SPRING 2026 Course Offerings
For course descriptions, click a course code below.
The University reserves the right to change course offerings and scheduling.
| Course | Sec | Course Title | Faculty | Day | Time | ||
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| AHT 320W | 1 | Anthropologies of Art | Fassl | Th | 10:00 - 12:45 | ||
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Anthropologies of Art Anthropologies of Art is taught on campus and in the galleries of Lugano?s museums and exhibition halls, including the Museo delle Culture, Lugano Arte e Cultura, Olgiati Collection, Fondazione Braglia and other venues. It investigates objects and images within human and cultural contexts, approaching both the physical and digital world through the deep structure of the human mind and its manifestations. In museums and exhibitions, we will analyze artifacts from all continents and discuss how they relate to social practices and exchanges in individual cultures. On campus, the course will engage with media anthropology: humans? interactions with technology, how machines have been used to produce complex works, and what they can tell us about the status of both producer and receiver. Particular emphasis this semester will be placed on how artificial intelligence is shaping creativity and what this means for the development of the deep structure of the human mind. The course addresses all aspects and approaches of the Art Histories, Ecologies, Industries major. (This writing-intensive course counts towards the Academic Writing requirements.)
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| BIO 101 | 1 | Intro to Biology: Genetics & Evolution | Della Croce | T/F | 14:30 - 15:45 | ||
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Introduction to Biology: Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology An introduction to the biological sciences. Topics include the principles of genetics, evolutionary theory, ecology, and conservation biology. Students enrolling in this course must enroll in the parallel laboratory section BIO 101L.
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| BIO 101L | 1 | Lab to Introduction to Biology I | Piccinelli | W | 10:00 - 12:45 | ||
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Laboratory to Introduction to Biology: Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology The laboratory course parallels the topics in BIO 101 and provides lab-based investigations of the material covered in BIO 101. Students must register for both BIO 101 and the lab section concurrently. (This course carries an additional fee for laboratory supplies).
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| BUS 115 | 1 | Financial Accounting | Balushkina | M/TH | 14:30 - 15:45 | ||
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Financial Accounting This course is designed to introduce students to the field of financial accounting and provide them with a foundational understanding of financial accounting concepts from the perspectives of both internal and external users. A particular emphasis will be placed on GAAP accounting standards, the preparation of financial statements, and the application of accounting information for decision-making. Students will become familiar with financial statements such as the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows, as well as key accounting books and documents. They will also understand differences in accounting practices across various types of organizations and account for assets, liabilities, owners? equity, revenues, expenses, and dividends.
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| BUS 135 | 1 | International Business | Schultz | T/F | 13:00 - 14:15 | ||
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International Business This course introduces students to the field of international business with a twofold purpose. Firstly, it examines the external environment of international business, exploring how and why cultures, countries, and regions differ. It also addresses the economics and politics of international trade, while considering critical issues related to business ethics and sustainability in a global context. Secondly, it investigates the internal environment of international businesses, focusing on companies? operations, the roles of various business functions and the analysis of their strategies and structures. Close attention is given to applying international business knowledge to practical problems and fostering ethical behavior and decision-making.
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| BUS 136 | 1 | Marketing in a Global Context | Albert | T/F | 11:30 - 12:45 | ||
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Marketing in a Global Context This course is an introduction to the tools and concepts used in the marketing process for consumer and industrial products as well as for services. The focus is on the basic marketing concepts (product, place, price, promotion) as they relate to the field of global marketing. Emphasis is placed on the increasingly important role of interdisciplinary tools to analyze economic, cultural and structural differences across international markets. Specific consideration is given to the development of integrated marketing programs for a complex, global environment.
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| BUS 226 | 1 | Managerial Finance | Suleiman | M/TH | 14:30 - 15:45 | ||
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Managerial Finance Managerial Finance is an introductory course in corporate finance that teaches students the basic theoretical and practical foundations in financial decision-making. In particular, students will learn about concepts and tools needed for valuing investment projects. Topics covered include the time value of money, valuation of corporate investment projects, the risk/return relationship, capital budgeting, the cost of capital, developing appropriate selection criteria, and short- and long-term financial management. Throughout the course, real-world examples are used to link theory with practice.
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| BUS 235T | 1 | Corporate SR (Mediterranean Region) | Schultz | W | 13:00 - 15:45 | ||
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Corporate Social Responsibility (Mediterranean Region) The course provides students with a state-of-the-art understanding of corporate sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The practical relevance of CSR is highlighted through various examples that show how corporations have to deal with emerging ecological and social sustainability issues and stakeholder demands. Given the challenges' underlying complexity and uncertainty as well as multi-stakeholder involvement, corporations require awareness and strategic thinking to engage with their evolving responsibilities. Drawing on examples from various sectors, students will learn about different managerial approaches to address CSR issues and meet diverging stakeholder demands when designing and implementing long-term CSR strategies. To enrich the learning experience, the course includes a travel component where students can opt for a Mediterranean cruise visiting Italy, France, and Spain.
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| BUS 274 | 1 | Brand Management | Albert | T/F | 08:30 - 09:45 | ||
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Brand Management The course focuses on how to build and manage a brand, based on the concept of Customer-Based Brand Equity (CBBE). The goal of the course is to expose students to the challenges that today brands face both from competitors' but also from consumers' points of view and to make students aware and to experience the potential tools companies can use to manage brands today.
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| BUS 353 | 1 | Strategic Management Theory | Schultz | T/F | 11:30 - 12:45 | ||
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International Management Theory and Concepts Strategic management is the study of firms and the political, economic, social and technological environments that affect their organization and strategic decisions. This course considers the external market environment in which firms operate, and provides theoretical foundations, focusing on economic and strategic theories of the firm and introducing key concepts of organizational theory. Practically, the course looks at the creation of competitive advantage of a firm in the global arena. The readings and class discussions include both theoretical concepts and practical case studies. (Junior status recommended)
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| BUS 358 | 1 | Financial Markets and Institutions | To be Announced (TBA) | W | 10:00 - 12:45 | ||
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Financial Markets and Institutions This course examines the infrastructure of the financial system and provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the different functions performed by financial markets and institutions and the role they play in assisting small and large companies. The main emphasis of this course will be the in-depth exploration of the major instruments in the financial market and the institutional characteristics of the markets (i.e.: money, stock, bond, mortgage, crypto, and blockchain markets) in which these assets are traded. Furthermore, the course analyzes the different types of financial intermediaries (commercial banks, investment banks, mutual funds, venture capitalists), which facilitate the flow of funds and are crucial for a well-functioning financial market.
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| BUS 370 | 1 | M&A Law and Finance | Marazzi | M | 10:00 - 12:45 | ||
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Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Finance Course dates: 19 January - 16 February 2026. This special topics course will feature lectures and student-centered activities, focusing on cross-border M&A operations from non-binding offers to sale agreements. The students will be instructed and led by experts of M&A transactions, and the activities will be taught from a common law perspective. A strong emphasis of the course will be an experiential learning component that will include the implementation of a moot competition dividing students into 'Vendor Team' and 'Buyer Team' to simulate real-world M&A negotiations and presentations. The teams will be tasked with creating persuasive arguments, negotiating terms, and producing documents relevant to a cross-border M&A transaction.
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| BUS 385 | 1 | Consumer Behavior in Intl Marketing | Albert | T/F | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Consumer Behavior in International Marketing This course focuses on the understanding of the consumer as fundamental to marketing efforts. The course includes observational research in the community where students develop a greater understanding of consumers' consumption and decision-making behavior. Areas of focus include the consumer decision making process, research techniques, learning and motivation, segmentation and targeting, the impact of lifestyle and values, the role of society and culture in consumption, and ethical issues in consumer relationships.
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| BUS 397 | 1 | Data Mining (Business Intelligence) | Burke | T/F | 14:30 - 15:45 | ||
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Data Mining (Business Intelligence) This course introduces the cutting-edge computing methods for the analysis of business and marketing big data which help in inferring and validating patterns, structures and relationships in data, as a tool to support decisions at all levels of management. Students learn key descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive data mining methods with both supervised and non-supervised machine learning algorithms, which produce information for non-structured and semi structured decision making. While the course introduces a systems approach to business data processing, emphasis will be given to empirical applications using modern software tools such as Data Mining in Solver-Analytics More specifically, students will become familiar with and demonstrate proficiency in applications such as Cluster Analysis, Market Basket Analysis. Logistic Regression, Na?ve Bayes Classification, Entropy Calculation, Classification Trees. Engagement-based learning is provided by using real world cases as well as computer based hands-on for real data analysis. Ultimately, working in teams, students will make the month long projects in applying Data Mining analytical techniques on the real world business problems, and will make suggestions for improvement which will be backed by the new information, gained from DM. Projects are presented in groups. Research papers, which are based on the projects, are individual.
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| BUS 453 | 1 | Fintech | Casati | T | 16:00 - 18:45 | ||
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Fintech This course explores the intersection between finance and technology and how technological developments are transforming the finance industry. The main emphasis of this course will be the in-depth analysis of the digitalization in the financial service industry focusing on three core areas: Payments, Lending, and Investments. The course will examine the market structure and its digital transformation by comparing services offered by traditional and challenger banks. Finally, the course will provide evidence on the impact of those new services on consumers, investors, and corporations. (Recommended: BUS 358)
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| BUS 455 | 1 | Advanced Topics in Management | Balushkina | M/TH | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Advanced Topics in Management This course is intended as a capstone for the International Management and International Marketing Management majors and should come after students have studied all basic aspects of management. Students will be challenged to think critically, strategically, creatively, collaboratively, and compassionately with the goal of working on a field project.
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| BUS 455 | 2 | Advanced Topics in Management | Balushkina | M/TH | 11:30 - 12:45 | ||
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Advanced Topics in Management This course is intended as a capstone for the International Management and International Marketing Management majors and should come after students have studied all basic aspects of management. Students will be challenged to think critically, strategically, creatively, collaboratively, and compassionately with the goal of working on a field project.
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| CHEM 202 | 1 | Organic Chemistry II | Bullock | T/F | 14:30 - 15:45 | ||
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Organic Chemistry II This course builds upon the foundation of CHEM 201 with a focus on the synthesis and identification of organic compounds. The reactions of aromatic compounds, carbonyl containing compounds and the pericyclic reactions will be emphasized. Finally the major biomolecules will be covered in depth as well as an introduction to biochemistry. Students enrolling in this course must enroll in the parallel laboratory section CHEM 202L.
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| CHEM 202L | 1 | Laboratory to Organic Chemistry II | Bullock | M | 17:30 - 20:15 | ||
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Laboratory to Organic Chemistry II The laboratory course parallels the topics in CHEM 202 and provides lab-based investigations of the material covered in CHEM 202. Students must register for both CHEM 202 and the lab section concurrently (This course carries an additional fee for laboratory supplies).
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| CHEM 301 | 1 | Biochemistry | Bullock | M/TH | 14:30 - 15:45 | ||
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Biochemistry This course will provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the properties, synthesis, and metabolism of amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, and nucleotides. The polymeric nature of these biomolecules will be a focus as students learn how these molecules are synthesized and their roles in energy production and the removal of waste products. While there are thousands of reactions that govern cellular metabolism, there are only relatively few types of reactions. This course will focus on the reaction types observed most frequently in cellular metabolism: nucleophilic substitution, elimination, isomerization, oxidation-reduction, and hydrolysis. Recommended prerequisite: CHEM 202.
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| CLCS 110 | 1 | Reading Cultures: Cultural Studies | Saveau | M/TH | 17:30 - 18:45 | ||
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Reading Cultures: Approaches to Cultural Studies This course has two primary goals: to introduce students to the history and theoretical writings of various strands of cultural studies, and to acquaint them with some of the intersecting axes - race, class and gender - that energize the field. Close attention will be paid to issues such as the shaping of identity, forms of representation, the production, consumption and distribution of cultural goods, and the construction of knowledge and power in a host of cultural practices and cultural institutions.
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| CLCS 251T | 1 | Reading Moroccan Culture | Saveau | M/TH | 16:00 - 17:15 | ||
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Reading Moroccan Culture This course examines gender, ethnic, class, family, age, religious relationships within contemporary Morocco. It first provides students with a historical overview of Morocco since its independence in 1956, focusing on the monarchies of Hassan II and Mohammed VI the current king. It explores the power dynamics that exist in a society that is predominantly patrilinear and where gender roles are mostly divided along a binary system; it studies the place of the individual in a society where the collective ego prevails; it considers the place of Berber identity within Moroccan society and finally it explores Sufism as a counter-power to any form of Islamic rigorism. All the themes studied are substantiated with presentations by Moroccan scholars working in the fields of sociology, gender, ethnic, religious, and music studies. (Knowledge of French recommended.) NOTE: This Academic Travel course carries a supplemental fee: CHF 500 (for students invoiced in CHF) or USD 640 (for students invoiced in USD).
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| CLCS 254W | 1 | Postcolonial Literatures and Theories | Roy | M/TH | 14:30 - 15:45 | ||
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Introduction to Postcolonial Literatures and Theories This course is designed as an introduction to the field of postcolonial studies. Readings will familiarise students with a diversity of ?world literature? and grant an understanding of key debates in postcolonial studies. As postcolonialism is not a unified field of study, the course engages with different theoretical understandings of the term and queries what it even means to be ?postcolonial.? When exactly does the postcolonial begin? What are the implications of using such a broad umbrella term to designate writings from around the world? Students will explore depictions of the colonial encounter and decolonisation, question the links between colonialism and globalisation, and examine constructions of East and West, Global North and Global South. Central to the course will be the themes of: power and violence; economics and class; land and nation; authenticity and development; gender and sexuality; history and memory; the politics of literature; and the politics of print culture. Students will read a diverse and broad historical selection of texts from a variety of geographical locations including, India, Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Jamaica. Literary texts will be paired with theoretical readings from such critics as Kwame Anthony Appiah, Ann McLintock, Benita Parry, Franz Fanon, and Edward Said. Although the main focus of study is literature, the course will adopt an interdisciplinary approach, understanding literary works as products of cultural, historical, social, and political circumstances. Throughout the course, students will explore how colonial power has shaped?and continues to shape?the world in which we live. (This writing-intensive course counts towards the Academic Writing requirements.)
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| CLCS 331W | 1 | Narrative Ecologies: The Uses of Environ | Wiedmer | Th | 10:00 - 12:45 | ||
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Narrative Ecologies: The Uses of Environmental Humanities This course explores the central role of storytelling in the way cultural sustainability and environmental challenges are conceptualized, represented, understood and acted upon. How is our understanding of issues such as the relationship between humans and earth, of emerging "green" technologies, and of precepts of social justice conditioned by the way authors, filmmakers and activists have imagined them? How do narratives we consume in literature, film and the broader culture in turn influence our own actions? What are the ethical and political stakes of these stories in the large questions animating debates around climate change, social justice and the environment? The class engages with ways in which the environmental humanities movement deploys humanities, specifically storytelling, as a tool to tackle the most urgent environmental challenges we face today. Students will be asked not only to be alert and critical readers of texts on climate change, the environment and sustainability, but also to be creative producers of stories and projects that re-imagine solutions to environmental problems and social justice issues to help shape more future-friendly practices. (This writing-intensive course counts towards the Academic Writing requirements).
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| COM 105 | 1 | Intro to CMS in the Global Context | Sugiyama | M/TH | 11:30 - 12:45 | ||
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Introduction to Communication and Media This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and theories of communication and media studies as they apply to the ever-increasing intercultural interactions of a contemporary world. In particular, students will learn the basics of intercultural/international communication processes, gaining a foundation for developing intercultural communication competence.
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| COM 203 | 1 | Communication Research Methods | Martinisi | T/F | 11:30 - 12:45 | ||
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Communication Research This course introduces students to quantitative and qualitative research methods as they apply to communication and media studies. Students will acquire skill in examining various communication and media issues by conducting an original research project.
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| COM 212 | 1 | Public Speaking | Sugiyama | M/TH | 14:30 - 15:45 | ||
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Public Speaking This course introduces students to the fundamental theory and practice of public speaking, ranging from speech structure, message strategies, audience analysis, to speech delivery. It also offers ample opportunities for students to practice speaking in public for a variety of purposes in both face-to-face and online formats. Special attention is paid to cultivate students' identity and communication style as global speakers who can effectively and ethically engage with the global audience. As such, the course also discusses various factors that contribute to impression formation and interpersonal credibility, communication styles, and the complexity of the global audience. Students should leave the course with a better understanding of both the theory and practice of public speaking, particularly with a view towards global social engagement.
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| COM 235T | 1 | Food Journalism and Culture (Italy) | Martinisi | W | 13:00 - 15:45 | ||
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Pizza, Spaghetti and Other Stories: Food Journalism and Culture The importance of food is clear: we eat food to stay alive and thrive. Food, its production, commodification, preparation and consumption is and it has long been a place of cultural formation, negotiation and mediatization. In this sense food journalism plays a crucial role in today's journalism practice around the world in attracting a larger and diversified readership. The course will introduce food through its mediated representation involving journalism but also film, television and the Internet. The topics include the politics of celebrity chefs, food TV shows, restaurant reviews, lifestyle journalism, and other food media's place in the "world of goods". It will also include the social dimensions of food in media by engaging with issues of multinational power, globalization and inequality. The travel component to Italy will include visits to Milan, Parma, and Bologna. This will offer a great opportunity for students to develop insights into the field of food journalism and to experience the excellence of the Italian food with the aim of connecting food texts, culture and writing.
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| COM 311 | 1 | Strategic Communication and PR | Martinisi | T/F | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Strategic Communication and Public Relations This course is designed for students aiming to deepen and advance their understanding of strategic communication principles and public relations (PR) practices. It explores the role of communication in shaping public opinion, influencing stakeholders, and managing an organization?s reputation. Through case studies, simulations, and practical projects, students will analyze and design strategic communication campaigns tailored to specific goals and audiences, while addressing the challenges of crisis communication, corporate social responsibility, and digital media integration. The course emphasizes critical thinking, ethical considerations, and the development of effective communication strategies in the media sector.
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| COM 497 | 1 | Senior Research Seminar in Communication | Sugiyama | M/TH | 13:00 - 14:15 | ||
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Senior Research Seminar in Communication This seminar provides students with a capstone experience in synthesizing their theoretical and methodological knowledge in the form of a high-quality research paper. Some of the major areas of research and theories in the field of communication and media studies will be reviewed and discussed in class as students work on their own research project. At the end of the semester, students will present their final research paper to an audience of students and professors. Students will also be encouraged to submit their paper to an appropriate conference venue around the world. (Prerequisite: Senior status)
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| ECN 100 | 1 | Principles of Macroeconomics | Filic | T/F | 13:00 - 14:15 | ||
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Principles of Macroeconomics This entry-level course in economics covers the fundamentals of macroeconomics and, together with ECN 101, it provides the necessary prerequisites for any other upper-level course in economics. This course introduces students to the study of economics as a field of knowledge within the social sciences. In the first part, focus will be on the definition, the explanation, and the significance of national income, business fluctuations, the price level, and aggregate employment. In the second part, special attention is devoted to the functioning of a payment system based on currency and bank money. Finally, students will discuss the instruments and the functioning of public policy aimed to stabilize prices and maintain high levels of output and employment within the current macroeconomic context. Current economic news will be regularly scrutinized.
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| ECN 101 | 1 | Principles of Microeconomics | Dianova | T/F | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Principles of Microeconomics This is an entry-level course in economics, covering fundamentals of microeconomics and aimed at students who choose it as an elective or plan to continue their studies in economics. This course helps students develop basic analytical skills in economics and microeconomics. It provides students with a basic understanding of the market system in advanced capitalist economies. It examines the logic of constrained choice with a focus on the economic behavior of individuals and organizations. After a theoretical analysis of the determinants and the interaction of supply and demand under competitive conditions, alternative market structures will be investigated, including monopolistic and oligopolistic forms. The course examines the conditions under which markets allocate resources efficiently and identifies causes of market failure and the appropriate government response. The introduction to the role of government includes its taxing and expenditure activities as well as regulatory policies.
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| ECN 105T | 1 | Economic Growth & AI (Med Region) | Dianova | W | 13:00 - 15:45 | ||
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Economic Growth & AI (Mediterranean Region) Recent decades have been characterized by unprecedented rates of economic growth that have brought millions of people across the globe out of poverty. Growth dynamics are likely to change even more rapidly as artificial intelligence (AI) technologies become increasingly sophisticated and integral to the process of production and distribution of goods and services worldwide. However, rapid growth and increasing reliance on sophisticated production technologies come with costs and risks that must be considered alongside the evident benefits. How will the nature of work change in the age of AI? Some professions, production processes and tasks may be, by nature, more resistant to the incursion of technology, raising important questions that society will need to answer in the coming years. What is the future of artists, artisans and tradition in an age of highly-sophisticated technologies capable of replicating creative work at a fraction of the time and cost? Should there be a 'human-made' premium on handcrafted creative output? Should economists focus on alternative measures of growth that give greater weight to quality of output rather than quantity, or to the benefit that such production brings in terms of societal wellbeing? This course will prompt contemplation of these and other important issues. Craftsmanship will be the focus of the week-long Mediterranean Cruise, which will take students to a number of different cities, all of which boast rich histories and traditions of artisanal production.
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| ECN 204 | 1 | History of Economic Thought | Colombo | W | 10:00 - 12:45 | ||
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History of Economic Thought This intermediate-level course studies the evolution of economic ideas from the early Eighteenth century to modern times, with emphasis on the differing conceptions of economic life and the methodological underpinnings of three main strands of thought: Classical economics, Marginalism, and the Keynesian paradigm. The course is organized around four main themes: the source of wealth, the theory of value, economic growth and business cycle in the capitalist system, and the notion of equilibrium in economic analysis. The course aims at providing a systematic conceptual framework to investigate the development of economic ideas, in their intersections with philosophy and the political and historical evolution of societies, hence highlighting the nature of economics as a social science. At the same time, the course stresses the methodological features (in terms of a rigorous and formalized language) peculiar to the economic reasoning.
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| ECN 319 | 1 | Behavioral Economics | Dianova | T/F | 14:30 - 15:45 | ||
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Behavioral Economics Why do individuals sometimes make seemingly irrational decisions? Do consumers always make choices that maximize their utility? This course capitalizes on students' basic knowledge of economic decision making to question some of the assumptions of mainstream economic models introduced in lower-level economics courses. Discovering the drivers of decision making that appears to deviate from full rationality is a relatively new field of study that integrates insight from psychology into traditional analysis of behavior and choice. Findings from behavioral economics have wide-ranging application in the professional world, spanning economic policy making, corporate management, marketing and finance. The analytical approach in this field breaks from the long-standing mainstream economics tradition of treating subjects as rational agents, effectively making use of available information to make rational decisions with the goal of maximizing personal utility. Analysis in the context of behavioral economics alters this approach by integrating biases, heuristic reasoning and social norms into models of human behavior with the scope of increasing explanatory and predictive power of theory.
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| ECN 341 | 1 | International Trade | Helg | T/F | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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International Trade This course will introduce students to the major theories and tools used in the study of international trade. Particular attention will be paid to deriving, analyzing, and assessing the empirical evidence for and against the Ricardian and Heckscher-Ohlin conceptions of comparative advantage, the Stolper-Samuelson Factor-Price Equalization Theorem, and New Trade Theories based on assumptions of imperfect competition. Students will become skilled at using a variety of graphical devices including offer curves to describe the effect which variations in government policy, factor dynamics, country size, technology, tastes, and transport costs will have on the terms of as well as the magnitude and distribution of the gains from trade. (Recommended prerequisite: ECN 256)
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| ECN 366 | 1 | Investment Analysis II (Corp Finance) | Colombo | W | 16:00 - 18:45 | ||
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Investment Analysis II (Corporate Finance) This course focuses on the financing decisions of firms. After an introduction to the questions related to the definition of debt policy and the capital structure of the firm, the course investigates the problems related to the issue of securities and dividend policy, as well as the impact of corporate taxes and the costs associated to bankruptcy, financial distress and conflicts of interest. The second part of the course studies the fundamentals of option pricing theory and the valuation of options - with applications to warrants and convertible bonds - and provides an introduction to the use of derivatives for hedging financial risk.
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| ENV 230T | 1 | Freshwater Conservation (Italy Slovenia) | Della Croce | W | 13:00 - 15:45 | ||
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Freshwater Conservation (North-East Italy and Slovenia) This course explores various aspects of rivers, freshwater lakes, and groundwater aquifers. It provides an introduction to the distinct ecology of these three freshwater systems, their human uses, different approaches to their conservation, possibilities for restoration of degraded systems, and a look at the role that lakes and rivers play in international relationships. During Academic Travel, the class will visit various freshwater systems and will also practice field data collection techniques. Tentatively, the travel will take place in North-East Italy and Slovenia. This course may also include shorter day-trips to local points of interests.
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| ENV 240 | 1 | Environment and Health | Piccinelli | M/TH | 11:30 - 12:45 | ||
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Environment and Health Modern human society has generated various biological, chemical, and physical hazards that threaten human health, as well as the quality of the air, water, soils, and ecosystems. This course first presents the origin and characteristics of these hazards. It then evaluates how the hazards affect the environment and human health and the disproportionate nature of these effects. It also explores the strategies and approaches that have been developed to manage risks and mitigate impacts. The course considers these issues in regional and global contexts, with a particular focus on Switzerland and Europe.
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| ENV 250 | 1 | Quantitative Methods for Env Science | Piccinelli | M/TH | 14:30 - 15:45 | ||
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Quantitative Methods for Environmental Science The course exposes students to a range of quantitative methods used in the environmental sciences. It will introduce students to the science of geographic information systems (GIS) and their use in understanding and analyzing environmental issues. Students will gain hands-on experience with GIS software. This course will also examine statistical methods commonly applied in quantitative environmental research. It assumes students already possess a background in statistics and environmental science.
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| ENV 497 | 1 | Senior Capstone in Environmental Science | Della Croce | T | 16:00 - 18:45 | ||
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Senior Capstone This course serves as the capstone course for students in the Environmental Sciences and Studies program. Students synthesize the material from the courses in the major and demonstrate their ability to apply knowledge this knowledge to contemporary environmental issues.
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| FAS 100 | 1 | Introduction to Fashion Studies | Barile | T | 16:00 - 18:45 | ||
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Introduction to Fashion Studies This course introduces students to Fashion Studies beginning with the history of the making of fashion, thus laying the groundwork for the understanding of fashion as a creative and cultural phenomenon from the Renaissance to the present day. It then examines fashion as a dynamic communication process that is based on everyday social interactions in the contemporary world. In this section, special attention is paid to media representations, interactions with cultural industries, subcultural practices, and the impact of emerging technologies, exploring how the fashion process becomes an integral part of the identity formation. Finally, the fashion process is analyzed from the business perspective with a particular focus on marketing. Taking the classic concept of product life cycle, students learn how the fashion industry and consumer behavior propagate new trends in society.
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| FRE 101 | 1 | Introductory French, Part I | Röhrenbach | T/F | 11:30 - 12:45 | ||
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Introductory French, Part I This course provides an introduction to the essentials of French grammar, vocabulary, and culture. The acquisition of aural/oral skills are stressed right from the beginning, and as such, the predominant language of instruction is French. In this course, students will acquire basic knowledge of written and spoken structures so that they will be able to read and comprehend short passages in French and write simple compositions and dialogues.
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| FRE 201 | 1 | Intermediate French, Part II | Saveau | M/TH | 11:30 - 12:45 | ||
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Intermediate French, Part II This course is designed for students who have completed three semesters of French language study. It reviews and expands on grammar, vocabulary, and culture acquired over the previous semesters of language study. The acquisition of aural/oral skills are stressed, and as such, the predominant language of instruction is French. By the end of the course, students are expected to be proficient in the written and spoken usage of intermediate linguistic structures. Further, students are introduced to literary texts, inviting conversation and some initial literary analysis.
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| FRE 301 | 1 | Advanced French, Part II | Röhrenbach | T/F | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Advanced French, Pt. II For students who have completed at least two years of college-level language studies or the equivalent. This course reinforces and expands on grammar, vocabulary, and culture learnt in previous years of French language study. It introduces students to different literary and cinematic genres reflecting the contemporary scene of the Francophone world. Development of techniques of expression are accomplished through oral and written exercises. By the end of this course, students are expected to achieve proficiency at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
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| GER 101 | 1 | Introductory German, Part II | Heinkel Pennati | T/F | 13:00 - 14:15 | ||
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Introductory German, Part II This course is designed for students who have completed one semester of German Language study. This course builds on GER 100 and provides an introduction to the essentials of German grammar, vocabulary, and culture. The acquisition of aural/oral skills are stressed, and as such, the predominant language of instruction is German. In this course, students will acquire basic knowledge of written and spoken structures so that they will be able to read and comprehend short passages in German and write simple compositions and dialogues.
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| GER 201 | 1 | Intermediate German, Part II | Heinkel Pennati | T/F | 11:30 - 12:45 | ||
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Intermediate German, Part II This course is designed for students who have completed three semesters of German language study. It reviews and expands on grammar, vocabulary, and culture acquired over the previous semesters of language study. The acquisition of aural/oral skills are stressed, and as such, the predominant language of instruction is German. By the end of the course, students are expected to be proficient in the written and spoken usage of intermediate linguistic structures. Further, students are introduced to literary texts, inviting conversation and some initial literary analysis.
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| GER 301 | 1 | Advanced German, Part II | Roy | M/TH | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Advanced German, Part II For students who have completed at least two years of college or university-level language studies or the equivalent. This course offers cultural readings from a variety of sources, including some literary pieces, as well as magazine and newspaper articles reflecting the contemporary scene in the countries where the language is spoken. Vocabulary expansion and development of techniques of expression are accomplished through oral and written exercises.This course has a substantial reading, writing and speaking requirement.
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| GER 372 | 1 | Postcolonial Switzerland | Roy | M/TH | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Postcolonial Switzerland This course, taught in German, introduces students to Switzerland as a postcolonial nation, exploring its active role in global power structures past and present through a variety of case studies drawing on historical engagements, cultural institutions and their legacies, postcolonial cityscapes, the chocolate and tobacco industries, and contemporary discussions of migration, collective memory, and "nation." German-language creative and critical engagement is rich, and the Swiss context, as Putschert and others state, of "colonialism without colonies" encourages students to begin by asking what it means to apply postcolonial methodologies in interrogating colonialism and imperialism in their different forms, past and present (trade, missions, expeditions, legacies of migration). Students will develop a critical and conceptual toolbox that will enable them to actively engage in discussions to seek to understand how and where colonial power relations of the past have left their mark on Swiss (cultural) landscapes, and how actors such as contemporary filmmakers, curators, artists and action groups are working to make these traces visible in the present.
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| HIS 101 | 1 | Western Civilization II | Mottale | T/F | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Western Civilization II: Modern This survey course is an introduction to the political, economic, social, and intellectual history of the west from the scientific revolution to the present. Our knowledge and understanding of the past is contingent and contested. The course explores areas of contestation to give students a better understanding of the forces and events which have shaped the modern world.
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| HIS 105 | 1 | Global History II | Pyka | M/TH | 13:00 - 14:15 | ||
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Global History II: Globalization, the Emergence of the Modern State, and Coping with Change This course is an introduction to themes and trends in the political, economic, cultural, and social history of modern societies in global perspective. It covers the development of societies in Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas from the "Columbian Exchange" to the twenty-first century with emphasis on the development of institutions within their changing cultural, political, and environmental context, as well as the impact of encounters between human societies. Students are introduced to the historiography of globalization and of the modern state. Further attention is devoted to the analysis of different categories of primary sources. (It is recommended that HIS 104 be taken prior to HIS 105).
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| HIS 213W | 1 | End of Roman Republic Past and Present | Pyka | M/TH | 17:30 - 18:45 | ||
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The End of the Roman Republic in Past and Present The Roman Republic with its constitution, its crisis, and its eventual replacement by the Principate of Augustus has served for centuries as fruitful field to study constitutionalism and its discontents. Questions such as the how a republican form of shared governance gets abolished in favor of a more authoritarian form of rule, about the role of individuals vs structural powers, and the role of methods of persuasion in public affairs are crucial for this field. By discussing essential primary and important secondary sources, this course analyzes the final crisis phase of the Republic (from 46 BC onwards), the role of Caesar and the Civil War to the rise of Augustus. Both contemporary observers and later Roman scholars, as well as political philosophers and historians in the Renaissance, the age of Revolutions, and our own times, help to understand this most famous end of a Republic. In addition, this course also serves as an introduction to the history of historiography in a western context, and enables students to further contextualize their own experience and research. (This writing-intensive course counts towards the Academic Writing requirements.)
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| HIS 268T | 1 | History of Modern Japan | Hoey | W | 13:00 - 15:45 | ||
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History of Modern Japan Following over two centuries of self imposed isolation, Japan was forcibly opened to the west in the 1850s by America's 'black ships'. Since then it has experienced revolutionary changes as its leaders struggled to align Japan with the prevailing trends of the world system. These efforts have had far reaching and lasting consequences for the Japanese people and for Japan's neighbors. This course examines these changes as Japan struggled to catch up with the western powers, to industrialize, build modern systems of administration, establish itself as an imperial power, and later, to recover from the ravages of war and meet the challenges of economic success and stagnation and the ever present danger of natural disaster. This Academic Travel course includes a period of field-research throughout Japan. NOTE: This Academic Travel course carries a supplemental fee: CHF 1?650 (for students invoiced in CHF) or USD 2,115 (for students invoiced in USD).
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| HIS 345W | 1 | Propaganda: A Modern History | Pyka | T | 16:00 - 18:45 | ||
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Propaganda: A Modern History Propaganda, a persuasive form of communication, acts to bind modern societies together. Its history is closely connected to changes in media and media consumption. This course analyzes in depth a wide range of primary sources in different formats. Following an introduction to important approaches in the theory, practice, and ethics of propaganda, as well as its early history, special attention is devoted to the century of propaganda, from the First World War and its impact, through the 'age of extremes' (Eric Hobsbawm), and the new possibilities of a digital age. (This writing-intensive course counts towards the Academic Writing requirements.)
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| ITA 101 | 1 | Introductory Italian, Part II | Ferrari | M/TH | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Introductory Italian, Part II ITA 101 employs immersive experiential learning pedagogy, providing an introduction to the essentials of Italian grammar, vocabulary, and culture. This course is designed for students who have completed one semester of Italian language study. The course provides an introduction to the essentials of Italian grammar, vocabulary, and culture. The acquisition of aural/oral communication skills will be stressed and, as such, the predominant language of instruction will be Italian. By the end of the course students will achieve proficiency at the A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Students will be expected to be proficient in the written and spoken usage of basic linguistic structures. Students will be expected to read and comprehend short passages in Italian and to draft simple compositions / dialogues. Project-based assignments will be designed to foster practical communication skills and encourage efforts towards increased student integration in the local Italian-speaking community. Whenever possible, students will be encouraged to participate actively in local initiatives, festivals, events and to apply the skills they are mastering in class to their co-curricular learning on and off campus.
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| ITA 101 | 2 | Introductory Italian, Part II | Kugler Bertola | M/TH | 13:00 - 14:15 | ||
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Introductory Italian, Part II ITA 101 employs immersive experiential learning pedagogy, providing an introduction to the essentials of Italian grammar, vocabulary, and culture. This course is designed for students who have completed one semester of Italian language study. The course provides an introduction to the essentials of Italian grammar, vocabulary, and culture. The acquisition of aural/oral communication skills will be stressed and, as such, the predominant language of instruction will be Italian. By the end of the course students will achieve proficiency at the A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Students will be expected to be proficient in the written and spoken usage of basic linguistic structures. Students will be expected to read and comprehend short passages in Italian and to draft simple compositions / dialogues. Project-based assignments will be designed to foster practical communication skills and encourage efforts towards increased student integration in the local Italian-speaking community. Whenever possible, students will be encouraged to participate actively in local initiatives, festivals, events and to apply the skills they are mastering in class to their co-curricular learning on and off campus.
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| ITA 201 | 1 | Intermediate Italian, Part II | Ferrari | M/TH | 11:30 - 12:45 | ||
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Introductory Italian, Part II This course is designed for students who have completed three semesters of Italian language study. The course provides a review and expansion of command of Italian grammar, vocabulary, and culture. The acquisition of aural/oral communication skills will be stressed and, as such, the predominant language of instruction will be Italian. By the end of the course students will achieve proficiency at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Students will be expected to be proficient in the written and spoken usage of intermediate linguistic structures. Students will be able to interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. They will be able to: a) understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization; b) produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. Whenever possible, the written assignments will be designed to foster practical communication skills and encourage efforts towards increased student integration in the local Italian-speaking community.
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| ITA 201 | 2 | Intermediate Italian, Part II | Zanoli | M/TH | 13:00 - 14:15 | ||
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Introductory Italian, Part II This course is designed for students who have completed three semesters of Italian language study. The course provides a review and expansion of command of Italian grammar, vocabulary, and culture. The acquisition of aural/oral communication skills will be stressed and, as such, the predominant language of instruction will be Italian. By the end of the course students will achieve proficiency at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Students will be expected to be proficient in the written and spoken usage of intermediate linguistic structures. Students will be able to interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. They will be able to: a) understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization; b) produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. Whenever possible, the written assignments will be designed to foster practical communication skills and encourage efforts towards increased student integration in the local Italian-speaking community.
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| ITA 301 | 1 | Advanced Italian, Part II | Ferrari | T/F | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Advanced Italian, Part II For students who have completed at least two years of college-level language studies or the equivalent. This course offers cultural readings from a variety of sources, including some literary pieces, as well as magazine and newspaper articles reflecting the contemporary scene in the countries where the language is spoken. Vocabulary expansion and development of techniques of expression are accomplished through oral and written exercises.
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| MAT 100 | 1 | Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning | Bernasconi | T | 16:00 - 18:45 | ||
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Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning This course presents concepts essential to the understanding of the basics of college algebra. Topics include rational expressions and equations, exponents and radicals, polynomials, factoring, linear equations and inequalities, quadratic equations, elementary word problems, Cartesian coordinate systems, graphs, and straight lines. This course prepares students for other 100-level mathematics courses. It does not satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning core requirement, but counts as elective credit. Prerequisite: appropriate math placement score.
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| MAT 181 | 1 | Math for Everybody | Bullock | T/F | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Math for Everybody Mathematics can be used by everybody to better understand the world around us, and also make informed decisions throughout our life. This course presents some essential tools for this, spanning from basic math and basic algebra to linear, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic functions, growth sequences, and system of equations with three or more variables. One additional topic from Graph Theory/Discrete Mathematics, Voting Theory, Fairness Concepts, Optimization versus Game Theoretical Approaches will also be covered in the class. Students culminate their learning with a final project, in which they will thoroughly investigate a more complex application to the real world or our lives.
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| MAT 181 | 2 | Math for Everybody | Bullock | T/F | 11:30 - 12:45 | ||
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Math for Everybody Mathematics can be used by everybody to better understand the world around us, and also make informed decisions throughout our life. This course presents some essential tools for this, spanning from basic math and basic algebra to linear, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic functions, growth sequences, and system of equations with three or more variables. One additional topic from Graph Theory/Discrete Mathematics, Voting Theory, Fairness Concepts, Optimization versus Game Theoretical Approaches will also be covered in the class. Students culminate their learning with a final project, in which they will thoroughly investigate a more complex application to the real world or our lives.
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| MAT 182 | 1 | Introduction to Statistics | Burke | T/F | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Introduction to Statistics This course introduces students to essential data and analytical skills, focusing on Data Literacy and fundamental statistical techniques. Students will learn how to explore, interpret, and communicate insights drawn from real-world datasets, guided by interactive DataCamp modules. The course also integrates Intermediate Google Sheets coursework to practice hands-on data cleaning, visualization, and hypothesis testing without coding. By the end of the semester, students will have a working knowledge of how and why statistics are used for data analysis, learn how to best convey their insights through data storytelling, and understand how data supports decision-making in both academic and professional contexts.
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| MAT 282 | 1 | Intermediate Statistics | Burke | T/F | 13:00 - 14:15 | ||
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Intermediate Statistics This computationally intensive course offers an in-depth exploration of the most commonly used statistical methods, emphasizing both manual calculations and R programming language to arrive at a thorough understanding of statistical formulas. Students will learn how to read and compute statistical formulas, grasp their applications and rationale, and develop proficiency in basic statistical coding and mathematical modelling. Topics include measures of central tendency and variability, probability fundamentals, the normal distribution, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, t-tests, correlation, regression, ANOVA, chi-squared tests, and Bayes' Theorem. Students will work through statistical calculations, gaining a solid foundation in statistical reasoning and the skills necessary to perform statistical analyses and communicate results. This hands-on approach to learning statistics fosters a deeper understanding of concepts than MAT182 and prepares students to interpret and apply statistics in upper level and graduate courses.
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| MUS 213 | 1 | Classical Music in Film | Trebici Marin | T/F | 13:00 - 14:15 | ||
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Classical Music in Film The purpose of the course is to explore and understand the use of classical music in art movies. From Bach to Mahler and from D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation to Stanley Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey, classical music has been used as leitmotiv and supporting narrative in film. Based on the chronology of music history and the use of classical music in period movies, the course analyzes the way in which specific pieces of music have contributed to some of the greatest films of the past. Musical and film extracts will be viewed and discussed. This course carries a supplemental fee.
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| POL 112 | 1 | Markets, Policy and Administration | Filic | T/F | 14:30 - 15:45 | ||
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Markets, Policy and Administration The analysis of contemporary challenges calls for a theoretically informed and multi-disciplinary approach. This course introduces students to the key concepts related to allocating tangible and intangible resources under conditions of scarcity, and producing public or commercial goods and services In doing so, the course draws on political, managerial, game-theoretical and economic frameworks and encourages students to apply them to a broad range of cases. The objectives include enabling students to understand and analyze policy-making, the functioning of markets and their social and political implications, as well as the management of public and private institutions. Specific topics covered include (but are not limited to) modes of decision-making, rational behavior, supply and demand, competitive dynamics, welfare, externalities and public goods, consumer choice, and basic monetary and fiscal policy. While special emphasis will be placed on the analysis of political and managerial challenges, the course is relevant to students of other disciplines.
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| POL 216T | 1 | Global Challenges (Vienna) | Bucher | W | 13:00 - 15:45 | ||
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Contemporary Global Challenges (Vienna) To better understand (some of) the major challenges humanity faces today, this course introduces students to the underlying structures and the key actors that shape global relations. As such, this travel course will provide an opportunity to engage with the main building-blocks of the contemporary international order and to inquire into the interactions among states, international organizations and non-governmental actors. Some of the key topics covered in class and on travel include: interstate war, deterrence and contemporary shifts in the nuclear order; the challenges underlying the political need to address energy security, fight climate change, and enable development; and the relationship between human rights, intervention, and state sovereignty.
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| POL 228T | 1 | Nations and Nationalism (Basque Country) | Strijbis | M/TH | 16:00 - 17:15 | ||
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Nations and Nationalism (Basque Country) Basque nationalism is a form of nationalism that asserts that Basques, an ethnic group indigenous to the western Pyrenees, are a nation and promotes the political unity of the Basques, today scattered between Spain and France. Since Basque nationalism has developed at the end of the 19th century it clashed with Spanish nationalism and gave rise to a strong independence movement, which culminated in the actions of the terrorist organization ETA. What are nations and why do people identify with these imagined communities? What makes individuals become nationalist? What are the drivers of secessionism and when does it become violent? And how does secessionism impact political systems and individual behavior? In this course, students will learn political science theories that give answers to these questions and apply it to the case of the Basque Country. The academic travel will bring us to various places in the (Spanish) Basque Country that have been central to the development of Basque nationalism including the cities of Bilbao and San Sebastian. On our trip to the Basque Country, we will study Basque nationalism through ethnographic observation, will visit events through which the Basque nation is constructed and celebrated (e.g. folkloric festivals, typical ?Basque? sports, Basque folk and/or punk music), visit expositions on Basque nationalism, and speak to experts of Basque politics.
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| POL 231T | 1 | The Politics of Organized Crime (Sicily) | Volpi | W | 13:00 - 15:45 | ||
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The Politics of Organized Crime (Sicily) While popular media often depicts Italian criminal organizations through clich?d portrayals in movies and literature, scrutinizing actual data?such as court records, investigative findings, and crime statistics?debunks many long-held beliefs about Italian mafias. This course aims to provide students with a nuanced understanding of these complex criminal networks by dispelling commonly held myths. It delves into the inner workings of Italy's mafia organizations, exploring their unique codes, symbols, and operations in both legitimate and illicit sectors. Additionally, the course investigates the mafias' ties to political and societal institutions. To offer a broader perspective, the course also compares Italian organized crime with its counterparts in other nations. Such comparative analyses will help students differentiate between various forms of organized crime and identify commonalities and variances in their origins and sustainability across different countries. Furthermore, the course encompasses an overview of anti-crime policies and community-led efforts aimed at mitigating the impact and spread of mafia influence in local economies and societies.
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| POL 301 | 1 | Theories of International Relations | Bucher | T | 16:00 - 18:45 | ||
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Theories of International Relations This course concentrates on the major approaches, models and theories in the study of international relations. Micro and macro theories, deductive and inductive methods are explored from historical, political and economic perspectives. The relations between the major powers in the twentieth century are examined for their relevance in the study of international politics.
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| POL 302 | 1 | Political Philosophy | Bucher | M | 17:30 - 20:15 | ||
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Political Philosophy This course is designed to familiarize students with the major currents of political philosophy. It covers a broad range of central thinkers from the major philosophers of ancient Greece up to the proponents of modern-day liberalism. The course situates political philosophies in their historical context of emergence and thereby provides an overview of the history of the central ideas which are at the heart of thinking about politics, society and justice. The reading of primary and secondary sources serves as the basis for in-depth class discussions and a critical engagement with the normative underpinnings of societal organization.
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| POL 309 | 1 | Legal Studies and the Study of Law | Barcilon Brenna | M/TH | 08:30 - 09:45 | ||
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Legal Studies and the Study of Law The law governs many of our daily activities and behaviors. Who then decides what the law should be and who should be subject to it? How are laws made? What are the implications for our daily life? This course examines the law in Switzerland, Europe, and the United States, offering a cross-cultural comparison and building on concepts fundamental to political science. Initially focusing on developing a vocabulary in legal terminology, students then consider how domestic law relates to international law. The course examines the relationships between domestic and international law, considering both civil and common law. Connecting theory to practice, students may have the opportunity to visit the Federal Tribunal or attend a trial at one of the nearby courts.
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| POL 312 | 1 | 21st C Leadership: Influence and Power | Volpi | Th | 10:00 - 12:45 | ||
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Leadership in the 21st Century: Influence and Power across Sectors What makes someone a leader, and why do some succeed while others fail? This course introduces students to leadership as a social and strategic phenomenon, examining how individuals exercise influence across business, politics, and society. Drawing on insights from political science, sociology, psychology, and management, students will explore how leaders emerge, how they navigate power and conflict, and how leadership is shaped by culture, gender, ethics, and digital transformation. Through case studies, discussions, and individual research, students will critically evaluate leadership across sectors, from CEOs and political figures to activists and entrepreneurs. This course equips students with analytical tools to assess leadership styles, communication strategies, and decision-making processes in a variety of professional contexts. It is ideal for students interested in careers in business, marketing, public affairs, or any field where understanding influence and organizational dynamics is key.
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| POL 377 | 1 | International Political Economy | Lemoli | T/F | 14:30 - 15:45 | ||
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International Political Economy The interplay between political and economic issues has become central to the study of international relations in the modern world. This course will examine the traditional theoretical foundations of International Political Economy (the views of the liberals, the Marxists, the nationalists, etc.) and their applicability to today's world. Using an inter-disciplinary approach, the course will look at both historical background and present-day issues and conditions. The problems of development and North-South relations and the question of sustainability will be examined. International trade issues, such as the relations between trade globalization and environmental and human rights concerns and the role of institutions such as, the WTO, the IMF and G8 meetings will be studied. Finally the course will also consider new problem areas such as the internet and its control and e-commerce and the emerging role of non-governmental organizations.(Formerly POL 277. Students cannot earn credit for both POL 277 and POL 377.)
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| POL 495 | 1 | Senior Research Project | Volpi | M | 10:00 - 12:45 | ||
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Senior Research Project: Group Based Senior Research Project While discourses of academic achievement oftentimes glorify the individual genius, knowledge production is a deeply social and cooperative process. Building on the methodological skills acquired in POL 497, this course provides students with the opportunity to develop an overarching and shared research project over the course of the semester. Doing so, allows students to apply their acquired knowledge in the context of a research project that would not be possible to finalize by any individual student alone, and consequently to contribute to the joint development of new insights. This project will be supported by the teaching faculty member who will provide guidance in terms of topics, theoretical and methodological approaches, and coordination and workload distribution.
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| PSY 201 | 1 | Social Psychology | Ongis | T/F | 11:30 - 12:45 | ||
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Social Psychology Introduction to major theories and research findings of social psychology in order to provide an understanding of the roles of cognitive and motivational processes in social behavior. The focus of this course is on how people's behavior, feelings and thoughts are influenced through social environment.
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| PSY 203 | 1 | Theories of Personality | Ongis | T | 16:00 - 18:45 | ||
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Theories of Personality The course addresses itself to a comprehensive in-depth study of the following question: What is personality? The major theories of personality which are prominent and important today in the field of psychology are considered individually in detail, chronologically and comparatively. These include the classical psycho-analytical theory of Freud, Jungian theory, existential/phenomenological theories, cognitive theories and behavior psychology.
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| PSY 206 | 1 | Criminology and Criminal Psychology | Travaini | W | 16:00 - 18:45 | ||
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Criminology and Criminal Psychology Criminology approaches crimes and their authors in a multi-disciplinary perspective through psychology, medicine, law, and sociology. It is in the union of these competences that criminology finds its uniqueness. Criminal psychology studies mental illness and its manifestations which can result in crimes and violent behavior. After introducing theoretical frameworks, the course will focus on the analysis of single types of crimes, particularly, homicide, sexual crimes, and abuse within the family. It will also focus on the psychological assessment in the forensic and penitentiary contexts. In addition to the methodological principles of forensic psychological assessment of legal skills, the course will place importance on the process of creating and applying psychological assessment instruments to forensic queries. Within this framework, the role of mental health disorders in the forensic field will also be taken into consideration. The course will include both lectures and analyses of criminal cases.
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| PSY 210 | 1 | Cognitive Psychology | Toivonen | M/TH | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Cognitive Psychology This course provides an in-depth exploration of human cognition, focusing on both classic and current issues. In this class, students will discuss how cognitive psychologists build theories (or models) of mental processes, and how these models are used to understand and predict behavior. Topics to be covered include (but may not be limited to): history of cognitive psychology, research methods in cognitive psychology, attention, perception, memory, language, and reasoning. In addition to these subjects, we will examine the research on social cognition, motivation, and emotions.
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| PSY 218 | 1 | The Psychology of Fiction | Ongis | T/F | 13:00 - 14:15 | ||
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The Psychology of Fiction This course explores the psychology of fiction using scientific methods to examine questions such as how narratives impact cognition, emotion, and social behavior, and how people understand and discuss stories in various settings. We will investigate how printed fiction, as well as other cultural products like artworks and movies, are entangled with processes such as empathy, imagination, and autobiographical memory. Students will explore the cognitive and emotional effects of fiction, the neural processes involved in reading, the ways we understand and relate to fictional characters, and the relationship between language and thought. The course also addresses broader questions such as how we interpret fictional characters? actions, how narratives can be used therapeutically, and how different stories shape people?s understanding of the world.
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| PSY 314 | 1 | Clinical and Abnormal Psychology | Toivonen | M/TH | 13:00 - 14:15 | ||
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Clinical and Abnormal Psychology This course examines the treatment of psychological disorders in clinical practice. Students will study the major patterns of abnormal behavior and their description, diagnosis, interpretation, treatment, and prevention. They will explore and practice current evidence-based treatments for individual and group psychotherapy as well as crisis management across diverse populations. Bio-psycho-social as well as spiritual models of care will be discussed with an emphasis on ethical decision-making and effective treatment planning and intervention.
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| PSY 496 | 1 | Senior Capstone in Psychology | Toivonen | T/F | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Senior Capstone in Psychology The Senior Capstone in Psychology is a crucial part of the Psychology program. Tailored specifically for senior students, this course provides guidance and practical skills necessary for carrying out a research project. Students will learn the basics of doing original research, sharpening their critical thinking abilities, and improving their academic writing skills. At the end of the course, each student will have successfully completed a research project.
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| SEM 372 | 1 | AI Foundations (Honors Seminar) | Burke | W | 16:00 - 18:45 | ||
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AI Foundations & Agentic Systems: Interdisciplinary Perspectives This Honors Seminar course demystifies artificial intelligence and generative technologies for students across liberal arts majors. Drawing on DataCamp?s AI Fundamentals and AI Agent Fundamentals tracks, students explore the core building blocks of AI ? machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and generative AI ? and learn how large language models such as ChatGPT are trained, fine tuned, and applied. Through hands on experience with generative tools, learners practice prompt engineering, content creation, summarization and coding assistance. The course also examines the ethical and social implications of AI, including bias, privacy, intellectual property, fairness, sustainability, and the broader impact on organizations and society.
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| SJS 210T | 1 | Sustain Development (Switzerland) | Galli | W | 13:00 - 15:45 | ||
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Decent Work and Sustainable Development (Switzerland) In low-income countries most people are employed, but despite working hard they remain poor. Poor education, inadequate technologies, lack of infrastructure, adverse climate, pay below the living wage, misguided investment and growth strategies are among the causes of low earnings and persistent poverty in low-income countries. In this course, students learn about the challenges of self-employment and wage-employment in rural and urban areas of low-income countries, as well as of formal and informal employment. This course looks at policies and strategies that can be implemented to generate more and better jobs and to help the working poor earn enough to move out of poverty. Students discuss case studies and best practice by non-profit, private, and public stakeholders. Throughout the course students will focus their attention on a specific low-income country of their choice, on which they become ?experts?, enriching class discussions with their acquired country-specific knowledge. The course is framed by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8, which calls for promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Ideally, participants select this course after having taken SJS 100, as a deepening of their knowledge on SDG8. The course includes a travel component to Geneva, to visit the International Labour Organization (ILO) and possibly other institutions in town.
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| STA 107 | 1 | Introduction to Digital Photography | Fassl | M | 10:00 - 12:45 | ||
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Introduction to Digital Photography This course course in digital photography introduces the beginner to the elements of digital photography. There will be two areas of concentration: 1. Image capture and manipulation using digital imaging technology (cameras and editing software). 2. Photograph design (crafting a photograph that reflects the photographer?s intention using composition, framing, lighting etc.). Throughout the course emphasis will be placed on the artistic value of photographs rather than the technicalities of digital imaging. Photography is one of the various artistic media available for self-expression and much emphasis will be put on precisely that. Students will synthesize these elements to create a portfolio of work that reflects not only their newly developed skills but also an appreciation and understanding of photography as an art medium. The course carries a fee for photography/art supplies.
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| STA 114 | 1 | Introductory Drawing Related Media | Zdanski | T | 14:30 - 17:15 | ||
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Introductory Drawing Related Media The course will explore various media related to drawing, like pen and ink, charcoal, colored pencils, felt tip markers, tissue paper and glue, collage, crayons, oil and watercolor pastels, watercolor, tempera, gouache, spray paint. There is virtually no limit to the media that may be employed during the semester. At the same time, the course also reinforces the rudiments of drawing, but with primary emphasis on materials and new media rather than theoretical questions. The course carries a fee for art supplies.
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| STA 115 | 1 | Introductory Painting | Zdanski | F | 14:30 - 17:15 | ||
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Introductory Painting This introductory course explores basic painting techniques and attempts to assist the development of visual awareness through various experiments and media, thus providing a foundation for further art study. With a combination of theory and studio practice, the course investigates the properties of color, line, point, plane and texture in an effort to free students from dead convention and at the same time encourage their creative abilities. The course will incorporate structured exercises on the nature of paint and the rudiments of color theory, while encouraging students to study the painting of past and present artists to develop their own creative identity. Visits to museums, galleries or ateliers may be organized if possible. The course carries a fee for art supplies.
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| STA 207 | 1 | Intermediate Digital Photography | Fassl | M | 10:00 - 12:45 | ||
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Intermediate Digital Photography A more intermediate course where students who have completed STA 107 may take their work further. The course carries a fee for photography/art supplies.
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| STA 214 | 1 | Intermediate Drawing Related Media | Zdanski | T | 14:30 - 17:15 | ||
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Intermediate Drawing Related Media Intermediate course aimed at further developing the basic skills learned in STA 114. More emphasis will be placed on developing individual projects. The course carries a fee for art supplies.
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| STA 215 | 1 | Intermediate Painting | Zdanski | F | 14:30 - 17:15 | ||
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Intermediate Painting Intermediate course aimed at further developing the basic skills learned in STA 115. More emphasis will be placed on developing individual projects and exploring different media and genre as students work towards finding a personal identity through creative experience. The course carries a fee for art supplies.
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| STA 307 | 1 | Advanced Digital Photography | Fassl | M | 10:00 - 12:45 | ||
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Advanced Digital Photography A more advanced course where students who have completed STA 207 may take their work further. The course carries a fee for photography/art supplies.
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| STA 314 | 1 | Advanced Drawing Related Media | Zdanski | T | 14:30 - 17:15 | ||
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Advanced Drawing Related Media An advanced course aimed at further developing the intermediate skills learned in STA 214. More emphasis will be placed on developing individual projects. The course carries a fee for art supplies.
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| STA 315 | 1 | Higher Painting | Zdanski | F | 14:30 - 17:15 | ||
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Higher Painting Continuation of the previous painting courses to more advanced levels. The course carries a fee for art supplies.
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| VCA 212 | 1 | Design Thinking | Fassl | M/TH | 13:00 - 14:15 | ||
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Design Thinking for Academic and Entrepreneurial Minds Creative problem solving has increasingly become recognized as one of the most important skills in both academia and the professional world. Researchers, employees, entrepreneurs, and leaders are all required to generate innovative ideas and to design structured processes to implement them. This course will equip you with design thinking tools, including research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration, and will guide you how to apply them to draft and realize products and solutions. It will help you to envision your academic and career paths and will support you in your development of durable skills, including curiosity and experimentation, empathy and patience, cooperation and teamwork, proactivity and perseverance.
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| WTG 130 | 1 | Academic Writing: Entering Conversation | Mac Kenzie | T/F | 08:30 - 09:45 | ||
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Academic Writing: Entering the Conversation This course provides students with a bridge to university-level academic writing. It is designed to help students further develop their critical writing skills. It looks at best practices for research and use of information, including evaluation and effective incorporation of outside sources through paraphrase, summary and correct citation formats, and addresses the development of structure and expression in academic writing and techniques for effectively sharing information in both written and oral forms. Upon successful completion of WTG 130 (i.e. with a minimum final grade of C) the student must take WTG 150 in the following semester.
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| WTG 150 | 2 | Academic Writing: Crossing Borders | Mac Kenzie | M/TH | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Academic Writing: Crossing Borders Designed as a discussion/workshop seminar, this writing course develops students? awareness of scholarly discourse and their participation in it: what makes academic discourse different from other kinds of writing, how different disciplines approach analysis and evidence, and what counts as effective communication within scholarly communities. Through the study of borders -- what they are, how they shape culture, politics and society, and why they change -- the course helps students develop academic communication strategies that are applicable across the curriculum at Franklin. The main focus of the course is to help students develop strategies for joining the academic conversation, covering skills such as close reading and responding to texts; generating, supporting and sharing ideas in both oral and written form; and scholarly researching. Drawing from a wide selection of texts and media about cross-border and cross cultural practices, which has recently garnered much attention among scholars and speaks to the Franklin mission, students will explore various academic responses to the phenomenon of border crossing, concluding with a research-based final project and defense. Succesful completion of WTG 150 requires a minimum final grade of C. (This writing-intensive course counts towards the Academic Writing core requirement.)
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| WTG 150 | 1 | Academic Writing: Crossing Borders | Dawson | M/TH | 11:30 - 12:45 | ||
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Academic Writing: Crossing Borders Designed as a discussion/workshop seminar, this writing course develops students? awareness of scholarly discourse and their participation in it: what makes academic discourse different from other kinds of writing, how different disciplines approach analysis and evidence, and what counts as effective communication within scholarly communities. Through the study of borders -- what they are, how they shape culture, politics and society, and why they change -- the course helps students develop academic communication strategies that are applicable across the curriculum at Franklin. The main focus of the course is to help students develop strategies for joining the academic conversation, covering skills such as close reading and responding to texts; generating, supporting and sharing ideas in both oral and written form; and scholarly researching. Drawing from a wide selection of texts and media about cross-border and cross cultural practices, which has recently garnered much attention among scholars and speaks to the Franklin mission, students will explore various academic responses to the phenomenon of border crossing, concluding with a research-based final project and defense. Succesful completion of WTG 150 requires a minimum final grade of C. (This writing-intensive course counts towards the Academic Writing core requirement.)
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| WTG 150 | 3 | Academic Writing: Crossing Borders | Dawson | T/F | 10:00 - 11:15 | ||
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Academic Writing: Crossing Borders Designed as a discussion/workshop seminar, this writing course develops students? awareness of scholarly discourse and their participation in it: what makes academic discourse different from other kinds of writing, how different disciplines approach analysis and evidence, and what counts as effective communication within scholarly communities. Through the study of borders -- what they are, how they shape culture, politics and society, and why they change -- the course helps students develop academic communication strategies that are applicable across the curriculum at Franklin. The main focus of the course is to help students develop strategies for joining the academic conversation, covering skills such as close reading and responding to texts; generating, supporting and sharing ideas in both oral and written form; and scholarly researching. Drawing from a wide selection of texts and media about cross-border and cross cultural practices, which has recently garnered much attention among scholars and speaks to the Franklin mission, students will explore various academic responses to the phenomenon of border crossing, concluding with a research-based final project and defense. Succesful completion of WTG 150 requires a minimum final grade of C. (This writing-intensive course counts towards the Academic Writing core requirement.)
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