After having explored the political chronology of China鈥檚 role in the Cold War in the first semester, we will turn to central themes in the second semester. Among the topics we will talk about are China鈥檚 policies regarding the atomic bomb and the arms race; its quest for a leadership role in what Mao Zedong called the 鈥楾hird World鈥 and how this affects China-Africa relations today; the impact of the Cold War on Chinese literature, on foreigners living in China and on foreign academic perceptions of China. We will also discuss theoretical frameworks that we should consider when approaching the topic of the Cold War in China.
The aim of every language course at the University is to enable you to communicate in your target language (TL) at that particular level and in your particular area of interest. We use the word 鈥榗ommunicate鈥 in its widest sense, meaning that you will not only be able to talk to people in the language but also to develop your proficiency in listening, reading, and writing. This means that the module aims for you to understand all the things which affect communication in that language, including knowledge of how the language is used, how it works and how to analyse it, and the cultural contexts in which it is spoken. This particular module is aimed at complete beginners. Successful completion of the full Stage 1, over 2 semesters, is approximately equivalent to having reached Level A1 of the Common European Framework or a good GCSE. Taking this single semester module at Stage 1 will take you part of the way to the outcomes of the full Stage. You are encouraged to take a full language Stage if you want to make significant progress in the language you are learning.
After briefly considering the relevance of the traditional Chinese world order to contemporary Chinese political life, the module then focuses on two core themes: (1) Chinese domestic politics; (2) China鈥檚 external relations. Units on Chinese politics will address a variety of issues, including the origins of the Chinese communist revolution of 1949, the evolution of the party-state from 1949 to the present, the political economy of the Reform era, the roles of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People鈥檚 Liberation Army (PLA) in the Chinese political system, and politics of Hong Kong and Taiwan. The sessions on China鈥檚 foreign relations will examine topics such as the PRC鈥檚 decision to enter the Korean War, the rise and fall of Sino-Soviet alliance, Sino-U.S. normalization, the debate over the rise of China, China鈥檚 role in the global economy, China and international security, as well as China and the environment.
After briefly considering the relevance of the traditional Chinese world order to contemporary Chinese political life, the module then focuses on two core themes: (1) Chinese domestic politics; (2) China鈥檚 external relations. Units on Chinese politics will address a variety of issues, including the origins of the Chinese communist revolution of 1949, the evolution of the party-state from 1949 to the present, the political economy of the Reform era, the roles of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People鈥檚 Liberation Army (PLA) in the Chinese political system, and politics of Hong Kong and Taiwan. The sessions on China鈥檚 foreign relations will examine topics such as the PRC鈥檚 decision to enter the Korean War, the rise and fall of Sino-Soviet alliance, Sino-U.S. normalization, the debate over the rise of China, China鈥檚 role in the global economy, China and international security, as well as China in global negotiations on climate change.
Today, chivalry is readily associated with gentle(manly) behaviour, and more specifically with sportsmanship, gallantry and courtesy. While indisputably there has always been a 鈥榗ivilising鈥 component to chivalry, it is fascinating to see how our modern society has shifted the focus away from what once formed its core elements: war and violence. This module investigates the roots and development of a martial ethos, which came to be fully assimilated by the aristocracy between the 11th and the 15th century, and infused its culture.
This module familiarises students with central concepts and findings in decision theory. It will explore in detail how decisions should be made, introducing normative benchmarks such as rationality and consistency, and will present how decisions are made, using both empirical and experimental findings and theoretical arguments. The module will illustrate the concepts by examining decision-making in a variety of economic contexts and environments, and discuss possibly implications for economic policies in these contexts. These contexts include decisions under risk and uncertainty and over time.
To explain the mathematical techniques needed to analyse linear and simple non-linear electrical and electronic circuits.
Death comes to us all, yet we have become reluctant to address it. The Victorians of nineteenth-century Britain very different, with an elaborate set of rituals and conventions, referred to as Christian "art of death". Today we tend to find this unsettling, evidence of a morbid fascination, even as we admire the carefully-designed "garden cemeteries" or cities of the dead that the Victorians left behind. In this module we will explore how the Victorians understood the concept of a "good death", and how that model came under pressure around 1900 and collapsed in the wake of the First World War. In order to do this we will employ approaches taken from architectural history, gender/social history and the history of material culture. In addition to hands-on sessions in Hartley Library Special Collections handling condolence letters and mourning jewellery we will undertake site visits to a cemetery, crematorium and war shrine in Southampton. Assessments will include writing a museum label and an information board.
The City Infrastructure Design Project module builds on what you have learned from the Liveable Cities module and focuses on developing an engineering project within the city that contributes towards a specific vision (accessibility to water, waterfront development, city gateway). Three big, bold, and high impact physical engineering intervention ideas are already pre-defined throughout the city of Southampton, an interchange station, a bridge, and a waterfront leisure hub. You will work towards the development of one of these interventions by envisioning a concept, design it and generating a deployment plan. This will integrate aspects of sustainability, structural design, and project management.
This module presents knowledge and skills specific to civil/environmental engineering, in three areas: Environmental Sustainability and Geology for Geomechanics and in Construction. It complements the more general engineering science knowledge and understanding covered in the modules FEEG1002 and FEEG1003, and the civil engineering specific skills and knowledge with focus on design in the module CENV1026 in the first year of the civil and environmental engineering degree programmes. The skills and knowledge gained in this module are applicable across many areas of the programme, in modules involving design/manufacture and in individual and group research and development projects. In construction, students are first introduced to surveying, becoming conversant with modern surveying and construction techniques and develop surveying and setting out skills based on practical tasks undertaken around the campus. These skills will then be applied as a very important element of the construction of structures during the Constructionarium, which is a week-long residential field course activity in the final teaching week of semester 2. This tests awareness and knowledge of engineering processes in solving a series of practical construction tasks using the common civil engineering materials, steel, timber and reinforced concrete. Preparing for the Constructionarium is a major activity in semester 2, in which students work in groups to develop project plans, method statements and formwork/temporary works designs. A parallel activity in Semester 2 uses knowledge gained in the Mechanics, Structures and Materials module on the theoretical behaviour of structures to undertake numerical calculations to assess the performance of the Constructionarium structures, through a structural design exercise that includes sketching of load paths and structural form and understanding of loading, structural stability and structural element behaviour.
Political and military tumult would not seem an ideal backdrop for contemplation, but out of China鈥檚 Warring States period emerged a rich variety of philosophical thought; indeed, this period became affiliated with the 鈥楬undred Schools of Thought鈥. Some of these traditions, like the Confucian and Daoist traditions, would go on to shape China and indeed East Asia in ways that can still be felt today, not only intellectually but also culturally. Other traditions, like that of the Mohists, would not retain direct influence beyond the classical period, but can be said to have played a crucial role in shaping the overall trajectory of Chinese and East Asian thought. This module surveys some of these traditions not only to illuminate the history of the intellectual development of a large portion of the world, but also to assess to what extent these ancient traditions provide solutions to current problems.
Critical and theoretical fashions have led to waves of new approaches and methodologies, each with certain distinctive emphases and concerns. These have made Film Studies into a rich and varied discipline, particularly as they have formed an addition to concerns rather than a replacement for the concerns that have animated film theory and analysis since the birth of the medium. This module was conceived as a complement to 鈥業nterpreting Film: Contextual Approaches to Cinema History鈥. It will look at some of the tradition and essential concerns of film theory, including notions of film as art and how films 鈥榳ork鈥 on a micro-scale. Its focus will be on 鈥楥lassical Film Theory鈥 (including Eisenstein, Bazin, etc), which set out the traditional interests and emphases of Film Studies. It will also embrace more recent film theory (such as 鈥楽creen theory鈥 and psychoanalysis, 鈥榃isconsin鈥 formalism and cognitive psychology). The module will address questions of ontology and epistemology, as well as debates about art and cultural value Another central concern of this module is textual detail and there will be a focus on close textual analysis of films. Consequently, there is an interest in film 鈥榮pecificity鈥 鈥 seeing film as film (as Victor Perkins put it), rather than seeing film as a symptom of something else (eg.social change, cultural degeneration), or as a vehicle for other concerns (such as more general social, economic or cultural history, or sociological, philosophical or psychological concerns) that reside outside of cinema.
Philosophy flourished in classical India for well over a millennium, with figures in this tradition producing works that are on a par with those of figures in ancient Greece and late antique and medieval Europe. In fact, figures in classical India contributed extensively to what what we now recognise as core areas of philosophy such as epistemology, logic, philosophy of mind, metaphysics, and ethics. This module provides an overview of this long-neglected tradition of philosophy. Texts covered may include the early texts of the Brahmanical and 艢rama峁嘺 traditions (e.g. the Upani峁ds, and Pali Canon of Buddhism), and writings in the age of sutras and commentaries (e.g. those of Brahmanical schools such as Ny膩ya, P奴rva-M墨m膩峁僺膩, S膩峁僰hya, and Yoga, and 艢rama峁嘺 schools such as Buddhism and Jainism). The module鈥檚 approach will not be purely historical, but will critically examine the contributions these texts make to philosophical debates that remain live today.
Beginning with a review of Newton's Laws applied to systems of particles, the course moves on to rotational motion, dynamical gravity (Kepler's Laws) and motion in non-inertial reference frames. Systems of coupled oscillators are studied.
鈥業t is well done, and fitting for a princess descended of so many royal kings'. Shakespeare's words on the suicide of Cleopatra VII echo rare ancient Roman admiration for the last queen of Egypt. Defeated by Rome, Cleopatra's choice of death might show a glimpse of her noble origins. But what of her life and the world that made her? Roman propaganda made a monster of Cleopatra: power-mad; sexually depraved; fanatical, animal-worshipping Egyptian; a stain on the glorious reputation of Alexander the Great who brought her ancestors to Egypt. That legacy proved powerful and enduring. Can we get behind the propaganda to the real Cleopatra and her context? We explore the world of Cleopatra's Egypt; its multicultural society and relationship with Roman power; and the fragmentary remains of Cleopatra's life and rule. And we reflect, finally, on Cleopatra's post-mortem power on the western imagination, from Shakespeare to Hollywood and beyond.
This module is designed to give a fundamental understanding of the Earth's climate and use this to examine topical issues in climate change research. A hands-on approach enables you to apply your newly learned skills to real-world problems quickly.
This module offers an in-depth overview of the financial risks and opportunities of climate change. The module is designed to explore how climate change impacts companies and their operation, the role of green instruments and specialised investors, the risks and returns associated with climate transition, as well as the role of the financial sector in facilitating sustainable projects and mitigating climate related risks.
Sustainable development is a major international challenge and relates to historical, environmental and economic changes. This module focuses on the relationships between settlements, resources, climate and energy through history. It introduces students to the basics of human evolution, from the pre-industrial world to today鈥檚 high fossil fuel society. Building on this knowledge, students will develop ideas and concepts towards sustainable lifestyles and resource and energy efficiency.
Sustainable development is a major international challenge and relates to historical, environmental and economic changes. This module focuses on the relationships between settlements, resources, climate and energy through history. It introduces students to the basics of human evolution, from the pre-industrial world to today鈥檚 high fossil fuel society. Building on this knowledge, students will develop ideas and concepts towards sustainable lifestyles and resource and energy efficiency. Only students enrolled on programme codes 3081MSc Energy and Sustainability, Pathway 3086 Energy Resources and Climate Change and 3081 MSc Energy and Sustainability, Pathway 3087 Energy Environment and Buildings will be permitted to register on this module.
This module strives to enable students to address climatic building design and develop the sustainable urban concepts required to achieve the significant carbon reductions required in the future. Only students enrolled on programme codes: 3081 MSc Energy and Sustainability, Pathway 3087 Energy Environment and Buildings or MSc 3957 Energy & Sustainability , 3959 Energy Resources & Climate Change will be permitted to register on this module
