Graduate Course Descriptions

Humanities (HUM)

HUM 5312 Popular Culture in North Africa 3 (3-0)

Various types of popular expression in North African societies will be examined, starting with religious practices such as popular Islam. Other forms of popular expression often ignored in the past, such as pop music, theater, television and film, will be covered. The course will move from North Africa itself to discuss the growing influence of such North African pop cultural forms as raised in other regions of the Arab world, Europe and beyond.

This is a Concentration Course in North African & Middle Eastern Studies for the MAISD

HUM 5322 Critical Writing and Communication 3(3-0)

This course emphasizes the refinement of critical thinking and analytical skills and their expression in both the written and the oral mode. It is designed to improve students' ability to argue persuasively and appropriately, and to analyze effectively the arguments of others. The course will center on professional, decision-making situations and involve the creation and analysis of the students' own texts, as well as the analysis and interpretation of the texts of others. Attention will be given to conventions of research and documentation in the social sciences, including practice in MLA and APA formatting.

This is a Core Course in the MAISD and the Combined BAMAISD

HUM 5323 Politics in North African Literature and Films 3(3-0)

This course examines the handling of political themes and issues through a selection of North African films and works of literature over a varied time period.

This is a Concentration Course in North African & Middle Eastern Studies for the MAISD

HUM 5360 Issues in Contemporary Islam 3(3-0)

This course is a survey of different issues in contemporary Islamic thinking and practice. While covering the interaction between Islam and politics, and discussing the relationship between Islam and democracy, the course emphasizes social and cultural issues, such as Islam and Modernity and Islam and women. New challenges to Islamic societies and to Muslims in general will also be covered.

This is a Concentration Course in North African & Middle Eastern Studies for the MAISD

HUM 5388 Mediterranean Societies 3(3-0)

The course presents the cultural, political and environmental specificities that have determined the development of societies around the Mediterranean Sea. Several exemplary cases will be approached from comparative anthropological as well as historical perspectives. The course will deal with ethnic, political and religious complexities that have shaped exchange in such fields as settlement patterns, resource use and social organization. The use of violence to shift dominance in the region will be a theme for inquiry, as well as transmission of knowledge and forms of crossborder cooperation. In that context, the role of transnational communities shall be examined as well.

This is a Concentration Course in North African & Middle Eastern Studies for the MAISD
This is a Concentration Course in European Studies for the MAISD

HUM 5412 Moroccan Cultural Heritage 4(4-0)

The purpose of this course is to provide students with a deep knowledge of Moroccan cultural heritage from both tangible and intangible perspectives. Through centuries of constructive intermingling of Berber, Arab, Islamic, Jewish, Roman, Andalusian, French, Saharan and sub-Saharan cultures, Morocco has been an innovative place for the arts of living and building. The course will place an emphasis on Moroccan heritage as it continues to thrive in cities, towns and villages throughout the country. It aims at providing an understanding of how the traditions of Moroccan life can serve as a catalyst for development in contemporary Morocco. This four - 4 - SCH course involves a number of local and cross-country field trips for which students will need to pay a supplemental fee.

This is a Concentration Course in North African & Middle Eastern Studies for the MAISD

HUM 5361 Amazigh (Berber) History and Culture:3(3-0)

HUM 5323 Politics in North African Literature and Films: 3(3-0)
This course examines the handling of political themes and issues through a selection of North African films and works of literature over a varied time period.