TUJBP0899 - UG Course

Humans are at a critical juncture in their relationship with the environment. Many of the global changes occurring in the atmosphere, climate, and oceans can be attributed to human activity. While the standard of living has increased for many people across the globe, the technological advancements that have made this possible endanger future generations because of their environmental impacts. Environmental toxins and air pollution are increasing, and fossil fuels and forests are being depleted at unsustainable rates. Now more than ever, the viability of human life depends on the scientific understanding of global environmental change, and on developing science-based policies to both protect the environment and promote human well-being in a just and sustainable manner. Course mission: enhance your capability to be environmentally informed consumers and citizens based on a sound understanding of the ecological, technological, economic, political, and ethical dimensions of environmental sustainability. 

Instructor: Ballance, T.

Use historical and case study methods to study the differences between rich and poor nations and the varied strategies available for development in a globalizing world. Examine the challenges facing developing countries in historical and contemporary context and analyze the main social, cultural, and political factors that interact with the dynamic forces of the world economy. These include imperialism/colonialism, state formation, labor migration, demographic trends, gender issues in development, religious movements and nationalism, the challenges to national sovereignty, waves of democratization, culture and mass media, struggles for human rights, environmental sustainability, the advantages and disadvantages of globalization, and movements of resistance. 

Instructor: Nadeau, P.

Gay or straight. Black or white. Male or female. What do these different group identities mean to Americans? How do they influence our politics? Should we celebrate or downplay our diversity? This course explores how we think about others and ourselves as members of different groups and what consequences it has for how we treat one another. Our fundamental social identities can be a source of power or of powerlessness, a justification for inequality or for bold social reform. Students learn about the importance of race, class, gender and sexual orientation across a variety of important contexts, such as the family, workplace, schools, and popular culture and the implications these identities have on our daily lives. 

Instructor: Williams, M.

One of the last frontiers in science is the brain. We know a great deal about the structure and function of the brain and nervous system, but it is challenging to comprehend fully the complexity of a system made up of 100 billion components that are interacting with one another using tens of trillions of connections that can change and rewire during development and aging. Neuroscience is the multidisciplinary field in which brain research falls. Neuroscience is one of the fastest growing domains in all of science - and good bet for a future career path. Neuroscientists investigate brain function from the level of molecular genetics, to cellular dynamics, to brain anatomy and physiology, to relations between brain, behavior, and cognition, to brain development and aging, to diseases of the brain. In this course, we will touch on knowledge about the brain at all these levels, and more. We will also discuss case studies of brain impairment. 

Instructor: Cueno, M.

Through the study of basic biological concepts, think critically about modern biotechnology. Consider questions like: What are the ethical and legal implications involving the gathering and analysis of DNA samples for forensic analysis and DNA fingerprinting? Are there potential discriminatory implications that might result from the human genome project? What are embryonic stem cells, and why has this topic become an important social and political issue? Will advances in medicine allow humans to live considerably longer, and how will a longer human life span affect life on earth? We will learn through lectures, lecture demonstrations, problem solving in small groups and classroom discussion, and make vivid use of technology, including short videos from internet sources such as YouTube, electronic quizzes, imaging and video microscopy. 

Instructor: Cueno, M.

Hip-hop is no longer a subculture where members of marginalized groups are rapping and DJing, break dancing, and participating in the activity of graffiti. No, Hip-hop has evolved into a worldwide phenomenon. Not only do Hip-hop artists such as Jay-Z perform to sold out crowds at Madison Square Garden, but they also headline such mega-events as the Global Citizen Festival in South Africa. Hip-hop is now a global force, ubiquitous with mainstream culture. In this class, we will explore, analyze, and critique the beliefs, practices and behaviors associated with Hip-hop in the context of the conditions of systemic racial oppression and marginalization. Further, the course content will reflect a historical, sociological, and psychological perspective of U.S. culture. Students will follow Hip-hop from its early days in New York City, to the dark and gritty environments that produced the sounds of Hip-hop in the 1990s, to the "bling-bling" era of the early 2000s, and now to contemporary Hip-hop that influences fashion, urbanization, and the mainstream lexicon. Models of racial identity development and race-related psychological impact will be used to explore the development of the group and personal identities for those who are part of Hip-hop culture. At the end of the course, students will be able to critically examine the extent to which Hip-hop has helped form a new cultural identity in the 21st century.

Instructor: Williams, M.

Humans are at a critical juncture in their relationship with the environment. Many of the global changes occurring in the atmosphere, climate, and oceans can be attributed to human activity. While the standard of living has increased for many people across the globe, the technological advancements that have made this possible endanger future generations because of their environmental impacts. Environmental toxins and air pollution are increasing, and fossil fuels and forests are being depleted at unsustainable rates. Now more than ever, the viability of human life depends on the scientific understanding of global environmental change, and on developing science-based policies to both protect the environment and promote human well-being in a just and sustainable manner. Course mission: enhance your capability to be environmentally informed consumers and citizens based on a sound understanding of the ecological, technological, economic, political, and ethical dimensions of environmental sustainability. 

Instructor: Shigueiti Uehara, M.

Whether you have some or no experience in theater, this course will open new doors and provide a firm understanding of the actor's craft. We will start with improvisatory exercises to explore basic principles of acting, which will help you expand your expressive capabilities, imagination and spontaneity, and give you greater confidence on stage and in front of people. At the same time, you will use your growing knowledge of the craft to analyze the work of actors on stage and film. Finally, you will work on assigned scenes from dramatic literature, giving you the basic tools of text analysis, the principal tool with which an actor figures out a text. 

Instructor: Robert, W.

Wine has occupied a central role in human culture. In our exploration of the science of wine we will learn why wine was the beverage of choice through the ages, why a bottle of wine can range from $2 to $2,000, how wine is made, what makes a good/bad wine, how is white different from red, and how we know what is in a bottle of wine. The course begins with a large scale fermentation of red and white wine and will continue with team-based analyses of the two month process of turning grape juice into wine. Many aspects of the production and consumption of wine will be addressed in this course. 

Instructor: Bidadi, H.

We are all drowning in data, and so is your future employer. Data pour in from sources as diverse as social media, customer loyalty programs, weather stations, smartphones, and credit card purchases. How can you make sense of it all? Those that can turn raw data into insight will be tomorrow's decision-makers; those that can solve problems and communicate using data will be tomorrow's leaders. This course will teach you how to harness the power of data by mastering the ways it is stored, organized, and analyzed to enable better decisions. You will get hands-on experience by solving problems using a variety of powerful, computer-based data tools virtually every organization uses. You will also learn to make more impactful and persuasive presentations by learning the key principles of presenting data visually.

Instructor: Ono, K. 

One of the last frontiers in science is the brain. We know a great deal about the structure and function of the brain and nervous system, but it is challenging to comprehend fully the complexity of a system made up of 100 billion components that are interacting with one another using tens of trillions of connections that can change and rewire during development and aging. Neuroscience is the multidisciplinary field in which brain research falls. Neuroscience is one of the fastest growing domains in all of science - and good bet for a future career path. Neuroscientists investigate brain function from the level of molecular genetics, to cellular dynamics, to brain anatomy and physiology, to relations between brain, behavior, and cognition, to brain development and aging, to diseases of the brain. In this course, we will touch on knowledge about the brain at all these levels, and more. We will also discuss case studies of brain impairment. 

Instructor: Cueno, M. 

Our sexuality is a core part of being human. We often think about sexuality in terms of the physical and reproductive aspects of sex. But our sexuality is complex and dynamic. We will address this dynamic complexity as we explore the physical, psychological, relational, and cultural aspects of sexuality. The goal of this course is to broaden your perspective of human sexuality, and deepen your understanding and awareness of your own sexuality and the many influences on this essential part of yourself.

Instructor: Skowronski, D. 

This course will examine Japanese design as an expression of both local and global manifestations of cultural identity. Each semester, focus will be on aspects of how Japanese design emerged in the Modern period out of Japanese arts and crafts, as well as the influence of other cultures on Japanese design. Exploration of cultural identity will begin with an overview of modern design, and modernity itself, as a utopian social and cultural project. Attention will then shift to the birth of design in Japan through the Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926), Showa (1926-1989) and Heisei (1989-2019) eras; how each era's political, social, and cultural climate affected the designed output of Japanese society; and what these historical factors mean for the contemporary Reiwa (2019-present) era. Field trips to museums dedicated to design and crafts will be included to further illustrate the philosophical and theoretical aspects of the class, helping to connect the theory and practice of design in Tokyo today. Additionally, coursework will include readings designed to help students understand modernity and postmodernity; how Japanese literature approaches materials and design; the study of visual and material culture; how gender norms are in large part designed; and the import and export of aesthetics from Japan to the world via fashion, the Olympics, objects, and attitudes. The class will help students develop a robust understanding of design within the Japanese cultural context and an enhanced sense of design history and theory from both a Japan-centric and globally-oriented perspective.

Instructor: Lynam, I. 

You are what you eat, they say, but what, precisely, determines our eating habits and what, exactly, do they say about us? How do these habits influence our relations with others in our communities and beyond? Eating is an activity common to all human beings, but how do the particularities and meanings attributed to this activity vary across different times and places? Using literature, visual media, cookbooks, food-based art, and advertisements as our starting point, we will examine how food perception, production, preparation, consumption, exchange, and representation structure individual and communal identities, as well as relations among individuals and communities around the globe. Our focus on this most basic of needs will allow us to analyze how food conveys and limits self-expression and creates relationships as well as delimits boundaries between individuals and groups. Materials will be drawn from a wide range of disciplines including, but not limited to, literary and gender studies, psychology, anthropology, history, sociology, and economics. 

Instructor: Higgins, S.

Humans are at a critical juncture in their relationship with the environment. Many of the global changes occurring in the atmosphere, climate, and oceans can be attributed to human activity. While the standard of living has increased for many people across the globe, the technological advancements that have made this possible endanger future generations because of their environmental impacts. Environmental toxins and air pollution are increasing, and fossil fuels and forests are being depleted at unsustainable rates. Now more than ever, the viability of human life depends on the scientific understanding of global environmental change, and on developing science-based policies to both protect the environment and promote human well-being in a just and sustainable manner. Course mission: enhance your capability to be environmentally informed consumers and citizens based on a sound understanding of the ecological, technological, economic, political, and ethical dimensions of environmental sustainability. 

Instructor: Shigueiti-Uehara, M.

Gay or straight. Black or white. Male or female. What do these different group identities mean to Americans? How do they influence our politics? Should we celebrate or downplay our diversity? This course explores how we think about others and ourselves as members of different groups and what consequences it has for how we treat one another. Our fundamental social identities can be a source of power or of powerlessness, a justification for inequality or for bold social reform. Students learn about the importance of race, class, gender and sexual orientation across a variety of important contexts, such as the family, workplace, schools, and popular culture and the implications these identities have on our daily lives. 

Instructor: Williams, M.