Registration Now Open for Continuing Studies

Registration Now Open for Continuing Studies
BY DAVID KAPLAN
Rice News Staff
Jan. 15, 1998

When it comes to Islam, Americans are often misinformed. For example, they
typically view Islam as a religion of only Arabs when, in fact, most of the
world’s billion Muslims are Asians and many are Africans, notes Fred von der
Mehden, professor of political science.

The Rice University School of Continuing Studies course "Dimensions of
Islam: An Introduction" will dispel myths about Islam and provide "an
understanding of the breadth of the religion," says von der Mehden, who
will give the overview talk. Bringing together practitioners and scholars, the
course will look at Islam as a religion as well as a political, social and economic
system, says Laura Hsu, Continuing Studies assistant dean, who designed the
course.

Among the notable speakers will be Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon,
who will share his views on living and practicing the religion in America today.

The course will also include a talk by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, professor of Islamic
Studies, George Washington University, and a major Islamic scholar. The course
is cosponsored by the Asia Society of Texas.

"Dimensions of Islam: An Introduction" is one of many courses being
offered this winter by the School of Continuing Studies. Some classes, including
language classes, begin Jan. 20. Most begin the week of Jan. 26. Registrations
are now being accepted for the entire winter noncredit program, including enrichment
courses, career development programs, foreign language classes and professional
training.

For most general lecture courses, Rice employees receive a 50 percent discount
and up to a 25 percent discount on limited enrollment courses, such as studio
art, creative writing, technical and professional programs and language classes.

"Dimensions of Islam: An Introduction" will be held Mondays, Feb.
2 through March 23, at 7-8:15 p.m. The other speakers, all from Rice University,
are, in order of appearance: Mehdi Abedi, lecturer, Center for the Study of
Languages; Ellen Lust-Okar, assistant professor of political science; Mahmoud
A. El-Gamal, professor of Islamic economics, finance and management and professor
of economics; Ussama S. Makdisi, assistant professor of history; and Paula Sanders,
associate professor of history.

This winter, Continuing Studies will also offer three "Millennium Series"
courses dealing with events or developments of the first millennium that have
had a significant impact on the way we live and think today. Millennium Series
courses will be offered until 2000.

Millennium Series courses being offered this winter are: "Reality, Knowledge
and Truth: Philosophy’s Modern Revolution," "Women in the Middle Ages,"
and "Twentieth-Century Europe: Imperialism, War and Rebirth."

Also being offered this winter:

"American Universities Under Scrutiny: An Insider’s View." Former
Rice Dean of Social Sciences James Pomerantz will lead a course on widespread
concerns about American higher education. Tuition increases, admission standards
and a demand for accountability are some of the issues he will address. Pomerantz
is on leave from Brown University, where he has served as Provost and Acting
President.

"James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses.’" Published in 1922, "Ulysses"
is still the work that epitomizes 20th-century Modernism and argues that the
ordinary is the extraordinary. Rice English professor Terry Doody will discuss
the great work chapter by chapter.

Continuing Studies is also offering a variety of courses in a wide range of
topics including photography, art and creative writing. Career development courses
include "Effective Public Speaking" and "Writing on the Job."

The Rice University Foreign Language Program is offering noncredit, conversational
classes in Spanish, French, Italian, German, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese
and Russian.

For a winter catalog or to register call the School of Continuing Studies at
(713) 527-4803, ext. 527. Call (713) 527-4019 for information on language classes.
The e-mail address is scs@rice.edu. Course descriptions can be found on Rice
Info at http://www.rice.edu/scs.