Oman Intensive Seminar

This subject is not offered in 2014.

Total expected time commitment is 120 hours across the semester, including pre-reading and preparation and class time.

Enrolment in this subject is by application, based on academic merit. While students from any discipline may apply, special consideration will be given to students studying Islamic Studies or Arabic Studies. This subject is a quota subject and 10 places are available each year. Students must have an H2B (70+) average across the whole of their academic record.

Nil

Completion of 50 points of Arabic, Islamic or Jewish studies.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This is an intensive subject that will be taught in English.

The subject will explore a number of universal concepts – the “other”, nationality, tolerance, humour and a material object of choice – in an international academic and cultural context. Through an exploration of these concepts in a comparative setting, the subject will be (a) introducing the students to an interdisciplinary approach to research, (b) assisting students to improve their academic and presentation skills, (c) creating opportunities for these new skills to be put into practice, and (d) helping students to operate in an international setting. Students will be challenged to use a variety of skills in order to communicate with each other and with the invited speakers, and will become aware of a range of theoretical approaches and academic traditions that are relevant to engaging with the universal concepts the subject is exploring.

This seminar will be held in Oman, which will act as the host country to students from the three universities (Melbourne, Leiden and Sultan Qaboos). Fieldwork is an essential part of this subject and will be in Muscat and Nizwa in Oman. Teaching will be in Oman. However, students are expected to complete a set of readings before they travel to Oman.

On completion of the subject students will be able to:

• Engage competently in discussion using a range of academic and communicative skills.
• Write in a sophisticated and critical manner and in an academic style that pertains both to general and specific questions.
• Use a variety of research tools and methodologies to gather evidence and formulate a convincing scholarly argument.
• Demonstrate an awareness of how the key three concepts used in the subject function in at least three cultural traditions
• Plan and conduct a study within the context of an international setting.
• Demonstrate new knowledge and insights that were obtainable only through participation in an overseas study experience.

A group project, 750 words, 30% (due during the course), fieldwork presentation, 1,000 words, 20% (due day 13 orf the course), a 2,000 word paper 40% (due late February) and participation in debates and presentations, 10% (throughout the course).

Material prepared by the Asia Institute.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of the subject, students should:

• Have a comparative understanding of the key concepts of interest to the subject
• Be conversant with a range of theoretical approaches to understanding these concepts
• Analyse how these concepts function in different cultural settings and compare those with one’s own
• Be able to use a variety of research tools and methodologies to gather evidence and formulate a convincing scholarly argument
• Have the ability to critically engage with the work of established scholars in realtion to these concepts.