HLS 261 - The Middle East and U.S. National Security

3 credit hours - Three hours weekly; one term.
This course meets the Diversity Requirement.

Gain an analytical framework to examine the history of the Middle East region, focusing on the following areas: the pre-Islamic era; the rise and expansion of Islam; medieval Muslim society and culture; the rise, decline, and collapse of the Ottoman Empire; the impact of the West on politics and society; the rise of nationalism; the Arab-Israeli conflict and peace process; and modern revolutionary movements and the resurgence of Islam.

Prerequisite(s): Eligibility for ENG 101 /ENG 101A .

Note: Credit is not given for HLS 261 and also HIS 261.

Location(s) Typically Offered: Arnold Main Campus (MC) and Online (OL)

Term(s) Typically Offered: Spring

Course Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Analyze the religious, historical, political, economic, and strategic factors that make the Middle East relevant to the American people and guide U.S. foreign policy in the region.
Enumerate the characteristics of major ethnolinguistic groups and religious denominations of the Middle East.
Analyze the nature of the political-religious dichotomy in the Muslim world.
Describe critical historical processes and themes that have shaped the development of the Middle East from the late-Ottoman period until the present.
Examine critical developments in Middle East conflicts and peace negotiations and examine their influence on U.S. National Security.
Analyze current U.S. strategies and policies toward the Middle East.