Health Sciences

This course examines philosophical issues about food and its relation to ethics, objectivity, and values. Topics include moral issues such as the debate about animal rights, world hunger, the use of genetic engineering in agriculture, and the justification of health policies about food and drugs. It also looks at the relationship between food and art, and the objectivity of taste. 

This course introduces students to public health, a discipline which seeks to prevent disease and promote the health of populations through the organized efforts of society. Public health addresses complex health and social problems that are influenced by social, cultural, political, environmental, organizational, and economic factors. Students explore determinants that shape inequalities in health and explore how the organized efforts of communities and governments can help to ameliorate these. Students learn how different theories support public health practice and develop their skills in critically appraising evidence. They explore a breadth of public health topics – from sexual health to mental health - and include examples from low-, middle-, and high-income countries.

The digital physical education curriculum aims to combine sports science, AI and artificial intelligence, data analysis, and health management principles, based on physical exercise, and assisted by specific devices in the form of data to provide data support for physical exercise, provide decision-making basis for health management, and improve exercise fun and effectiveness. This course explores how to apply artificial intelligence and intelligent technology to improve performance, training, and management in the field of sports. Students will understand the applications of AI in data analysis, motion prediction, health monitoring, and virtual simulation. And combine theory with practical practice to help students understand how to use technology to optimize sports performance and health status in the fields of sports and health management. 

This course examines the principles of conventional (X-ray and Ultrasound) and modern (Computerized Tomography – CT; Magnetic Resonance Imaging – MRI; Nuclear Imaging and Optical Imaging) imaging techniques applied to biological systems and in medical diagnoses and the interpretations of these images.

This honors-level course equips students with a comprehensive understanding and practical skills for embracing a holistic approach to healthy living. The curriculum empowers individuals to make informed decisions about nutrition, while cultivating habits that contribute to overall well-being. Through engaging discussions, in-depth research, and critical analysis of scientific studies, students integrate theoretical knowledge into practical applications. The course provides a strong foundation in holistic health, enabling informed choices and sustainable practices for lifelong wellness. Students maintain a health journal, recording insights and progress as topics are explored. Topics include Unpacking Your Beliefs about Health & Nutrition, Whole Foods vs Processed Foods, Macronutrients & Micronutrients, Becoming Literate in Nutritional Labels, Protein Packed Punch: The Science Behind Proteins, Careful with Carbs, Breaking Down Food: The Digestive System, and more. 

This interdisciplinary course introduces the field of public health, highlighting its distinct role from clinical medicine and its collaborative approach to complex health issues. Students explore topics such as health promotion, disease prevention, and global health through an interdisciplinary lens, incorporating insights from social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, economics and political sciences. Real-world case studies demonstrate the interplay between biological, environmental, social, and economic factors affecting health outcomes. The course emphasizes applying public health frameworks to understand the design, implementation, and evaluation of health interventions. Students learn how theories and methods from various disciplines converge to address public health challenges and improve population health. Group projects simulate real-world public health scenarios and encourage students to integrate diverse perspectives, develop innovative solutions, and communicate effectively within interdisciplinary teams. Students gain a thorough understanding of how interdisciplinary approaches are vital for addressing complex public health issues and are prepared to apply these methods in future practice.

This course provides students with an introductory overview of health systems and policies that can shape an individual’s and the population’s wellbeing. The course uses Singapore’s healthcare system as a case study to explain the organization of health systems and the policy responses to public health challenges.

This course provides clear understanding of the different types of environmental exposures that are related with pathogenic mechanisms of human diseases. The first section reviews the natural environment (land, water, air, energy) and its impact on health indicators as well as nutritional content of food and nutraceuticals. The second section focuses on the built environment (housing, urban vs. rural landscapes, transport, work) and the relation of our living conditions with health outcomes. The third section reviews the effects of the psychosocial environment (mental health, stress, socialization, financial status) on the public health. The fourth section expands on the microenvironment features (microbiome) and the epigenetic effects (gene-by-environment interactions) that modulate disease mechanisms. The final section of the course focuses on the combined and synergistic impact of all different types of the environment on health indicators. It also showcases the added value of multidisciplinary approaches to evaluate the combined impact of environment on health and disease.

Modern healthcare has changed the way we approach medicine. We are now increasingly in charge of our health, assuming new roles in seeking information, understanding rights and responsibilities, and making health decisions. Underlying these demands, however, are the needs for the knowledge and skills to navigate the sea of information (and misinformation) to make smart decisions about health. Health literacy goes beyond having the basic ability of understanding and applying language, literacy and numeracy skills to process health information. It is also about having the knowledge, confidence and skills to interpret information. This course will equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to understand health information to the fullest, empower them to make informed decisions, to question the reliability of information, and to think critically about scientific evidence. 

This course introduces the basic human structure and life phenomena to students coming from non-medical backgrounds. The content of each lecture covers basic concepts from anatomy and the associated physiology to clinical diseases and their treatments.