Global Economics - Freshmen

Course # HUSS 1033

Credits 3

Course Description

The course explores the concepts of culture, tradition, and change in Central Asia. The focus is on factors that have produced the cultural complexities of contemporary Central Asia and how key life-cycle events and celebrations (marriage and death), the verbal arts, music, films, and dance embody and transmit the cultural memory and values of the region’s diverse peoples. The course helps students to explain how Central Asia’s cultures and cultural expressions present a diverse set of influences and values. The students delve into customs and practices that are subject to change and innovation.  Cultural expressions are the heritage of a complicated past, as well as valuable resources for nurturing innovation, understanding, and cooperation within contemporary societies. The students discuss the role of state and non-state cultural and art institutions and global organizations in safeguarding and revitalizing the cultural heritage of Central Asia.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Explore values, customs, and social systems and practices of various cultures to interpret the diversity of Central Asian cultures.
• Analyze issues of identity and value of contemporary Central Asian culture to cultivate a critical approach to the study of cultural practices
• Explore one’s own cultural identity and values to embrace the co-existence of identities and cultures throughout Central Asia and the world.
• Produce proposals for cultural heritage projects.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # HUSS 1103

Credits 3

TBA

Course # HUSS 1113

Credits 3

Course Description

This course explores the formation of Tajik people/nation in different periods of history, starting from the creation of the first societies, and states pre-modern Central Asia. It investigates two key themes. The first is the role of geography, politics and economics in determining the fate of the people, of an ethnic group in the region. The second is the contingent nature of identities, in particular, ethnic identity. In other words, identities are never unchanging or natural, but they are the product of wider circumstances. Central Asia’s position as a trading corridor meant that different culture and the institutions associated with them were widely disseminated and intermingled. By exploring how the development of states and societies is influenced by the interplay of geography, climate, cultures, religions, and civilizations, students will be equipped to, think critically about their own national identity.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Discuss the contingent nature of culture, and identity religion in human societies

• Explain why identities change
• Analyse reasons how geographical place,  socio-economic and political changes  influence on identity
• Discuss how skilled individuals are produced or gathered

2. Compare different encounters between Eurasian cultures and religions and their impact on the formation of ethnic group

• Explore the ways Central Eurasia had acted as a thoroughfare for people and ideas
• Discuss how the political and social-economic transformations in Central Asia had affected the development of ethnic group
• Explore how the Tajik nation was formed

3. Use primary sources to question received narratives about the past

• Identify appropriate contexts for using primary sources
• Examine appropriate questions to seek from primary sources
• Explore the historical sites of Tajikistan

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # HUSS 1116

Credits 6

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None

Course Description

This comprehensive and transformative course is designed to enhance students' transition from general academic communication to specialized communication across various academic disciplines. The course aims to equip freshmen with the skills necessary to excel in effective rhetoric, critical analysis, and compelling writing. Students will explore the intricate relationship between concepts and communication in their chosen field, progressing from foundational understanding to advanced application. Through engaging classroom instruction, practical exercises, collaborative activities, and comprehensive assessments, students will cultivate the ability to convey complex theories, arguments, and research findings with clarity, precision, and persuasion. By the course's conclusion, students will be well-prepared to succeed in diverse academic and professional contexts, equipped with robust communication skills pertinent to their chosen field.

Course learning outcomes

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to:

• communicate intricate concepts and arguments, tailoring the message for diverse audiences and levels of expertise.
• construct central arguments, evidence, and underlying assumptions within various texts.
• research, evaluate and synthesize relevant sources to construct well-informed and evidence-based arguments.
• construct logically coherent arguments grounded in theory and empirical evidence, while addressing counterarguments.
• craft academic papers that adhere to disciplinary standards of writing, including proper citation and referencing.

Course Assessments and Grading 

Course # HUSS 1031

Credits 3

Course Description

This course explores the geography and demography of Tajikistan, highlighting their links to the country’s economic development. The focus on economic geography encompasses topics such as demography, the perception and utilization of spaces, and the sustainable management of natural resources in both Tajikistan and the broader Central Asian region. Key themes, including resource exploitation, water utilization, industry, agriculture, population and labor resources, and cross-boundary relations and exchanges, are examined throughout the course. The aim is to deepen students' understanding of Tajikistan's role within Central Asia by exploring its economy, environment, natural resources, demography, and development prospects. Through the study and analysis of these topics, students will gain evidence-based insights into the geography, economy, and demography of the country. Additionally, students learn how to connect empirical data with theoretical frameworks and critically interpret various sources.

Course Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Explore how the geographic features of Tajikistan (Central Asia) are linked with  natural resources,  agriculture, industry, and infrastructure.
• Explain the salient features of Tajikistan’s natural resource potential and relate the ways the resources are used to livelihood strategies and development
• Analyse sources to unpack human-environmental relations in the context of natural resources use, and socio-economic activities

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # ECON 1001

Credits 6

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: high school mathematics and pre-calculus

Course Description

Introduction to Microeconomics deals with the interactions between individual households and business. The course helps in explaining the mechanism behind determination of prices of different commodities. It also explains about the prices of the factors of production. It helps in understanding the working of the free-market economy and it introduces students to some of the basic concepts used in economics. The course introduces the students to the various basic concepts necessary to understand economic policies and their effect on society and shows which policies can enhance productive efficiency that may result in greater social welfare. In brief, the course will introduce some explanation about the working of a capitalist economy.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successfully completing this course, students should be able to:

• Explain the three main building blocks of supply and demand analysis – demand curves, supply curves, and the concept of market equilibrium.
• Apply utility functions in the analysis of preferences with a single and multiple goods.
• Calculate expected utility as a way to evaluate risky outcomes.
• Derive the equation of an isoquant from the equation of the production function.
• Describe the conditions that characterize different types of market structure.
• Explain why some kinds of games can lead players to cooperate, while other kinds do not.
• Explain why externalities and public goods are a source of market failure.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # HUSS 1126

Credits 6

Course description

The course is designed for foreign students studying the Russian language with the aim of mastering basic skills of written and spoken communication in certain everyday, socio-cultural and educational contexts.

During Russian language classes students will learn proper writing techniques and engage in various language activities, including writing, reading, listening, and speaking. The primary goal of this course is to create an environment for students that will foster their interest in the material being studied and facilitate their comprehension of the content.

Starting with learning the alphabet and correct pronunciation, students will progress to basic conversational skills, social etiquette, and simple ethical and aesthetic norms in Russian communication. Through dialogues and group discussions, students will learn how to summarize texts based on the vocabulary and grammar covered in the lessons. Emphasis is placed on practical proficiency in the Russian language across all modes of communication and various social and academic contexts.

Course learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• read in Russian correctly and fluently;
• listen to and understand others' speech adequately;
• speak freely and correctly within the scope of the topics studied;
• evaluate and reason effectively.

Course Assessment and Grading

Course # HUSS 1127

Credits 6

Course description

The course is intended for foreign students who have completed the beginner level of the program. An important requirement for this course is the students’ preparedness, thorough absorption and elaboration of the covered material, both grammatical and lexical. The informative and rich content of the course will help students develop their intellectual skills and the ability to engage in cognitive activities in general including tasks such as “let’s argue”, “convince a friend”, and reasoning about statements. Students will be involved in some practical work mastering the Russian language in all types of speech activity and various areas of communication, and will expand their vocabulary by working on texts with pre- and post-reading tasks, dealing with lexical and grammatical exercises, and engaging in discussions.

Students performs a particular workload each week, both during classes and independently. A creative approach to completing text assignments, mastering the entire lexical minimum on the topics, and working on exercises, both written and oral, are encouraged in every lesson. Written work must be submitted on time.

Course learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• read in Russian correctly and fluently;
• listen to and understand others' speech adequately;
• speak freely and correctly within the scope of the topics studied;
• evaluate and reason effectively;
• possess written communication skills at an intermediate level.

Course Assessment and Grading:

Course # HUSS 1128

Credits 6 

Course description

The course is designed for foreign students who have an advanced level of proficiency in the Russian language. The main goal of the course is to develop speaking and writing skills in Russian at a professional level and in various communication fields, including official communication, business and academic communication (both written and oral). Additionally, it aims to teach them to analyze journalistic and literary texts and acquire minimal skills in creating such texts. The course is designed for 52 hours, with classes held twice a week for two paired academic hours. The classes are organized interactively, and texts on various topics, styles, and genres are selected for independent work. 

Course learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• improve grammatical and linguistic competence (systematization and generalization of linguistic material in order to use it in the form of written or oral texts in situations of educational, professional and scientific spheres of communication;
• enhance their discursive competence
• explore and improve their social competence (the ability to understand the basic social and behavioral characteristics of interlocutors);
• develop their socio-linguistic competence (the ability to use various speech strategies and tactics used in educational, professional, and scientific communication spheres).

Course Assessment and Grading

Physical training

Course # HUSS 1080

Credits 0

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: None

Course description

The purpose of physical education is to strengthen health, develop the physical and mental abilities of students. Physical exercises and sports games is the way to a powerful and functional body, clear mind and strong spirit. The course is both practical and theoretical, it covers basic concepts of anatomy and physiology as well as health and safety requirements.  

Course learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• perform a range of physical activities
• understand health and safety requirements for a range of physical activities
• describe the role and progress of sport in Central Asia
• chose an appropriate physical activities program for their age and gender
• identify tiredness and its symptoms to control the body during athletic exercises
• describe the technique of running for a long and a short distance and jumping
• accomplish running for a short and a long distance and jumping according to all necessary norms
• describe the rules of a range of sports games
• participate in a range of sports games according to their rules and techniques

Course Assessments and Grading

* The course will be graded with PASS/FAIL.