University of Bordeaux

This course develops both theoretical understanding and, above all, practical skills in ordinary differential equations (ODEs). It begins with a review of the concept of integration as the area under a curve and introduces numerical methods for computing integrals using a computer. Fundamental results on the existence and uniqueness of solutions to ODEs are presented, along with several explicit solution methods. The course also includes elements of qualitative analysis of differential equations, such as barrier methods, phase portraits, and stability analysis. Hands-on computer sessions focus on the implementation of numerical methods in Python for solving ODEs. At the end of the semester, a project allows students to apply these tools to concrete problems arising in various scientific fields, including physics, biology, chemistry, and meteorology.

This course explores the intellectual, religious, and political transformations that reshaped England during the Reformation and laid the foundations of the modern Church of England. It examines how theological debates, assertions of royal authority, popular belief, and international pressures converged to sever England’s ties with Rome and redefine the relationship between church, state, and society. In addition, the course situates these developments within the broader evolution of knowledge, tracing how the upheavals of the Reformation intersected with the emerging currents of the Scientific Revolution. It analyzes how shifting methods of inquiry, changing attitudes toward authority and evidence, and new conceptions of truth transformed both religious and scientific thought. By integrating the study of religious reform with the history of knowledge and scientific advancement, the course highlights how early modern England became a critical site for rethinking the nature of belief, authority, and the production of knowledge in the modern world.

This course introduces the fundamental equations of perfect and Newtonian fluid mechanics within the framework of continuum mechanics. It covers fluid kinematics and deformation, followed by the dynamics of ideal and viscous fluids through the Euler and Navier–Stokes equations. The course also provides an introduction to dimensional analysis and concludes with the Saint‑Venant equations and related analogies, highlighting applications to real fluid flows.

This course explores the emergence and transformations of women’s cinema in Britain from the 1950s with a focus on the contemporary period. It examines the position of women directors within the film industry (mainstream productions and art films) as well as their appropriation of genre and history.

The close analysis of novels, texts, and poems develops an understanding of the social novel in the contexts of American and British literature. This course introduces key authors, concepts, and critical tools in modern British and American literary studies. It provides the historical, cultural, and theoretical frameworks necessary to understand “The Poetics of Subversion” in both traditions. The British component focuses on Romantic poetry through selected works by Blake, Shelley, and others, using Stanley Appelbaum’s ENGLISH ROMANTIC POETRY: AN ANTHOLOGY as the primary text. The American component examines forms of poetic subversion in 20th‑century U.S. literature, with readings from Adrienne Rich, Sylvia Plath, Audre Lorde, and other major voices; a curated selection of poems IS made available to students. Students acquire analytical tools specific to the study of literary texts, become familiar with essential concepts in critical terminology, and practice applying these tools through guided exercises based on the program’s texts. Through this combined methodological and analytical approach, students deepen their understanding of the social and aesthetic stakes of British and American literature while strengthening their argumentative, interpretive, and communicative skills.

This course explores the psychological foundations of risk‑taking behaviors and violent conduct from a clinical and psycho-pathological perspective. It examines the psychological, social, and developmental determinants of these behaviors, as well as the main conceptual frameworks used to analyze them.

This course introduces ongoing debates on human rights by returning to their philosophical sources, in particular theories of natural law and their long intellectual history. Why were natural law theories the original source of the idea of human rights? Why did they
cease to be the dominant theoretical framework from the nineteenth century onward? What replaced them? Can human rights be conceived without reference to natural law? Do human rights retain their validity if one abandons the idea of a universal human nature? The course is structured around three methodological choices. First, it is situated at the interface of philosophy, legal theory, and legal history. Second, it adopts a long-term historical perspective, ranging from ancient philosophy through the Middle Ages to contemporary theories. Third, it sheds light on present-day debates concerning human rights.

 

This theoretical course is dedicated to the relationships between the concepts of indigenismo, indianismo, colonialism, coloniality, and decoloniality in recent Latin American cinema. It studies decolonial cinematographic aesthetics and practices based on the work of Jorge Sanjinés and other filmmakers representative of these movements

This course offers a critical examination of migration policies and governance tools in Western countries, drawing on sociological, political science, and empirical case study approaches. It interrogates the mechanisms of control, dominant discourses, and power dynamics that shape contemporary migration flows. The course focuses on state administrations, associations, international organizations, private actors, and civil society, as well as their interrelations. During the different sessions, it explores the evolution of migration policies and their connections to colonialism, nationalism, and globalization from a comparative perspective. It also provides a broad understanding of contemporary issues—such as securitization, the externalization of borders, the criminalization of solidarity, and the commodification of migration. The course analyzes how stereotypes and discursive frameworks shape public policies and social perceptions, influencing the design and implementation of migration policies, often in ways that reinforce exclusionary practices. It then examines the instruments used to regulate migration, including border technologies (such as AI and biometrics), legal frameworks, outsourcing practices, and the roles of NGOs and private actors. Finally, the course highlights forms of resistance led by migrants, solidarity networks, legal challenges, and sanctuary cities. Firsthand accounts from activists offer insights into grassroots strategies for contesting exclusionary policies and imagining alternative governance models.

This course introduce the principles and significance of research methodology in anthropology, with an emphasis on both theoretical understanding and practical application. It covers designing and conducting anthropological research, using qualitative and, when relevant, quantitative approaches. Particular attention is given to fieldwork methods, ethical considerations, and the collection, analysis, and interpretation of anthropological data (interviews, participant observation, surveys, archives). The course also develops proficiency in organizing, processing, and critically analyzing information produced during research.