Designed Courses

The following is a list of courses that I have designed (but not yet taught) or are in the process of being finalized.

Positionality, Power, and (Re)Production: Narratives and Knowledge of the Middle East

This course aims to identify and understand the factors that influence how, why, and by whom, popular narratives and knowledge regarding the Middle East are produced and spread. In addition to reading about the experiences, politics, and cultures of those in the Middle East, we will also investigate how identity and positionality influence the ways in which we view and interpret the information to which we are exposed. We will pay particular attention to the power of media in spreading and forming opinions about the Middle East, and the need to be critical, active consumers of information. Throughout the course, we will reflect on our own identities and positionalities in an effort to understand how these factors contribute to how we perceive the world around us, particularly the Middle East. We will explore what we know about the Middle East, how we know about it, and why we know about it, and expose ourselves to different narratives and perspectives that challenge stereotypes and assumptions. Lastly, we will develop the necessary skills of intercultural communication as well as the tools of critical media literacy to be active consumers and producers of media, information, and narratives.  

The content of this course will introduce students to personal narratives, academic journals, multi and digital media, and news articles, all of which are intended to facilitate a deeper, more robust comprehension of the Middle East. The ultimate goal is to push ourselves to think critically about our understandings, perceptions and beliefs about “others” and challenge ourselves to discover ways to, as MLK Jr. once said, “build bridges not walls.”

Education and public Diplomacy: The role of universities in international Relations

This course explores the ways in which higher education has and is currently used as a tool of public diplomacy. Beginning in a historical perspective, we trace the varying rationales, motivations, and strategies for employing higher education, and universities specifically, as a method for building international understanding and connections. Utilizing a critical lens, we will analyze how power, inequalities, and privileges have shaped international education and continue to influence the landscape of international higher education. Student will learn to see their own identity and university experience through the lens of public diplomacy and be encouraged to think critically about how their actions, presence, and learning experiences influence larger international relations. Topics that will be covered include internationalization, student mobility, branch campuses, educational exchanges, and civic education.

Critical Political Media Literacy

Summary coming soon…

Education, Citizenship, and Globalization

Summary coming soon…