Undergraduate Course Descriptions

Social Sciences (SSC)

SSC 1310 Introduction to Anthropology 3(3-0)

This is an introduction to the principles and processes of anthropology. It focuses on cultural anthropology but includes material related to physical anthropology and linguistics. The main themes of anthropology (culture, adaptation, social integration) will be covered. Students will examine the implications of cultural system (social, economic, political, symbolic, religion) on the lives of men and women.

This is a University Core Curriculum Course for the BBA, BAIS, BACS, BSHRD, BSGE, BSCSC, BSEMS

SSC 2301 Arab Society 3(3-0)
Pre-requisite: SOC 1301 or SSC 1310

This is an introduction to the study of the Arab World, both the Mashriq (Arab East) and the Maghrib (Arab West). It examines Arab Culture, the large number of shared practices and beliefs among all Arabs, as well as the cultural specifics of various regions within the Arab World. The main focus of the course deals with the contemporary issues of this vast region.

This is an optional course in the North African and Middle Eastern Studies Concentration for the BAIS

SSC 2302 Social Theory 3(3-0)
Pre-requisite: SOC 1301 or SSC 1310

In-depth examination of the major strands of social theory, beginning with the founders, down to post-modernism and feminism, through structuralism and other schools that dominated 20th century social theory.

This is a required course in the International Cooperation and Development Concentration for the BAIS

SSC 2306/SSC 5306 Issues in Contemporary North Africa (Undergraduate and Graduate)
Pre-Requisite: Permission of Instructor

This course is a general survey of the major cultural, political, and social issues in contemporary North Africa with a special focus on Morocco. The purpose of the course is to give students an overall understanding of these issues in order for them to pursue points of their own interest. The course has a seminar format with presentations by both SHSS faculty and outside experts. Field trips are organized to complement the course and are counted as part of the course requirement.

Topics included: Berber Culture and Identity, Political Systems and Democratization, Political Islam, Popular Islam, Sufism, Rural Migration, Urban Development and Planning, Tourism and Development, Literacy, Gender Issues, Contemporary Music, Literature and Cinema.

SSC 2310 Development Policy 3(3-0)
Pre-requisite: SOC 1301 or SSC 1310

The course is designed as a general introduction to the various theories that have been used in development from the early 1950s to the present day. The course will examine the ‘how and why’ of these various theories and why there has been a constant need to reassess these two issues. The reasons for the collapse of development schemes and even whole national policies have often been placed on ‘cultural factors’. The course will cover these cultural factors and look at how they have directly affected the new, current thinking in development, whether rural or urban.

This is an optional course in the International Cooperation and Development Concentration for the BAIS

SSC 2401 Social Statistics 4(3-2)
Pre-requisites: MTH 1300; MTH 1301, highly recommended

This course aims to equip students with the basic skills in statistics to understand and evaluate data produced in published sources. Topics include organizing data, percentile, measures of central tendency and dispersion, normal curve, probability, correlation, regression analysis and nonparametric tests. The course will also include a weekly computer laboratory session.

This is a School Core Curriculum Course for the BAIS, BACS & BSHRD

SSC 3303 Research Methods 3(3-0)
Pre-requisite: SOC 1301 or SSC 1310

This course introduces students to the stages of scientific research and to the basics of quantitative and qualitative research methodology. It includes instruction in experimental method; survey methods (observation, interview, and questionnaire); as well as field research and content analysis. Students conduct a number of practical exercises.

This is a School Core Curriculum Course for the BAIS, BACS & BSHRD

SSC 3405 Field Methods 4(4-0)
Pre-requisite: SOC 1301 or SSC 1310

This course introduces theoretical and practical techniques and method of fieldwork. The practical portion of this course will consist of specific projects to be carried out by students both on and off campus. The course carries 4 credits due to the number of practical exercices.

This is an optional course in the International Cooperation and Development Concentration for the BAIS

SSC 3311 Women and Economic Development 3(3-0)
Pre-requisite: Junior Classification

The course introduces students to the main debates and concerns of women and development, examines the various economic activities of Arab women in rural and urban economies, in formal and informal sectors and considers crucial issues of women's access to land, property, income, technology and finance, as well as questions of the environment. Emphasis is placed on the evaluation of existing national and international economic and developmental policies and their implications for Arab women.

This is an optional course in the International Cooperation and Development Concentration for the BAIS
This is an Elective in the Minor of Women and Development Studies for the BAIS

SSC 3312 Women and Society 3(3-0)
Pre-requisite: Junior Classification

This course provides a sociological framework for examining women's diverse experiences in society, with a special focus on women in the Arab world. It looks at how major social institutions such as the family, education, religion and the labor market socialize women into a distinct set of roles and positions. It also addresses issues of particular relevance to women such as health and education.

This is an Elective in the Minor of Women and Development Studies for the BAIS

SSC 3313 Women and Politics 3(3-0)
Pre-requisite: PSC 2301

This course surveys the involvement of women in political processes in various countries worldwide. Particular emphasis is on the role played by women in the Middle East and North Africa. As well as looking at issues related to political institutions, the course will look at demands made on the political system by women and the political impact of women's movements.

This is an optional course in the Political Science Concentration for the BAIS
This is an Elective in the Minor of Women and Development Studies for the BAIS

SSC 3321 Economic Development in the Middle East and North Africa 3(3-0)
Pre-requisite: Junior Classification

The course examines the issue of development since the 1950s in North Africa and the Middle East. State policies and theories of development are studied in light of actual project implementation. Changes in the theoretical orientation towards development, the increasing role of NGOs, the rise of grass roots organizations, appropriate technology, appropriate development, and gender issues since the 1970s will be discussed. The course will bring the discussion from a general coverage of the region to the specifics of development implementation in Morocco.

This is an optional course in the International Cooperation and Development Concentration for the BAIS
This is an optional course in the North African and Middle Eastern Studies Concentration for the BAIS

SSC 3322 Political Anthropology 3(3-0)
Pre-requisite: SOC 1301 or SSC 1310

This course will examine the variety of socio-political systems ranging from bands, tribes, chiefdoms, and states. These different political systems will be seen in relation to numerous types of social and economic systems. Such concepts as kinship, social status, income levels among others will be used to help analyze how these various political systems actually operate. The course will also deal with the multiple ranges of political realities in complex, multicultural settings like the Arab world where more than one political system may operate in peoples' lives.

This is an optional course in the Political Science Concentration for the BAIS

SSC 3330 Immigration to the United States 3(3-0)
Pre-requisite: Junior Classification

This course surveys the immigrant experience in the United States. The causes and effects of the various immigration waves will be studied along with the evolution of legal frameworks encapsulating them. Cultural and social policies related to immigration along with the issues of assimilation, integration and bilingual education will be addressed.

This is an optional course in the American Studies Concentration for the BAIS

SSC 3331 Race Relations in the United States 3(3-0)
Pre-requisite: Junior Classification

This course introduces students to the question of race in the United States. It will address how the government and society interact and interacted with minority groups in the United States. The course focuses on the leading minorities of the United States: Native Americans, African- Americans, Hispanics, and Asian-Americans. The experiences and movements of each of these five communities are examined in light of ‘othering’, discrimination, struggle and hopes for eventual emancipation.

This is an optional course in the American Studies Concentration for the BAIS

SSC 3332 Crime and Punishment in the United States 3(3-0)
Pre-requisite: Junior Classification

In this course, students will study the United States criminal justice system. The constitutional basis of the system will be contrasted with the realities that face the accused in court. Among the topics discussed will be the incarceration rate, the unequal application of the death penalty, the rights of the accused and public opinion towards crime.

This is an optional course in the American Studies Concentration for the BAIS

SSC 3340 Independent Study 3(3-0)
Pre-requisites: Junior Classification and approval of the Dean

Open to students wishing to pursue individual work under the supervision of a designated faculty member.

SSC 3399 Special Topics in International Cooperation and Development 3(3-0)

Specially scheduled courses on significant issues or topics relevant to the study of International Cooperation and Development.

This is an optional course in the International Cooperation and Development Concentration for the BAIS

SSC 4301 Social Change and Technological Development 3(3-0)
Pre-requisite: Senior Classification

Technology and natural resources, population composition, ideology and social movements as change factors in cultural/social systems. Adaptation to planned versus uncontrolled changes. It addresses manifest and latent consequences to technological development as well as cultural systems and attitudes toward technological innovation and change.

This is an optional course in the International Cooperation and Development Concentration for the BAIS
This is an optional course in the European Studies Concentration for the BAIS
This is a Social Environment Concentration course for the BSHRD

SSC 4302 Senior Capstone 3(3-0)

The Senior Capstone consists of a major, individual, independent research oriented exercise or project each student undertakes during his/her final semester. The aim of the Senior Capstone is to give students the opportunity to use the research tools and analytical skills they have acquired in their undergraduate courses, and to work creatively with the theories and concepts relevant to their field of study. The emphasis in the Senior Capstone is on student initiative. It is up to each student to come up with a research project. Students are encouraged to choose projects of particular interest to them. Students enrolled in the Senior Capstone meet in seminar fashion in order to discuss methodology, data collection and analysis, sources, and other issues relevant to their projects, and to exchange ideas with invited speakers.

This is a School Core Curriculum Course for the BAIS, BACS & BSHRD

SSC 4310 Ethnicity and Minorities in Europe 3(3-0)

This course will cover the issues of ethnicity (ethno-linguistic groups) and other minorities in contemporary Europe. The course will look at groups who have advanced political claims based on ethnicity for autonomy or even independence as well as groups with no such political organization, but still see themselves as separate from the majority populations such as the Romany community. The course will also look at a number of recent immigrant communities that are now ‘integrated’ into Europe such as the Africans, Arabs, Kurds, Turks, Indians, and Pakistanis.