An introduction to the basic principles of physics. Key topics are the physical description of motion, electricity and magnetism. The course focuses on the science of everyday phenomena and the understanding of important physical concepts. This course will equip students with little prior knowledge of physics to succeed in PHYSICS 120 or 160.
The fundamentals of chemistry are explored with a view to enhancing understanding of the chemical nature of the world around us and providing a foundation for further study in chemistry. Special attention is paid to familiarisation with the language of chemistry and the chemist’s perspective of the properties of matter and its transformations. It is recommended that students with a limited background in chemistry take this course prior to CHEM 110 or CHEM 120.
A practical course in the statistical analysis of data. Interpretation and communication of statistical findings. Includes exploratory data analysis, the analysis of linear models including two-way analysis of variance, experimental design and multiple regression, the analysis of contingency table data including logistic regression, the analysis of time series data, and model selection.
Explores how information systems and analytical tools help organisations to innovate, optimise and deliver value. Examines how the development and implementation of systems and technologies coordinate and manage information, people, and processes within data governance and privacy frameworks.
New Zealand experiences many natural hazards caused by the Earth’s natural processes through earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, weather bombs, storm surge, tsunami, flooding and wildfires. Focuses on spatial and temporal occurrences of disasters, hazard preparedness and recovery, and societal responses that affect and, sometimes, compound the magnitude of disasters. Case studies are drawn from contemporary and ancient societies.
An introduction to calculus that builds mathematical skills and develops conceptual thinking.
MATHS 102 works as a refresher course for those who haven’t studied Mathematics for some time, a confidence builder for those lacking Mathematical confidence and a preparation course for further study in Mathematics.
A general entry to Mathematics for commerce and the social sciences. MATHS 108 covers selected topics in algebra and calculus and their applications, including: linear functions, linear equations and matrices; functions, equations and inequalities; limits and continuity; differential calculus of one and two variables; integral calculus of one variable.
This sequel to MATHS 108 features applications from the theory of multi-variable calculus, linear algebra and differential equations to real-life problems in statistics, economics, finance, computer science, and operations research. Matlab is used to develop analytical and numerical methods of solving problems.
An introduction to the various layers that make up a modern computer system: encoding of data and instructions, hardware, low-level programming, operating systems, applications and communications.
Fundamental programming techniques and processes, such as conditionals, iteration, recursion, functions, testing and debugging. Efficient ways to organise and manipulate data, including sorting and searching algorithms. Writing software that uses and implements common abstract data types such as lists, stacks, queues, dictionaries and trees.
Intended for anyone who will ever have to collect or make sense of data, either in their career or private life. Steps involved in conducting a statistical investigation are studied with the main emphasis being on data analysis and the background concepts necessary for successfully analysing data, extrapolating from patterns in data to more generally applicable conclusions and communicating results to others. Other topics include probability; confidence intervals, statistical significance, t-tests, and p-values; nonparametric methods; one-way analysis of variance, simple linear regression, correlation, tables of counts and the chi-square test.
An introduction to grape growing and wine. Topics covered include history of wine, geography and terroir, grape growing, winemaking technology, microbiology, sensory evaluation, and health considerations of wine. A special emphasis on grape growing and winemaking in New Zealand.
Basic mathematical tools and methods needed for computer science are introduced. Elementary mathematical skills for defining, analysing and reasoning with abstract objects used in programming are developed. Topics include integers and rational numbers, strings and sets, methods of proof (including induction), algorithms and functions, and elementary introductions to graphs, trees, counting and probability.
The impact of chemistry on the modern world will be explored by focusing on the stories of specific molecules, including penicillin, DDT and nylon. Their discovery, the underlying chemical principles that explain their behaviour, their impact on our lives including social and scientific issues that arise from their use, and their likely impact on the future will be investigated.
An introduction to computers and computer programming in a high-level language. The role of computers and computer professionals in society is also introduced. The course is intended for students who may wish to advance in Computer Science or in Information Systems and Operations Management.
The standard Stage I Statistics course for the Faculty of Business and Economics or for Arts students taking Economics courses. Its syllabus is as for STATS 101, but it places more emphasis on examples from commerce.
Prerequisite: a background in law
The environment knows no boundaries, while national legal systems do. It is therefore of the utmost importance to develop international law approaches in order to deal with transboundary and global environmental problems. While environmental law originally focused on local problems like smoke and noise, today we are confronted with transboundary and global environmental problems like the continuing loss of biodiversity, long-distance air-pollution, and the threat of climate change. The conservation of important nature, the sound condition of air, water and soil, and the environmental safety of products and economic activities are core concerns.
Law serves as an important instrument to improve and protect the environment. The course International Environmental Law (IEL) discusses the role of international law – and the emerging body of global environmental law – in order to protect the environment. It takes a fundamental approach which means that we will examine environmental law from the perspective of principles, environmental rights, and the choice and design of regulatory instruments. Both strengths and, unfortunately, weaknesses will be discussed. As far as international law falling short, the importance of national approaches and private initiatives will be addressed. Some specific attention will go to the European Union as a regional international organisation addressing, inter alia, environmental problems. The world-wide problem of climate change serves as the leading case of this course.
The “how-and-why” of the working of everyday objects from household appliances and television to the way electricity reaches our homes and how telephone calls are made. The inner workings of cars, ships, airplanes and spacecraft will also be studied. Prerequisite: open only to students with no previous college physics credit.
PREREQUISITES: None.
Course syllabi are provided as a guide only. Class timetables are released closer to program start date.
3 semester credits. This course investigates the pillars of information security and risk analysis, providing students with the technical and linguistic skills necessary to understand how cyber threats and vulnerabilities are controlled and mitigated by state and non-state actors. Students will become familiar with the political, social, and economic governance of cyberspace, while exploring notions such as security, privacy, transparency, and confidentiality. The exploration of methods employed for information security, such as encryption, will be assessed in relation to ethical considerations. The course comprises the analysis of a variety of case-studies to allow students to interlink theory and practice, and envision the dynamics and impacts of cybersecurity on real-life scenarios.
General introduction to geological, physical, chemical, and biological processes and history of Earth’s global ocean system.
General overview and introduction to most exciting and fundamental topics encompassing field of neuroscience.
Pre-requisite: course 31A with grade of C- or better.
Introduction to differential calculus of several variables, vector field theory.
Preparation: at least three and one half years of high school mathematics (including some coordinate geometry and trigonometry).
Pre-requisite: successful completion of Mathematics Diagnostic Test or course 1 with grade of C- or better.
Differential calculus and applications; introduction to integration.
Exploration of biology, evolution, and extinction of dinosaurs and close relatives, in context of history of biosphere. Information from paleontology, biology, and geology.
Pre-requisite: course 14A or 20A with grade of C- or better. Corequisite: course 14B or 20B.
Use of balance, volumetric techniques, volumetric and potentiometric analysis; Beer’s law, applications for environmental analysis and materials science.
Pre-requisite: course 14A or 20A or 20AH with grade of C- or better. Corequisite: course 14B.
Introduction to volumetric, spectrophotometric, and potentiometric analysis. Use and preparation of buffers and pH meters. Synthesis and kinetics techniques using compounds of interest to students in life sciences.
Pre-requisite: Life Sciences 2 or 7C. Corequisite: course M101A.
Overview of human nervous system, brain development, anatomy and function, pathology. Introduction to brain circuits involved in fear and anxiety, memory, sensory, motor activities.
Structural survey of human body, including skeletomuscular, nervous, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and genitourinary systems. Laboratory includes examination of human cadaver specimens.
Understanding of human body, its organization from molecular to cellular to tissues and organs, and how component parts function in integrated manner to permit life as we know it.
Pre-requisites: Life Sciences 3 and 4, or 7A, 7B, and 23L.
Historical foundations of microbiology; introduction to bacterial structure, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, and ecology.
Pre-requisite: course 33A.
Techniques of proof, abstract vector spaces, linear transformations, and matrices; determinants; inner product spaces; eigenvector theory.
Pre-requisite: Chemistry 153A.
Evolution, biodiversity, and sequencing of genomes; bacterial and viral genomes; bioenergetics; gene knockouts; genomics of antibiotic resistance; proteomics. Guest lecturers from department and related departments who discuss key papers with focus on their areas of expertise.
Pre-requisites: courses 1A or 1AH, 1B or 1BH. Corequisite: course 1C or 1CH.
Sound waves and electric circuits, taken by digital oscilloscopes and analyzed by Fourier transformation. Geometrical and physical optics. Conception, execution, and presentation of creative projects involving sound waves or electric circuits.
Pre-requisite: course 1A or 1AH. Corequisite: course 1B or 1BH.
Computerized measurements of uniform and accelerated motion, including oscillations. Analysis of data and comparison of results to predictions, including least-squares fitting. Conception, execution, and presentation of creative projects involving motion.
Pre-requisites: Life Sciences 30A, 30B, or Mathematics 3A, 3B, 3C (3C may be taken concurrently).
Statics and dynamics of forces, motion, energy, including thermal energy, with applications to biological and biochemical systems.
Pre-requisite: course 5A.
Thermal properties of matter, free energy, fluids, ideal gas, diffusion, oscillations, waves, sounds, light, and optics, with applications to biological and biochemical systems.
Pre-requisites: Mathematics 31A, 31B, with grades of C or better. Not open to students with credit for former Statistics 11. Introduction to theory and practice of mathematical statistics with emphasis on its use in economics. Introduction of basic statistical concepts such as random variables, probability distributions, estimation, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing.
Properties of sun, planets, asteroids, and comets. Astronomical observations relevant to understanding solar system and its origin. Dynamical problems, including examination of fallacious hypotheses. Meteoritic evidence regarding earliest history of solar system. Chemical models of solar nebula. Space exploration and its planning.
