Maastricht University - Center for European Studies

This course studies future-defining themes such as Food, Water, Energy, Engineering, and Health both from an academic and real-life perspective. While learning about contemporary efforts and policies to address climate change, inequality, and globalization, the course also explores what these phenomena really entail and how they can be addressed through thinking and actions. The course discusses the thoughts of our greatest philosophers as well as site visits, interviews with leading policymakers, entrepreneurs, and scientists, and an exploration of real life. Understanding the essence of entrepreneurship in the realm of globally interconnected markets, production, and supply chains is a continuous thread throughout the course. Seeking to understand human behavior through the lens of consumption and lifestyles, key elements of positive psychology are studied. 

This course studies future-defining themes such as Food, Water, Energy, Engineering, and Health both from an academic and real-life perspective. While learning about contemporary efforts and policies to address climate change, inequality, and globalization, the course also explores what these phenomena really entail and how they can be addressed through thinking and actions. The course discusses the thoughts of our greatest philosophers as well as site visits, interviews with leading policymakers, entrepreneurs, and scientists, and an exploration of real life. Understanding the essence of entrepreneurship in the realm of globally interconnected markets, production, and supply chains is a continuous thread throughout the course. Seeking to understand human behavior through the lens of consumption and lifestyles, key elements of positive psychology are studied. 

This version of the Sustainable Development course includes an Independent Study Project (ISP) done under the direction of the instructor. The minimum reading is between 20 and 25 articles from established academic periodicals/magazines. The ISP is 10-12 pages and counts for 1/3 of the overall grade for the course. This course studies future-defining themes such as Food, Water, Energy, Engineering, and Health both from an academic and real-life perspective. While learning about contemporary efforts and policies to address climate change, inequality, and globalization, the course also explores what these phenomena really entail and how they can be addressed through thinking and actions. The course discusses the thoughts of our greatest philosophers as well as site visits, interviews with leading policymakers, entrepreneurs, and scientists, and an exploration of real life. Understanding the essence of entrepreneurship in the realm of globally interconnected markets, production, and supply chains is a continuous thread throughout the course. Seeking to understand human behavior through the lens of consumption and lifestyles, key elements of positive psychology are studied. 

This course discusses the intercultural relationship between philosophy and communication. It has the form of a two-sided program that reflects the observation that, in the intercultural context, communication and philosophy are in fact two sides of the same coin. The first side approaches the phenomenon of communication between cultures from a philosophical point of view. Not only the possibility and appearance of communication between civilizations are debated but also the typical philosophical mindsets and attitudes of the different cultures are addressed. The second side relates this all to the question of how to understand, describe, and evaluate the meeting between world philosophies as a phenomenon of intercultural communication. The general framework of the discussion is delivered by some classical models that were developed within the Theory of Communication. They function as tools that enable one to understand why and how culturally dissimilar philosophies can influence the process of intercultural communication and why and how the form and appearance of this kind of communication can or should be regarded as a kind of intercultural philosophy itself.

This version of the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience includes an Independent Study Project (ISP) done under the direction of the instructor. The minimum reading is between 20 and 25 articles from established academic periodicals/magazines. The ISP is 10-12 pages and counts for 1/3 of the overall grade for the course. In this course, students learn to use neuroscience methods to study the cognitive development of infants, children, and adolescents. The course begins with the various methods used in developmental cognitive neuroscience, such as pediatric and infant MRI, EEG, and fNIRS. In this context, students uncover and discuss the benefits and challenges of each approach and the feasibility of studying different age ranges. The course then examines typical brain development as assessed with in vivo MRI (including trajectories of white & gray matter over the life span). Next, are more specific aspects of cognitive development such as the development of visual processes where students learn how learning to read affects the brain and how regions involved in face processing develop throughout childhood to support important social functions such as face recognition. Topics are approached using a mix of formats including active participation, working in subgroups, presentations, short lectures, and videos.

This course is only for students who have passed SD1 or already know some Dutch and had an intake with one of our staff members. Once you've completed this module you will be able to: inquire about travel and transport; talk about your house; conduct simple discussions in present and future tenses; and get around in shops, restaurants, and markets.

This course exploits the development of biobased materials involving the biology of biological feedstock, the chemistry of biobased building blocks and polymers, the technical processes, principles of circularity, and environmental and societal implications. This course creates a critical and creative attitude towards biobased materials and technologies. Pre-req: Organic Chemistry. Assessment includes assignments, presentations, written exams, and attendance.

The course provides an overview of modern health challenges in Europe and how they are embraced by a variety of stakeholders: policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and civil society. The course focuses on three perspectives, the first being health in Europe: which focuses on the health status across the European countries, the organization of health systems, and major healthcare challenges for individual countries. Secondly, the perspective of European health focuses on integration and collaboration among Member States within the European Union (EU) and more widely according to the WHO European region. Lastly, European health in a globalized world is assessed. The course combines theory with practice through lectures, tutorials, and field visits.

This course helps students discover the history and culture of the country in which they are now staying: The Netherlands. This course explores how and when the Netherlands grew to become the country it now is. When did the Netherlands become a Republic and how come it now also has a King? How did a country that emerged out of religious wars end up among the most ‘progressive’ countries when it comes to ethical questions such as birth control and euthanasia? Why does this small country on the international scene often present itself as a moral leader? How has living below the sea level influenced political cooperativeness and social egalitarianism? How tolerant was and is Dutch society? And how ‘Golden’ was the Golden Age that brought the country its famous painters, but also built on colonial profits? Analyzing the past to make sense of the present, the course explores the most relevant parts of Dutch history and also critically reflects on the concepts and categories often used to relate these to present issues. Can we speak of ‘a’ Dutch identity, and if so, what does it mean? What are the (inter)national images of Dutch culture, and when and why were they constructed? Paintings, songs, literature, and other sources are used to research Dutch national stereotypes in their national context. In weekly tutorials, key aspects of Dutch identity such as the love of independence, tolerance, and egalitarianism are discussed while chronologically moving through Dutch early modern history and modern history. All sessions are a mixture of interactive lectures and PBL format, allowing students to share their own experiences, bring in relevant background knowledge and phrase their own questions. Short individual presentations are used to zoom in on specific famous paintings, songs, novels, and other sources related to the theme of that particular week. This course runs during both block 1 and 2. 

This course explores the fascinating new field of digital mental health, which combines theories and methodologies from psychology and human-computer interaction science. The course starts with a general introduction to how technology has and can be used in the prevention, treatment, and support of common mental health problems (e.g., depression and anxiety). The comprehensive problem-based learning approach allows students to develop a basic understanding of the causes and symptoms of common mental health problems, and explore the active ingredients of traditional (e.g., cognitive behavior therapy) and digital interventions.  Different methods used across the two disciplines to design, develop, and evaluate digital mental health interventions and programs are examined. There are many opportunities to practice and get hands-on experience in applying cross-disciplinary methods. Students take part in co-design workshops, introductory sessions on systematic literature reviews, and develop and pitch their own (non-digital) prototypes and intervention ideas. Towards the end of the course, students are encouraged to think critically about current challenges in the field, including the ethical and moral implications of digital applications, and the future of digital mental health.