EHG 413: Water and Society: Hydrogeology of the Kingdom
Introduction; hydrology of Saudi Arabia; factors controlling the natural resource types; aquifers; hydrogeological classification of sedimentary aquifers and their characteristics; water problems; National Water Plan for Saudi Arabia; case studies. This course includes field trips to offices of water authorities and location of water projects in the area.

EMR 101: Geology 1: From the creation of the solar system to plate tectonics
This course offers an in-depth exploration of physical geology with a special focus on the internal forces and processes that shape our planet. Students will delve into the dynamic nature of Earth, understanding the powerful mechanisms driving geological transformations beneath the surface. By examining a variety of topics from mineralogy to plate tectonics, this course provides a comprehensive understanding of Earth's internal dynamics and their impacts on the surface environment.

EMR 102: Geology 2: Fossils, Weather, Climate Change (field trip to geological site)
In this course, students will study the mechanisms of weathering, sedimentation, and geological structures, as well as the dynamics of mass wasting, glaciation, shorelines, and the oceans. The course also addresses crucial topics such as climate change, geological time, hydrology, and groundwater, with an emphasis on understanding geological resources and their sustainable use. Students will conduct field work on a one-day field trip to a geological site in the Mecca area.

GEOG 214: Geography of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
This course will acquaint students with the physical, topographical, and human geographical features of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Students will gain an understanding of the country’s climate, flora and fauna, and borders with its neighboring countries of the Gulf region. The course will also pay close attention to the country’s natural resources, the distribution of its population, its cities, and principal industries. Finally, it will examine the changing nature of the Saudi people to their environment.

HIST 214: The Life of the Prophet Mohammed
This course looks at the biography of the Prophet Mohammed (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), his early followers, his period in Mecca, the flight to Medina (Hijrah), the establishment of a state there, its laws and community, and the expansion of Islam and Islamic political control under his successors: the four Rightly guided Caliphs. It will also shed light on Arabia before Islam and the religious, political, social, and economic conditions that prevailed before the Prophet Mohammed’s emergence.

HIST 218: Introduction to Islamic Civilization
This aim of this course is to introduce students to the world contributions of Islamic civilization, its history, and the impact Muslims have had on a large part of the globe. The course will consider Muslim political formations and administrative systems, Muslim art, poetry, and literature, and Muslim scientific achievements. It will also examine areas of the world where the Muslim legacy continues to exercise influence on contemporary life (e.g., Spain).

HIST 219: Orientalism
This course examines the concept of Orientalism in all its manifestations: cultural, political, rhetorical. While to Westerners the scholar Edward Said may be the concept’s best-known proponent, there are many Muslims writers who have refuted the claims advanced by so-called Orientalists. This course will cover the most important of them to uncover the meanings the term carries and its role in understanding the contemporary Arab world.

HIST 410: History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
This course examines conditions in Arabia over the past three centuries, including the first and second Saudi states, the Arab Revolt, the impact of World War I, and alliances leading to the creation of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It takes into account the relations of other Arab states with Saudi Arabia, the advent of oil and its impact on Saudi life, the role of the U.S. in Saudi affairs, and the national history of the Kingdom since the Second World War.

ARAB 102: Arab Identity, Language, and Civilization
This course looks at the Arabic language and Arab identity; it considers Arabic’s linguistic and aesthetic features and its historical progression, including the language of the Holy Qur’an; it addresses Arabic phonology, morphology, and syntax, as well as rhetoric and eloquent expressions; it goes on to examine Arabic poetry as a mirror of language and cultural identity, as well as the aesthetics of Arabic calligraphy and its cultural and artistic dimensions; it concludes with the status and influence of Arabic among contemporary world languages, including at the UN and UNESCO, efforts made by Saudi Arabia to support and promote Arabic, Arabic in media and technology, and the Arabic language and identity in the face of globalization, including current challenges and methods of preserving linguistic identity and strengthening cultural belonging. The course ends with conceptual challenges related to Arab identity in the world today.

HIST 213: Ancient Arabia: The Arabian Peninsula before Islam
In this course, students will learn about the history and archaeology of the Arabian Peninsula before Islam, its political, economic, and social conditions, and the relationship of the Arabs to neighboring nations such as the Persians and the Romans. Special attention will be given to the development of Mecca’s built environment and ancient Arabian ports on the Red Sea. Sources for studying the ancient history of the Arabian Peninsula will include architectural antiquities (statues and pottery), writings and Inscriptions (rock carvings and drawings), classical and Islamic texts, and exploratory missions to the Arabian Peninsula.

ISLS 102: Introduction to Islam
This course addresses the theological teachings of the Holy Qur’an (Surah) and the many lessons it holds for believers and non-believers. It considers the historical context of the revelation, its relation to other monotheistic religions, and explains the reasoning behind the recitation of the Qur’an and the effect it exercises on believers. It further covers the theoretical and practical rules of recitation.

SOC 310: The Social Structure of Saudi Arabia
This course is a sociological investigation into contemporary Saudi society. It considers the Islamic foundations of societal organization and its different institutions, Bedouin culture, and the Saudi family structure. Considerable attention will be paid to kinship, tribal networks, traditions, religion, and community interdependence, as well as the role of women. It then addresses the impact of urbanization and formal educational institutions on traditional social structures and how they are changing societal norms.