Singapore

This course introduces fundamental concepts for designing and implementing large‐scale distributed systems. The course not only focuses on the design aspects of distributed systems, but also on the fundamental principles to ensure the correctness in a distributed environment. Students apply the concepts via hands on assignments using GO programming language. The course also examines specific concepts of distributed systems e.g. designing distributed file systems (such as in Google File Systems) to accommodate arbitrarily many application‐level users. Finally, it discusses concepts on recovering from faults (both normal and byzantine) in a distributed system.

This course teaches the fundamental areas of computer graphics, including graphics hardware devices and mathematics. As an enrichment part of the course, it introduces the state-of-the-art development in computer graphics by viewing video clips and experimenting with demo program made available in the course web. Upon completion of the course, students understand the basic computer graphics terminology and concepts, and are able to design and implement simple 2D and 3D interactive computer graphics-related programs.

This course introduces engineering students to Engineering Biology, which involves genetic modification of biological systems using engineering approach. These engineered biological systems have wide biomedical and industrial applications. The course covers key engineering concepts and methodologies to the design of engineered genetic systems. Topics include foundational techniques in Engineering Biology, abstraction and composition of functional genetic devices and systems, use of computational modelling for genetic device and system design, combinatorial logic gene circuit design, use of control theory in dynamic device and systems design, and applications of engineered systems and societal impact.

This course introduces the topic of gender by using basic concepts like biological sex, nature, nurture, roles, norms and culture. The meaning of gender categories is examined in relation to difference, exchange, reproduction, knowledge and social change. Although the main perspective is ethnographic, this course is intended to be an exercise in interdisciplinary thinking. Understanding gender provides a foundation to analyze social structures (power and inequality), social institutions (family, kinship, education, economy, the state, health) and cultural issues (science, food, emotions, popular culture).

This course examines key issues pertaining to international security including: the various approaches to studying international security, the nature of interaction among various levels (national, regional, international) of security, and the major security threats caused by the expansion of conventional arms, proliferation of nuclear arsenal and the spread of biological and chemical weapons. The rise of non-traditional security threats in world politics, especially Southeast Asia, and of Asia, particularly China, as a security concern internationally is also analyzed.

The course explores how humanity’s political, cultural, social, environmental, and economic issues transcend the way we imaginatively divide the world through borders, how not only our global issues, but relations more generally, are interconnected across space and time. The course looks at varying aspects of globalization and key global issues emerging out of our interconnectedness and interdependency across borders.

This course provides research training for exchange students. Students work on a research project under the guidance of assigned faculty members. Through a full-time commitment, students improve their research skills by participating in the different phases of research, including development of research plans, proposals, data analysis, and presentation of research results. A pass/no pass grade is assigned based a progress report, self-evaluation, midterm report, presentation, and final report.

The course introduces the use of materials related to artistic expression, color, and perspective to create a 3-dimensional illusion and technology for dating and attribution of objects of art. Scientific principles of various forms of art are explored.

This course deals with the theory and practice of international macroeconomics and finance. The objective is to provide a theoretical framework to think about a wide variety of current issues in international finance: current account deficit, global imbalances, exchange rate determination, monetary policy in an open economy setting, and global financial crisis in 2008.

This course covers the economic causes of environmental and resource problems. Economic theory is applied to environmental questions associated with resource exploitation; the problem of externalities and their management through various economic institutions, economic incentives and other instruments and policies. Means of analyzing the economic implications of environmental policy are also discussed as well as the valuation of environmental quality, assessment of environmental damages, and tools needed for the evaluation of projects such as cost-benefit analysis, and environmental impact assessments. Selected topics on international environmental issues will also be discussed.