Senior Seminars
Students are awarded letter grades for Senior Seminars, with S/U Option
UTC-coded ==> Senior Seminar (SS) modules | UTS-coded ==> Senior Seminar Singapore Studies (SSU) modules
Click here to view the timetable for Sem 2 AY2022/2023.
Senior Seminars Offered in Special Term Part I & II
Senior Seminars Offered in AY2022/2023 Semester 2
UTC2700 - An Undefeated Mind: An Experiential Inner Re-engineering Approach
UTC2703 - Infectious Diseases: Dynamics, Strategies and Policies
UTC2704 - Projects in Systems
UTC2715/UTS2707 - Decoding Complexity
UTC2717/UTS2708 - Navigation in Singapore Waters - Bridges and Barriers
Asia, with its populous river basins, poses a global challenge for water resource management. Currently, many of these basins suffer from water scarcity, flood and resource conflicts. In this aspect, Singapore’s impressive progress can offer lessons for water governance. This module will employ a systems perspective to analyse the dynamic linkages between the city-state’s water resource management, its transformation from a third world to a first world country and future risks for sustaining its development. The module will explore pathways for resilience in Singapore’s water sector, draw lessons for Asia and deepen students’ understanding of water governance.
UTC2718/UTS2709 - Energy and SIngapore: Dynamics, Dilemmas and Decisions
Energy in Singapore depends mainly on imported fossil fuels/ petroleum/ natural gas. Obviously, in the quest for alternatives, future energy demand and mix, some challenges/dilemmas arise naturally in Singapore context: Will nuclear energy deployment be feasible? Is wind energy a viable option? Will a complete switch to solar, biofuels, and waste-to-energy technologies be possible? This module offers a systems and system dynamics approach to deal with such issues and the corresponding dynamics, dilemmas and decisions that arise while addressing them. Students will gain insights into the political, socio-economic and environmental aspects of these challenges through relevant case studies/models.
UTC2723 - How would YOU lead?
In brief, UTC2722 module aims to impart essential knowledge of sleep science - nature, function, biopsychosocial factors and complex phenomena associated with sleep/wake cycles, common sleep disorders, sleep health etc. It involves a practical and learner-centric approach in combination with adopting certain mindfulness-based interventions specific to sleep health to overcome sleep disturbances. This course also enables students to understand the interdisciplinary aspects of the sleep-body-mind-well-being nexus holistically as they apply systems thinking approach to recognize the impact of sleep on physical, mental and emotional well-being. This helps students to evaluate their own sleep problems, make informed/educated decisions and self-regulate/adjust habits to maintain good sleep health and well-being.
UTC2726/UTS2713 - Societal Collapse and Resilience
No society, no matter how economically, culturally and technologically advanced, is immune to collapse. What led to the collapse of past and present-day societies, and what can we learn from them? Did these societies foresee the impending calamities threatening their existence? If not, why not? If yes, why did they not act in time? How is Singapore vulnerable to existential threats plaguing the world today and how do we strengthen our resilience?
In this module, students will explore these questions through the lens of existing theories, illuminated through the use of causal-loop diagramming and insights gained through computer simulation.
UTC2728 - Then life will imitate art: Women and Men in Film
Dostoevsky wrote: “at first, art imitates life. Then life will imitate art. Then life will find its very existence from the arts.” The ability of film, as an artform, to influence the popular consciousness is in some contexts seen as indisputable (e.g. censorship); however, at other times, its impact on the viewer is perceived as tenuous. How true is Dostoevsky’s concept of the relationship between between art and life? This module invites you to apply Systems Thinking, key ideas in gender theory and film studies to films and their audiences as you investigate the connections between art and life.
UTC2729 - Causality and Natural Experiments
Causal questions ranging from “does vitamin C cure colds” to “does immigration hurt local low-wage workers” are crucial to everyday decision-making and societal challenges. Causal inferences are drawn from randomized experiments, where researchers allocate individuals to treatment groups by a random draw. In social and human systems, natural experiments – situations arising in real life that resemble randomised experiments – offer a powerful way to study causal links. With a focus on intuition and practical understanding, this module discusses the motivation, identification, and interpretation of natural experiments, which are fruits of system-wide knowledge and interdisciplinary endeavors.
Senior Seminars Not Offered
UTC2706 - Committed to Changing Our World: The Systems Pioneers
The 21st Century world is one where the potential for an individual’s actions to elicit solutions is questionable. Critical problems such as an environment threatened by climate change, social inequality, food and water security issues and poverty seem overwhelming. This module uses the concepts and archetypes of Systems Thinking to understand the dynamics of individual presence and action in addressing such global issues. Students will be empowered to become proficient, disciplined, humane systems citizens, capable of envisioning and traversing life paths that make a difference.
UTC2713/UTS2705 - Modelling Singlehood, Marriage & Fertility in Singapore
UTC2716 - Networks: Complexity and Order
A complex system entails a network of interconnections among its constituents. Take the network of friendships in a society. "Six degrees of separation" posits that any two persons in the world are connected through five or fewer other persons in this network. This amazing "small world" notion prompted scientists to study the organisational structure of networks. Indeed, many networks - however massive and complex - follow an order based on simple principles. In a minimally technical manner, this module follows this exciting development, which impacts our understanding of a plethora of phenomena from the spread of diseases to the propagation of opinions.
UTC2721 - Model & Systems Thinking for Complex Social Issues
This module explores a 21st century world characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) by utilizing a synergy of model thinking and systems thinking. Why is segregation pervasive in society? Why are social riots sudden and abrupt? Why is environmental destruction irrational yet rational? From the catastrophes of nuclear meltdowns to financial crises, what role does risk and uncertainty play in our world? Students will approach such questions and evaluate complex social problems in the 21st century with models and systems concepts. Ultimately, this module seeks to expand the cognitive perception and enhance the systems thinking of its learners.
UTC2722 - Sleep Health: A Holistic Approach to Well-Being
In brief, UTC2722 module aims to impart essential knowledge of sleep science - nature, function, biopsychosocial factors and complex phenomena associated with sleep/wake cycles, common sleep disorders, sleep health etc. It involves a practical and learner-centric approach in combination with adopting certain mindfulness-based interventions specific to sleep health to overcome sleep disturbances. This course also enables students to understand the interdisciplinary aspects of the sleep-body-mind-well-being nexus holistically as they apply systems thinking approach to recognize the impact of sleep on physical, mental and emotional well-being. This helps students to evaluate their own sleep problems, make informed/educated decisions and self-regulate/adjust habits to maintain good sleep health and well-being.
UTC2727/UTS2714 - Mind, Ego and Happiness
In an increasingly complex and disruptive 21st century society, the enhancement of psychological resilience is significantly crucial and beneficial. With theoretical and empirical studies of the psychology of happiness, science of Mindfulness, other developmental psychological theories and models, as well as case studies of the incidence of mental health issues in Singapore, this module seeks to enhance its learners with a psychological ‘inner programming’ toolkit to be resilient so as to navigate the challenges of a volatile, uncertain, and complex world, as well as to develop cognisance and sensitivity to the Singapore mental health context.
