Korea, South

The course provides a survey of the modern Korean novel from its beginnings to 1945 but focuses on major works of fiction written after 1960. The course also demonstrates why and how Korean writers have tried to achieve "national literature" while trying to dispense with the limitations of nationalist discourse, which often suppresses the issues of gender and minorities, and even democracy itself. The course also provides a brief mapping of the contemporary literature of North Korea. 

Viruses are responsible for numerous human illnesses and millions of deaths annually. Some of the most feared, widespread and devastating human diseases such as influenza, measles and AIDS are caused by viruses. Similarly, viruses cause a number of recently emerging diseases, including Ebola hemorrhagic fever, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Zika virus infection and influenza pandemics. This course explores the complex biology of viruses, their multiplication cycle and pathogenesis, how they are structured, what strategies they use to enter their host cells, how they express and replicate their genomes, how they produce new virions, how they have evolved, and how host cells respond to viral infection.

This course explores the ways in which the usage and perception of Korean varies both within and across individuals including factors such as regional origin; age; gender; race, and native status.

This course is designed to help students establish a solid understanding of how cells and nutrients contribute to health and body functions by interacting with each other. The students are provided with an introduction to key concepts relevant to molecular and cell biology and cellular nutrient metabolism, and have the opportunity to learn and discuss how cells handle nutrients and how nutrients contribute to cellular health and functioning. Nutritional science is highly interdisciplinary. This class concerns a part of the broad array of topics relevant to nutrition, particularly with focuses on the molecular and cellular aspects of food components essential to the body.

Prerequisite: General biology

This course surveys the main developments in education from ancient Greece up until present day, emphasizing in particular the cultural and philosophical milieu of each place and period. Participants develop a critical understanding of the historical dynamics through which educational theory and practice evolved in the west and the influence of these on contemporary education. This course is implemented as a colloquium: open-ended, participant-directed discussions on the weekly topic. 

This course provides a study of Korean classical literature for cultural contents on the basis of storytelling for movies, exhibitions, and performance arts. It examines how Korean classic literature transforms into media and its methodology.

This class introduces Korean contemporary films and relevant societal discourses. The course covers the role of film/moving images in contemporary society, the rhetoric of visual media in broader context, and lastly, Korean contemporary films in a more concrete realm. By writing critiques on each subject as well as sharing during class, students challenge their personal feelings and thoughts, broaden their knowledge, and deepen their insights on film media.

This course consists mainly of the translation from classical Chinese into English, and hence students must have at least a working knowledge of both these languages. The secondary focus of this course is to develop academic writing skills, knowledge of translation theory and practice, and enhancing students’ knowledge of the historical and cultural background of the texts read in class. This course introduces the characteristic features of traditional culture of China, and investigates their significance on the contemporary Chinese society. Specifically, the course focuses on the relationship between the traditional cultural heritage and the contemporary China. Besides, it covers general ideas of the main texts on Chinese literary, history, and philosophy. In addition, some archeological and anthropological research are introduced for relevant issues. This course also introduces students to key ideas in translation theory and practice, which are relevant to anyone working in a multi-lingual environment. Students are encouraged to consider the problems of both the source text and the target language, and guided in strategies towards overcoming these difficulties. This course also introduces English language academic writing, aimed at students of Chinese language and literature.

The texts read in class consist of selected chapters of the Ming dynasty classic historical novel, the Dongzhou lieguo zhi 東周列國志 (Romance of the Kingdoms and States of the Eastern Zhou) by Feng Menglong 馮夢龍 (1574-1645). The period in history covered by this novel (771-221 BCE) is crucial in the history and culture of East Asia, and it provides a highly readable, interesting and historically accurate portrayal of the era. This novel is also important in that it consistently stresses the cultural importance of these events, and their ongoing significance for later Chinese history right up to modern times. In addition to translation, students will be expected to discuss issues raised in the text, and to defend their ideas in discussion in class.