Culture and Society in Morocco

During the Autumn semester (September-December 2016), 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. It is taught from a social scientific perspective, and focuses primarily on qualitative research methods. The semester promotes a real immersion in Moroccan society for students with an interest in becoming experts on contemporary Middle Eastern societies.

The programme includes:

• 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 urbanisation, gender, Islam, migration and social movements;
  Including series of on-site visits. 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, 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.

The NIMAR offers students the option of a home stay with a family in Rabat. Alternatively students may prefer to rent their own apartment, in which the NIMAR can also assist. 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 analysed 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: 20
Prospectus number: 5000MCSMN
Number study activity: 1491
Language: English