Theories of Globalization

Course code: POS520

Semester and year: Fall 2026

Day and time: Friday 11:15 – 14:00

Instructor: Pamir H. Sahill, Ph.D.

Instructor contact: pamir.halimzai@aauni.edu

Consultation hours: Tuesdays 13:45-14:45 CET at Faculty Lounge/Teams. Students will need to email the instructor to arrange a consultation meeting.

Credits US/ECTS	3/6	Level	Advanced
Length	15 weeks	Pre-requisite	No pre-requisites
Contact hours	42 hours	Course type	Master Required

1.      Course Description

Theories of Globalization is a course which aims to provide a broad understanding of what constitutes globalization, how economic globalization has been both a source of human welfare and misery in the 21^st century, and the ways, patterns, and changes of mobility in our contemporary world and their consequences. The course will critically examine the processes of globalization in the world through various case studies and by including the works of classical, modern, and contemporary scholars. Analyzing problems such as economic interdependence, crises provoked by rising economic inequality, political interconnectedness, climate change and pandemics such as Covid-19, the course offers in-depth analyses of the most compelling issues that humans face globally, by employing various mainstream and critical theories. Before the beginning of the 21^st century, various scholars had anticipated a new century of prosperity, economic development and evenness, a world driven by the processes of globalization that had something for everyone, in each corner of the globe. Globalization, often used as a buzzword, entailed a “promise” and a “hope” for a better future. Thus, our world began to be referred to as a “global village” thanks to the increasing interconnectedness and shrinking of time and space due to technological advancements.

Phenomena such as interconnectedness, mobility, free flows of capital and goods, and climate change are not confined to specific regions anymore but impact everyone, everywhere. While the global spread of the internet has brought people together and expanded businesses, the same technology and the associated social media landscape are also making it easier for terrorist groups to operate. Therefore, it is crucial for students of international affairs to be able to analyse the processes of globalization for they are not only conceptually engaging but also having practical implications for actual human lives.

The course is organized in a way that will enable the students to critically assess the theories, discourses, and practices of globalization through a comprehensive theoretical toolkit. Mastering the contents of the course will help students connect the theory level with the empirical level, thereby expanding their ability to reason, write, and explain complex events and processes such as globalization. The course will accommodate positivist as well as critical and post/anti-positivist approaches and is suitable for MA students who already have basic knowledge of international politics and economics.  

2.      Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• have acquired an in-depth knowledge of various theories and processes of globalization
• understand and efficiently utilize various theoretical approaches to globalization with the help of concrete case studies
• strengthen their critical thinking
• refine their research/academic writing skills
• learn how to properly interpret and analyze relevant data

3.      Reading Material (The pdfs of all readings are uploaded to MyLearning)

1. Alcaro, Riccardo. “Introduction: Bouazizi’s Inextinguishable Fire” in Alcaro, Riccardo and Miguel Haubrich-Seco. (eds.), Re-thinking Western Policies in Light of the Arab Uprising. Istituto Affari Internazionali Research Papers. Rome: Edizioni Nuova Cultura, 2012: 11-30.
2. Bleiker, Roland. “Seattle, and the struggle for a global democratic ethos” in Eschle, Catherine and Maiguashca, Bice. (eds.), Critical Theories, International Relations and ‘the Anti-Globalisation Movement’: The Politics of Global Resistance, 1^st ed., Routledge, Abingdon: Routledge, 2005: 195-211.
3. Harari, Yuval. "The World after Coronavirus." Financial Times, March 20, 2020. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/19d90308-6858-11ea-a3c9-1fe6fedcca75.
4. Hayden, Patrick, and Chamsy el-Ojeili. Critical Theories of Globalization. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006.
5. Klausen, Jytte. "Tweeting the Jihad: Social Media Networks of Western Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq." Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 38, no. 1 (2015): 1–22.
6. Klein, Naomi. The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. New York: Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt, 2007.
7. Krishna, Sankaran. Globalization and Postcolonialism: Hegemony and Resistance in the Twenty-First Century. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2009.
8. Lewis, Simon L., and Mark A. Maslin. The Human Planet: How We Created the Anthropocene. London: Pelican Books, 2018. (Note: Citing chap. 11, pp. 233–63).
9. Mann, Michael. The Sources of Social Power. Vol. 4, Globalizations 1945–2011. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2013.
10. Milanović, Branko. Global Inequality: A New Approach for the Age of Globalization. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2016.
11. Ritzer, George, and Paul Dean. Globalization: The Essentials. 2nd ed. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2019.
12. Sahill, Pamir H. "The U.S. War on Terror Discourse: Mapping Depoliticization and the Politics of Confinement in Afghanistan." Insight Turkey 21, no. 1 (2018): 189–208.
13. Stiglitz, Joseph E. Making Globalization Work. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2006.

Optional Readings

1. Hardt, Michael, and Antonio Negri. Empire. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2000.
2. Keane, John. Global Civil Society? New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003.
3. Krugman, Paul R. The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2009.

4.      Teaching methodology

• Seminar-style interactive lectures
• Individual and group work
• Involving students in theory and data-driven research
• Quizzes

5.      Course Schedule

Date	Class Agenda
September 04, 2026	Topic: Introduction to the Course and the Problem of Globalization Description: The first part of the session will outline the structure of the course and what is expected of students during the semester. All assignments and grading processes will be explained. In the second part, the lecture will discuss the various meanings of globalization, its history, and forms along with a brief introduction to some classical theorists’ works and ideas. Reading: Ritzer, George, and Paul Dean. Globalization: The Essentials. Chapter 1 Assignments/deadlines: None.
September 11, 2026	Topic: Globalization and its Forms: An Intellectual History Description: Lecture. Forms of globalization in historical and especially modern contexts. Students will learn what is meant by capitalism and neoliberalism and will get familiar with the ideas of key political economists such as Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Karl Polanyi, and Milton Friedman. Reading: Ritzer, George, and Paul Dean. Globalization: The Essentials. Chapters 1 and 2; Klein, Naomi. The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism: 25-71. Assignments/deadlines: Each student must come to the class prepared with the potential research topic in their mind. We will discuss and finalize the essay topics during the last 30 minutes of the session.
September 18, 2026	Topic: Economic Globalization I: Financial Crisis and Beyond Description: The lecture, through a case study of the 2008 financial meltdown, will explain how the world economy, finance and trade are “partially” globalized through interconnectedness and integration, what this means and what is the fallout. Reading: Hayden, Patrick and el-Ojeili, Chamsy. Critical Theories of Globalization: 49-88. Optional: Krugman, Paul R. The return of depression economics and the crisis of 2008: 181-191. Assignments/deadlines: Q&A regarding readings of the previous week. Students submit a maximum one-page outline about their chosen essay topics. The outline should state the research question/puzzle, selected case, chosen theory/concept and the reason behind the choice, and provide between two to four scholarly sources intended to be used for the research. The deadline for the submission via MyLearning is Thursday September 24, 11:59 (23:59) CET.
September 25, 2026 -Online class	Topic: Economic Globalization II: Mobility Description: Lecture. This session explores the transborder movement of goods, labor, and capital in the 21st century. Ever since Donald Trump became the president of the US, the debate of Free vs Fair trade has resurfaced even more forcefully. This lecture will delve into the possibility and impacts of trade war(s). Models of smooth mobility – such as the European Union – will be debated. Issues pertaining to outsourcing businesses and the rise in global inequality will also be discussed. Reading: Milanović, Branko. Global in equality: a New Approach for the Age of Globalization: 1-9 and 118-154. Optional: Hardt, Michael and Negri, Antonio. Empire: 3-21. Assignments/deadlines: Students prepare for the first quiz that will be given on October 02. Students begin working on their essays.
October 02, 2026	Topic: Political Globalization I: The Arab Spring Description: Lecture. The lecture focuses on the “contagion” aspect of globalization through the lenses of 2011 Arab Spring and the Western response to it. The session will also show how social and new media decentralized the media apparatuses thereby limiting governmental control on the flows of information. Reading: Alcaro, Riccardo. “Introduction: Bouazizi’s Inextinguishable Fire” in Alcaro, Riccardo and Miguel Haubrich-Seco. (eds.), Re-thinking Western Policies in Light of the Arab Uprising: 11-30. Optional: Keane, John. Global Civil Society?: 1-39. Assignments/deadlines: Students take their first quiz during the last 30 minutes of the class.
October 09, 2026	Topic: Political Globalization II: The Advent of the Right in the EU, the US and elsewhere Description: Lecture. Using case studies and actual examples, this lecture will discuss the emergence of the new, right-wing populist political movements that, in some cases, succeeded in forming governments or becoming part of ruling coalitions. The reading assignment for students rather focuses on protest movements for democracy. Readings: Bleiker, Roland. “Seattle, and the struggle for a global democratic ethos” in Eschle, Catherine and Maiguashca, Bice. (eds.), Critical Theories, International Relations and ‘the Anti-Globalisation Movement’: The Politics of Global Resistance: 195-211. Assignments/deadlines: Q&A related to readings.
October 16, 2026	Topic: Globalization, Terrorism and Security in post 9/11 world Description: Lecture. Through case studies the lecture will explain how terror networks exploit increasing interconnectedness, swift mobility, and technological advancements. The session will also shed light on states’ security responses with a focus on the trend of “coalition formation.” The second reading offers a critical perspective. Readings: Klausen, Jytte. "Tweeting the Jihad: Social Media Networks of Western Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq."; Sahill, Pamir H. “The U.S. War on Terror Discourse: Mapping Depoliticization and the Politics of Confinement in Afghanistan.” Assignments/deadlines: Students prepare for mid-term exam.
October 23, 2026	Topic: Students take the mid-term exam. They must bring their laptops to class. The mid-term will consist of two parts; the first will have MCQs and/or short answers, and the second will have two essay questions. Each essay answer should be between 400 and 450 words long. Not following the word-limit will result in receiving a lower grade. For more information, please refer to the detailed description of the assignment in section 7 of the syllabus.
October 26- 30, 2026	Midterm Break
November 06, 2026	Topic: Globalization and post-colonialism Description: Lecture. The lecture examines the economic and military developments from the beginning of the twentieth century until the present vis-à-vis the first world and third world and analyses them through the lens of postcolonial theory. Reading: Krishna, Sankaran. Globalization and Postcolonialism: Hegemony and Resistance in the Twenty-First Century. Chapters 2 and 5. Assignments/deadlines: Q&A related to readings. In-class discussion about research essays and submitted outlines.
November 13, 2026	Topic: Global Migration Description: Lecture and discussion. The lecture outlines various aspects of global migration. Topics to be debated include migrant flows to the US, the flow of people within the EU especially in relation to Brexit, and global illegal/undocumented migrant flows. Reading: Ritzer, George and Dean, Paul. Globalization: The Essentials. Chapter 8. Assignments/deadlines: Q&A related to readings. Students revise all readings and lectures’ content for the final quiz.
November 20, 2026	Topic: The “globalization” of Climate Change and Anthropocene Description: Lecture. Students will learn the crucial difference between weather and climate. The idea of Anthropocene will be defined and debated to show how climate change is human-made and the students will come to know why it is increasingly a global issue rather than an issue confined to the borders of certain states. The reading assignment outlines ways of avoiding an apocalypse in this sense Reading: Lewis, Simon L. and Maslin, Mark A., 2018. The Human Planet: How We Created the Anthropocene. Chapter 11. Assignments/deadlines: Students submit their research essays via MyLearning by November 29, 2026, 23:59 (11:59 pm) CET.
November 27, 2026	Topic: Social and Cultural Globalization Description: Lecture and discussion. The lecture explores the meaning of cultural differentialism, hybridization and discusses cohesion, world culture and McDonaldization. The students will learn why some scholars take globalization to involve cultural imperialism. Reading: Ritzer, George and Dean, Paul. Globalization: The Essentials. Chapter 7. Assignments/deadlines: Students should submit their essays via MyLearning by December 01, 2026, 23:59 (11:59 pm) CET. Students prepare for surprise quiz.
December 04, 2026	Topic: Covid-19 pandemic and the future of “globalization” Description: Lecture. The problems discussed include the ways the novel coronavirus pandemic has affected global transborder mobility, interconnected economies, and global supply chains. The discussion will ask whether globalization processes will reemerge in familiar modes or, rather, will undergo new modifications. Reading: Harari, Yuval. “The world after coronavirus.” Assignments/deadlines: Students prepare for the final quiz.
December 11, 2026	Topic: Light at the End of the Tunnel Description: Minilecture plus Quiz. The core idea for this session is that despite all its shortfalls, there are ways to make globalization work sustainably, so that its benefits are shared by all, across the globe. Reading: Stiglitz, Joseph. E., 2006. Making Globalization Work: 3-23 Assignments/deadlines: Students will take the final quiz of the semester during the last 30 minutes of the session.

6.      Course Requirements and Assessment (with estimated workloads)

Assignment	Workload (average)	Weight in Final Grade	Evaluated Course Specific Learning Outcomes	Evaluated Institutional Learning Outcomes*
Class Participation	42	20%	Explore concepts, content of theories of globalization and communicating ideas, and public speaking.	1, 2
Mid-term Exam	50	30%	Polish and strengthen critical thinking, understand, and efficiently utilize various theoretical approaches with the help of concrete cases and examples, and refine academic writing skills.	1, 2, 3
Quiz 1	14	10 %	Understand theories/concepts, interpret data, and analyze relevant data, enhance critical thinking.	1
Quiz 2	14	10%	Understand theories/concepts, interpret data, and analyze relevant data, enhance critical thinking.	1
Research Essay	30	30%	Advancing, strengthening critical thinking, comprehend and efficiently utilize various theoretical approaches with the help of concrete case studies, interpret and analyze relevant data, refine research skills.	1, 2, 3
TOTAL	150	100%

*1 = Critical Thinking; 2 = Effective Communication; 3 = Effective and Responsible Action

7.      Detailed description of the assignments

Class Participation:

All students are required to complete the reading assignments and go through the slides of lectures that will be uploaded to the Lectures folder after the end of each session. All students are required to participate in the discussions during class and read the required material before each lecture. Students must be able to answer questions about the weekly readings.

Participation is premised on having read the assignments for that particular day and actively engaging in the class discussion. Participation does not mean speaking for the sake of speaking, asking questions that are off topic, criticizing another person for not understanding something, carrying on a private conversation with another student. Participation does mean contributing thoughtfully to the conversation or debate, asking questions if something is not understood, honestly attempting to answer a question even if you are not sure you are correct.

Students will be evaluated based on how well they communicate ideas, understand theories and concepts, and analyze various theories/notions and processes pertaining to globalization. The student’s grade will be based on the quantity and quality of participation.

Assessment breakdown

Assessed area	Percentage
Being present and attentive Refraining from using phones, smartwatches and laptops/tablets for non-class purposes Refraining from talking with individual students outside the bounds of the class discussion	15%
Actively engaging in the class discussion and offering critical insights. Demonstrating understanding concepts relevant to the subject-matter discussed in each session Asking questions when something is not understood	45%
Clearly communicating ideas Attempting to answer questions Refraining from talking off topic	40%
Total	100%

Research Essay:

Students will choose a case study that is directly related to globalization and/or to its processes, do research, utilize a relevant theory, and write a between at least 3,000 and maximum 3,500-word (excluding the reference list) essay in which they will provide a comprehensive theory-driven critical analysis of the topic chosen/assigned. Students must strictly follow the minimum and maximum word-limit. Not doing so will negatively affect their grade.

Students will choose a topic and discuss it with the course convener and finalize it during the last 30 minutes of the second meeting of the class. Students will be assisted in choosing appropriate topics/case studies and in selecting sources. After finalizing the topic, they are required to submit a maximum one-page outline regarding the topic. The outline should state the research question/puzzle, selected case(s), chosen theory/concept and the reason behind the choice, and provide between two to four scholarly sources intended to be used for the research. The deadline for the submission via MyLearning is Thursday September 24, 23:59/11:59 pm CET. The outline should be as precise as possible and should not exceed the allowed one-page limit, not following that rule will negatively affect the grade of the assignment.

The essay should have a proper structure beginning with an introduction to the problem/case(s) discussed, explicitly stating the research question followed by a short section on the chosen theory/concept. The body of the essay will include data/literature linked to the theory/theoretical concepts and must offer a theory-driven academic analysis leading to a reasonable conclusion. The essay must use Chicago citation style (i.e., in-text author-date system) plus a list of references at the end.

Bear in mind that Wikipedia and Grokipedia are not proper academic sources. Students need to rely on scholarly literature and credible media information sources for their essays.

All essays should be submitted via MyLearning by Sunday November 29, 2026, by 23:59 (11:59 pm) CET. Progress with the research work will be discussed every two weeks in the class. Missing the deadline will result in failing the essay assignment and no extension will be given unless there is a valid reason.

Assessment breakdown

Assessed area	Percentage
Critical Insights	50%
Linking theory to the empirical	25%
Research & Analysis/Literature review	25%
Total	100%

Mid-term Exam:

There is a mid-term exam that will include questions from lectures and readings. The exam will have two parts. Part One, worth 40% of the grade, will consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and/or short answers. Part Two will be comprised of two essay questions, each counting for 30% of the exam grade. The exam session will be 120-minute long. The short answers will be between 100 and 150 words long, while each essay answer should be between 400 and 450 words long. Not following the word-limit will result in receiving a lower grade.

The mid-term exam will be given online to all students via MyLearning, but all students must be present in class, should bring their laptops/tablets to take it on October 23, 2026, at 11:20 am CET. After the allotted time slot, the exam will not be available any longer.

All students must be present during the exam in the classroom.

Students with approved remote status will be taking the exam via Teams with their cameras on throughout the session. The course instructor may also ask them to share their screen for the duration of the exam. Non-compliance with both conditions will automatically result in receiving failure for the assignment. 

All students must bring their laptops to the class so that they can access MyLearning.

If an on-site student cannot attend the exam due to a justified (and excused) reason, they will take it on campus on a different date, otherwise, they will receive an automatic failure for the assignment and will not be allowed to retake it.

Assessment breakdown

Assessed area	Percentage
Critical Thinking	50%
Theory-driven understanding of concepts	30%
Academic writing skills	20%
Total	100%

Quiz 1:

Apart from discussing the reading assignments almost every week, students will take two quizzes during the semester the first of which will be administered via MyLearning on October 02, 2026. The quiz will have multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and will be based on the readings and topics/concepts covered in the lectures. The quiz will be given via MyLearning so students should bring their laptops/tablets to the class. The quiz must be taken during the allotted 30 minutes time in class, at campus. It will not be available on MyLearning after the allotted time.

Students with approved remote status will be taking the quiz via Teams with their cameras on throughout the session. The course instructor may also ask them to share their screen for the duration of the exam. Non-compliance with both conditions will automatically result in receiving failure for the assignment. 

If an on-site student cannot attend the quiz due to a justified (and excused) reason, they will take it on campus on a different date, otherwise, they will receive an automatic failure for the assignment and will not be allowed to retake it.

Assessment breakdown

Assessed area	Percentage
Critical Thinking	50%
Understanding of theory and concepts	25%
Interpretation and analysis of data	25%
Total	100%

Quiz 2:

The second and final quiz (drawn from the readings and lectures) will be given to students on December 11, 2026, during the last 30 minutes of the session. It will be MCQs in a written form. The quiz will be given in class to all students via MyLearning, so they should bring their laptops/tablets. After the allotted time slot, the quiz will not be available.

Students with approved remote status will be taking the quiz via Teams with their cameras on throughout the session. The course instructor may also ask them to share their screen for the duration of the exam. Non-compliance with both conditions will automatically result in receiving failure for the assignment. 

If an on-site student cannot attend the quiz due to a justified (and excused) reason, they will take it on campus on a different date, otherwise, they will receive an automatic failure for the assignment and will not be allowed to retake it.

Assessment breakdown

Assessed area	Percentage
Critical Thinking	50%
Understanding of theory and concepts	25%
Interpret and analyze data	25%
Total	100%

8.      General Requirements and School Policies

General requirements

All coursework is governed by AAU’s academic rules. Students are expected to be familiar with the academic rules in the Academic Codex and Student Handbook and to maintain the highest standards of honesty and academic integrity in their work.

Electronic communication and submission

The university and instructors shall only use students’ university email address for communication, with additional communication via MyLearning or Microsoft Teams. Students sending e-mail to an instructor shall clearly state the course code and the topic in the subject heading, for example, “COM101-1 Mid-term Exam. Question”.

All electronic submissions are through MyLearning. No substantial pieces of writing (especially take-home exams and essays) can be submitted outside of MyLearning.

Attendance

Attendance, i.e., presence in class in real-time, at AAU courses is default mandatory; however, it is not graded as such. (Grades may be impacted by missed assignments or lack of participation.) Still, students must attend at least two thirds of classes to complete the course. If they do not meet this condition and most of their absences are excused, they will be administratively withdrawn from the course. If they do not meet this condition and most of their absences are not excused, they will receive a grade of “FW” (Failure to Withdraw). Students may also be marked absent if they miss a significant part of a class (for example by arriving late or leaving early).

Absence excuse and make-up options

Should a student be absent from classes for relevant reasons (illness, serious family matters), and the student wishes to request that the absence be excused, the student should submit an Absence Excuse Request Form supplemented with documents providing reasons for the absence to the Dean of Students within one week of the absence. Each student may excuse up to two sick days per term without any supporting documentation; however, an Absence Excuse Request Form must still be submitted for these instances. If possible, it is recommended the instructor be informed of the absence in advance. Should a student be absent during the add/drop period due to a change in registration this will be an excused absence if s/he submits an Absence Excuse Request Form along with the finalized add/drop form.

Students whose absence has been excused by the Dean of Students are entitled to make up assignments and exams provided their nature allows. Assignments missed due to unexcused absences which cannot be made up, may result in a decreased or failing grade as specified in the syllabus.

Students are responsible for contacting their instructor within one week of the date the absence was excused to arrange for make-up options.

Late work: No late submissions will be accepted – please follow the deadlines.

Electronic devices

Laptops, tablets, and mobile phones are forbidden from being used in class. Use of any of these devices in class will result in the student losing all participation points for the day. Repeated use will result in failure of the participation component for the semester. No electronic devices may be used during tests or exams.

Eating is not allowed during classes.

Cheating and disruptive behavior

If a student engages in disruptive conduct unsuitable for a classroom environment, the instructor may require the student to withdraw from the room for the duration of the class and shall report the behavior to the student’s Dean.
Students engaging in behavior which is suggestive of cheating will, at a minimum, be warned. In the case of continued misconduct, the student will fail the exam or assignment and be expelled from the exam or class.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism obscures the authorship of a work or the degree of its originality. Students are expected to create and submit works of which they are the author. Plagiarism can apply to all works of authorship – verbal, audiovisual, visual, computer programs, etc. Examples are:

• Verbatim plagiarism: verbatim use of another’s work or part of it without proper acknowledgement of the source and designation as a verbatim quotation,
• Paraphrasing plagiarism: paraphrasing someone else’s work or part of it without proper acknowledgement of the source,
• Data plagiarism: use of other people’s data without proper acknowledgement of the source,
• False quotation: publishing a text that is not a verbatim quotation as a verbatim quotation,
• Fictitious citation: quoting, paraphrasing, or referring to an incorrect or a non-existent work,
• Inaccurate citation: citing sources in such a way that they cannot be found and verified,
• Ghostwriting: commissioning work from others and passing it off as one’s own,
• Patchwriting: using someone else’s work or works (albeit with proper acknowledgement of sources and proper attribution) to such an extent that the output contains almost no original contribution,
• Self-plagiarism: unacknowledged reuse of one’s own work (or part of it) that has been produced or submitted as part of another course of study or that has been published in the past,
• Collaborative plagiarism: delivering the result of collective collaboration as one’s own individual output.

At minimum, plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the assignment and shall be reported to the student’s Dean. A mitigating circumstance may be the case of novice students, and the benefit of the doubt may be given if it is reasonable to assume that the small-scale plagiarism was the result of ignorance rather than intent. An aggravating circumstance in plagiarism is an act intended to make the plagiarism more difficult to detect. Such conduct includes, for example, the additional modification of individual words or phrases, the creation of typos, the use of machine translation tools or the creation of synonymous text, etc. The Dean may initiate a disciplinary procedure pursuant to the Academic Codex. Intentional or repeated plagiarism always entail disciplinary hearing and may result in expulsion from AAU.

Use of Artificial Intelligence and Academic Tutoring Center

The use of AI is strictly prohibited in this course and will lead to failure of the submitted/presented work.

If unsure about technical aspects of writing, and to improve their academic writing, students are encouraged to consult with the tutors of the AAU Academic Tutoring Center. For more information and/or to book a tutor, please contact the ATC at: http://atc.simplybook.me/sheduler/manage/event/1/.

Course accessibility and inclusion

Students with different abilities should contact the Dean of Students to discuss reasonable accommodations. Academic accommodations are not retroactive.

Students who will be absent from course activities due to religious holidays may seek reasonable accommodations by contacting the Dean of Students in writing within the first two weeks of the term. All requests must include specific dates for which the student requests accommodations.

9.      Grading Scale

Letter Grade	Percentage*	Description
A	95 – 100	Excellent performance. The student has shown originality and displayed an exceptional grasp of the material and a deep analytical understanding of the subject.
A–	90 – 94
B+	87 – 89	Good performance. The student has mastered the material, understands the subject well and has shown some originality of thought and/or considerable effort.
B	83 – 86
B–	80 – 82
C+	77 – 79	Fair performance. The student has acquired an acceptable understanding of the material and essential subject matter of the course but has not succeeded in translating this understanding into consistently creative or original work.
C	73 – 76
C–	70 – 72
D+	65 – 69	Poor. The student has shown some understanding of the material and subject matter covered during the course. The student’s work, however, has not shown enough effort or understanding to allow for a passing grade in School Required Courses. It does qualify as a passing mark for the General College Courses and Electives.
D	60 – 64
F	0 – 59	Fail. The student has not succeeded in mastering the subject matter covered in the course.

* Decimals should be rounded to the nearest whole number.

Prepared by and when: Dr. Pamir H. Sahill                 July 20, 2026.

Approved by and when:  Dr. Silviya Lechner               Aug 10, 2026.