Multicultural Politics & Literature

The study abroad in Morocco aspires to provide quality, interdisciplinary education to majors in humanities and social sciences in the Mediterranean, North African and Middle Eastern region in order to prepare them for careers in the public and private sectors and for further professional education in international studies. Students will be prepared with the necessary communication, academic and research skills to pursue careers in law firms, diplomacy, international affairs, social sciences, multinational NGO’s, international institutions, embassy services, media, and graduate study programs in international studies in the MED region, the Middle East, North Africa and beyond.

The semester abroad in Morocco is designed for students opting for an immersive overseas experience for either a semester or a full academic year. It is a prime study program from a leading accredited university entitled to offer exchange students a maximum flexibility of course choice, length and credit value allowing them to select the modules they wish to take across UIR’s existing courses, internship opportunities and research facilities.

Classes

The ever-evolving and customized course packs of the program draw on the expertise of faculty from a wide variety of academic disciplines, professional backgrounds and departments, including applied linguistics, communication, fine arts, cultural studies, sociology, anthropology, history, gender and women’s studies, drama & literature, music, politics and religious studies. The faculty of humanities and social sciences at the program is a large and diverse faculty, proud of the quality of their course work, ad hoc assignment pack training and post/graduate research programs, which are underpinned by an excellent and expanding research base and by advanced professional practice and fieldwork expertise.

Sufis, Saints, and Salafis: Islam and Modernity in North Africa

This class will delve into the religious traditions in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria, Libya and Mauritania. Over this semester abroad in Morocco, you will be exposed to the practices of popular Islam such as talismans, the evil eye, prayers and gatherings.

Credits

2 Credits

Offered-Spring

Gender and Society in Morocco

This course investigates gender roles and sexuality in Moroccan society. It briefly explores the history of the feminist movement in Morocco.

Credits

2 Credits

Offered-Spring

Effective Project Management and Community-Based Learning

The Effective Project Management and community learning Syllabus is a combination of a project management skills and community learning experiences and is a set of theoretical and experiential learning activities.

Credits

1,5 Credits

Moroccan Arabic

Credits

5 Credits

Offered-Spring

Arabic literature

This course will engage with the ways in which Moroccan writers both shaped and reflected the politics of their country in postcolonial period of transition, reform movements and radical change.

Credits

5 Credits

Offered-Spring

International politics of the Mediteranean and the Maghreb

The Mediterranean Sea has captured the imagination of scholars and other people for a very long time. Recently, it has topped the news in the US and internationally, either because of the “Arab spring

Credits

1,5 Credits

Introduction to Islamic Finance

The last decade has witnessed a rise of Islamic banks, you will start to learn the basics of the Islamic banking system, and its philosophical meaning. You will learn how loans and financial transactions, and leasing are structured differently, and how they compete within a global economy.

Credits

2 Credits

Offered-Spring

Political Systems in the Maghreb

This course focuses on North African post-colonial politics. Students will take a brief look at the historical factors at play in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. They will then come to understand the factors which shape modern North African nations

Credits

2 Credits

Offered-Spring

The Arab Spring and Myth of the Arab Citizen

This course covers areas of political reform agendas and social development projects across the MENA region, prior to, during and after the Arab Spring.

Credits

3 Credits

Modern Standard Arabic (by level .

Credits

5 Credits

Offered-Spring

The two gates to The Middle East: Turkey and Egypt

The course will focus on the history, and Culture of Egypt and Turkey as transit gates to the Middle East, with a particular focus on the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Credits

1 Credits

History of the Arab World from the Time of the Prophet to the Ottoman Empire

This survey course will examine several of the most important developments in the Arabo-Muslim world in the Middle East from the 7th to 16th centuries

Credits

3 Credits

Media in the Arab world

seeks to meet the increasing demand from non-Arabic speakers to learn Arabic media and understand its nature and cultural, global and economic motivations. Through this course, students learn to identify the components of the Arab media in light of media globalization and the age of communication and information technologies

Credits

5 Credits

Offered-Spring

Contemporary History of Morocco and North Africa

This 19th and 20th century Moroccan history course covers Morocco’s transitions from a traditional socio-political system under the Ottoman Empire to colonial French rule to its post-colonial identity as an independent nation-state

Credits

2 Credits

Offered-Spring

French Language (by level)

Credits

1,5 Credits

Ethnographies of Space

The course will help students to study various ethnographic treatments of segments of urban communities in Rabat streets, squares and public spaces, using interactive contacts with pedestrians

Credits

3 Credits

Gender and peace building

It sheds light upon women’s contemporary experiences as perpetrators, victims and peacemakers in their respective societies undergoing tensions of different kinds

Credits

3 Credits

Detailed description of the courses are posted at the beginning of each term*

Araland is a strategic study abroad program partnering with top universities within the country to offer a unique semester abroad packages. Classes are hosted in the Rabat Political Sciences and UIR’s School of Languages, Cultures, and Civilizations (LCC), Qalam school, and Mohamed 5th university. Our course catalog is one of the largest and academically innovative combinations. The partnership model has enabled our student to access a wide variety of resources and classes. Classes are taught by professors with regional expertise on North Africa, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and adjunct artistic, cultural and development studies. The empirical aim of this semester abroad in Morocco is to provide you with an in-depth understanding of the Mena region and focus on your language fluency.

The classes offer students the opportunity to develop an understanding of the complex and dynamic historical, cultural, political, economic, linguistic, and religious issues in the region as well as their inherent inter/national interconnections through rich and diverse course choices, research projects and internship options.

Campuses

Araland Mobile app

Araland is developing a mobile application to revolutionize your study abroad experience. The app will enable you to shop online for traditional items, top-up your sim card, request a trusted driver anytime, text the program, chat with locals, and talk with a counselor.

Housing

We understand that privacy, comfort, and immersive settings are key to the success of your semester abroad in Morocco. Therefore, students are offered the option to choose between a host family, private apartment, or shared room. Our host families are selected meticulously and our apartments are equipped to accommodate college students. Location and safety are our priorities

Monthly stipend

Our programs are designed to maximize your comfort. As campus jobs are not offered abroad, some students might experience financial burdens due to these restrictions. All of our students are awarded a monthly stipend of $750, which is 4 times the local minimum wage.