Course Modality:
This is an asynchronous online course. All lectures and materials are available on Canvas.
Students are expected to watch pre-recorded lectures and complete assignments by the posted
deadlines.
Course Description
Gateway to the Middle East is an interdisciplinary introductory course that redefines the region
through a framework grounded in critical threshold concepts and diverse scholarly traditions.
Centered on the ideas that the Middle East and the Horn of Africa are composed of multiple
narratives and that colonialism and Orientalism have deeply shaped global perceptions, the
course challenges the dominant Eurocentric lens by revealing the rich tapestry of ancient
cultures, languages, and histories.
The course is designed with clear goals: students will learn to identify the region’s diversity
beyond prevailing colonialist and orientalist discourses, critique embedded Eurocentric
assumptions through the analysis of texts and media, and understand the role of power in
knowledge production—specifically, how European colonial interests have historically
constructed and perpetuated narrow interpretations of the region.
In practice, learners will engage with a wide array of disciplinary genres—from crafting brief
historical overviews and critical analyses of orientalist narratives to reconstructing regional
histories through multimodal projects that draw on literature, historical events, cultural artifacts,
and artistic representations. They will also actively apply their insights to contemporary issues
by synthesizing research and developing informed arguments that contribute to ongoing
dialogues about the political, cultural, and social dynamics in the Middle East and the Horn of
Africa.
By interweaving these elements, Gateway to the Middle East provides a coherent, critical
framework that empowers students to reimagine the region's past and present, fostering a more
nuanced and inclusive understanding that challenges traditional narratives.