a system of government with continuing relevance? Is it worth defending?  

The course explores an integrated approach to marketing communications. It examines concepts, principles, and methods of marketing promotion and communication. Specific focus is placed on developing an integrated marketing communications plan based on consumer understanding (outside-in approach) and an understanding of the brand and brand positioning. Topics include media planning, media selection, testing and evaluation, and communication and marketing strategies.

The course explores the relationship between religion and artificial intelligence (AI), examining how AI challenges, complements, and transforms religious beliefs and practices. It covers theological implications, ethical considerations, and the philosophical questions that arise from AI's impact on spirituality, morality, and religious traditions. The course also investigates how religious perspectives can inform the development and use of AI. Students study the anthropological perspective of humans and AI entanglement in the religious sphere, and learn to understand the historical and contemporary interactions between religion and technology. They analyze how AI influences religious beliefs, practices, and institutions, and they critically assess ethical and theological challenges related to AI. Finally, they explore how religious traditions contribute to discussions on AI ethics and morality, and they engage with philosophical questions regarding consciousness, personhood, and the soul in the context of AI.

This course examines some of the most significant issues facing the world today such as the recurrence of violence between and within countries; the difficulty of lifting large numbers of people out of poverty; what is to happen to people who do not have a home in any country; increasing environmental destruction; intensifying global financial instability; and whether the current structures and processes of governance are adequate to address these issues. 

This course introduces the fundamentals of regression modeling, providing essential knowledge for students pursuing advanced study in statistics or careers as professional statisticians. Topics include parameter estimation in linear models, hypothesis testing for model comparison, model selection techniques for predictive purposes, detection of assumption violations, and identification of influential observations.

This course is designed to acquire knowledge of fundamental and advanced concepts in optics, and a general understanding of when and how these concepts are possible and appropriate to use. The course deals with optical devices and their operation and aims to provide students with practical knowledge in optical design using a ray-tracing program. The course has the following content. Every topic is coupled to a chapter or parts of a chapter in the course book: Ray optics, matrix formulation; Wave optics, interference; Fourier optics, diffraction; Electromagnetic optics; Anisotropic media; Polarization, Jones matrix formalism; and Optics of layered media and photonic crystals.