California University of Pennsylvania
Guidelines for New Course Proposals
University Course Syllabus
Approved: September 11, 2014
Department of Modern Languages, Philosophy & Socio-Cultural Studies
A.

Protocol
Course Name: Contemporary Arabic Culture
Course Number: ARB 341
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
Maximum Class size (face-to-face): 35
Maximum Class size (online): 35

B.

Objectives of the Course:
At the completion of the course, students will be able to:


 
1. Apply their knowledge of the literary, linguistic, geographic, historical, social,
cultural, political, and artistic aspects of the Arab world today.
2. Interpret and discuss specific cultural, religious, and social customs involved in ArabMuslim behavior and practices.
3. Identify and discuss issues regarding diversity, stereotyping, and prejudice.
C.

Catalog Description:
This course will engage students in the study of a variety of artistic and socio-cultural
aspects of the modern Arab world. There will be an emphasis on representative cultural
artifacts (from literature and other arts) that have come to define the region, as well as on
culturally specific constructions of gender, ethnicity, race, and diversity. Special attention
will be given to the characteristics of the Arabic language, family, gender relations, the
Arab experience in the U.S., Arab-American relations, the role of the past, social change,
Arab literature, art and music. It promotes tolerance and understanding by providing
students with a realistic view of the cultural contours of the modern Arab World and the
richness of the Arab cultural heritage.

D.

Outline of the Course may include the following topics:
1.
Introduction
Syllabus Available on D2L
Who are the Arabs? By Steve Tamari
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 1
2.

Arab Identity and Issue of Diversity and Integration

The Arab World, Society, Culture and State, pp. 1-11
The History of the Arab People, pp. 1-22
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 2
3.

Arab Society: Basic Characteristic Features
The Arab World, Society, Culture and State, pp. 12-33
The History of the Arab People, pp. 23-38
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 3

4.

Arab Identity: The Sense of Belonging, Shared Culture and its Variation
The Arab World, Society, Culture and State pp. 32-48
Culture and Imperialism, pp.201-228
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 4

5.

The Continuity of Old Cleavages: Tribe, Village, and City
The Arab World, Society, Culture and State, pp. 48-69
The History of the Arab People, pp. 38-59
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 5

6.

Social Structures and Institutions Social Classes
The Arab World, Society, Culture and State, pp.73-95
The History of the Arab People, pp. 60-83
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 6

7.

The Arab Family and the Challenge of Change
The Arab World, Society, Culture and State pp. 97-118
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 7

8.

Religion in Society
The Arab World, Society, Culture and State, pp. 119-148
The History of the Arab People, pp. 147-167
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 8

9.

Arab Politics: Its Social Context
The Arab World, Society, Culture and State, pp.150-177
The History of the Arab People, pp. 137-199
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 9

10.

National Character and Value Orientation
The Arab world, Society, Culture and State pp 179-206
The History of the Arab People, pp. 209-250
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 10

11.

Creative Expression: Society and Literary Orientations
The Arab World, Society, Culture and State, pp.206-238

The History of the Arab people, pp. 253-279
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 11

E.

12.

Arab Thought: Problems of Renewal, Modernity and Transformation
The Arab World, Society, Culture and State, pp239-265
The History of the Arab People, pp. 283-315
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 12

13.

Changing Ways of Life and Thought
The History of the Arab People, pp. 317-345
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 13

14.

Changing Societies
The History of the Arab people, pp. 353-384
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 14

15.

Arab Unity and Disunity
The History of the Arab People, pp. 389-443
Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society: Chapter 15
&16

Teaching Methodology:

1) Traditional Classroom Methodology:
Cooperative learning is the major teaching method in this course. The instructor will serve as a
facilitator to the learning process in class. We will work together to learn more about Arabic
culture by keeping up with the required readings and doing the required class work. To this end,
the instructor will use short lectures, videos, group work papers and presentations, homework,
and class discussion. It is expected that all students will take part in these discussions.
2) Online Methodology:
Quality MattersTM Statement – The online course follows the standards of the Quality
MattersTM rubric.
This class will be offered online. Cooperative learning is the major teaching method in this
course. The instructor will serve as a facilitator to the learning process in class. We will
work together to learn more about Arabic culture by keeping up with the required readings
and doing the required class work. To this end, the instructor will use short lectures, videos,
group work papers and presentations, homework, and class discussion. It is expected that
all students will take part in these discussions.
F.

Suggested Texts:
Nydell, Margaret K (2012). Understanding Arabs: A Contemporary Guide to Arab Society.
5th Edition

Barakat, Halim (1993) The Arab World, Society, Culture and State. Berkeley: U California
Press.
Hourani, Albert (1991) A History of the Arab People. Cambridge: Harvard U Press.
Additional readings will be available on D2L.
G.

Assessment Activities:
1) Traditional Classroom Assessment:
Quizzes/Exams
Paper(s)
Presentation(s)
Class Discussions/Participation
2)

Online Assessment:
Online Quizzes/Exams
Paper(s)
Online Presentation(s)
Online Discussions/Participation

H.

30%
20%
20%
30%

30%
20%
20%
30%

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities:
•
•
•
•

Reserve the right to decide when to self-identify and when to request accommodations.
Will register with the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) each semester to receive
accommodations.
Might be required to communicate with faculty for accommodations which specifically
involve the faculty.
Will present the OSD Accommodation Approval Notice to faculty when requesting
accommodations that involve the faculty.

Requests for approval for reasonable accommodations should be directed to the Office for Students
with Disabilities (OSD). Approved accommodations will be recorded on the OSD Accommodation
Approval notice and provided to the student. Students are expected to adhere to OSD procedures for
self-identifying, providing documentation and requesting accommodations in a timely manner.
Contact Information:
• Location: Azorsky Building – Room 105
• Phone: (724) 938-5781
• Fax: (724) 938-4599
• Email: osdmail@calu.edu
• Web Site: www.calu.edu (search “disability”)

*************************************************************
I.

Supportive Instructional Materials, e.g. library materials, web sites, etc.
Video and audio tapes dealing with Arabic culture will be made available.
Additional Information for Course Proposals

J.

Proposed Instructors:
Qualified Instructor to teach Arabic.

K.

Rationale for the Course:
Even before the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, ArabAmericans faced sweeping stereotypes about their culture and religion. A number of
Hollywood films and television shows depicted Arabs as villains, if not outright terrorists,
as well as misogynistic brutes with backward and mysterious customs. Moreover,
Hollywood has largely portrayed Arabs as Muslims, overlooking the significant number of
Christian Arabs who live in the United States and the Middle East alike. The media’s racial
stereotyping of Middle Eastern people has sometimes produced unfortunate consequences,
including hate crimes, racial profiling, discrimination, and bullying. This course will serve
as guide to understand the contemporary Arabic culture and bridge the gaps and clear the
misconceptions that people have about Arabs.

L.

Specialized Equipment or Supplies Needed:
Specialized equipment or supplies are not needed for course instruction.

M.

Answer the following questions using complete sentences:
1. Does the course require additional human resources? (Please explain)
The course does not require additional human resources.
2. Does the course require additional physical resources? (Please explain)
No, additional physical resources are not required.
3. Does the course change the requirements in any particular major?
(Please explain)
No, the course does not change any major requirements.
4. Is the course replacing an existing course? (If so, list the course)
No, the course does not replace an existing course.
5. How often will the course be taught?
The course will be offered once a year.

6. Does the course duplicate an existing course in another Department or College? (If
the possibility exists, indicate course discipline, number, and name)
No, it does not duplicate an existing course in another Department or College.
7.

What is the recommended maximum class size for this course?
The recommended maximum class size for this course is 35.

N.

If the proposed course includes substantial material that is traditionally taught in another
discipline, you must request a statement of support from the department chair that houses
that discipline.
No, the proposed course does not include substantial material that is traditionally taught
in another discipline.

O.

Please identify if you are proposing to have this course considered as a menu course for
General Education. If yes, justify and demonstrate the reasons based on the categories
for General Education. The General Education Committee must consider and approve
the course proposal before consideration by the UCC.
It will be proposed for consideration as menu course for General Education in Humanities
and Multi-Cultural Awareness.
We are requesting Contemporary Arabic Culture ARB 341 to be included in the general
education menu because it is a course that satisfies the rubric “Humanities.” Students who
want to take this class have been asking about using it to satisfy their “Humanities”
requirement. This class introduces students to the Arabic culture. The students will learn
the cultural information about the customs and traditions of the Arabs. Thus, it fits
perfectly under the general heading of “Humanities.”
We are requesting Contemporary Arabic Culture ARB 341 to be included in the general
education menu because it is a course that satisfies the rubric “Multi-Cultural Awareness.”
Students who want to take this class have been asking about using it to satisfy their multicultural awareness requirement. This class introduces students to the Arabic culture. The
students will learn the cultural information about the customs and traditions of the Arabs.
Thus, it fits perfectly under the general heading of “Multi-Cultural Awareness.”

P.

Provide Approval Form (electronically).

Additional Guidelines
The following are additional guidelines that you must follow which will expedite your
course proposal. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the return of the proposal to the
department.
1. Be sure that your proposal is in the correct format (Guidelines for New Course
Proposals) and that all questions have been completely answered.

2.

Be sure that you have completed and attached the Application to Establish a New
Course form and/or the Advisement Sheet Revision form and that the appropriate
signatures have been affixed. Please send through the process electronically (the
preferred method) or by paper. No items will be placed on the agenda until the
Chair of the UCC is in possession of these forms.

3.

Be sure that you include an updated advisement sheet for any course that is being
required by the department or is classified as a restricted elective. In addition, you
must include an electronic copy (MS Word or PDF) of the current advisement
sheet(s) with your proposal. Be certain that all advisement sheets affected by the
proposed course change be included with your proposal.

4.

When submitting materials for consideration by the Curriculum Committee, you
must provide an electronic copy of each item to be reviewed to the Chairperson.

5.

All completed items must be in the hands of the Chairperson of the Curriculum
Committee a minimum of one week prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting.

6.

Any department requesting a course name change, number change, prefix changes,
credit changes, etc. must submit this request on the Application to Establish a New
Course Form and submit electronically.

7.

New advisement sheets, major proposals, minors, or changes to advisement sheets
will become effective the fall semester following committee approval. The
advisement sheets must also include the committee approval date and the
effective date on the advisement page. Submit this request on the Advisement and
/or Program Changes form.

8.

New courses will become effective the semester following committee approval.

9. Any references listed must be in the appropriate bibliographic format for the
discipline.
10.

Online courses must follow the Quality Matters™ rubric and is posted on the
UCC website. Be sure that you include the online teaching methodology statement
(refer E.2 above) that refers to the Quality Matters™ rubric.

11. All course objectives must follow Bloom’s Taxonomy learning domains located on the
UCC website.