Course Syllabus

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PLSC 467: International Relations of the Middle East

Overview

CATEGORY INFORMATION
Credits 3
Prerequisites PLSC 14 or HIST 181
Delivery Web (Canvas, https://psu.instructure.com)
Dates See the Calendar.
Instructor See the Orientation module under the Modules tab.

Description

Why are Middle Eastern states shaped the way that they are? What role did oil play in this process? What are the core issues of the Palestine-Israel Conflict? What is Pan-Arabism? What do Islamists want? What are the origins of the US-Iranian rivalry? What role have women played in shaping the political trajectory of the Middle East? We will discuss these questions (and many others) and endeavor to answer them in this course.

PLSC 467 consists of three units. Unit 01 presents a broad historical overview of the region. Unit 02 applies key concepts in the study of international relations to the Middle East. Unit 03 examines key issues and actors critical to understanding the region’s history and its position in the international system. Students are evaluated in three ways: discussions, quizzes, and three exams consisting of short essay questions.

Objectives

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Describe the primary political, economic, and social dimensions of the Middle East.
  2. Summarize the basic political history of the modern Middle East, including the influence of the international community on this process.
  3. Identify and describe some of the state-building projects rulers in the modern Middle East have adopted, including their successes and failures.
  4. Summarize the basic history of the Palestine-Israel Conflict, including the core issues that today prevent peace. 
  5. Describe the origin and development of key ideological trends within the Middle East, such as Arab nationalism and political Islam, and explain how each has influenced the region’s political dynamic and relations with the international community.

Organization

This course is made up of 12 lessons divided into 3 units.

For a typical lesson, you will complete the following activities and assignments:

  • Explore online course content.
  • Read a few assigned readings.
  • Participate in a discussion.
  • Take a quiz.

In addition, you will take three exams: the Unit 01 Exam, the Unit 02 Exam, and the cumulative Final Exam.

Online Learning and Attendance

This course has been developed to promote asynchronous learning. The instructor and students do NOT meet on a designated day and time each week. For each lesson, there is a timeframe to complete all activities and assignments, and you may work at your own pace within that timeframe. However, you must adhere to the due dates outlined on the Calendar. (Due dates can also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) You should log into the course daily to check for updates, review lessons, and participate in activities.

Materials

Texts

The following texts are required:

  • *Goldschmidt Jr., Arthur, and Ibrahim Al-Marashi. A Concise History of the Middle East. 12th ed. New York: Routledge, 2018. [ISBN: 978-0813350912]
  • Smith, Dan. The Penguin State of the Middle East Atlas. 3rd ed. New York: Penguin Books, 2016. [ISBN: 978-0143124238]
  • Fawcett, Louise. International Relations of the Middle East. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019. [ISBN: 978-0198809425]

*E-Book Option: An online version of one or more of your texts is available at no cost as a Penn State Libraries E-Book, which is indicated by an asterisk (*). You can access the E-Book through the Library Resources tab in the course navigation menu. Some E-Books will only be available online, while others will be available to download in full or in part. You may choose to use the E-Book as an alternative to purchasing a physical copy of the text. For questions or issues, you can contact the University Libraries Reserve Help (UL-RESERVESHELP@LISTS.PSU.EDU).

Library Services

Penn State Libraries provides a wide variety of services and resources. To learn how to take advantage, refer to the Online Student Library Guide at http://guides.libraries.psu.edu/onlinestudentlibraryguide. This guide serves as your starting point for access to all that Penn State Libraries can offer you as an online student. Use this guide if you have questions on library services offered to you, how the library can help you, how to use the library, or what resources you can access via the library! The guide will connect you to important pages and resources within Penn State Libraries and save time from you searching for the information you need.

Course Reserves

There are electronic resources on reserve for this course that can be accessed through the Penn State Libraries. To access your Course Reserves, please use the Library Resources tab in the course navigation menu. For any questions you may have about viewing or printing your Course Reserves, refer to the View and Print Electronic Course Reserves page at https://libraries.psu.edu/services/course-reserves/using-electronic-reserves/view-and-print-electronic-course-reserves.

Grading

Final letter grades will be assigned based on the scale below.

Scale

LETTER
GRADE		 MINIMUM
PERCENT		 MINIMUM
POINTS
A 93 512
A- 90 495
B+ 87 479
B 83 457
B- 80 440
C+ 77 424
C 70 385
D 60 330
F 0 0

Due Dates

All assignments are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the date indicated on the Calendar. (Due dates can be also be viewed under the Syllabus tab.) Please be aware that Canvas follows the Eastern Time (ET) time zone. Assignment due dates adhere to this time zone, and it is your responsibility to submit assignments accordingly. If you are outside of the ET time zone, you can set your Canvas account to sync to it. Refer to the Set a Time Zone article in the Canvas Guide at https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10622.

As a general rule, you will NOT be able to go back and make up missed assignments. It is your responsibility to keep up with your assignments. Students with an excused absence (e.g. hospitalization, jury duty, family emergency, or military service) may be asked to produce proper documentation in order to make up graded work. All make-up work is at the discretion of the instructor. (Note: I am very flexible as long as you communicate with me. Just reach out!)

Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g. upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, child care, care giving, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.

Notes

  • To Do List: Some assignments may not appear in the To Do list under the Home tab. Use the Calendar or Syllabus to ensure that you are fully aware of assignment due dates.
  • Late Assignments: Late assignments will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the instructor if you believe that you have a legitimate excuse.

Assignments

Basic information about each assignment group is provided below. For detailed directions about an individual assignment, see the assignment information under the Modules tab.

You can expect meaningful feedback on assignments within 7 days of their due date.

ASSIGNMENT
GROUP		 POINTS
Discussions 120
Quizzes 130
Unit Exams 200
Final Exam 100
Total 550

Discussions

Value: 12 x 10 PTS, 120 PTS total

Each lesson, you will participate in a class discussion in Canvas. For every discussion, you will make an initial reply and respond to the two questions in the discussion forum's directions. Write approximately 150 words for each question (No more than 200; citations do not factor into the word count.) Complete this step by Wednesday 11:59pm so that everyone else in the class has a chance to respond to your ideas. In addition, you will make at least two replies to classmates. Write approximately 150 words for each reply (No more than 200; citations do not factor into word count.) Complete this step by Sunday 11:59 pm. 

YOU MUST PUT A WORD COUNT AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH POST. EACH SHOULD HAVE ITS OWN SEPARATE WORD COUNT. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE SHOULD BE A WORD COUNT AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH OF YOUR INITIAL RESPONSES TO THE PROMPTS AS WELL AS EACH OF THE TWO REPLIES. Again, citations do not factor into the overall word count. Failure to include a word count will result in a reduction of one letter grade. 

Your discussion contributions will be graded based on the following criteria: task completion (quantity and timeliness of your replies) and content quality (clarity and support of your ideas) and the aforementioned word count. For more information, see the rubric in each discussion forum.

Quizzes

Value: 20 PTS (L01 Quiz), 11 x 10 PTS (L02-L12 Quizzes), 130 PTS total

Each lesson, you will take a quiz in Canvas. Each quiz is made up of a series of multiple-choice and true/false questions. (The exception is the L01 Quiz, which is made up of matching questions.) The questions relate to the content of both readings and the lecture.

Each quiz is "open book" but timed. You may use all course materials, but you will typically only have a few minutes to answer each question. We therefore strongly recommend that you complete the readings and lecture before attempting to take the quiz. When you finish the quiz, be sure to submit it.

You must work alone. However, your instructor is available to answer your questions throughout the quiz time frame.

Unit Exams

Value: 2 x 100 PTS, 200 PTS total

For the first two units, you will complete a unit exam in Canvas. The first exam covers Unit 01 (Lessons 01-04). The second exam covers Unit 02 (Lessons 05-08). The questions relate to the content of both readings and lectures. Additional, independent research is welcomed but not required.

Each exam is made up of one essay question, pulled from a larger question bank. In other words, everyone gets a different question. Each exam is worth 100 points. 

Each exam is "open book" and essentially untimed. You may use all course materials, and you have 1-2 weeks to complete it. When you finish the exam, be sure to submit it.

You must work alone. However, your instructor is available to answer your questions throughout the exam time frame.

As you answer the questions, be sure to do the following:

  • Make an argument. Each essay should have a thesis statement. For example, "This essay argues that..."
  • Construct an essay (introduction, body, conclusion). See Rubric for more information.
  • Explain your reasoning.
  • Cite specific examples, whenever possible. The more examples the better! 
  • Use in-text parenthetical citations—for example, (Kruczek 2010, 123). A bibliography is not necessary.
  • Limit each answer to 1500-2000 words. 

Final Exam

Value: 100 PTS

At the end of the semester, you will complete a Final Exam in Canvas. The exam is cumulative; that is, it covers Units 01-03 (Lessons 01-12). The questions relate to the content of both readings and lectures. Additional, independent research is welcomed but not required.

The exams consist of one long essay question, pulled from a larger question bank. In other words, everyone gets a different question. The exam is worth 100 points.

The exam is "open book" and essentially untimed. You may use all course materials, and you have one week to complete it. When you finish the exam, be sure to submit it.

You must work alone. However, your instructor is available to answer your questions throughout the exam time frame.

  • Make an argument. Each essay should have a thesis statement. For example, "This essay argues that..."
  • Construct an essay (introduction, body, conclusion). See Rubric for more information.
  • Explain your reasoning.
  • Cite specific examples, whenever possible. The more examples the better! 
  • Use in-text parenthetical citations—for example, (Kruczek 2010, 123). A bibliography is not necessary.
  • Limit each answer to 3000-3500 words.

University Policies

Academic Integrity

According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity, an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.   

Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic sanctions, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes (see G-9: Academic Integrity).

Unless your instructor tells you otherwise:

  • Always include an in-text citation that includes the author(s) last name(s) and the year the source was published at the end of any sentence or below any image that includes words, images, or ideas you found in a source, always included quoted text within quotation marks, and always include a reference for any source at the end of your paper (ask your instructor about the format you should use).
  • All of your graded coursework must be created by you without help from anyone in the course or otherwise. If you have questions about this, you should ask your instructor before submitting work for evaluation.
  • All course materials you receive or access are protected by copyright laws. You may use course materials and make copies for your own use, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct and/or liable under Federal and State laws.

Disability Access

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources website provides contact information for every Penn State campus at https://equity.psu.edu/offices/student-disability-resources/campus-offices. For further information, please visit the Student Disability Resources website at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources.

In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation described at http://equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/applying-for-services. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.

Counseling and Psychological Services

Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office offers residential and distance-based Penn State students non-emergency mental health services in the form of case management, community resource referrals, supportive listening, care giver support, and much more.

Students may request assistance from CAPS regarding a variety of common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and stress. CAPS services are designed to enhance students' ability to fully benefit from the University environment and academic experience. Call CAPS at 814-863-0395 (8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday EST) or submit an inquiry online at https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/form/caps-contact-form to schedule an appointment with a mental health advocate, who can help you address mental health concerns that may interfere with your academic progress or social development. This appointment will include a one-on-one session that can be conducted via telephone, teleconference (Skype, FaceTime, etc.), or locally at Penn State University Park. For more information on services provided through CAPS, please visit the Penn State CAPS website at http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/. Students enrolled at the World Campus are also encouraged to visit its Mental Health Services page at http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/student-services/mental-health-services.

Reminder: These services are for non-emergencies only. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis situation, please call your local crisis center or 911.

Nondiscrimination

Penn State is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University's educational mission, and will not be tolerated. For further information, please visit the Affirmative Action Office website at https://affirmativeaction.psu.edu/.

Reporting a Bias Incident

Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage at http://equity.psu.edu/reportbias/.

TEACH Act

The materials on the course website are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.

IF YOU GET SICK....

If you do end up missing time/assignments due to illness, including but not restricted to COVID-19, I will make every effort I can to keep you on track with the course materials. Please contact me as soon as possible, or have an appropriate third party do this, so that we can arrange make up work, etc.  Please note that you will be asked to provide medical verification of your illness/absence from class. No exceptions. 

"Extended Absences: During your enrollment at Penn State, unforeseen challenges may arise. If you ever need to miss an extended amount of class in such a circumstance, please notify your professor so you can determine the best course of action to make up missed work. If your situation rises to a level of difficulty you cannot manage on your own with faculty support, reach out to the Student Care & Advocacy office by phone at (814-863-2020) or email them at StudentCare@psu.edu."

University Emergency Procedure

In the event of a University-wide emergency, the course may be subject to changes. Exigent circumstances may require alternative delivery methods, class materials, and interactions with the instructor and/or classmates. In addition, there may be revisions to grading policies and the Calendar, including assignments and their due dates.

In the event of a University-wide emergency, please refer to the Canvas website at https://psu.instructure.com for specific information related to the course. For more general information about the emergency situation, please refer to the Penn State website at https://www.psu.edu or Penn State News website at https://news.psu.edu.

To register with PSUAlert, a service designed to alert the Penn State community when situations arise that affect the ability of a campus to function normally, please go to the PSU Alert website at https://psualert.psu.edu/. Subscribers can receive alerts by text message to cell phones, and also can elect to have alerts sent to an email address.

Syllabus Subject to Change

The class will likely adhere to the information outlined in this Syllabus and the Calendar, but adjustments may be made based on what actually transpires during the semester. For example, I may find substitute, add, or subtract readings. (I will not unnecessarily increase your workload.) Remaining in the course after reading this Syllabus will signal that you accept the possibility of changes and responsibility for being aware of them.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due