English

This course introduces the fundamental principles of finance and the basic structure of capital markets. It examines how financial markets (such as bonds, stocks or foreign exchange) and financial institutions (such as banks and mutual funds) work and explore the role of money. It then examines the foreign exchange market and how to cope with exchange rate risk. Finally, the course focuses on the financial services industry by exploring topics such as mutual funds, Financial Technology (FinTech), robo-advisors, cryptocurrencies or blockchain. Key concepts and applications include interest rates, exchange rates, derivatives, the time value of money, the conduct of monetary policies, the difference between passive and active investing, and crypto-assets.

This course introduces the Swiss legal order and the various branches of law. It covers the basic concerns and terminology of lawyers; basic knowledge of contract law; how to read and understand legal provisions, in particular the Code of obligations; and how to identify legal problems in a case study and to develop the reasoning of such problems.

This course explores the viability of the Afro-Gothic as a distinctive sub-genre of the postcolonial Gothic. It seeks to answer the question "What is the Afro-Gothic?" through a historicization of the concept Gothic in relation to narratives about, and by, continental and diasporic Africans. In the postcolonial Gothic, the classic tropes of the Gothic—incarceration within labyrinthine structures, tyrannical patriarchs, histories of hidden brutalities, suppressed and deadly secrets, haunting by the past oppressed and abused, and appearances of ghosts and other un-dead figures—are appropriated to exposes legacies of colonial trauma. Our more focused inquiry stems from the peculiar racialization of the Gothic during the 19th century, when Gothic darkness became increasingly associated with African blackness. 

Contemporary science fiction offers a compelling means of interrogating the current challenges of global governance and political economy. As Brad Torgersen (2013) says, “much of the Science Fiction being written in the 21st century concerns itself strictly with materialistic concerns: climate change, global warming, the decay of governments and the onset of dystopian hegemony, or anarchy”. This course provides students with an exploration of the nexus between science fiction and political economy. It uses science fiction literature as a means of understanding, exploring and critiquing concepts and theories from across Political Economy, including international relations, economics and politics. Through this, students apply the knowledge gained in other courses within political economy, applying key theories and techniques of analysis in novel areas in an engaging but rigorous way. The proposed course directly relates to a growing area of cutting-edge research, namely the interplay between popular culture and politics.

This course explores the relationships between science, technology, and democracy, and the changing role of the State in science and technology (S&T) in our societies. Students explore science and technology policy issues and look at wider challenges, such as efforts to improve public engagement in decisions about science and technology, initiatives to encourage more responsible research and innovation, and debates about the apparent rise in fraud and misconduct in science and concerns on the part of some scientists that many published scientific findings may be false. The issues explored in this course are critical to citizenship in a modern science and technology-based democracy. 

This course covers 1000-1500 in premodern Spain. Through a selection of poems, chronicles, and legal works, students examine the ideological and social development of the peninsula through the eyes of those who witnessed it. The aim of this approach is to better grasp the interplay between ideas and writing from multiple perspectives. The selected texts demonstrate the depiction and role of women, Muslims, Jews, conversos (recent Jewish converts to Christianity), nobles, knights, and kings during the time period, giving a better insight into the way written media shaped the views and ideals of those who lived then, as well as the current understanding of the era. Themes include heroes and villains; the description of women; marginalized groups (e.g., Muslims); and the power of entertainment as a moral, persuasive, and educational tool. Through these thematic axes, students understand the development of history and ideas, as well as the diversity of perspectives and people from the Middle Ages.

Mental disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia, are prevalent across the globe, significantly impacting individuals and communities. This course explores both the understanding of mental disorders and the psychological treatments used to address them. The first half of the course introduces students to the clinical presentation, etiology, and diagnostic frameworks of various mental disorders, and these disorders are examined through multiple perspectives, including developmental, sociocultural, neurobiological, and psychodynamic approaches. The second half of the course explores a range of psychological treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, and other therapeutic approaches, focusing on their application to specific mental health conditions. Importantly, this course involves research methods in psychology, mental health, and psychotherapy. 

This course explores the fundamental economic concepts necessary to understand human societies as an open system and systems that require the constant flow of energy and materials, while also generating waste and about social metabolism. The course highlights the biophysical processes that underpin economies, and the critical role natural resources play in sustaining economic activity. Additionally, students analyze how institutional frameworks create or remove incentives for the consumption and conservation of energy and materials. Students also learn how various policy approaches tackle today’s pressing environmental issues, and learn the tools to critically assess sustainable practices and potential solutions for a more balanced relationship between the economy and the environment.

This course examines the major issues related to brands, which can be products, services or institutions. It covers topics such as the impact of technological and digital changes, modern marketing and communication terminology, the intercultural strategies for global branding, and how to engage with consumer groups. The course examines key aspects of popular culture, such as mass media advertising, transmedia advertising, social media trends, and the cultural background of a country. It is divided into two sections. The first section focuses on the fundamental concepts of branding, marketing, advertising, and popular culture studies. The second section focuses on different topics and case studies, including the Barcelona brand before and after the Olympics, the Madrid Olympics and World Cup candidacy case. It also looks at FC Barcelona as a Spanish soccer ambassador, Spanish fashion design with Zara and Custo Barcelona, the new cooking and Mediterranean diet era, and new professional representatives in brands such as influencers and new storytelling.  

This course provides a general overview of practical applications of fertility control for ethical management of wildlife and other free-living animals. Lectures and practical sessions focus on case studies to illustrate the many aspects of wildlife fertility control applications. Students learn about products available, methods to deliver contraceptives and evaluate their impact on reproduction and welfare of individuals and populations of free-living animals. Through a mixture of lectures, informal discussion groups, laboratory and field practical sessions, students learn about the challenges and opportunities offered by fertility control and complete a proposal for a project on wildlife fertility control. The course addresses the rising demand for innovative conservation approaches and prepares students to balance ecological and economic needs with animal welfare.