MELC 101 A: Gateway to the Middle East

Summer 2025 A-term
Meeting:
to be arranged / * *
SLN:
12276
Section Type:
Lecture
Instructor:
NO ACCESS STUDENTS OR AUDITORS.
Syllabus Description (from Canvas):

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.

Catalog Description:
Provides general introduction to the peoples, cultures, and languages of the Middle East, both past and present. No previous knowledge of the Middle East required.
GE Requirements Met:
Social Sciences (SSc)
Arts and Humanities (A&H)
Credits:
5.0
Status:
Active
Last updated:
March 31, 2025 - 7:05 am