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Spring 2010 Arab Studies Courses/Descriptions
Anthropology
ANTRO-640: Exile and Diaspora in the Middle East
History
HIST-296: Selected Topics: Non-Recurring
This seminar is intended to provide students with the opportunity to explore in-depth a major Islamic civilization through its political, social, and economic institutions. Students examine primary sources and write a research paper. Open to freshmen and sophomore students only.
HIST-500: Studies in History
Throughout the "long nineteenth century," Ottoman state and society sought to cope with--or take advantage of--an unprecedented rise in European military and economic power. In the process, the Middle East experienced radically new forms of political and social organization, including the politicization of ethnicity and the emergence of rival nationalist movements in the Balkans, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and the Arab world.
International Service
SIS-245: G3:2 The World of Islam
The "inner dynamic" of Islamic culture and an inside look at the workings of Islamic society - a society seen as a whole with its own characteristic inner force and propellant. Original readings illustrating the Islamic paradigm and discussion of the complex relationship among reform, renewal, and fundamentalism stemming from this paradigm. Usually offered every fall. Prerequisite for General Education credit: ANTH-110 or LIT-150 or RELG-185 or SIS-140 or SOCY-110.
SIS-264: Contemporary Middle East
The Middle East's contemporary political culture and its historical, economic, geographic, and social roots, with special attention to the Arab world. Usually offered every term.
SIS-365: Arab-Israeli Relations
A survey of Arab-Israeli relations from their origins to the present. Includes an account of Zionism and Palestinian nationalism, the history of the British mandate, the Arab-Israeli wars, the involvement of external powers, and the quest for peace. The emphasis is on conflict resolution. Usually offered every spring.
SIS-419: Adv Topics in Int'l Relations
This course explores Middle East conflicts through literature and film by examining the social, cultural, and political significance of Middle East conflicts as portrayed in literary tradition and films focusing on the ideological connection between masculinity and war, the issue of representation of the other as enemy, the relationship between violence against women and war, myths and popular images of war, and how literature and film perpetuate or contest them. The course provides an engaging way for students to gain historical literacy and critical thinking about the politics of war and Middle East conflicts by offering a unique perspective to examine conflict through novels, short stories, poetry, and films about the Arab-Israeli conflict, Lebanese civil war, Algerian revolution, Iran-Iraq war, the 1991 Gulf War and the Iraq war.
SIS-496: Selected Topics: Non-Recurring
The aim of this course is to recognize the great variety of groups attempting to integrate Islam into modern politics, and to gain a nuanced understanding of the political contexts which shaped their emergence. The class proceeds chronologically, exploring the crisis that emerged in Islamic political identity with the end of the Ottoman caliphate and the imposition of colonial rule in Muslim lands; then analyzes the rise of Islamic opposition movements to secular nationalist states; and finally the creation of global Islamic networks, born through Western immigration and jihad in Afghanistan. Although historical in organization, the focus is on understanding the political forces and organizations shaping politics in Muslim countries, and the world, today. Meets with SIS-696 010.
SIS-510: Islamic Sources of Conflt Res
Investigates the role of cultural and religious elements in conflicts affecting the Muslim world, and examines Islamic precepts as they relate to the theory and practice of conflict resolution. After reviewing principles and precedents from the Qur'an, the Hadith, the Shari'ah, and traditional Islamic culture, students engage in research projects to analyze conflict and conflict resolution processes both within the Muslim world and between Muslim and non-Muslim ethnic and political groups. Usually offered every spring.
SIS-511: Kurds: Social,Cultrl,Pol Iden
This course focuses on Kurds in the international context. It examines the relationship among the Kurds and Turkey and Iran and also explores superpower policies with regard to the Kurdish issue.
SIS-596: Selected Topics:Non-Recurring
This course examines research on communal identity (e.g. tribal, ethnic, religious/sectarian and national) in order to provide a context for understanding political, economic, and socio-cultural developments in the contemporary Middle East. The goal of this course is to introduce perspectives and research rooted in recent social and cultural theory to assist students to become more informed interpreters of analytical and descriptive generalizations about "identity" in the Middle East.
SIS-619: Special Studies in Int'l Pol
The course provides students with a detailed understanding of the history of America's relations with the countries of the greater Middle East as well as of current issues in United States policy towards the region. The course not only analyses the Arab-Israeli issue in depth but also explores the domestic and international constraints which affect overall U.S. policy toward the Middle East.
SIS-696: Selected Topics:Non-Recurring
The aim of this course is to recognize the great variety of groups attempting to integrate Islam into modern politics, and to gain a nuanced understanding of the political contexts which shaped their emergence. The class proceeds chronologically, exploring the crisis that emerged in Islamic political identity with the end of the Ottoman caliphate and the imposition of colonial rule in Muslim lands; then analyzes the rise of Islamic opposition movements to secular nationalist states; and finally the creation of global Islamic networks, born through Western immigration and jihad in Afghanistan. Although historical in organization, the focus is on understanding the political forces and organizations shaping politics in Muslim countries, and the world, today.
Arabic
ARAB-103: Arabic, Elementary II
Continuation of ARAB-102. Usually offered every spring. Prerequisite: ARAB-102 or equivalent.
ARAB-203: Arabic, Intermediate II
Continuation of ARAB-202. Usually offered every spring. Prerequisite: ARAB-202 or equivalent.
ARAB-303: Advanced Arabic II
Continuation of ARAB-302. Prerequisite: ARAB-302 or equivalent.
ARAB-426: Arabic Topics
This course introduces the colloquial dialect of eastern Mediterranean spoken in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine. Emphasis is on the acquisition of aural and oral components of the language, and students are provided with exposure to targeted situational vernaculars, idioms, and expressions used in every day discourse.
Sociology
SOCY-225: G3:2 Contemporary Arab World
The social, economic, and political structure of the Arab World with special emphasis on the impact on this region of the rise and fall of oil revenues. A macrosociological approach places the region in the global political economy and introduces students to its problematics and historical-cultural specificity. Usually offered every term. Prerequisite for General Education credit: ECON-110 or GOVT-130 or HIST-120 or SIS-105 or SIS-110.
