AMES 009:
Section 301: Writing about Islam
INSTRUCTOR: Staff
DESCRIPTION: A "writing about" course devoted to various
aspects of Islamic civilization and culture. This course fulfills the
College writing requirement.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
Section 302: Narrative Journeys: Africa & Asia (Freshman Seminar)
INSTRUCTOR: Roger Allen
DESCRIPTION: All readings for this course will be in ENGLISH.
They will include the Sindbad Tales from the 1001 Nights and fiction by
the Nobel Laureate, Naguib Mahfouz. A variety of narratives from different
literary genres will be read, focusing on the theme of travel, whether
it be a physical journey from one place to another, a process of change--a
rite of passage perhaps, or an inward psychological quest. The writers
are both male and female, and are drawn from different periods in Arabic
literary history. The course will begin with an introduction to narrative
and journeys, as well as background information on Islamic Middle Eastern
culture and Arabic literary history. Students will be expected to participate
in classroom discussions; two short (5 page) papers and a term paper (maximum
20 pages) will be required.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: I c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 025: Ancient Middle Eastern History and Civilization
INSTRUCTOR: Staff
DESCRIPTION: A cultural history of Middle Eastern civilization
from the invention of writing to the rise of Islam.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 030: Elementary Arabic I & II
INSTRUCTORS: Emad Rushdie (001), Mubarek Sryfi (002), Ahlem
Ben Hassen (003)
DESCRIPTION: This is the beginners course in Modern Standard
Arabic (MSA). It will introduce you to the speaking, listening, reading,
and writing skills in the standard means of communication in the Arab
world. The course is proficiency-based, implying that all activities within
the course are aimed at placing you, the learner, in the context of the
native-speaking environment from the very beginning. Evaluation is done
in two ways: firstly, by the more traditional testing methods (vocabulary
tests, dictations, grammar and translation exercises); secondly, through
a series of proficiency tests (including the Oral Proficiency Interview),
the aim of which is to let you know how well you could survive and operate
in the native-speaking context. We anticipate that by the end of this
first year students will range in proficiency from Novice High to Intermediate
Mid on the ACTFL scale; in other words (using the terminology of the government's
Foreign Service Institute), from 'incipient survival' to 'full survival'
in the native-speaking environment.
SCHEDULING: 5 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u. per semester normally given at the end of
the academic year; students must begin the course in the Fall Semester.
PREREQUISITE: None for the first semester; for the second
semester, successful completion of the first semester or permission of
the instructor.An intensive version of this year-long
course is offered in the summer through the Office of Summer Sessions;
see the PENN Summer Course Guide. Credit for this course is 2 c.u.
AMES 031: Intermediate Arabic I & II
INSTRUCTORS: Emad Rushdie (001), Jamal Ali (002)
DESCRIPTION: This is the continuation of AMES 030, the Elementary
course in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). This course is also proficiency-based,
implying that all activities within the course are aimed at placing you,
the learner, in the context of the native-speaking environment from the
very beginning. As in AMES 030, evaluation is done in two ways: firstly,
by the more traditional testing methods (vocabulary tests, dictations,
grammar and translation exercises); secondly, through a series of proficiency
tests (including the Oral Proficiency Interview), the aim of which is
to let you know how well you could survive and operate in the native-speaking
context. We anticipate that by the end of this second year students will
range in proficiency from Intermediate Low to Intermediate High on the
ACTFL scale. Completion of this course fulfills the College of Arts and
Sciences' language requirement in Arabic. However, it should be emphasized
that to achieve anything like a useful proficiency in Arabic, you will
need a longer period of study.
SCHEDULING: 5 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u. per semester normally given at the end of
the academic year; students
must begin the course in the Fall Semester.
PREREQUISITE: Proficiency in AMES 030 (see above) or equivalency
by examinations; for the second semester, successful completion of the
first semester or permission of the instructor. For equivalency, you should
contact Maher Awad, 836 Williams Hall, or the AMES Office at extension
8-7466.An intensive version of this year-long course
is offered in the summer through the Office of Summer Sessions; see the
PENN Summer Course Guide. Credit for this course is 2 c.u.
AMES 032: Beginning Arabic I & II
INSTRUCTOR: Hassan Nitami
DESCRIPTION: This year-long course is offered through the
College of General Studies (CGS). AMES 032, and its second-year sequel,
AMES 034, will introduce you to the speaking, listening, reading, and
writing skills in the standard means of communication in the Arab world-Modern
Standard Arabic (MSA). At the end of the four-semester sequence you will
be able to speak about yourself and environment and to hold conversations
on a number of simple topics; be able to read and understand texts on
familiar topics; be able to carry out written transactions connected to
daily life; and have a greater knowledge of and appreciation for Arab
culture.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The AMES 032 and AMES 034 sequence of four
semester courses (two years) is intended as a separate sequence for part-time
students and those registered in CGS. It is different from the daytime
AMES 030 and AMES 031 sequence. Successful completion of AMES 032 and
AMES 034 will satisfy the College of General Studies' language requirement,
but will NOT fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences' or Wharton's language
requirement. There is no possibility of transfer from one sequence to
the other.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u. per semester normally given at the end of
the academic year; students must begin the course in the Fall Semester.
PREREQUISITE: None for the first semester; for the second
semester, successful completion of the first semester or the equivalent.
AMES 033: Advanced Intermediate Arabic I & II
INSTRUCTOR: Jamal Ali
DESCRIPTION: This year-long proficiency-based course continues
from the first intermediate course, AMES 031. Emphasis continues to be
on all four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Students will be expected to give classroom presentations and to write
short essays in Arabic. Evaluation will be both achievement-based and
proficiency-based. The test of speaking ability will consist of the Oral
Proficiency Interview. We anticipate that by the end of this third year
students will range in proficiency from Intermediate Mid to Advanced Low
on the ACTFL scale.
SCHEDULING: 5 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u. per semester normally given at the end of
the academic year; students must begin the course in the Fall Semester.
PREREQUISITE: Proficiency in AMES 031 (see above), or equivalency
by examinations; for the second semester, successful completion of the
first semester or permission of the instructor. For equivalency, you should
contact Maher Awad, 836 Williams Hall, or the AMES Office at extension
8-7466.
AMES 034: Continuing Arabic III & IV
INSTRUCTOR: Staff
DESCRIPTION: This year-long course is offered through the
College of General Studies (CGS). AMES 034, the second year-long course
in the AMES 032 and AMES 034 sequence, will continue the process of introducing
you to the speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in the standard
means of communication in the Arab world-Modern Standard Arabic (MSA).
At the end of the four-semester sequence you will be able to speak about
yourself and environment and to hold conversations on a number of simple
topics; be able to read and understand texts on familiar topics; be able
to carry out written transactions connected to daily life; and have a
greater knowledge of and appreciation for Arab culture.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The AMES 032 and AMES 034 sequence of four
semester courses (two years) is intended as a separate sequence for part-time
students and those registered in CGS. It is different from the daytime
AMES 030 and AMES 031 sequence. Successful completion of AMES 032 and
AMES 034 will satisfy the College of General Studies' language requirement,
but will NOT fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences' or Wharton's language
requirement. There is no possibility of transfer from one sequence to
the other.
SCHEDULING: 5 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u. per semester normally given at the end of
the academic year; students must begin the course in the Fall Semester.
PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of AMES 032 or the equivalent.
AMES 035: Colloquial Arabic of the Levant
INSTRUCTOR: Staff
DESCRIPTION: This one-semester course is intended for beginners
with no prior knowledge of Arabic. The students will learn the basic survival
skills to help them get by when visiting Israel/Palestine, Jordan, Syria,
or Lebanon.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week; Spring Semester
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 036: Introduction to the Middle East
INSTRUCTOR: Heather Sharkey
DESCRIPTION: This course surveys the history of the Middle East from
the rise of Islam (c. 600) to the start of the modern era, concentrating
on political, social and cultural trends. Although the emphasis will
be on Middle Eastern societies, we will occasionally consider developments
in other parts of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia
and Spain, where Middle Eastern cultures were or have been influential.
Our goal is to understand the shared features that have distinguished
Middle Eastern societies under the aegis of Islamic civilization, as
well as the varieties of experience that have endowed the region with
so much cultural diversity.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 039 (HIST 084): Sex and Gender in the Middle East (Freshman
Seminar)
INSTRUCTOR: Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet
DESCRIPTION: If "the clash of civilizations" is the first image that
jumps to mind when thinking about the modern Middle East, then this
is the course for you. From the familiar narratives about the creation
of modern nation-states to the oft-neglected accounts of cultural life,
this course surveys the multi-faceted societies of the twentieth-century
Middle East. Although inclusive of the military battles and conflicts
that have affected the region, this course will move beyond the cliches
of war and conflict in the Middle East to show a range of issues and
ideas with which intellectuals and governments grappled throughout the
century. The cultural politics and economic value of oil as well as
the formation of a vibrant literary life will be among the topics covered
in the course. By considering illustrative cultural moments that shed
light on the political history of the period, this course will adopt
a nuanced framework to approach the Arab/Israeli conflict, the history
of the Gulf States, the Iran-Iraq War, and U.S. involvement in the region.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 118: Iranian Cinema - Gender, Politics and Religion
INSTRUCTOR: Pardis Minuchehr
DESCRIPTION: Post-Revolutionary Iranian cinema has gained exceptional
international reception in the past two decades. In most major national
and international festivals, Iranian films have taken numerous prizes
for their outstanding representation of life and society, and their
courage in defying censorship barriers. In this course, we will examine
the distinct characteristics of the post-revolutionary Iranian cinema.
Discussion will revolve around themes such as gender politics, family
relationships and women's social, economic and political roles, as well
as the levels of representation and criticism of modern Iran's political
and religious structure within the current boundaries. There will be
a total of 12 films shown and will include works by Kiarostami, Makhmalbaf,
Beizai, Bani-Etemad and Panahi, among others.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 132: Origins of Islamic Political Thought
INSTRUCTOR: Joseph Lowry
DESCRIPTION: This course will introduce students to the historical and
doctrinal developments that gave rise to the main currents of political
thought in classical Islamic civilization. Topics covered include the
Qur'an, the career of Muhammad, the succession to Muhammad, classical
Sunni theories of government, charismatic government, the role of Islamic
law, and a brief survey of some modern developments.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 133 (RELS 113): Major Western Religious Thinkers:
Muhammad
INSTRUCTOR: Barbara von Schlegell
DESCRIPTION: Introduction to the writings of one or two
significant western religious thinkers, designed for those who have
no background in religious thought. Possible thinkers to be studied:
Augustine, Maimonides, Spinoza, Luther, Teresa of Avila, Edwards, Mendelssohn,
Kierkegaard, DuBois, Bonhoeffer, King.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 135: Narrative across Cultures
INSTRUCTOR: Roger Allen
DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this course is to present a variety of narrative
genres and to discuss and illustrate the modes whereby they can be analyzed.
We will be looking at some shorter types of narrative: short story,
the novella, and the fable, but also some extracts from longer works
such as autobiography. While some of the works will be from the Anglo-American
tradition, a large number of others will be from European and non-Western
cultural traditions and from earlier time-periods. The course will thus
offer ample opportunity for the exploration of the translation of cultural
values in a comparative perspective.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 136 (RELS 143): Introduction to Islamic Religion
INSTRUCTOR: Barbara von Schlegell
DESCRIPTION: A comprehensive introduction to Islamic doctrines,
practices, and religious institutions in a variety of geographic settings
from the rise of Islam in the seventh century to the present. Translated
source materials from the Qur'an, sayings of Muhammad, legal texts, and
mystical works will provide an overview of the literary expressions of
the religion. The course aims, as well, to view Islam in the immediacy
of everyday life. Among the topics to be covered are: The Qur'an
as scripture and as liturgy; Conversion and the spread of Islam; Muhammad
in history and in the popular imagination; Concepts of the feminine; Muslim
women; Sectarian developments; Transmission of religious knowledge and
spiritual power; Sufism and the historical elaboration of mystical communities;
modern reaffirmation of Islamic identity; and Islam in the American environment.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 137: Islamic History to 1517
INSTRUCTOR: Barbara von Schlegell
DESCRIPTION: [required for Near East/Islamic majors] This
course covers the political history of the major dynasties that ruled
parts of the Muslim World from 661 A.D. to 1517 A.D., the later date being
that of the Ottoman conquest of Egypt.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 138: The Middle East Since 1800
INSTRUCTOR: Heather Sharkey
DESCRIPTION: Survey of major themes, events and personalities
of Middle Eastern history from the late Ottoman period to the 1960's.
Topics include: legacy of Ottoman rule, the encounter with Europe, nationalist
and religious movements, emergence of new nations and social groups, impact
of oil, and historical roots of contemporary conflicts-such as the Palestinian-Israeli
problem, the Iranian Revolution and the US - Iraq war.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 139/539: Nationalism and Communal Identity in the
Middle East
INSTRUCTOR: Heather Sharkey
DESCRIPTION: This seminar views the phenomenon of nationalism
as it affected the modern Middle East in the nineteenth and twentieth
centuries. Together, we will consider the diverse components of nationalism,
including religion, language, territorial loyalty and ethnicity, and test
the thesis that nations are "imagined communities" built on "invented
traditions." At the same time, we will examine other forms of communal
identity that transcend national borders or flourish on more localized
scales. This class approaches nationalism and communal identity as complex
products of cultural, political and social forces, and places Middle Eastern
experiences within a global context.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 225 (COML 212): Modern Middle Eastern Literatures in Translation
INSTRUCTOR: Roger Allen, Nili Gold, et al.
DESCRIPTION: This course is team-taught by four professors with specialties
in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish literatures; all four attend
all the sessions of the course. The course deals with the modern literature
within each tradition and focuses on poetry, the short story and the
novel (among which have been in recent years: Hanan al-Shaykh's THE
STORY OF ZAHRA, Yehoshua's THE LOVER, Rachlin's FOREIGNER, and Pamuk's
THE WHITE CASTLE). The readings are all in English. The course is divided
into two sessions: one is a joint televised session with students in
the same course at Rutgers University (which also provides the instructors
for the segments on Persian and Turkish literatures. The second session
is a discussion session conducted separately at each institution. Students
are expected to participate in classroom discussion of the materials
assigned each week, and evaluation is partially based on the quality
of that participation. Two short papers are assigned on two of the three
genres mentioned above and a longer paper on the novels.
SCHEDULING: Spring Semester
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 233: Arabic Literary Heritage
INSTRUCTOR: Roger Allen
DESCRIPTION: This course provides a survey of the genres
and major figures in Arabic literary history from the 6th century up to
the present day. Selected works are read in translation; poetry is discussed
first, then belles-lettrist prose. Selected suras from the Qur'an are
read as the centerpiece of the course. Each set of texts is accompanied
by a collection of background readings that place the authors and works
into a literary, political and societal context. This course thus attempts
to place the phenomenon of "literature" into the larger context of Islamic
studies by illustrating the links between Arab litterateurs and other
contributors to the development of an Islamic/Arab culture on the one
hand and by establishing connections between the Arabic literary tradition
and that of other (and particularly Western) traditions. There are mid-term
and final examinations (both involving essay questions) and a term paper
is also required.
This course is designated in the Course Roster as a "Seminar
(SM)" course; it is NOT a lecture course. You will be expected to participate
in discussions of the literary works and background readings assigned.
For that reason, a substantial portion (up to 40%) of the grade is reserved
for an evaluation of your contribution to classroom discussion.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week (This course is offered every
other year in the Fall Semester. It alternates with AMES 434 described
below)
CREDIT: 1 c.u. (This course is one of the "literature" requirements
for the undergraduate major in Islamic Near East, and strongly recommended
for graduate students who have not already taken such a course in preparation
for the A.M. Comprehensive Examinations.)
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 236 (RELS 246): Islamic Mysticism
INSTRUCTOR: Barbara von Schlegell
DESCRIPTION: Typical forms of mystical experience in Islam.
The cultural assimilation of ideas achieved by Muslim mystics. The
development of Sufism and the formation of the sufi orders. Medieval
trends of Sufi speculation and esoteric doctrine. Emphasis on primary
readings.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 238: Images of Women in the Middle East in Post-Colonial
Literature
INSTRUCTOR: Staff
DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to study the images
of women in the Middle East. We will study different texts that represent
different geographical and ideological entities. We will start by reading
the memoirs of Hoda Sharawi, whose struggles in the early 20th century
established the feminist movement in Egypt. We will then explore different
Arabic works-some are in translation, written by female authors from Morocco,
Egypt and Lebanon. These will examine the issues of identity, gender,
sexuality and nationalism. Different perspectives will be provided by
looking at other works written in English. Gates of Damascus, written
by a European travel writer, will provide the point of view of an outsider,
while Habibi will reflect the dilemma of a Palestinian American teenager's
search for identity. Supplementary packets will provide essays that represent
various examples of feminist and postcolonial critical theory that will
aid the students' appreciation of the context in which the texts were
created.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 332/532 (AFST 332, AFST 533): North Africa
INSTRUCTOR: Heather Sharkey
DESCRIPTION: This reading- and discussion-intensive seminar approaches
the history of modern North Africa (c. 1800-2000) by focusing on the
experiences of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and Sudan. Among
the issues that we will consider are colonialism and post-colonialism,
gender relations, Islam and political activism, civic participation
and authoritarianism, trends in economic development, labor migration,
ethnicity and minority affairs, and nationalism. Students will conduct
an independent research project and report to the class on their findings
at the end of the term.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: none
AMES 419: Advanced Persian in the Media
INSTRUCTOR: Pardis Minuchehr
DESCRIPTION: The objective of this course is to familiarize intermediate
and advanced level students with the efficient reading of Persian in
newspapers, and improve listening skills for Persian in radio and television.
This course will cover essential vocabulary for the understanding of
the media language and prepare students for further self-study.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: AMES 016 or equivalent
AMES 430: Arabic Readings in History and Islamics
INSTRUCTOR: Staff
DESCRIPTION: This course is intended to train advanced students
of Arabic in reading standard classical historical, biographical and non-technical
religious texts. Most of the readings will be in straightforward narrative
prose, and the emphasis will be on progressing beyond decoding of short
texts to more natural reading of larger quantities of language at increased
speed. Students with limited previous exposure to classical Arabic will
gain familiarity with basic differences in vocabulary and syntax from
modern forms of the language. The choice of texts to be read will be made
partly on the basis of the interests of those enrolled in the course,
but will also illustrate a variety of styles from different periods and
genres. Written assignments will stress vocabulary reinforcement and practice
with unfamiliar classical constructions.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week; offered every other year in
the Fall Semester
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: AMES 033 (Intermediate Arabic) or equivalent,
or permission of the instructor
AMES 431: Advanced Spoken Standard Arabic
INSTRUCTOR: Staff
DESCRIPTION: This one-semester course will concentrate on
the listening and speaking skills, but students will also be expected
to function in both reading and writing. Students will be assigned reading
and audio-visual materials on which to prepare oral classroom presentations.
Performance will be evaluated on the basis of these presentations and
on participation in the oral discussions of the presentations. Final evaluation
in the course will be based on performance in the Oral Proficiency Interview;
a rating of Advanced Low is the proficiency target.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week; Fall semester
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: AMES 033 (Intermediate Arabic) or equivalent,
or permission of the instructor
AMES 432: Readings in Arabic Belles-lettres
INSTRUCTOR: Roger Allen
DESCRIPTION: The aim of this course is to introduce advanced
students in Arabic, undergraduate and/or graduate, to the various genres
of Arabic literature throughout its history. At the same time the course
tries to stimulate students to move beyond the reading and analysis of
short passages of paragraph length (as found in language textbooks used
at lower levels) and to consider short but complete literary works from
a literary perspective. Among the genres selected are: short poems from
all periods, short stories, short plays, and segments from the Qur'an
and "adab" prose works. The final examination is a translation exam on
selected texts from the reading list for the course.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week; offered every other year in
the Fall Semester
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: AMES 033 (Intermediate Arabic) or equivalent,
or permission of the instructor
AMES 433: Arabic Readings in the Social Sciences and the Media
INSTRUCTOR: Hassan Nitami
DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to train students interested in
a professional career involving the use of Arabic written materials.
The texts are selected to reflect various topics and styles. An additional
specialized glossary will be supplied as a supplement to the texts read.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: Proficiency in AMES 033
AMES 434: Literary Theory and Arabic Literature
INSTRUCTOR: Roger Allen
DESCRIPTION: This course takes a number of different areas
of Literary Theory and, on the basis of research completed and in progress
in both Arabic and Western languages, applies some of the ideas to texts
from the Arabic literary tradition. Among these are are: Evaluation and
Interpretation, Structuralism, Metrics, Genre Theory, Narratology, and
Orality. There are mid-term and final examinations (both involving essay
questions) and a term paper is also required. This is designated in the
Course Roster as a "Seminar (SM)" course; it is NOT a lecture course.
You will be expected to participate in discussions of the theoretical
studies and their applications to Arabic literature to be found in the
assigned readings. For that reason, a substantial portion (up to 40%)
of the grade is reserved for an evaluation of your contribution to classroom
discussion.
SCHEDULING: offered every other year in the Fall Semester
(it alternates with AMES 233 described above); 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u. (one of the "literature" requirements for
the undergraduate major in Islamic Near East, and strongly recommended
for graduate students who have not taken such a course as a lead-up to
the A. M. Comprehensive Examinations)
PREREQUISITE: none (although AMES 233--see above--or its
equivalent would certainly be beneficial)
AMES 435: Advanced Arabic Composition
INSTRUCTOR: Staff
DESCRIPTION: A workshop for advanced students of Arabic
focusing on the development of writing skills within a variety of subjects.
A study of cohesive devices and other strategies for writing extended
passages. Students will be required to write samples based on readings
discussed in the classroom.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week; Fall Semester
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: AMES 033 (Intermediate Arabic) or equivalent,
or permission of the instructor
AMES 530: Advanced Arabic and Syntax I & II
INSTRUCTOR: Staff
DESCRIPTION: This year-long course is a continuation of
AMES 033: all four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and
writing) are still emphasized, but special attention is given to reading
in bulk and to exploring grammatical and syntactic issues arising from
those readings. Students will give oral and written reports on the readings.
Students will also gain experience with translating from English into
Arabic. Evaluation will be both achievement-based and proficiency-based.
We anticipate that by the end of this fourth year students will range
in proficiency from Intermediate High to Advanced Mid on the ACTFL scale.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week; both semesters are required
CREDIT: 1 c.u. per semester; both semesters are required.
Grades will be given upon completion of both semesters.
PREREQUISITE: AMES 033 or permission of the instructor;
for the second semester, successful completion of the first semester or
permission of the instructor
AMES 534 (RELS 545): Topics
in Islamic Religion: Sufi Texts/The Qur'an
INSTRUCTOR: Barbara von Schlegell
DESCRIPTION: Selected topics, such as Sufi texts or The
Qur'an, in the study of Islamic religion.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: AMES 530 or an advanced reading ability
AMES 537: Islamic Philosophy
INSTRUCTOR: Staff
DESCRIPTION: Close readings of selected philosophical texts
from different periods. Specific topic areas will vary from year to year.
Besides discussion in class, students will be required to prepare a lengthy
term paper.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: AMES 530 or an advanced reading ability
AMES 538: Introduction to Islamic Law
INSTRUCTOR: Joseph Lowry
DESCRIPTION: This course aims to introduce students to the study of
Islamic law, the all-embracing sacred law of Islam. Among the world's
various legal systems, Islamic law may be the most widely misunderstood
and even misrepresented; certainly, misconceptions about it abound.
Islamic law is, however, the amazing product of a rich, fascinating
and diverse cultural and intellectual tradition. In this course we will
attempt to consider many different facets of the historical, doctrinal,
institutional and social complexity of Islamic law. The focus will be
mostly, though not exclusively, on classical Islamic law. Specific topics
covered include the beginnings of legal thought in Islam, various areas
of Islamic positive law (substantive law), public and private legal
institutions, Islamic legal theory, and issues in the contemporary development
and application of Islamic law.
SCHEDULING: 3 hours per week
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: AMES 530 or an advanced reading ability
AMES 631: Topics in Islamic Studies
INSTRUCTOR: Joseph Lowry
DESCRIPTION: This is the graduate seminar course in which
a variety of aspects of Arabic literature studies are covered at the advanced
graduate level. Students in this course are expected to be able to read
large amounts of literature on a weekly basis and to be able to discuss
them critically during the class itself. Topics are chosen to reflect
student interest. Recent topics have included: 1001 NIGHTS; the short
story; the novel; MAQAMAT; classical ADAB prose; the drama; the novella;
modern Arabic poetry.
SCHEDULING: TBA
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: AMES 530 or an advanced reading ability
AMES 633: Seminar in Selected Topics in Arabic Literature
INSTRUCTOR: Roger Allen
DESCRIPTION: This is the graduate seminar course in which
a variety of aspects of Arabic literature studies are covered at the advanced
graduate level. Students in this course are expected to be able to read
large amounts of literature on a weekly basis and to be able to discuss
them critically during the class itself. Topics are chosen to reflect
student interest; students are encouraged to suggest topics. An extensive
term paper is required, normally involving the application of critical
and/or theoretical ideas to the texts read in the course or, if the student
so wishes, to others belonging to the same genre.
SCHEDULING: Normally on Wednesday afternoons, for a two-hour
period; offered three semesters out of every four (the fourth is always
in the Fall).
CREDIT: 1 c.u.
PREREQUISITE: AMES 530 or an advanced reading ability. |