Welcome
We are pleased that you selected this independent study course to fulfill your unique educational needs. You are now a member of the Center's large and diverse student body—a student body that comes from all parts of the United States and many parts of the world.
Although the freedom to choose when and where to study is a privilege, it is also a responsibility that requires motivation and self-discipline. To succeed at independent study, you will need to develop a study plan by setting realistic goals and working toward them.
Please contact the office of MU Disability Services if you need to arrange accommodations for completing your coursework.
Course Introduction
The contemporary Middle East and the conflicts that continue to shape it are not only a result of the dynamics of the colonial and post-colonial eras, but also of the ancient historical forces that continue to play a crucial role in regional interstate relations. This course is designed to introduce you to such disparate influences as religious nationalism and westernization, and the impact such forces continue to have on recent conflicts in the area, such as the first and second Gulf wars. This course will also examine the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the question of Palestinian statehood, as well as Israel’s quest for security from its Arab neighbors. These objectives will be accomplished by studying the development of the nation-state in the Middle East, applying both theory and the study of contemporary regional events. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its global effects will be examined in particular through discussions of both history and documentation.
Catalog Description: Survey of political movement governments, and international conflicts in the Middle East. Islam, nationalism, ideologies and economic systems will be studied. The effect of oil and the military will also be considered. Course fulfils the non-Euro-American requirement.
Time Limit for Course Completion: 9 months. All assessments must be submitted and graded within this time.
Course Keycode: 2285
Textbooks/Materials†
Required Textbooks
- Bill, James A., and Robert Springborg. Politics in the Middle East. 5th ed. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 2000.
- Smith, Charles D. Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict: A History with Documents. 6th ed. Boston/New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007.
† Materials used in connection with this course may be subject to copyright protection.
How to Study for This Course
In this particular course, it is imperative that you keep up with the readings, but you should also make sure you comprehend the concepts that are included in each lesson. If you have any problems understanding any of the main ideas, please feel free to contact your professor, so that she can address your concerns before you submit your graded assignments. In this manner, you should complete the course with a much clearer understanding of the subject matter.
Additional Study Hints
- Submit your first progress evaluation early. For university courses, a minimum of six weeks must elapse between the date you submit your first progress evaluation and the date you take your final exam.
- Know how you will be assessed. Look at the grading scale and read all the information on any assignments, projects, and exams.
- Review the exam information page before taking any exam. This page includes descriptions of the exam(s), if any, required for this course. Keep in mind that, unless otherwise stated on the exam information page, CDIS exams are supervised and must be taken at an approved site. Approved sites will be listed when you are prompted to request an exam during the course.
- Be able to do all lesson objectives. Learning is active, and courses at any level are often designed with objectives or actions that can be done as evidence that you have learned something. One advantage of independent study is that learning objectives are clearly written for each lesson.
- Review the hints for independent study. This is an independent study course and is likely different from other courses you have taken. Begin by reviewing these hints, which will help you adjust your computing and study habits so you will have the best chance of earning the grade you want.
- Download an "Independent Study Planning Sheet" (pdf) to track your progress. The number of lessons, progress evaluations, and exams will directly affect how long it takes to complete any given CDIS course. As you work through this course, check your schedule often to make sure you're on track. Keep in mind that all progress evaluations and exams must be submitted and graded within the course time limit.
About the Course Developer
Carol Sholy received her doctorate in political science from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in January 2000. Her major emphasis is international relations with a specialization in the Middle East. She has taught Middle Eastern politics at UM–St. Louis and other institutions, and recently developed a special topics course in international relations with a focus on terrorism.
Dr. Sholy worked with the Distance Education and Training Council on accreditation of an undergraduate program in Middle Eastern studies. She is also a political risk consultant for a national consulting group, where she is an expert in the sociopolitical development of nation-states in various global regions. She is currently working in the field of institutional research at UM–St. Louis.
Technical Specifications
To complete this course, you will need access to a computer with a modern Web browser (see recommended browsers below), a working Internet connection (56k dial-up or broadband), word processing software, and disk space to save your work.
Recommended Web Browsers
- Windows: Internet Explorer (version 7 or 8) or Firefox 3.5.
- Mac OS: Safari 4 or Firefox 3.5.
Your browser should support graphics at a screen resolution of 800 × 600 or higher, run JavaScript (the browsers above do by default), and accept cookies, which are used solely to verify your login. This course has been designed to be accessible to all students, including those using assistive technologies.
Portions of this course may require Adobe Flash Player.
Word Processing Software
You will be required to upload documents in Word 97–2003 (.doc) or Rich Text (.rtf) format. These documents can be created in Microsoft Word or another office suite that saves in the .doc or .rtf format, such as the open-source OpenOffice or GoogleDocs online. The Center does not provide or support any word processing software; however, both OpenOffice and GoogleDocs are available free-of-charge at the above links.
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You may need to view PDF documents as part of this course.
Virus Protection
It is suggested that you have virus protection software on your system. Symantec AntiVirus or McAfee VirusScan are recommended for PC users, and Norton AntiVirus is recommended for Mac users. Virus protection software will help to protect your system (and ours) against computer viruses. MU students can download virus protection software at the Division of IT software distribution site.
Begin Coursework
Starting with the first lesson, study the lesson's purpose, objectives, and commentary. Then complete the reading assignment and any recommended study activities. Take notes and make sure you understand all the material presented in the readings. Follow this procedure for each lesson. Complete progress evaluations and exams in the order they are presented in this course.