American University in Cairo

This course considers what makes us human by exploring the "deep history" of death from prehistory to the present. Realizing that this question goes beyond the capacity of any single academic discipline, the course turns to history, cultural anthropology, archaeology, paleontology, developmental psychology, and comparative religions to explore the universal human search for the meaning of death and seeking immortality.

This course provides a survey of Islam and its history from the formative period to its manifestations in modern times. It discusses sectarian movements such as Kharijism, Shi’ism and Sunnism; various schools of thought in law, theology, philosophy, and mysticism; as well as modern interpretations of Islam, especially with regard to political, social, and gender issues.

This course considers the major economic problems of developing countries. It discusses alternative explanations of underdevelopment and theories of development; major domestic and international aspects of development including population growth, capital accumulation, and international economic relations; and sustainable development.