Course Form (revised 8-2009)
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
Anthropology
Course Title
Model Arab League
Prefix and Course #
ARAB 307
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces)
Model Arab League
Summarize the change(s) proposed
New Course
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Requestor:
Samir I. Bitar
Phone/ email :
243-4385
Samir.bitar@umontana.edu
Program Chair/Director:
Dr. John Douglas
Other affected programs
Central and Southwest Asia
Program
Dean:
Date
Dr. Chris Comer
III: To Add a New Course Syllabus and assessment information is required (paste syllabus into
section V or attach). Course should have internal coherence and clear focus.
NO
Common Course Numbering Review: Does an equivalent course exist
elsewhere in the MUS? Do the proposed abbreviation, number, title and credits
align with existing course(s)? Please indicate equivalent course/campus 
http://msudw.msu.montana.edu:9030/wfez/owa/musxfer.p_CCN_MAIN
Exact entry to appear in the next catalog (Specify course abbreviation, level, number, title, credits,
repeatability (if applicable), frequency of offering, prerequisites, and a brief description.) 
U 307 Model Arab League 3cr. (R-6) Offered spring. Students explore the Arabic Speaking countries, from
North Africa, the Middle East and the Peninsula through discussions of political, economic, environmental,
and social issues affecting the progress of the Arab world and its development.
Justification: How does the course fit with the existing curriculum? Why is it needed?
The University of Montana is now in its 11th year of teaching Arabic and the American government has
increased its focus on having Arabic speakers who also understand the culture. The Arabic Language
program at The UM is very successful and we have a solid demand from the students for developing
curriculum in Arabic Studies. The change will provide students at The UM and students in Arabic studies an
environment to develop a deeper understanding of the History, history, culture, political, and economic
realities of the Arab World while also fulfilling requirements in the Department of History, Political Science,
and/or the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures.
Are there curricular adjustments to accommodate teaching this course?
HIST 394 Seminar will be taught less often.
Complete for UG courses. (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment (Reference guidelines: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/Grad/UG.htm)
Fees may be requested only for courses meeting specific conditions determined by the
Board of Regents. Please indicate whether this course will be considered for a fee.
If YES, what is the proposed amount of the fee?
Justification:
IV. To Delete or Change an Existing Course – check X all that apply
Deletion
Title
YES
NO
X
Course Number Change
Description Change
Change in Credits
From:
To:
From:
To:
Prerequisites
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
Level U, UG, G
From:
To:
Repeatability
Once
Cross Listing
(primary program
initiates form)
Is there a fee associated with the course?
2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
4. Is this a course with MUS Common Course Numbering? If yes, then will this change eliminate the
course’s common course status? Please explain below.
5. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to
UG. Reference guidelines at:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/Grad/UG.htm
(syllabus required in section V)
N/A
Have you reviewed the graduate increment
guidelines? Please check (X) space provided.
N/A
6. Other programs affected by the change
N/A
7. Justification for proposed change
V. Syllabus/Assessment Information
Required for new courses and course change from U to UG. Paste syllabus in field below or attach and send
digital copy with form.
National Council on US-Arab Relations www.ncusar.org
Syllabus: Arab 307
Model Arab League
Lecturer, Samir I. Bitar
Secretary General: xxxxxx
Director General: xxxxxxx
Assistant Secretary General: xxxxxx
Class Time: Tuesday 6:00-9:00 PM LA 11
Contact Information:
Samir I. Bitar, M.I.S.
Modern & Classical Languages and Literatures
Central & Southwest Asia Program
Email: samir.bitar@umontana.edu
Phone: (406) 243-4385
Office: Old Journalism 302
Overview of the Northern Rockies Model Arab League Conference
As representatives of the Arab League's 22 member-states, student delegates work to achieve
consensus on questions real-life diplomats wrestle with daily. They vote on resolutions they have
written that seek to resolve some of the Arab countries' most difficult challenges. The dynamics and
interactive nature of the role-playing among the students stimulate critical thinking, heighten
creativity, expand knowledge, and cultivate understanding as no book, video, or coursework ever
could.
Participation in a Model is of value to all students regardless of their academic major. It matters
little if at all whether their school has an academic course offering on the Arab countries, the Middle
East, or the Islamic world. Students gain invaluable firsthand leadership experience and hands-on
training. They acquire this through the Model's constant challenges and interaction in the course of
public discussion, the application of time management skills, the use of parliamentary procedure,
and the dynamics of debating, writing, and editing. All this occurs under pressure and tight
deadlines that mirror the actual realities and tensions inherent in the give-and-take that comes with
activism in public affairs.
In experiencing how a resolution they have prepared succeeds or fails on the basis of whether their
fellow delegates find its rationale sufficiently persuasive, student delegates also refine their
interpersonal skills. At the final session, adult judges with experience in international relations
announce the names of individual students and delegations whose performance has earned them
highly coveted awards. These and other student participants are provided priority consideration for
partial scholarships in the National Council's language and area studies academic programs in the
Arab world.
At the end of any Model, all delegates come away having practiced and improved considerably the
kinds of skills that will serve them well all their life in any field they pursue. This one-of-a-kind
practical experience brings students and their faculty advisers back year after year.
Attendance: Your presence and participation in class is imperative given the limited amount of
time we have to prepare for the conference. Attendance will be taken during each class. One
unexcused absence will be permitted. Each additional unexcused absence will result in a drop of
one letter grade. Excused absences are medical (with a doctor’s note), university sanctioned event
where your attendance is required (for athletes, choir members, etc) or family emergency
(documentation required).
Grading:
Delegates:
Class attendance 10%, Quizzes 20%, Draft Resolutions 15%, Papers 15%
The additional 40% of your grade will be based upon your attendance as well as SG, DG and
advisor evaluations during the conference. Evaluations during the conference are based on:
Parli-Pro skills 15%, Country knowledge 15%, Attendance and participation 10%
Staff:
Grading for in-class work will remain the same. At the conference, the Faculty Advisor, SG and DG
will evaluate your performance.
Quizzes:
There will be a quiz at the end of every class period. The quizzes will test your understanding of
information contained in the CIA World Factbook, BBC Country Profiles, and assigned readings.
Quizzes will also contain current events questions. Delegates are encouraged to follow Middle
Eastern news from The Economist, Washington Post, Middle East Times, Le Monde Diplomatique,
Foreign Affairs, Al Jazeera Online, Chicago World Tribune, Le Monde and the New York Times.
Papers:
Delegates:
You will be required to write two papers in this class:
o A three page abbreviated country history paper. A detailed handout will
be available the second week of class (1/29/08). It will be due in class on
February 5th. .
o The second paper will detail your country’s position on the subject matter
that your committee will address. The required length is 6 pages. A
detailed explanation will be given in class on February 12th. The paper
will be due on March 4th.
Staff:
Chairs will be required to write two backgrounders for their committee topics. Each backgrounder
is 7-8 pages long. The first backgrounder is due on February 12th, the second on February 26th.
Vice-chairs will write one 7-8 page backgrounder which will also be due on February 12th. As well
as the backgrounder, Vice Chairs will also write a second 6-7 page paper in which they will imagine
a hypothetical crisis in a given Arab country and conceive a solution. This paper will be due on
April 1st.
Course and Conference Summary:
The course will be taught and run by the Secretary General and Director General respectively. It
will be augmented with guest lectures and presentations from staff throughout the University in
various academic disciplines, as well as members of the community with experience and
understanding of the Arab world. Subsequent to the conference, delegates and staff will be asked
to write a one-page summary of their experience in the class and a one-page summary of their
experience during the conference. These summaries will be due on the final day of class, April
15th.
Draft Resolutions:
In addition to the two papers, delegates will also write three 1 page resolutions prior to the
conference. One resolution will be done in class. The other two will be done as homework and will
be required to be typed and turned in the following class period. Each resolution is worth 5% of
your grade and must be approved by the SG before the final grade is given. The resolutions must
contain at least five perambulatory clauses and eight operative clauses and follow the guidelines
laid out by the National Council on US-Arab Relations (NCUSAR).
Class Schedule
Week 1 – Introduction to Model Arab League, Basic Arab World Knowledge Quiz. Country
Assignments.
Readings for 1/29:
1. Comoros, Eritrea, Djibouti, Mauritania BBC Country Profiles
2. CIA World Factbook: Comoros, Eritrea, Djibouti, Mauritania
Week 2 – Comoros, Eritrea, Djibouti, Mauritania Quiz, Parli-pro practice, Discussion over Persian
Gulf States (UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait).
Readings for 2/5:
1. UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait BBC Country Profiles
2. CIA World Factbook: UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait.
Week 3 – UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait Quiz; Parli-pro practice; Discussion over the Maghrib.
COUNTRY HISTORY PAPER DUE.
Readings for 2/12:
1. Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia BBC Country Profiles
2. CIA World Factbook: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia
Week 4 – Quiz over Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia; Parli-pro practice; Discussion over Libya and
Egypt. FIRST BACKGROUNDER DUE (Chairs and vice-chairs only).
Readings for 2/19:
1. Libya and Egypt BBC Country Profiles
2. CIA World Factbook: Libya and Egypt
Week 5 – Quiz over Libya and Egypt; Parli-pro practice; Discussion over Saudi Arabia, Yemen and
Oman.
Readings for 2/26:
1. Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman BBC Country Profiles
2. CIA World Factbook: Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman
Week 6 – Quiz over Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman; Parli-pro practice; Discussion over Sudan
and Somalia.
Readings for 3/4:
1. Sudan and Somalia BBC Country Profiles
2. CIA World Factbook: Sudan and Somalia.
Week 7 – Quiz over Sudan and Somalia; Parli-pro practice; discussion over Iraq. COUNTRY
POSITION PAPERS DUE.
Readings for 3/11:
1. Iraq BBC Country Profile
2. CIA World Factbook: Iraq
Week 8 – Quiz over Iraq; Parli-pro practice; discussion over Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan.
Readings for 3/18:
1. Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan BBC Country Profiles.
2. CIA World Factbook: Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan.
Week 9 – Quiz over Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan; Parli-pro practice, Review resolution
drafting.
Homework for 4/1:
1. Resolutions due.
2. Second paper due for Vice-chairs.
Week 10 – Resolutions due; Parli-pro practice; Conference prep; Parli-pro/resolutions quiz.
Week 11 – Conference prep. Final parli-pro practice.
Week 12 – Northern Rockies Model Arab League conference.
Week 13 – Course/conference review and wrap up.
Office Hours:
I will have posted office hours during the week, every one is encouraged and is welcome to come
in, visit for questions or discussion and I am also available by appointment.
VI Department Summary (Required if several forms are submitted) In a separate document list course
number, title, and proposed change for all proposals.
VII Copies and Electronic Submission. After approval, submit original, one copy, summary of
proposals and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221, camie.foos@mso.umt.edu.