Courses

University of Pittsburgh

  • 1522

    Arabic Life and Thought

    Spring - 2011

    Department: 
    Linguistics
    Prerequisites: 
    None
    Primary Focus on Islam?: 
    No
  • HAA 0900

    Architecture of the Middle East

    Spring - 2011

    Department: 
    History of Art and Architecture
    Prerequisites: 
    None

    This course explores the architecture of the Middle East from antiquity to the present. The area covered stretches from Egypt in the west to Iran in the east and from Turkey in the north to the Arabian Peninsula in the south. While exploring this historically and culturally diverse region we will concentrate on religious and civic architecture. We will search for forms and themes that bind the ancient past to the medieval and modern landscapes, but will also be aware of the unique circumstances that shaped individual cities and architectural monuments. Topics include Egyptian pyramids, Assyrian palaces, the long history of Jerusalem, imperial Islamic architecture, and the modern cities of Baghdad, Beirut, and Tehran.

    Primary Focus on Islam?: 
    Yes
    Subject(s): 
  • ECON 0640

    Economic Development of the Mena

    Spring - 2011

    Department: 
    Economics
    Prerequisites: 
    None

    Nowadays, Countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the area comprising the Arab States, Iran, Israel, and Turkey, face enormous economic challenges in the Twenty-First Century: Stagnant real wages, deteriorating competitiveness, and rapidly growing populations and labor forces, have left most countries in the region unable to afford soaring living standards to much of the society. Yet the opportunities facing the region have never been greater: world trade is growing rapidly, capital flows to most of these countries have never been higher, and regional integration options are many as the result of the European Union's agreement for a free trade area in the Mediterranean. Why after years of negative per capita income growth, has the region been unable to accumulate sufficient reform momentum to sustain economic growth? Do important differences across countries hold lessons for the future? What are the social consequences of economic stagnation, and how might future adjustment costs be managed to protect the poor? How have individual countries in the region defined the challenges ahead? And what issues must be addressed to realize a more prosperous future? This course is designed to expose students to current views by academics and policy makers on past practices and future challenges facing the economies of the MENA region, as a set of developing countries that share a common heritage but also show countless differences. The emphasis will be on developing an overall understanding of the origins and nature of various economic problems while at the same time providing a critical examination of existing and alternative development policy formulations in MENA. The course will focus on population growth and the impact of demographic changes on employment, poverty, and income distribution; agriculture; education; capital formation; labor migration; economic liberalization; the rise and fall of the oil-based regional economy; the economics of structural adjustment and reform; economic regional integration and the challenges of globalization; as well as gender issues.

    Primary Focus on Islam?: 
    No
  • 0701

    Egyptian Arabic 1

    Spring - 2011

    Department: 
    Linguistics
    Prerequisites: 
    Students should have already had LING 0131/Arabic 1 and be enrolled in, or have already taken LING 0132

    The Less-Commonly-Taught Languages Center makes it possible to study foreign languages not available in other language departments in the University. Up to four courses may be taken in the languages that are offered, for a total of 14 credits over four semesters. LCTL courses make use of the most appropriate language-learning materials available from various sources. Textbooks are available for individual purchase at the Book Center; recorded material may often be duplicated through the language lab for home study in conjunction with our courses. For courses that require special enrollment counseling, authorization may be obtained from LCTL staff members in G-47 CL. Further information can be obtained by calling 624-5512.

    Primary Focus on Islam?: 
    No
  • 0703

    Egyptian Arabic 3

    Spring - 2011

    Department: 
    Linguistics
    Prerequisites: 
    None
    Primary Focus on Islam?: 
    No
  • 2424

    Foreign Policies of Middle Eastern States

    Spring - 2011

    Department: 
    Graduate School of Public and International Affairs/Political Science
    Prerequisites: 
    None

    This course offers a critical comparative assessment of the main factors, actors and dynamics that shape the foreign policy making of Middle Eastern states through a variety of analytical frameworks. We are going to look at systemic and sub-systemic variables (especially power configurations), and unpack the state to analyze the impact of domestic variables (such as regime type, bureaucratic politics, and the role of individuals). After explaining foreign policy processes for individual states, we analyze the interactions of these foreign policies on sub-regional (the Levant, and the Gulf) and international levels (particularly the U.S. policy toward the region as a source of opportunities and challenges to its states

    Primary Focus on Islam?: 
    No
  • 1351

    Government & Politics Middle East

    Spring - 2011

    Department: 
    Political Science
    Prerequisites: 
    None

    A survey of the developing political systems of the Middle East and their positions in world affairs. Considered are the nature of political leadership, the challenge of generating political legitimacy, the emergence of militant Islam, and the legacy of Western and Soviet imperialisms. The course will examine the states of Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Israel as well as the Palestinians within a political development framework. (Comparative Field)

    Primary Focus on Islam?: 
    No
  • 0711

    Iraq Arabic I

    Spring - 2011

    Department: 
    Linguistics
    Primary Focus on Islam?: 
    No
  • 1384

    Islam and Terrorism

    Spring - 2011

    Department: 
    Political Science
    Prerequisites: 
    None

    This course will examine the roots of terrorism in the name of Islam and analyze the various facets associated with it. We will examine questions such as: Why does terrorism occur? What are its international and domestic sources? How do scholars in the field of terrorism research explain the link between Islam as a religion and terrorism as an organized crime? How can we best explain the organizational structures and methods of certain actors that employ terrorism as a means of political action? What can be done to prevent terrorism? Students will be introduced to different examples of contemporary Islamist formations and their history of usage (or refrain from using) terrorism. In the first couple of weeks we will focus mainly on conceptual issues pertaining to religion, Islam and terrorism. During the latter part of the semester we will embark on various case studies. We will examine such groups like al-Qae'da's network, Hizbullah in Lebanon, the Palestinian Hamas and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.

    Primary Focus on Islam?: 
    Yes
  • 0721

    Levantine Arabic I

    Spring - 2011

    Department: 
    Linguistics
    Prerequisites: 
    None
    Primary Focus on Islam?: 
    No

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