University of Auckland

This course examines philosophical and conceptual issues in the life sciences. Topics may include the units and levels of selection, adaptationism, the evolution of altruism, biology and ethics, sociobiology and evolutionary psychology, cultural evolution, evolution versus creationism, and the origin and nature of life. It addresses questions including: What is life? Why do living things inevitably die? Could artificial life (for example, synthetic cells made in a laboratory) ever be genuinely alive? How should we understand the role of our genes in shaping who we are? We're told that it's important to conserve biodiversity, but what exactly is biodiversity, and should it be the main target of conservation efforts? How do (and how should) social values relate to life scientists' study of human behavior, sexuality, and other topics? How does our increasing knowledge of microbial life, including the bacteria and other microorganisms living inside our own bodies, affect our understanding of the living world and of what it means to be human?

This course examines popular media texts, genres, audiences and industries and reflects on how they influence our notions of self and society. It draws on case studies from a range of popular media, from film and television to comics, games, popular music, social media and advertising. 

This course examines the major concepts and methodological approaches within cultural criminology. It considers the broader contexts of crime, how powerful groups and media influence criminal justice policies, and the relationship between popular discourses and the nature of social control.

This course examines the geophysical imaging of the subsurface, including contrasting rock and fluid properties. Applications include environmental, engineering, resource, hazard, and tectonic studies. 

This course examines how and why volcanoes erupt from magma processes in the mantle to eruption at the surface.

This special topic explores the geological and volcanic history of the Auckland Volcanic Field. 

This course examines the fundamental processes in the marine environment with an emphasis on interdisciplinary linkages in the functioning of marine ecosystems. Topics include: the role of fluid dynamics in the lives of marine animals and in shaping the physical marine environment, and interdisciplinary studies of marine ecosystems.

This course examines a range of medical genetic disorders that illustrate principles of disease mechanisms, diagnosis and management. These will include: haemophilia, familial cancer, late-onset neurological disorders and mitochondrial disease.

The course provides an opportunity to complete an applied business project that demonstrates an understanding of key concepts, tools, and trends in strategy, while drawing on knowledge from individual majors. It emphasizes critical and creative thinking to evaluate academic and market sources and to propose solutions to real-world business problems. The course also develops professional skills through practice in delivering presentations and writing business-quality reports.

This course examines methods for using data to assist in decision making in business and industrial applications. Software packages will be used to solve practical problems. Topics such as linear programming, transportation and assignment models, network algorithms, queues, Markov chains, inventory models, simulation, analytics and visualization will be considered.