Culture and Society in Morocco
During the Autumn semester the Netherlands Institute in Morocco (NIMAR) offers a minor that focuses on the study of Morocco from a social sciences and humanities perspective. The programme is designed for all students who are interested in gaining in-depth understanding of Moroccan society and acquiring skills in doing ethnographic research in a Middle Eastern society. Students also get the change to develop their language skills in either Moroccan Arabic or French. The semester promotes a real immersion in Moroccan society for students with an interest in becoming experts on contemporary Middle Eastern societies.
The programme
Case studies on Moroccan culture and society, with lectures by Moroccan and foreign academics in disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, history, and political science. Topics include ‘History’, ‘Civil Society and Politics’, ‘Cities and Countryside’, ‘Migration’, ‘Religion’ and, ‘Gender’. This course also includes excursions to various sites of cultural interest and social organisations in the surroundings of Rabat-Casablanca, and a five-day fieldwork trip to a rural area.
A course “Methods of Qualitative Research”, which familiarises students with different research methods such as (participant) observation, interviews, and working with focus groups. Weekly practical assignments for observations and interviews serve as preparations for the students’ own research projects; Including “ Research Design”, which helps students to formulate step by step their own research projects.
Intensive language instruction in Moroccan Arabic or French, mostly focusses on verbal communication skills, including conversation classes.
An independent field research project during the last part of the term. Under supervision of a lecturer students do research and report on their research in a research paper. They may do this individually, or in small groups of two or three students.
The courses are taught by NIMAR faculty and by guest lecturers from Moroccan institutions. Cultural activities will be organised alongside the course curriculum, providing additional opportunities for students to enrich their experience and understanding of Moroccan society.
After completion of the programme students will have acquired a basic working knowledge of Moroccan Arabic and of social studies of Morocco, learned elementary ethnographic methods of doing fieldwork, put this knowledge into practice by having carried out their own field research and having analyzed and presented their data, both orally and in a written form. Students are actively encouraged to travel extensively to the various regions of Morocco during their stay in Rabat.
Maximum number of students: 40
Prospectus number: 5000MCSMN
Number study activity: 1241
Language: English
More info:
30 EC
Duration: September 2018 – December 2018 (Handing in research paper January 2019)
Language of instruction: English
Coordinator: Yara Maljers staff website
Website NIMAR
Admission: BA2 or BA3 students who successfully completed their first year-programme (propedeuse)
Enrollment: uSis