Below is a descriptive list of courses I took at Stanford from Fall 2016 to Fall 2020 in programming, management science (organizational theory, finance, and operations), music, other engineering, research, and mathematics. I have copied and pasted from the syllabi I interacted with; or, you will notice I have simply inserted the course description from Stanford University’s ExploreCourses. The title of each course includes the quarter of my enrollment.
Not listed are several courses in the fields listed above as well as those in philosophy, chemistry, biology, technology and innovation, and writing communication.
Programming Depth
CS107 Computer Organization and Systems, Spring 2020 (5 units) Course Objectives: This course acts as an introduction to the fundamental concepts of computer systems. Students will understand how computer systems execute programs and manipulate data, working from the C programming language down to the microprocessor. Students will learn topics including the C programming language, data representation, machine-level code, computer arithmetic, elements of code compilation, memory organization and management, and performance evaluation and optimization. Evaluation: students will be evaluated via homework assignments, weekly lab sessions, and lecture quizzes.
CS106B Programming Abstractions, Spring 2019 (5 units)
from ExploreCourses: Abstraction and its relation to programming. Software engineering principles of data abstraction and modularity. Object-oriented programming, fundamental data structures (such as stacks, queues, sets) and data-directed design. Recursion and recursive data structures (linked lists, trees, graphs). Introduction to time and space complexity analysis. Uses the programming language C++ covering its basic facilities. Prerequisite: 106A or equivalent.
MS&E 125 Introduction to Applied Statistics, Winter 2019 (5 units)
Course Description An increasing amount of data is now generated in a variety of disciplines, ranging from finance and economics, to the natural and social sciences. Making use of this information requires both statistical tools and an understanding of how the substantive scientific questions should drive the analysis. In this hands-on course, we learn to explore and analyze real-world datasets. We cover techniques for summarizing and describing data, methods for statistical inference, and principles for effectively communicating results.
Prerequisites: MS&E 120 or equivalent, and CS 106A or equivalent
Management Science Depth
MS&E 263 Healthcare Operations Management, Winter 2020 (3 units)
Description: Healthcare spending in the US exceeds 18% of GDP and is growing faster than GDP. Improvements in the quality and efficiency of healthcare services are urgently needed. This class focuses on the use of analytical tools to support efficient and effective delivery of health care. Topics include quality control and management, capacity planning, resource allocation, management of patient flows, and scheduling.
MS&E 260 Introductions to Operations Management, Winter 2020 (3 units)
Course Overview Operations management focuses on the effective planning, scheduling, and control of manufacturing and service entities.Achieving operations excellence is one of the most essential strategies to improve efficiency and to gain competitive advantage. This course introduces students to a broad range of fundamental concepts and strategies in the operations function of a firm. Topics include production planning, optimal timing and sizing of capacity expansion, inventory management, supply chain management, revenue management as well as modern operations tools that involve game theoretic considerations. This course covers a mix of qualitative concepts and quantitative methods. Course Objectives. By the end of this course, you will achieve the following goals: •Develop an understanding of a range of problems faced in production and operations management. •Learn to develop and apply mathematical and analytical models to solve those problems. •Develop an understanding of strategic, tactical, and operational levels of decisions, and appropriate solution methodology to support each type of decision. Pre/Co-Requisites: A solid understanding of probability at the level of MS&E 120 (Probabilistic Analysis).
MS&E180 Organizations: Theory and Management, Fall 2018 (4 units) from ExploreCourses: For undergraduates only; preference to MS&E majors. Classical and contemporary organization theory; the behavior of individuals, groups, and organizations. Limited enrollment. Students must attend and complete an application at the first class session.
MS&E 184 Future of Work: Issues in Organizational Design and Learning, Winter 2019 (3 units) Course objectives This practice-based experiential lab course is geared toward MS&E undergraduates. Students will master the concepts of organizational design, and analyze how those concepts are likely to change given advances in work technologies such as crowds and data/algorithms. Students will gain experience designing work by conducting observations and framing a design opportunity. Students will design and manage a flash team and analyze their design process.
By the end of the course, students in MS&E 184 should be able to (1) Evaluate organizational and work designs by articulating main design choices, predicted outcomes, and complicating factors. (2) Describe work-related technologies (e.g., crowds and data/algorithms) and how these technological advances are changing organizational design and behavior. (3) Analyze and describe social structures that play out in the design of work and organizations, and in imaginings of the future of work. (4) Design and manage a flash team.
MS&E 190: Methods and Models for Policy and Strategy Analysis, Spring 2019 (3 units)
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to theoretical frameworks and modeling techniques from operations research and management science, and their application to critical issues related to public policy (e.g., health, energy, online markets, climate) and business strategy. Each course section will be taught by an MS&E faculty member or graduate student who is an expert in the topic area. The course combines general concepts and analysis with modeling techniques. We will apply those frameworks and techniques to real situations, and consider the interplay between government policy and business strategy. The course will culminate in a final project where students use the frameworks and techniques (as appropriate) to generate insight into a policy or strategy problem of their choice. The course is intended to be an overview that may inspire students to take other courses in MS&E and throughout the university on related topics.
Music Depth
Music 24A: Ear Training I, Fall 2019 (1 Unit)
OVERVIEW Music 24A is a course in elementary ear training and musicianship skills designed for undergraduate music majors. We’ll spend the quarter developing a variety of basic skills:
- Melodic Dictation. We’ll improve our ability to recall and accurately transcribe simple tonal melodic phrases in a variety of styles (usually four to eight bars in length). To accomplish this, we’ll focus on improving our ability to recognize the diatonic steps of the major and minor scales (later progressing to the addition of chromatic pitches), quickly identify common melodic idioms and phrase structures, and recognize basic meters and rhythms.
- Key Fluency. We’ll develop a more familiar relationship with key signatures through four sharps or flats, enhancing the capacity to transpose melodies and harmonic progressions to new keys with greater ease.
- Interval Identification. We’ll study the harmonic intervals from m2-P8 as a means to advance to progressions of intervals, which are the basis for beginning aural analysis of contrapuntal textures. We’ll learn to recognize some common two-part idioms.
- Chord Identification. We’ll learn to identify four-part chords, including Major and minor triads in all of their inversions, diminished 6/3, augmented 5/3 and Dominant 7ths.
- Identification of Basic Progressions. We’ll practice hearing basic progressions in short functional groups and cadences, later advancing to longer and more varied progressions.
- Sight Singing. We’ll learn to sight sing in both G and F clefs, later progressing to the common “C” clefs (alto and tenor).
- Basic Keyboard Harmony. We’ll learn to play basic harmonic progressions using good four-part voice leading in a variety of keys.
Music 112 Film Scoring, Spring 2020 (3 units)
Course Description: This course is an analytical and historical overview of music for cinema. Through the processes of critical viewing and listening, you will be able to, by utilizing the Seven (7) Principles of Composition, Mixing and Editing in Classical Film Music by Claudia Gorbman (from the text, Unheard Melodies: Narrative Film Music. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 1987), comprehend and interpret aspects of music in film and perceive those aspects from multiple perspectives. This course will not only refine your ability to effectively communicate within the realm of music’s many specialized terms and concepts, but also enable you to generally communicate on a higher level in your personal, academic and professional life. IN ADDITION, through technical exercises that involve click tracks, spotting, scoring under picture and the creative use of overlap cues, among others, students will learn how to develop and synchronize an engaging music score that supports visual events. Therefore, as a prerequisite of this class, students MUST: •Have a basic knowledge of reading and writing music •Have a basic knowledge to create scores using a music editor such as Finale, Sibelius, or others •Be familiar with MIDI sequencing •Be familiar with DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) such as Logic Pro X, Pro Tools, Garage Band, among many others. •Have a program similar to UniConverter, Final Cut Pro, etc. to manipulate and edit your videos for mid-term and final projects. Knowledge of loading into DAW for addition of your own music. Following an in-depth focus on the analysis and terminology, the course will move on to technical aspects of film scoring. Students will develop their skills and personal creative expression as they apply the introduced techniques from film examples shared throughout class through weekly assignments before concluding the quarter by composing, orchestrating and synchronizing music to a short clip of a film, a favorite television show, or commercial. We will explore the sound palette of each other’s lives through your final project. You will be sharing with critical discussion your work on a regular basis on a software platform you are comfortable with using. Your participation is required.
Music123B Undergraduate Seminar in Composition: Pitch Design, Winter 2020 (2 units)
Objective: The course focuses on creative exploration of current compositional techniques involving pitch. It has three components: Introduction to and analysis of various contemporary pitch systems; writing of technical exercises aimed at helping the students emulate these techniques and develop their own; listening as a way to help students comprehend and internalize sonic potential of each technique.
Approach to material: Time is a composer’s domain. Three axes define it: Duration, Pitch and Timbre. This course focuses solely on pitch, providing the students with the opportunity to expand their understanding of its multiple facets, while developing their personal creative expression.Introduction and analysis of current rhythmic techniques: Students will be introduced to an array of pitch systems that control and modulate the vertical axis of Time: Modality, Polymodality, Atonic pitch systems, and Synthetic scales. Various conceptualizations related to pitch will also be explored: Clusters, Minimalism, and Spectral music.
Writing of technical exercises: Weekly technical exercises will provide students with the opportunity to explore the introduced techniques and adapt them to their own aesthetic. Students will also give a short oral presentation with written and sonic examples sharing the outcome of their investigation of one or several pitch related technique(s) presented in the seminar or of their own choosing. It is expected that besides the one-hour/week class meeting, weekly exercises will necessitate a time investment of at least two hours per week.
Listening: The introduction of each pitch system or pitch related concept will be supported with works from the repertoire so that students can appreciate and familiarize themselves with its aural potential.
Music123A Undergraduate Seminar in Composition: Rhythmic Design, Fall 2019 (2 units)
Objective: The course focuses on creative exploration of current rhythmic techniques. It has three components: Introduction to and analysis of rhythmic techniques used by various contemporary composers; writing of technical exercises aimed at helping the students emulate these techniques and develop their own; listening as a way to help students comprehend and internalize sonic potential of each technique.
Approach to material: Time is a composer’s domain. Three axes define it: Duration, Pitch and Timbre. This course focuses solely on duration, providing the students with the opportunity to expand their understanding of its multiple facets, while developing their personal creative expression. Introduction and analysis of current rhythmic techniques: Students will be introduced to an array of rhythmic techniques that control and modulate duration, such as: Rhythmic durations, Tempo, Metronome marking, and Time signature. Various rhythmic conceptualizations will also be explored: Rhythmic characters, Multi-layering, Polyrhythms, Complex ratio, andSpectral Time.
Writing of technical exercises: Weekly technical exercises will provide students with the opportunity to explore the introduced techniques and adapt them to their own aesthetic. Students will also give a short oral presentation with written and sonic examples sharing the outcome of their investigation of one or several rhythmic technique(s) presented in the seminar or of their own choosing. It is expected that besides the one-hour/week class meeting, weekly exercises will necessitate a time investment of at least two hours per week.
Listening: The introduction of a rhythmic technique or concept will be supported with works from the repertoire so that students can appreciate and familiarize themselves with its aural potential.
Music 192A Foundations of Sound Recording Technology, Fall 2020 (3 units)
from ExploreCourses: For upper division undergraduates and graduate students; preference given to Music majors with MST specialization. Topics: elementary electronics; the physics of sound transduction and microphone operation, selection, and placement; mixing consoles; connectors and device interconnection; grounding and shielding; principles of analog magnetic recording; operation maintenance of recording equipment; and principles of recording engineering. Enrollment limited. Prerequisites: MUSIC 150, algebra, physics basics, and consent of instructor.
Music21 Elements of Music I, Winter 2017 (3 units)
from ExploreCourses: Preference to majors. Introduction to tonal theory. Practice and analysis. Diatonic harmony focusing on melodic and harmonic organization, functional relationships, voice-leading, and tonal structures. Students must concurrently enroll in an Ear-training and musicianship lab (MUSIC 24a, 24b, or 24c as appropriate). Music majors must take 4 courses in ear training, and pass an ear training exit exam in their Junior year. Enrollment limited to 40. Prerequisites: (1) Piano Proficiency Exam or MUSIC 12A; (2) Passing grade on a basic musical skills proficiency examination on the first day of class or MUSIC 19.
Music101 Introduction to Creating Electronic Sounds, Spring 2019 (4 units) from ExploreCourses: Students to explore their creative voices by learning the practical nuts and bolts of making sounds with computers and professional audio equipment. Basic concepts include mixing and production techniques used in podcasts, documentaries, live performance, electronic music, and sound art. Students will create a midterm soundscape project as well as a final class project that is focused on their particular creative interests.
Engineering Depth
MS&E 250A Engineering Risk Analysis, Winter 2020 (3 units) The objective of this course is to present methods and examples of engineering risk analysis, mostly in the engineering domain, and to present and discuss the conceptual framework for using these methods in public and private sector decisions. We will not focus specifically on financial risk. If you are interested in financial risk analysis, please see MS&E 246: Financial Risk Management with Professor Kay Giesecke. The scope and concepts of the course have applications in most domains of engineering –mechanical, electrical, aeronautic, civil, etc. – which involve decision making under uncertainty. We will also discuss personal decisions you might make and a medical case (anesthesia). Emphasis will be placed on risk to human safety from the failure of critical engineered facilities and equipment, and on the philosophical and political issues involved in risk-benefit trade-offs.To understand the methods and examples presented, you will need to use the offered resources (formal class meetings, office hours, course web pages and forum, other on-line resources, problem sets and solutions, and each other!) to grasp and reinforce this material. Specifically, your success will depend on:•Attending and participating in class and review sessions•Completing reading assignments prior to class discussion•Completing and turning in homework assignments on time•Midterm and final examination performance•Sharing your questions and insights with one another and the teaching team. This course is designed for graduate students. Seniors are welcome provided they satisfy the prerequisites and are willing to engage with the pace and rigor of the course. There are three prerequisites and all are important: Engineering Economy (basic cash flow analysis and discounting); Statistics and Probability, particularlyBayesianProbability (at Stanford Stat 116 or MS&E 120/220); and Decision Analysis either in the form of MS&E 152 or MS&E 252 or an equivalent course. Additionally, students should be familiar with the basics of Markov Processes and with Convex Optimization. While risk analysis applications of Markov processes and optimization will be taught, it will be assumed that students have seen these methods before.
ENGR21 Engineering of Systems, Spring 2020 (3 units) A high-level look at techniques for analyzing and designing complex, multidisciplinary engineering systems, such as aircraft, spacecraft, automobiles, power plants, cellphones, robots, biomedical devices, and many others. The need for multi-level design, modeling and simulation approaches, computation-based design, and hardware and software-in-the-loop simulations will be demonstrated through a variety of examples and case studies. Several aspects of system engineering will be applied to the design of large-scale interacting systems and contrasted with subsystems such as hydraulic systems, electrical systems, and brake systems. The use of design-thinking, story-boarding, mockups, sensitivity analysis, simulation, team-based design, and the development of presentation skills will be fostered through several realistic examples in several fields of engineering.
ME267 Ethics and Equity in Transportation Systems, Fall 2018 (3 units) Description: Transportation is a crucial element of human life. It enables communication with others, provides access to employment / economic opportunity, and transports goods upon which we depend. However, transportation also generates negative impacts: pollution, noise, energy consumption and risk to human life. Because of its enormous capability to affect our lives, transportation is one of the most highly regulated businesses in the world. These regulations are designed to promote social welfare, maintain social improve access, and protect vulnerable populations. This course examines the origins and impacts of transportation policy and regulation: who benefits, who bears the cost, and how social and individual objectives are achieved. Organization: The course is split into lecture and discussion sessions. In the lecture sessions, we will present course material to be used in assignments and, on occasion, bring in guest speakers to offer additional perspectives. Assignments will consist of readings and written work to be presented and turned in each week in the discussion section. Over the course of the quarter, students will apply the concepts introduced in the class to address four specific transportation challenges: a local bridge design, interventions to reduce discrimination in ride hailing, value sensitive design of automated vehicles and electric vehicle policy in a developing country. Learning Objectives: By the end of the quarter, students should: (i) Understand key concepts of moral psychology and ethics how these apply to transportation systems. (ii) Understand the historical lessons offered by past approaches to traditional transportation problems like infrastructure decisions and emissions regulation and how these relate to modern transportation challenges. (iii) Be able to apply the principles learned in class to address modern transportation challenges in different areas.
Mathematics Depth
NBIO228 Mathematical Tools for Neuroscience, Winter 2018 (2 units) General organization: This course will cover the fundamental concepts in quantitative modeling and analysis for modern neuroscience. Our goal is to make this as fun and approachable as possible – you will not need any serious math experience beyond high school calculus. Class schedule: Week 1: Linear Algebra I Week 2: Linear Algebra II Week 3: Linear Algebra III Week 4: Dimensionality Reduction Week 5: Statistical Modeling I Week 6: Statistical Modeling II Week 7: Statistical Modeling III Week 8: Differential equations Week 9: Statistics Week 10: Signal processing and information theory
MS&E135 Networks, Spring 2018 (3 units) from ExploreCourses: This course provides an introduction to how networks underly our social, technological, and natural worlds, with an emphasis on developing intuitions for broadly applicable concepts in network analysis. The course will include: an introduction to graph theory and graph concepts; social networks; information networks; the aggregate behavior of markets and crowds; network dynamics; information diffusion; the implications of popular concepts such as “six degrees of separation”, the “friendship paradox”, and the “wisdom of crowds”.
CME103 Introduction to Matrix Methods, Fall 2019 (5 units) from ExploreCourses: Introduction to applied linear algebra with emphasis on applications. Vectors, norm, and angle; linear independence and orthonormal sets; applications to document analysis. Clustering and the k-means algorithm. Matrices, left and right inverses, QR factorization. Least-squares and model fitting, regularization and cross-validation. Constrained and nonlinear least-squares. Applications include time-series prediction, tomography, optimal control, and portfolio optimization. Prerequisites: MATH 51 or CME 100, and basic knowledge of computing
MS&E121 Introduction to Stochastic Modeling, Spring 2019 (4 units) This course is an introduction to stochastic processes with applications in diverse fields. The primary focus will be on Markov chains, both discrete and continuous time culminating to Queueing Theory. The course objective is to provide students with theoretical concepts and the ability to analytically model and solve real world problems. We place equal emphasis on problem formulation, mechanical manipulation, numerical (Excel) evaluation and the communication of results. Course information is organized by four modules (Refresher, Markov Chains, Poisson Process and CTMC, Queueing), each contains Lecture powerpoint and Excel Sheets. Prerequisites: MS&E 120 or equivalent, Math 41 or equivalent (including multi-dimensional differential and integral calculus and liner algebra. Knowledge of simple spreadsheets is required.
MS&E111x Introduction to Optimization (Accelerated), Winter 2019 (4 units) from ExploreCourses: Optimization theory and modeling. The role of prices, duality, optimality conditions, and algorithms in finding and recognizing solutions. Perspectives: problem formulation, analytical theory, computational methods, and recent applications in engineering, finance, and economics. Theories: finite dimensional derivatives, convexity, optimality, duality, and sensitivity. Methods: simplex and interior-point, gradient, Newton, and barrier. Prerequisite: CME 100 or MATH 51 or equivalent.
Econ50 Economic Analysis I, Spring 2020 (5 Units) Course Overview and Objectives: The fundamental assumption of traditional microeconomic analysis is that when individuals and firms make economic decisions, they are solving a constrained optimization problem: that is, they are trying to maximize something (like profits or happiness) but are limited in the actions they can take due to resource constraints (like a fixed budget or workforce). This course will introduce you to the way economists approach modeling these kinds of decisions, and give you practice with the kind of models that will be used throughout the economics major. The analytical approach of Econ 50 will be much more mathematical than what you have seen previously in Econ 1. Because of the importance of “marginal” reasoning in microeconomics, we will make frequent use of differential calculus. There is a beauty, and also a danger, in the elegance of these mathematical models. We will spend a good deal of time discussing the pros and cons of this analytical approach. Economics 50 is the first course in the Econ 50 series, a year-long survey of intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics.
MS&E120 Probabilistic Analysis, Fall 2017 (5 units) from ExploreCourses: Concepts and tools for the analysis of problems under uncertainty, focusing on focusing on structuring, model building, and analysis. Examples from legal, social, medical, and physical problems. Topics include axioms of probability, probability trees, random variables, distributions, conditioning, expectation, change of variables, and limit theorems. Prerequisite: CME 100 or MATH 51.
Research Courses
MS&E463 Healthcare Systems Design, Spring 2020 (3 units) Students work on projects to analyze and design various aspects of healthcare including hospital patient flow, physician networks, clinical outcomes, reimbursement incentives, and community health. Students work in small teams under the supervision of the course instructor and partners at the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, the Stanford Hospital, and other regional healthcare providers. Prerequisite: 263.
Bio47 Introduction to Research in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Spring 2017 (4 units)
The goal of this course is to develop an understanding of how to conduct biological research, using a topic in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Plant Biology as a practical example. This includes the complete scientific process: assessing background literature, generating testable hypotheses, learning techniques for field- and lab-based data collection, analyzing data using appropriate statistical methods, and finally writing and sharing results. To build these skills, this course will focus on nectar microbes at Stanford’s nearby Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. Students, working in teams, will develop novel research hypotheses and execute the necessary experiments and measurements to test these hypotheses. The capstone of the course will be an oral defense of students’ findings, as well as a research paper in the style of a peer-reviewed journal article. Labs will be completed both on campus and at Jasper Ridge. Lab fee. Information about this class is available at http://bio44.stanford.edu. Satisfies WIM in Biology.
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