University of Edinburgh

This course provides a formal and practical introduction to the algorithms and data structures that underlie all areas of computation. It provides students with a toolbox of standard algorithms and data structures, as well as the skills to analyze both the theoretical complexity of algorithms and their practical behavior. Both written and programming exercises will be used, with examples from all areas of Informatics.

The focus of the course is secession. Students explore theories that account for the entire cycle of this phenomenon, from its emergence, through its political dynamics, to either successful or unsuccessful attempts to attain independent statehood. Theoretical material will be illustrated by, and applied to, a variety of historic and contemporary cases (e.g. Catalonia, Scotland, Quebec, Iraqi Kurdistan, Kosovo, Eritrea, Tamil Eelam). The foundation of the course is the discussion of the key features of multinational states, with a focus on the conditional legitimacy of their political-institutional framework and their borders. Indicative themes include: the emergence of secessionist movements; their efforts to mobilize support for independence; mechanics of separation (including a discussion of violent and non-violent secessions); independence referenda; policy issues related to the creation of new states; and the international political and legal aspects of secession .

This course develops a rigorous understanding of core economic models and analysis, together with an ability to apply the analysis in a variety of contexts. In the first semester, students consider macroeconomic (aggregate, economy-wide) phenomena. They look in greater depth at national income accounting, economic growth, money and inflation; labor markets and unemployment, and consider relevant mathematical techniques. The second semester looks at macroeconomics and includes topics such as monetary and fiscal policy, the open economy, exchange rate systems and monetary union, business cycles, economic policy and financial markets. The course is taught through a program of lectures and tutorials. Learning-by-doing, through problem solving and tutorial work, is an important ingredient of the course, with regular practice tests to reinforce an active approach to learning. Students with a weak math background will need to be prepared to work at developing their math skills.
 

This course is an introduction to social anthropology - taking as its central theme and organizing structure the life course from birth to death, conceived in very broad terms. As well as encompassing life crisis moments and rituals of birth, marriage, and death, the course includes such themes as gender, personhood, work and making a living, the house, consumption and exchange, health, and the body. It begins with a brief consideration of what anthropologists do; thinking about participant observation and fieldwork; and it ends with a brief discussion of how anthropological subjects are placed - and place themselves - in history.

This course charts the arc of political and constitutional change between Catholic emancipation and the full enfranchisement of women a century later. Although Britain's route to participatory democracy was comparatively smooth and peaceful (indeed, Britain was unique among its European peers in being untouched by revolution during this century), progressive reform was never inevitable. This course emphasizes the contingent nature of this process. British democracy was never pre-ordained, despite the claims of Victorian liberals who described successive reforms as evidence of inevitable 'progress'. Nor was the Westminster Parliament in the vanguard of democracy during this period. In 1914 Britain was governed by one of the least representative parliaments in the developed world. This course emphasizes the staying power of the ancient regime in the face of reform. During this period, parliamentary and other reforms were very often initiated by the political establishment itself with the intention of shoring up old systems rather than of bringing new ones into existence. This mentality, which has been described as 'reforming to conserve', is a key focus of this course.

An integrated introduction to spoken and written Japanese for those with little or no previous knowledge of the language. The course includes kana writing (Japanese phonetic writing), and an introduction to some kanji (Japanese Characters), approximately 90-100. Teaching is aimed at enabling students to speak, read and write Modern Japanese at a post beginner level, equivalent to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages level A1.