National University of Singapore

This course introduces students to fundamentals of thermodynamics, including the laws of thermodynamics, entropy, thermodynamic relationships, chemical and phase equilibrium, etc. This course explores their application in renewable energy technologies. The course expands upon fundamental thermodynamics to provide a brief overview of renewable energy technologies as well as design considerations, energy efficiency, and global market potential. The course requires students to take prerequisites.

This course covers basic mechanical engineering knowledge and theory of mechanics of materials, and how they are used to solve practical engineering problems. Topics include introduction to statics, concept of stress and strain, analysis of stresses and deflections in a loaded beam, torsion of a circular bar as well as analysis of frames and machines. The course requires students to take prerequisites.

This course focuses on the theory of linear models. Topics include: linear regression model, general linear model, prediction problems, sensitivity analysis, analysis of incomplete data, robust regression, multiple comparisons, and an introduction to generalized linear models. This course has a prerequisite of Regression Analysis.

This course introduces the theoretical underpinnings of statistical methodology and concentrates on inferential procedures within the framework of parametric models. Topic include: random sample and statistics, method of moments, maximum likelihood estimate, Fisher information, sufficiency and completeness, consistency and unbiasedness, sampling distributions, x2-, t- and F distributions, confidence intervals, exact and asymptotic pivotal method, concepts of hypothesis testing, likelihood ratio test, and Neyman-Pearson lemma. The course has a prerequisite of Probability and Statistics.

Students focus on contemporary forms and practices of Malay families and households, the underlying concepts in family studies, and prevalent notions of the Malay family and household. A major focus is the changing nature of Malay family and household structures and their diverse forms. Students analyze the dynamic social relationships in households from different perspectives. The course explores how Malay families design family styles in a context of changing societies and is targeted for students interested in family studies.

What is good reasoning? The course answers this question by studying the mechanics of reasoning. Students learn what an argument is, what the difference between validity and soundness is, and what it means to say that an argument is valid in virtue of its form. Students are introduced to various strategies and pitfalls in reasoning. In addition, to hone analytical skills, students are given arguments—drawn from philosophy and other areas—to unpack and evaluate. 

This course focuses on Chinese art and visual culture from the late imperial period to the 21st century against the backdrop of major socio-political and economic changes in China and the world. Through the study of material forms and the contexts in which they were created, the course looks at the ways in which art, artists, and their audiences responded to the challenges of modernity, reform, revolution, war, marketization, and globalization. The phenomenon of Chinese contemporary art, its collection, and connoisseurship, and the role of art schools, museums, bienniales, galleries, and auction houses is also examined.

This course investigates some of the deep and puzzling philosophical issues arising from mathematics. Some are metaphysical and semantic: What is mathematics about? Are there such things as mathematical objects (numbers, functions, sets, etc), and if so, do they exist in the same way as more familiar entities such as tables and chairs? Others are epistemological: How do we obtain mathematical knowledge? Does it arise from pure reason alone, or does the empirical world play a role? Students examine a number of influential views, including logicism, constructivism, platonism, fictionalism, and structuralism. The course requires students to take prerequisites.

This course introduces the principles of terrestrial ecology. Major topics include diversity and distributions of terrestrial environments, soils and nutrient cycling, animal-plant interactions (pollination, seed dispersal, herbivory), disturbance ecology and succession, energy flow and food webs, population biology, and fragmentation. The course has a strong quantitative focus. The course also covers ecological processes in rural (agricultural) and urban terrestrial environments.

This core course covers most of the common mental health problems identified for children and adults, e.g. eating disorders, behavioral problems, attention deficits, learning disabilities, schizophrenia, anxiety, stress, depression, personality disorders, sexual adjustment, substance abuse, suicide, and dementia. The lectures and discussion groups introduce clinical intervention, but emphasis is placed on the theoretical formulation of problems. Whenever possible, films and case studies are used to supplement the textbook and readings, and a visit to the local Institute of Mental Health is typically arranged.