Middle East Mosaics: Egypt, Turkey, and Morocco

COURSE OF STUDY

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES IDSC 290: Middle East Mosaics: Introduction to Religion, Economics, Literature, and History in the Middle East
A reading course to be completed during Winter break (prior to departure). A multi-disciplinary introduction to the Middle East with emphasis given to Egyptian, Turkish, and Moroccan societies. The readings will provide a background for the literature, religion, and policy courses that make up the program on site (3 credits).

LITERARY AND CULTURAL STUDIES LCST 255: Tradition and Change: The Egyptian, Turkish, and Moroccan Novel in Comparative Perspective
Including works by some of the best-known writers of the region, this ten-week course will explore the diversity of voices and visions represented in important novels that have contributed to the literary landscape in each country. Adopting a cultural studies approach, the course will include works by Tahar Ben Jelloun, Fatima Mernissi (Morocco) and Nobel-prize winners Naghib Mahfous (Egypt) and Orhan Pamuk (Turkey). Taught by Andrew W. Mellon Professor of French and the Humanities Dana Strand (no pre-requisites; 6 credits).

RELIGION RELG 229: Egyptian Religions from the Pyramid Age through the Beginnings of Islam in Egypt
This three-week course, to be taught in Cairo, will be complemented by tours of the Egyptian Museum, visits to the pyramids at Saqqara and Dashur, and to the Coptic quarter in the Old City of Cairo. Taught by President and Professor of Religion Robert Oden (no pre-requisites; 3 credits).

ECONOMICS ECON 136: Turkey: Europeanization Policies in the Middle East
A three-week course to be offered in Istanbul, Turkey. Following a brief history of the last years of the Ottoman Empire and the early Turkish Republic, we will examine the origins and purposes of Europeanization policies (e.g. introduction of the Latin alphabet, the abolition of the Caliphate) of Kemal Atatürk. Given the recent accession talks between Turkey and the European Union, we will also study in some detail the question of Turkey’s identity as a European state together with its general relationship to Europe. Taught by Raymond Plank Professor of Incentive Economics Steve Strand (course will not apply to the major in Economics; no pre-requisites; 3 credits).

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES IDSC 250: Cultural Diversity in a Muslim Society: Aspects of Moroccan Culture
A three-week course focusing on diverse cultural traditions that define Moroccan society to be taught by on-site expert from Mohammed V University in Rabat. Through readings, discussions, interactions with guest speakers, and visits to local sites and museums students will have the opportunity to explore political and artistic views in daily life, dynamics of multilingualism, the historical and contemporary role of Islam, and the cultural interaction between Berber, Arab, and European cultures (no pre-requisites; 3 credits).