Department Philosophy & Religious Studies
AREAS OF INQUIRY
Course Number RSTD 315
Course Name: Women in Islam
GLOBAL AND MULTICULTURAL
PERSPECTIVES
This form must be submitted to the Faculty Council on Liberal Learning and Academic Life as part of the submission
process.
Please attach a proposed syllabus for this course and the Undergraduate Curriculum Course Proposal Form.
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: 16 September 2005
Please answer the following questions:
Check Only One:
 This course is an existing course (in the current curriculum) that we are now proposing for this Area of Inquiry.
X This is a new course that we are now proposing for this Area of Inquiry.
1. Name and contact information for the department chair administrating this course.
Dr. Deborah C. Campbell, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, BTC 208. Tel: 4-7770.
dcampbel@cnu.edu
2. In any given semester, how many sections of this course is your department willing to offer?
As many sections as needed
3. Why is this course being offered/what is it designed to achieve (Course purpose/goal) ?
This course will discuss the role and status of women in Muslim societies from the rise of Islam in the
seventh century to the present. The focus will be on women and sexuality, the rise of Islamic feminism,
women in the Shari‘a (Islamic Law), women in art and literature, and the role of Muslim women in politics.
In this course, we will discuss the misconceptions and the negative portrayal of Muslim women in the U.S.
and how the U.S. media has contributed to such image. This course will help students understand how
religion and culture have shaped, affected, and influenced women’s role in Muslim societies throughout the
centuries, and how religion and culture have also clashed over women’s issues. In this class, we will also
explore the role and status of women in the three Abrahamic religions and discuss similarities and
differences. This course will also introduce students to the emerging scholarship on women in Islam.
Moreover, this course will shed lights on how Muslim women have contributed to Islamic religion and
culture as well as to other religions and cultures. This course is important because it discusses a topic that
is timely and is still very much neglected in the West.
4. Check the objectives below that the course will address. The first objective is required and every proposal
must include at least two more objectives from the list below.
X Interrogate the dominate culture in relationship to other cultures (required)
 Compare communication styles among cultures
X Assess how culture impacts and informs the development of creative expression/movements,
politics,
economics, or philosophy
X Analyze how concepts of “self” and individuals in various cultures differ and/or intersect
 Articulate how culture influences the structure of languages, societies, and institutions
5. Briefly explain how this class addresses the above objectives. A course may cover more than three
objectives.
a.)
Because Islam is a culture and a way of life, not only Muslim women are affected and shaped by Islam, but also
women of various cultures and religions where Islam is dominant. Since its inception, Islam has spread to
cultures east and west. More recently, Islam has gained adherents in Western cultures, including the United
States. This course will discuss how Islam has affected Western women and Western politics and societies as well.
b.)
This course will help students understand how Islam and politics are not separate entities. Because there is no
separation between Islam and the state, and because the Islamic law prevails in most Muslim nations, students
will learn how Islam has impacted social and political organizations including women’s associations and
movements.
c.)
This course will discuss how Islam differs from Western cultures, how people identify with Islam, and
how central and important their religion is in their daily lives. Students will learn how the concepts of
“self” and individuals in the Islamic culture are different from those in Western cultures. For instance,
students will learn how and why women in Muslim societies would accept laws and regulations that are
deemed abusive in Western cultures. Most importantly, students will learn that what is best for women
in Western cultures is not necessarily best for women in other cultures.
6. Course Assessment: Identify how this course will accomplish the above objectives (choose at least one):
X Participating in class discussion and debate
X Engaging in teamwork and other collaborative exercises
X Writing analytical or evaluative papers, perhaps incorporating original research
X Making oral presentations
 Creating an artistic product or a performance
X Participating in fieldwork
 Other means – please identify
7. Attach a proposed syllabus, which includes a statement of purpose, course objectives, and how these
objectives will be accomplished.
Please see attachment
8. Please identify and explain if this course contributes to the Foundations of Liberal Learning expectations for:
 Oral Communication Literacy:
Students will be required to participate in class discussion and will be encouraged to provide analytical and
critical analysis interpretation of the material. Students will also be required to make an oral presentation
of their research paper. Students will be evaluated based on their oral comments and feedback on lectures,
articles, textbooks, videos, presentations, etc.
 Information Literacy:
Students will use library material and the Internet to research for their term papers. Also, students will
interview individuals and visit places of interest.
 Writing Literacy:
Students will be required to write an analytical paper incorporating original research. They will also be
required to participate in a writing workshop to develop a well-researched, well-organized paper.
9. Explain how this course connects to Vision 2010 – the CNU Strategic Plan.
This course will provide an intellectually challenging environment and will encourage students to cultivate
critical and innovative thinking. The research project will “foster independent student learning,”
encourage “intellectual curiosity and creativity,” cultivate a desire for further inquiry, and “stimulate a
lifelong desire for learning.” This course will give the students the opportunity to connect learning inside
and outside the classroom (i.e., a visit to an Islamic center, a meeting with leaders and members of the
Muslim community, etc.). Thus, this course will “nurture student academic and social communities” and
will prepare them to “succeed in a diverse and global society.”
Submission Checklist:
By the deadline, submit a packet with the following documents to the Assistant Dean for Liberal Learning. Please
submit in electronic and hard copy form.
_X Area of Inquiry Course Proposal Form
_X Syllabus for the Course
X Undergraduate Curriculum Committee Course Proposal Form
Women in Islam
A Proposed Syllabus
Dr. Hussam S. Timani
Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
4-7931
Email: hussam.timani@cnu.edu
Course Description/Objectives:
Is Islam oppressive to women? Why do some Muslim women veil and others don’t? What does the Qur’an say about
women? How did women live in the harem? This course will discuss the role and status of women in Muslim societies from
the rise of Islam in the seventh century to the present. The focus will be on women and sexuality, the rise of Islamic
feminism, women in the Shari‘a (Islamic Law), women in art and literature, and the role of Muslim women in politics. In
this course, we will discuss the misconceptions and the negative portrayal of Muslim women in the U.S. and how the U.S.
media has contributed to such image. This course will help students understand how religion and culture have shaped,
affected, and influenced women’s role in Muslim societies throughout the centuries, and how religion and culture have also
clashed over women’s issues. In this class, we will explore the role and status of women in the three Abrahamic religions
and discuss similarities and differences. This course will also introduce students to the emerging scholarship on women in
Islam and other religions. Moreover, this course will shed lights on how Muslim women have contributed to Islamic religion
and culture as well as to other religions and cultures. This course is important because it discusses a topic that is timely and
is still very much neglected in the West.
Course Requirement:
Students are required to take a midterm and a final (essay exams), write an analytical research paper, write a book review
(750 words), make oral presentations of their papers and reviews, attend class regularly, and participate in class discussion.
Students are also required to read the assigned materials before each meeting and come prepared for class discussion. A visit
to your nearest Middle Eastern/Islamic cultural center or mosque is strongly recommended.
Course Grade Breakdown:
•Midterm
•Final
•Term Paper
•Book review
•Attendance/class work 10%
20%
20%
30%
20%
Required Texts:
Asma Barlas. “Believing Women” in Islam
Leila Ahmed. Women and Gender in Islam
Fatima Mernissi. Beyond the Veil
Nawal Al-Saadawi. The Innocence of the Devil (this novel is for review)
Recommended Books (available used and new on Amazon.com):
Hanan Al-Shaykh. Women of Sand and Myrrh (1992)
Geraldine Brooks. Nine Parts of Desire (1995)
Elizabeth Warnock Fernea. In Search of Islamic Feminism (1998)
____________________. Guests of the Sheikh (1965)
Leila Ahmed. A Border Passage (1999)
Fatima Mernissi. The Veil and the Male Elite (1991)
____________. Dreams of Trespass (1995)
Azar Nafisi. Reading Lolita in Tehran (2003)
Jean Sasson. Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia (2001)
Films to be shown in class (upon availability):
A Veiled Revolution
Boys, Girls and the Veil in Egypt
Under One Sky
Divorce Iranian Style
My Journey, My Islam
Women in Islam
Crimes of Honor
The Virgin Diaries
Beyond the Veil: Are Iranian Women Rebelling
Behind the Veil: Afghan Women under Fundamentalism
Beyond Borders: Arab Feminists Talk about Their Lives
Nazrah: A Muslim Woman’s Perspective
Week 1
Class schedule and weekly focus
Introduction and Course Outline
Middle East/Islamic World on the map
Nations and peoples
Week 2
Women in the ancient Middle East
Week 3
Women in pre-Islamic Arabia
The Rise of Islam
Week 4
Women in the Abrahamic faiths: A Comparison
Week 5
Women in Early Islam
Week 6
Women in Medieval Muslim societies
Week 7
Women in he Qur’an; The Patriarchal Settings
Week 8
Women and Sexuality in Islam
Week 9
Women Saints/Mystics in Islam
Week 10
Discourse of the Veil (19th century)
Week 11
Women and Islamic Law (Shari‘a)
Discussion of The Innocence of the Devil
Week 12
The Rise of Feminist Movements (Early 20th century)
Week 13
Week 14
Women in Literature
Women and Islamic Fundamentalism
Week 15
Week 16
Book Review is due and presentations
Final
Book Review Guidelines
Your review should address the following issues/questions:
1)
Summarize the book (what is the book about)?
2)
Indicate and assess what the book contributes to the field: its thesis, effectiveness,
clarity, and appropriateness for various audiences.
3)
Who should read this book?
4)
What did you learn from this book, and what will others learn?
5)
Make sure you focus on the book’s main arguments and conclusions.
6)
Do not provide a chapter-by-chapter description of its structure, but rather discuss the
themes of the book as a whole.
7)
Is the argument well presented?
8)
Is the information accurate?
9)
Do you find the book useful, entertaining, boring, etc?
10)
Do you think the book will have a significant impact?
11)
Come up with an attractive title for your review.
12)
Limit your review to 750 words.
13)
Should you choose to insert direct quotations from the book, please include the page
number(s) in parentheses at the end of the quotation (i.e., “___________”(p. 34).
Paper Guidelines
Your paper must be typed, double-spaced, and have the following parts: the introduction, the
thesis, the body, the conclusion, and the bibliography. Consult me, the Writing Center, or The
Chicago Manual of Style for organization and citations.
Thesis
Your thesis is your argument and must be clearly stated in your introduction paragraph. Your thesis should also include the
time period you are going to cover. You may start your thesis statement with the following words: “This paper will
argue/discuss/explain, etc. A good thesis will tell the reader what to expect in the paper.
Body
This is where you discuss your thesis. The body paragraphs must be related directly to your thesis, and the paragraphs must
be in harmonious relationship to each other. You will be supporting your argument by paraphrasing other people’s
statements or using direct quotations. When doing so, make sure you provide your source so that the reader can verify the
information. Avoid long quotations, unless they are necessary for your argument. Please refer to the Chicago Manual of
Style for footnotes and bibliography.
Conclusion
This is the summary of your argument. You summarize the main points in the conclusion and show that they support your
argument. Keep your conclusion short.
Bibliography
Your bibliography (work cited) must be at the last page of your paper and listed as the following:
Said, Edward W., Orientalism (New York: Vintage Books, 1979).
Makdisi, Ussama, “Anti-Americanism in the Arab World: An Interpretation of a Brief History,” The Journal of American
History (September 2002).
__________________________________________________________________
NOTE: Please proofread and edit your paper. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. With Internet technology, plagiarized work
can easily be detected. What is plagiarism? According to the American Heritage Dictionary, plagiarism is “[t]o use and pass
off as one’s own (the ideas or writings of another). See the University Statement on Plagiarism in the course catalogue.
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
NEW COURSE PROPOSAL FORM
Does this proposal affect Liberal Learning requirements? Yes X No _____
1.
Title of Course: Women in Islam
Proposed Course Number (cleared with Registrar): RSTD 315
Prerequisite Courses: Junior Standing or Consent of Instructor
(if you require a minimum acceptable grade greater than the default of D- , please indicate the grade
you require) _________
Catalogue Description (including credits, lecture, and lab hours):
This course will discuss the role and status of women in Muslim societies from the rise of Islam in the seventh
century to the present. The focus will be on women and sexuality, the rise of Islamic feminism, women in the
Shari‘a (Islamic Law), women in art and literature, and the role of Muslim women in politics. This course
will discuss the misconceptions and the negative portrayal of Muslim women in the U.S. and how the U.S.
media has contributed to such image. This course will help students understand how religion and culture
have shaped, affected, and influenced women’s role in Muslim societies throughout the centuries, and how
religion and culture have also clashed over women’s issues. This course will also explore the role and status
of women in the three Abrahamic religions, will discuss similarities and differences, and will introduce
students to the emerging scholarship on women in Islam and religion.
Is the course cross-listed? If so, what is the number of the other course?
No
**A proposed syllabus, including complete text and/or reference information, as well
as any relevant information to this decision, must be appended.
NOTE: All affected department chairs must sign approval on last page.
2.
For whom is the course primarily intended? Explain why it should be added to the curriculum.
This course is primarily intended for students with junior standing. It should be added to the curriculum
because it discusses cultural differences in terms of religion and sexual orientation. Students in this course
will explore a new culture and cross-cultural interactions. This course will survey the religious and political
systems of Muslim societies.
3.
If this course is required, append a description of how the course fits into the curriculum. Indicate how
it affects hours required for graduation.
N/A
4.
Has this course been offered previously as a special topics course? If so, when? What course number was
used?
No
5.
Has this course, or one closely related to it, been offered at CNU previously?
If so, is that course currently being offered? How does the proposed course differ? When is the last
term the old course will be offered?
No
6.
What is the anticipated enrollment per offering for the next three years? 25
During which term will this course first be offered?
Fall 20__
Spring 20___
Summer 20___
During which semesters will this course regularly be offered?
Fall 2006
Spring 20___
Summer 20___
Print in the 2006-2007 (academic year) Undergraduate Catalog.
7.
How will the course be staffed?
This course will be taught by Dr. Hussam S. Timani
8.
Does the course involve a particular classroom, special equipment, or costs beyond those usually associated
with a course at CNU? If so, please explain.
No
9.
Is the course repeatable for additional credit? If so, is there a limit to the number of times the course can be
repeated? (e.g., applied music courses)
No
10.
If this course is for an Area of Inquiry
a. Identify the Area of Inquiry Global and Multicultural Perspectives
b. Demonstrate how your course will meet the objectives of this Area of Inquiry
1) This course will examine the interactions and interrelationships among cultures, especially the relationship of
marginalized to mainstream cultures. Because Islam is a culture and a way of life, not only Muslim women are
affected and shaped by Islam, but also women of various cultures and religions where Islam is dominant. Since
its inception, Islam has spread to cultures east and west. More recently, Islam has gained adherents in Western
cultures, including the United States. This course will discuss how Islam has affected Western women, and
Western politics and societies as well.
2) This course will assess how culture impacts and informs the development of creative expression/movements, politics,
economics, or philosophy. This course will help students understand how Islam and politics are not separate entities.
Because there is no separation between Islam and the state, and because the Islamic law prevails in most Muslim nations,
students will learn how Islam has impacted social and political organizations including women’s associations and
movements.
3) This course will analyze how concepts of “self” and individuals in various cultures differ and/or intersect. This course
will discuss how Islam differs from Western cultures, how individuals in Muslim societies identify with Islam, and how
central and important their religion is in their daily lives. Students will learn how the concepts of “self” and individuals
in the Islamic culture are different from those in Western cultures. For instance, students will learn how and why women
in Muslim societies would accept laws and regulations that are deemed abusive in Western cultures. Most importantly,
students will learn that what is best for women in Western cultures is not necessarily best for women in other cultures.
This course was approved by:
(Liberal learning core courses must be reviewed by BOTH academic Deans.)
Concur
Do Not
|
Concur**
Department(s): (1)
Date: ________
(2)
Date: ________
College Curriculum
Committee:
Date: ________
Dean:
Date: ________
Dean:
Date: ________
Undergraduate Curriculum
Committee:
Date: ________
Changes to the Liberal Learning requirements must be reviewed by the Faculty Senate.
Faculty Senate President:
Date: ________
Provost
Date: ________
Distribution by Provost Office following approval:
Department Chair(s), UCC Chair, Deans, Registrar
** If “Do Not Concur” is checked, please attach a statement of explanation.
Rev. 03/20/05