3 CREDITS

This course offers a comparative examination of the life span, covering stages from infancy through adolescence, adulthood, to old age and death. It addresses various developmental processes such as socio-emotional, cognitive, and physical aspects. Perspectives from social sciences include analyses of rituals, rites of passage, and roles across different life stages, while biological perspectives cover predictors like menarche, fertility, brain development, and stages of physical and mental decline. The course places particular emphasis on exploring cross-cultural variations in human development.

3 CREDITS 

This course provides an introduction to a broad spectrum of mental health topics, beginning with the definitions of normal and abnormal human behavior, and examining concepts like stigma and othering. It delves deeply into the social and genetic foundations of major mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. The course explores the varying definitions of mental illness and the ongoing debates surrounding these definitions. It covers different perspectives on treatment, including Freudian/psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and psychopharmacology. Additionally, the course addresses mental health as a neglected global public health issue, emphasizing the application of these concepts to real-world challenges at individual, community, and population levels.

4 CREDITS

This course provides a foundational introduction to key concepts in biology applicable to all living organisms. It covers fundamental topics in biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics, illustrating how molecules are organized within cells. Cells are emphasized as the fundamental units of life, and the role of genes in information transfer within and between cells is explored.

Additionally, the course incorporates assignments that introduce experimental methods and explore research data repositories. These activities help students develop skills in approaching complex biological problems and locating relevant information for specific questions or methods.

Overall, the course serves as both a prerequisite for further studies in biology at the organism or population level and a general introduction to the production and application of biological knowledge.