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This interdisciplinary travel seminar offers students a unique, immersive exploration of Morocco’s political development, cultural heritage, and evolving identity at the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Through on-site learning in key urban centers including Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Chefchaouen, Tangier, and beyond, students will investigate how Morocco’s imperial legacies, colonial past, and contemporary monarchy shape its domestic and foreign policy today.
From the grandeur of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca to the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis, the itinerary invites critical reflection on state formation, religious authority, and historical memory. In Rabat, Morocco’s political capital, students will examine modern state institutions and royal symbolism, while in Fes and Meknes, the cultural and spiritual dimensions of governance and social order come into focus.
The course emphasizes experiential learning through site visits, guided tours, and group discussions, alongside pre-departure readings and in-country lectures. Topics include monarchy and constitutional reform, urban planning and identity politics, colonial legacy and resistance, Islamic governance, and Morocco’s role in regional and international affairs.
A day in Chefchaouen and excursions through the Rif Mountains and Atlantic coast provide context for Morocco’s diverse ethnic, linguistic, and geographic makeup, particularly Amazigh identity and rural-urban dynamics. Students will return with a deeper understanding of Moroccan society and the broader political patterns of North Africa
Courses
- PS 491 - Topics in International Relations, 3 Credits, International Requirement
- IS 490 - Field Studies Abroad, 3 Credits, International Requirement
- IS 501 - Advanced Studies: International Studies, 3 Credits
Program Directors
Prof. Ghassan El-Eid
Political Science
860.832.2963
eleid@ccsu.edu
