Division of Chinese
Division of Economics
Division of English Literature
Division of Psychology
Division of Sociology
Division of Linguistics and Multilingual Studies
Contact Persons:
Mr. Troy Tan
Tel: 6790 6757
E-mail: chtan@ntu.edu.sg
Mr. Chan Weng Hoo
Tel: 6316 8831
E-mail: whchan@ntu.edu.sg
HC803 CHINESE TRADITION & SOCIETY (in Chinese) (3.0 AU)
Prerequisite: AO Level Chinese Language (B4) or Equivalent
Mutually exclusive with: HC804E
Introduction to Chinese philosophy; Confucianism; Taoism; Buddhism; Chinese culture in East Asia; Western impact on Chinese culture in late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; Modernization; Continuity and changes in traditional Chinese culture.
Course co-ordinator: Asst Prof Stephen Chou Shang-Tseh
HC805 DIRECTED READINGS IN MODERN CHINESE SONG LYRICS (IN CHINESE) (3.0 AU)
Prerequisite: AO level Chinese Language (B4) or equivalent
The aim of this course is an appreciation of selected works of modern Chinese song lyrics since the 1970s. Readings will include literary songs, folk tunes and ballads, popular music, and schoolyard or student-written songs among others. The course will guide students in understanding the different thematic genres, narrative forms, expressive styles and creative methods of lyric writing, as well as the social and cultural contexts of the song lyrics. After completing this course, students are expected to appreciate modern Chinese song lyrics from cultural and literary perspectives, and gain a deeper understanding of modern Chinese song lyric culture. Note: Students who have taken LC111 should not take HC805.
Course co-ordinator: Asst Prof Liang Wern Fook
HC806 APPRECIATION OF CHINESE FOLK OPERATIC PERFORMANCE (CHINESE)
Introduction to Chinese philosophy; Confucianism; Taoism; Buddhism; Chinese culture in East Asia; Western impact on Chinese culture in late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; Modernisation; Continuity and changes in traditional Chinese culture.
Course Coordinator: Assoc Prof Crossland-Guo Shuyun
HE191 PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS (3.0 AU)
Prerequisite: Nil
Mutually exclusive with: AB106, CE133, G133, G240, SC134, SM133
Not Available to: ACC, BUS, ECON
Introduction. Demand and supply. Marginal reasoning and profit maximization. Market structure. Externality. Introduction to Macroeconomics. Keynesian Cross Model. Money, banking and financial Institutions. Aggregate demand and aggregate supply. Open economy. International trade.
Course co-ordinator: Ms Ho Woon Yee
Co-lecturer: Mr Tan Khay Boon
HL804 WORD & IMAGE (3.0 AU)
Prerequisite: Nil
Visual Images. Painting. Literature. Autobiography. Art forgeries.
Course co-ordinator: Dr Terence Dawson
HL808 INTRODUCTION MAGIC REALISM
In this module we will be exploring the literary and cinematic style known as magical realism. This term describes a work of fiction or a film which introduces an element of magic into everyday reality. Since first achieving widespread recognition in the 1960s, magical realism has become a global phenomenon, making its presence felt in everything from The Simpsons to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The module will reflect this diversity by focusing on literature and films produced in a wide range of countries, including Mexico, Colombia, France, and England. Our primary objective will be to explore the relationship between the magical and the real within each text, and to understand the wider significance of the author's decision to bring them together in such a way.
Course co-ordinator: Asst Prof Bede Scott
HL809 MUSIC, TECHNOLOGY AND THE NOVEL
This course examines literature that thematically and formally makes use of auditory technologies. How does the radio and phonograph function in the novel? What roles do they play? How do these technologies influence the form of such literature? We will listen to the music referenced in the literature when relevant, and close read texts to explore the significance of auditory technology in turn of the century literature. Some of the texts are will look at are: Bram Stoker's Dracula, John Dos Passo' Manhattan Transfer, and Virginia Woolf's Between the Acts, among others.
Coures coordinator : Asst Prof Angela Frattarola
HP801 MIND OVER STRESS (3.0 AU)
Prerequisite: Nil
This class guides you in identifying, understanding and successfully managing various types of stress in our contemporary fast-paced lifestyle. Discover how stress affects your body, making it more prone to illness and poor performance. Based on scientific research, learn to become more stress-resistant through improving your self-awareness; changing your thinking habits; building a physical activity routine that suits you and the creation of relaxation with safe, simple and tested techniques like mental imagery. Apply research findings and enjoy the benefits of having greater control in the academic, social, family, spiritual and occupational components of your life.
Course co-ordinator: Dr Lim Kok Kwang (Adjunct)
HP802 WORKING IN THE 21ST CENTURY 3.0 AU
Prerequisite: Nil
Work in the 21st Century, is characterised by competition on a global scale, where jobs are becoming increasingly knowledge-intensive and technology-driven, and where constant change is the rule rather than the exception. This course aims to provide students with an understanding of some areas of study within the field of behavioural science that are relevant and applicable to the work situation. Psychology & Work explores the role of socio-psychological factors among individual and work group behaviour as a basis for understanding our place in the work setting. The lecture topics present four areas of interest - personality and work, occupational health, learning-performance, and career development. While each section is designed to be a stand-alone module, all the four areas of study are fully integrated within the general context of the work situation in organisations. Empirical findings from applied research are used to explain psychological principles and concepts and the course emphasizes a practical approach to applying psychology in the workplace.
Course co-ordinator: A/P Esther Tan
HP803 ARE YOU OK? MENTAL HEALTH IN SINGAPORE (3.0 AU)
Prerequisite: Nil
Are you OK? We often ask each other this question. We are often concerned about the psychological well-being of our family members, friends, and, most importantly ourselves. In this course, we will discuss issues concerning psychological well-being and mental health in Singapore: the early signs of not being "OK", when you might need professional help, and where you might find the appropriate help. The course will be taught by a seasoned mental health practitioner in Singapore, in collaboration with our in-house faculty members.
Course co-ordinator: A/P Daniel Fung (Adjunct)
HP804 COPING WITH CULTURE TRANSITION (3.0 AU)
Prerequisite: Nil
We are living in a postmodern world where the technology changes rapidly. Such rapid change in technology would bring with it changes in the culture in which we live. People also migrate from one cultural community to another cultural community, either as sojourners or students or as immigrants. Cultural transition has become an important part of every modern professional's life. In this subject, we will introduce classical and modern theories on sojourning, migration and acculturation. We will also introduce strategies of coping and thriving in cultural transitions, including coping with cultural diversity in multilingual and multiethnic societies. Finally, we will discuss the process of acculturation and adjustment to a new culture, and the patterns of the host country's reaction and accommodation to the new immigrants.
Course co-ordinator: Ms Tania Nagpaul
HP805 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (3.0 AU)
Prerequisite: Nil
In today's fast-paced and competitive work environment, a student is often lost as to how and where to find jobs and how to manage one's career. This course will provide an introduction to the contemporary human resource management functions: employment, employee relations, training and development, performance systems, compensation, benefits, and human resource information systems. It is not the objective of this course to train students to be HRM managers, but to provide basic information for students to plan and manage their own careers.
HS801 WOMEN IN A GLOBALIZED WORLD (3.0 AU)
Prerequisite: Nil
This subject examines issues related to women in the context of a globalized world with a focus on Southeast Asia, which has experienced rapid economic transformation. This transformation has brought about significant social and cultural consequences for women and concomitant changes to the family. This subject familiarizes students with the nature of the social and economic changes that have taken place and their impact on the diverse multi-cultural aspects of Southeast Asia societies such as the race/ethnic, religious/secular, rural/urban, social class and gender differences, both between and within the different countries.
Course co-ordinator: Asst Prof Tan Joo Ean
HS803 COMPARATIVE SOCIETIES (3.0 AU)
Prerequisite: Nil
This is a globally-focused course on comparative societies and social patterns that surveys five societies, including Japan, Mexico, the Kalahari Bushmen, Egypt, and Germany. Basic concepts from social science are introduced to enable students to compare and contrast aspects of social organization across societies and assess their relative importance, such as culture and values, social groups and institutions, social stratification and inequality, and gender and ethnic relations. The selected cases also demonstrate aspects of societies and social organization that contribute to social stability or social change. Students will gain specific knowledge about the societies under review as well as the ability to use tools and concepts learned in the course to expand their knowledge of other societies around the globe.
Course co-ordinator: Asst Prof Shih Ling Ling (Adjunct)
HS808 UNDERSTANDING CULTURE & GLOBALISATION
Today, we are living in an interconnected and culturally diverse world. This subject analyses what happens when different cultures meet and how cultures are 'socially constructed'. Cultures are not monolithic constructs. People continuously negotiate cultural content in relation to a wide variety of factors. Globalisation has accelerated and broadened various forms of cultural negotiation. The principal themes of this subject include: cultural capital, dominant cultures, sub-cultures, colonialism, Westernisation, consumption, hybridity, popular culture and translocal culture.
Course co-ordinator : Asst Prof Caroline Pluss
HS809 CHINA'S TRANSFORMATION SINCE 1978
This subject examines processes of the transition to a market economy in China since its opening up in 1978. This transition not only involves economic transformation but also social and political change. In addition to introducing the background and policy issues behind China's 'economic miracle', the subject also discusses broad implications of fundamental economic reform on social and political life in contemporary China.
Course co-ordinator: Asst Prof Zhou Wubiao
HG801: Language Puzzle: The Study of Human Language (3AUs)
In this elective, you will be taken on a tour of 'the world of language' and you will be shown how linguists (specialists in language history and language structure) conduct their research and what they have found out about the mystery that is known as 'human language'.
HG803 - Technologically Speaking: The Intersection of Language and Technology
In this elective you will get a chance to see how technology affects how we use language (from the effects of encoding to the rise of chatspeak), and also how technology has enabled us to study and process language in new ways. Students will gain understanding of the problems of representing, transmitting and transforming language electronically. Specific topics will include automatic parsing and generation of language, text mining (extracting knowledge from text) and machine translation.