MEAS8121 Approaches to the Study of Modern Muslim Societies

Offered By	Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies
Academic Career	Graduate Coursework
Course Subject	Middle Eastern & Central Asian Studies
Offered in	First Semester, 2009
Unit Value	6 units
Course Description	This course would serve as one of the two core courses of the proposed new post-graduate degrees, a Master of Modern Islam and a Diploma in Modern Islam. The course would have two purposes: 1. It would introduce students to the major approaches and controversies in the study of modern Muslim societies and modern Islam. These would be principally drawn from the social sciences, but would also cover historiography and Orientalism and its critics. 2. It would, through acquainting students with major issues in the study of modern Islam, illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of particular analytical approaches.
Learning Outcomes	Specifically, in this course students would develop or extend their knowledge and understanding of: some of the key issues in contemporary Muslim societies and greater familiarity with the academic material on them research methods, strategies, and ethics that are of relevance to the social scientific study of Muslim societies ideas in, and the content of, a select group of readings sources and ways to examine them critically ways to present their findings effectively, verbally, and in sustained writing exercises interdisciplinary work and its potential.
Indicative Assessment	1 x 4,000 - 5,000 word essay 50% 1 in class presentation 10% 1 x 3 Hr end of semester exam 40%
Workload	The course will be delivered on campus through one two-hour seminar per week for 13 weeks. Lecture notes and additional reading will be placed on WebCT, thus allowing students flexibility in accessing materials.
Course Classification(s)	AdvancedAdvanced courses are designed for students having reached 'first degree' level of assumed knowledge, which provide a deep understanding of contemporary issues; or 'second degree' and higher levels of knowledge; or for transition to research training programs.
Preliminary Reading	Ernst, C.W. Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2004. Lewis, B. Islam in History: Ideas, Peoples and Events in the Middle East, Chicago: Open Court, rev. edn., 1993. Lockman, Z. Contending Visions of the Middle East: The History and Politics of Orientalism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
Academic Contact	James Piscatori

The information published on the Study at ANU 2009 website applies to the 2009 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2008 website.