Junior Seminars

Here are the Junior Seminars offered in the college.

Junior Seminars / Faculty	Synopses
UTC1402 Pathways to Adulthood Dr Lavanya Balachandran	This course explores the changes in the life transition from adolescence to adulthood in today’s developed world. We will look at some of the popular understandings of emerging adulthood by studying an age group of people called “adultolescents”, “twixters”, or “kippers”. We will also critically analyse aspects of emerging adulthood with regards to education, job opportunities, love and marriage, as well as parenting. Finally, we reflect on the kind of citizens these emerging adults are becoming, how they can engage in the community and what the future holds for them.
UTC1403 Hidden Communities Ms Angie Tan	There are various ‘hidden communities’ in Singapore that do not gain much public attention but whose members require special consideration from society. People with disabilities, children with learning difficulties, the elderly or migrant workers are among them. They face distinct challenges to live independent and productive lives. This course exposes students to a few identified groups of hidden communities and examines their challenges, and best practices in Singaporean and international contexts. Engaging with hidden communities in Singapore is one of the key features of understanding global issues in a local context, so-called ‘Glocalisation’ (globalisation + localisation) to form active citizenship in a healthy society.
UTC1404 Power and Ideas Assoc Prof Reuben Wong	According to cultural theorists Marx, Hall, Foucault and Gramsci, the structures that support dominant ideas in society could be political, economic, religious or cultural. This course examines – through interactive discussions and fieldtrips - the power structures behind the dominant ideas of our time, asking why these structures have an interest in promoting or discrediting ideas about what is ‘good’ for our community and mankind. These ideas include race, gender, LGBT, democracy, meritocracy, and age of majority. We examine how these ideas intersect, complement or contradict each other; and learn how to unpack these ideas and make our own positions.
UTC1409 The Pursuit of Happiness Assoc Prof Siok Kuan Tambyah	This course introduces a comprehensive perspective on ‘happiness’ and related social constructs such as subjective wellbeing and quality of life. Drawing from multi-disciplinary research in Singapore and around the world, the following issues are discussed in detail: Does rising GDP lead to more happiness? Who are the people who are happy? Can money buy happiness? What really makes people happy? Can the government manufacture happiness for its citizens?
UTC1415 Family in a Changing Singapore	Family is often considered the foundation of society. Families affect the way we live, play, and work, shaping our values and how we relate to others. In this course, students will investigate and engage with issues that surround and define what it means to be a Singaporean family in the 21st century. They will look at issues such as broken and single parent families, foster care, family leisure, family businesses etc – through economic, social, and psychological perspectives. The course emphasises experiential learning and application of readings outside the classroom through field trips, guest speakers and discussions/interviews with families and communities.
UTC1416 Games, Game Communities and Society Dr Daniel Jew	The global games industry has overtaken film and music in annual revenue. Its reach has also extended beyond children and teens to working adults, including women. This course evaluates board and digital games and their influence on culture and communities. How do games impact our health, relationships, businesses, and behaviour? Can they change the ways we learn, interact, and understand the world? What makes games engaging or even potentially addictive? We engage communities such as professional gamers and their audiences, game designers, entrepreneurs, and women in gaming, and explore the impact of emerging technologies such as Augmented and Virtual Reality.
UTC1417 Bioethics in the 21st Century Assoc Prof Seow Teck Keong	Bio-medicine and biotechnology are rapidly progressing technologies in the 21st century. Who carries the responsibility for debating the ethical use of these innovations – national committees, or everyday citizens? Debating bioethics requires some knowledge of three areas: bio-medicine and biotechnology, theories of ethics, and methods of logical reasoning with regard to the ethical applications of the technologies to people at different stages of life. We will explore issues from the beginning of human life (such as cloning), throughout life (such as biological enhancements) and at life’s end (such as the ethics of assisted death).
UTC1419 Inside the Museum: Collections and the Public Dr Joelle Lai	What is a museum’s relation to the public, and its functions in society? This course looks at museums as spaces for organising, classifying, and exhibiting objects, from natural history to art. Against this backdrop, an interdisciplinary approach is applied to learn how and why museums came to be, their role through the ages, and how to meaningfully appreciate/critique an exhibit. The ethics and politics of decolonising museums and repatriation will be discussed. The course will include at least one trip to local museums, and a group project where they apply aspects of their knowledge to create a public exhibition.
UTC1420 Beyond Borders: Migrant Community & Resilience	This interdisciplinary course introduces new understandings of migrant communities by drawing on approaches from systems thinking to sociology. While migrants are often seen merely as workers, migrant categories vary, as do the reasons for moving. Along the way, migrants form communities that reconstitute societies into robust and diverse countries. Given global-local dynamics of migration, this interdisciplinary course uses Asia to examine the types of migrants (from workers to climate refugees) as well as the causes and consequences of migration shaping the economy, security, identity, health and the environment. The class also explores how migrants communities cultivate resilience to various challenges.
UTC1421 Social Capital and Life Outcomes Ms Athel Hu	There is strong evidence in the social network and social capital literature which supports how network of relationships matter in various outcomes of social life. Its impact is found not only on a macro-societal level in terms of social, economic and political growth, but also on a micro-individual level concerning individuals’ life outcomes such as social mobility, health and wellbeing. With a primary focus on micro-level outcomes, the purpose of this course is to introduce students to how relationships matter in shaping various life outcomes and how we could leverage on social capital concepts to work with populations in need.
UTC1422 Relationships in the Digital Age Dr Vania Yip	In this course, we will take on an interdisciplinary lens in understanding the dynamics of relationships and social connection in the digital age. Specifically, we will explore the ways people connect with one another in the digital age, critically evaluate these interactions, and reflect on how we can leverage on technology to form meaningful relationships. We will explore questions such as: What is the role of social networking sites in maintaining and expanding social circles? What predicts “swiping right” on online dating platforms? What are the dynamics of digital communication (texting, memes, emojis)? What makes a Tiktok video go viral?

UTCP

Capstone

ISM & UROP

Reading Groups

Senior Retention

Stop-the-Clock Policy

Academic Bulletin