Berkeley Offers Islamic History Course Online

U.C. Berkeley ^ | 3/26/02 | U.C. Berkeley

[JosephW]

Berkeley Offers Islamic History Course Online

University of California at Berkeley Extension is launching a new online course on the history of Islam to respond to an increased interest in Islamic studies. The course covers the geography, diversity and politics of Islam in addition to its religious heritage. "After September 11, we saw a tremendous need for a better understanding of this complex and fascinating religious tradition," said Kathleen Rose, curriculum director at UC Berkeley Extension Online. The $535 distance learning course offers flexible self-paced instruction. Students interact with the instructor and other students in the course through e-mail, message boards and online chats. Students may enroll at any time as long as the class is open, and they then have six months to complete the class and take a supervised final examination

[JosephW]

This actually came to me via an email dealing with higher education. The URL above is for Berkeley showing they really did add the class.

This is just an introductory class as the advanced study of islam involves learning how to fly (not necessarily land).

[JosephW]

It had to be Berkeley!

[Frohickey]

Does the Berkeley Islamic History Course also have a section where it talks about the anatomy of an Islamic jihadist? ;)

[JosephW]

Students [Al-Quaida] communicate with each other via email and message boards

[JosephW]

Not that I know of, but it would be hard as enough of them show us their anatomy in Israel often enough (and the families receive $25,000 from Iraq for doing so).

[cyberaxe]

.....this is one place that is just asking for a.....

.....D.O.S. attack.....

.....those folks are on drugs.....

[JosephW]

Do you think Barbara Lee has signed up yet, or is she the instructor?

[Publius6961]

Seriously... When does this course begin and how long does it run?
Is there a syllabus or a textbook?
Has anyone reading this seen it?

This could be fascinating.
I suspect it is less a history than an indoctrination.
But I am willing to reserve judgement until I see.

I just fear that there are many clueless in the Bay area who would actually pay over 500 bucks to have their pollyana view of Islam confirmed.

[cyberaxe]

Do you think Barbara Lee has signed up yet, or is she the instructor?

.....dean?.....

.....i guess these gubbers felt bad that.....

.....we only could muster up 1 jihad johnnie.....

.....they gotta try harder.....

[JosephW]

This is what appears on Berkeley's website:

Delivery Format: Internet
Course Duration: Up to 6 months from date of enrollment
Course Fee: $480.00
Resource Fee: $50.00
EDP#: 827618

3 semester unit(s) in Near Eastern Studies

This broad-ranging course explores the rich and complex history of Islam from the birth of the religion to the present day. Students gain a greater appreciation for the cultural, geographical, and political diversity of the people who comprise the Islamic mosaic. Course materials will focus particular attention on the religious values of the culture as exemplified by the life of the prophet Muhammad and the Quran, and examine how its religious foundation accounts for Islam's attempts to remain a distinctive, separate civilization.

Arthur Kane Scott
M.A., adjunct professor, University of San Francisco, author, Modernization of China and Japan: A Cultural Comparison Instructor Biography

Required Textbooks and Materials:
Textbooks to be announced, .

Required textbooks and materials for this course can be purchased through our online bookstore, Specialty-Books. Complete information about the materials required for this course is available through their site, where you also have the option to purchase your course materials.

My guess is that it will begin around mid to late May. From the description it looks to be pure indoctrinization.

[Physicist]

While I suppose that everyone here who's complaining is already an expert in Islamic history and culture, may I humbly suggest that most Americans are not, and that therefore courses like this are sorely needed right now. In WWII, many Americans took it upon themselves (as befits good citizens) to learn German and Japanese language, history and culture. The people who did this were not castigated as unpatriotic by their neighbors, but viewed as making a valid contribution to the war effort. Back then people understood that when we go to war with a foreign people, it behooves us to know a little bit about whom we're fighting.

[AdA$tra]

Her is the FREE shorter online version as taught by me:

Kill all the Infidels. Go to Heaven.

[JosephW]

I agree that it is a good thing to understand islam. But you surely don't believe that is the purpose of this course. There is only one way this course could ever be approved at Berkeley and that is if it was anti-Christian and a strict indoctrinization course for islam.

[cyberaxe]

.....reality check.....

.....how many folks have or will got to "Berkeley" cause they are wanting to make.....

.....a valid contribution to the war effort.....

[JosephW]

Berkeley offers only two specific online (I didn't check for on campus) religous courses:

islam
Bhuddist Philosophy

all other courses deal with world religons in general.

< sarcasm >Considering the size of Christianity (and Judaism) especially here in America I can understand the lack of interest in courses about them < /sarcasm >

[Uncle Meat]

Does the Berkeley Islamic History Course also have a section where it talks about the anatomy of an Islamic jihadist? ;)

Before or after a suicide mission?The head is over there about 50 meters,an arm here,a leg there,I think that may be what's left of the torso over in that rubble.

[japaneseghost]

from Diablo Valley College website:

Arthur Kane Scott, who teaches at several California colleges and universities, brings a global perspective to his history classes that cover a wide range of cultures: Asian, Russian, American, Western and Islamic. His approach emphasizes the psychological, cultural, and artistic expressions of particular peoples and eras. He pursued advanced graduate studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and was a leader in the desegregation of fourteen state colleges in Pennsylvania.

[Publius6961]

While I suppose that everyone here who's complaining is already an expert in Islamic history and culture, may I humbly suggest that most Americans are not, and that therefore courses like this are sorely needed right now.
No need to get defensive or to presume motive.
The obvious (and rational) question is: will this be an apologism for Islam? or a truly objective view of it?

In WWII, many Americans took it upon themselves (as befits good citizens) to learn German and Japanese language, history and culture. The people who did this were not castigated as unpatriotic by their neighbors, but viewed as making a valid contribution to the war effort.
I concur completely. However, recent experience tells us that most popularly accessible facts about Islam are selective, misleading and constitute mostly propaganda.

Back then people understood that when we go to war with a foreign people, it behooves us to know a little bit about whom we're fighting.
Again I agree. An objective realist view is what will accomplish the objective.
More of what we have been hearing and reading (even at the presidential level) is next to useless; indeed, worse than useless.
I do not pretend to be an expert on Islam. The dozen or so books I have read since the 60s have helped, however.
I will plead ignorance, but I will not allow total ignorance.

For instance... how many of these "illuminating" courses will mention the fact that when the Turkish (Muslim) empire was bolstered by Germany (with German Officers) during World War I, and they fielded a 1.3-million man army to fight the allies, the entire Arab portion of that army deserted (400,000) en masse?
No, not because they sympathized with the allies, LOL.

For a fascinating view of Islam, uncolored by the events of the last two centuries, and the distortion introduced by oil, I suggest a thorough reading of The first edition of the Encyclopedia Brittanica, 1771.
Just look under Mahomet and Islam...

[Salman]

If it weren't Berkeley, I'd say there's nothing wrong with a college offering a course in Islamic history.
It being Berkeley, we know how it will be taught.