University of Sussex

This course introduces the basic elements of the nervous system, namely the nerve cell, with an emphasis on the mechanisms that allow information to be communicated between neurons and across networks of nerve cells. It also reviews how sensory information is transmitted into the brain and how motor output is engaged. The course focuses on the psychobiology of influences to behavioral change, namely emotion, motivation, and learning.

This course addresses the role that psychological research can play in understanding and supporting family relationships and educational processes. Topics include theoretical approaches to the study of the family (e.g., family systems theory, life-course approaches, socialization) as well as theoretical perspectives concerning children's learning (e.g., cognitive development, sociomotivational factors). The course emphasizes recent empirical work on the consequences of family functioning for children's development and the specific aspects of children's academic development and socioemotional well-being in schools (e.g., key curriculum areas such as reading and mathematics, special educational needs, mental health, and social and emotional learning).

This course introduces data structures and algorithms for computer scientists. The course explores a number of fundamental data structures, including arrays linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, hash tables, and graphs. These are presented both abstractly, via the notion abstract data types, and concretely in terms of their implementation in an object-oriented framework. The data structures are discussed and analyzed in terms of efficiency of the basic operations they support and their application to program design problems. Consideration is given to important, fundamental algorithms for searching and sorting data.

This course incorporates sociological, criminological, socio-legal, and cultural approaches to the study of capital punishment. Students engage with a "cultures of punishment" perspective on the death penalty, drawing on capital punishment scholars such as David Garland (2010), Austin Sarat (2001), and Franklin Zimring (2003).

This course introduces the practice of sociological/criminological research using different methods. Students are introduced to debates in the social sciences related to research design, epistemology, and ethical issues, while also getting practical experience in key methods for gathering and analyzing qualitative data including interviewing, participant observation, and textual analysis. The philosophy underpinning the course is that research methods cannot be adequately taught in the abstract, and consequently the course emphasizes the practice of social research and its application to sociological and criminological issues.

This course provides an introduction to algorithmic problem solving with a focus on algorithmic thinking, not coding. Searching, sorting and other simple (and intuitive) algorithms are specified and developed. Principles like divide-and-conquer and recursive programming are also explored. To establish correctness, some relevant (propositional and predicate) logic is introduced in an informal style (focusing on logical reasoning principles rather than logical calculi). Finally, the concept of time complexity of an algorithm is presented and asymptotic complexity classes are discussed.

How does an adult organism arise from a fertilized egg? This course presents the concepts and principles that are rapidly emerging from studies of developmental processes in animals. The course considers egg organization and origins of cell differences, molecular mechanisms of cell differentiation, cell movements and inductive interactions, long-range signaling mechanisms, the cellular and molecular processes underlying pattern formation, and the evolutionary conservation of developmental mechanisms in different phyla.

Computer security studies the protection of software and information stored on computers connected to the internet from theft, damage, and corruption. This course explores the foundations of network and computer security, and provides an overview of the main computer system vulnerabilities and cyber attacks, as well as defenses and their limitations. The focus of the course is on the underlying principles and techniques, with examples of how they are applied in practice.

This class examines using the still image and encourages you to reflect critically on issues of form and representation in relation to your own work. You will learn key processes and techniques involved in digital imaging: research, composition, exposure, editing. You will work individually to on set exercises in and out of class and produce a completed series of images to a set brief.

This course explores the application of psychology to a wide range of issues relating to work organizations. Theories from mainstream psychology inform detailed discussions of key topics in organizational psychology. This course also considers the practical application of organizational psychological theory in workplace contexts. Individual and group activities explore students' understanding of the course material and offer students' a chance to reflect on their own experiences.