As Grand Valley State University gains “up-and-coming” institution recognition from U.S. News & World Report, it must keep up with its continued increases in enrollment with the continual addition of new courses.

“We add new courses to the curriculum to be sure our programs are up to date and offer the best educational opportunities for students,” said Maria Cimitile, GVSU academic program and curriculum development officer.

All new classes, as well as deletions and changes, must be approved through the GVSU Provost’s Office.

One of the new classes for the Winter 2012 semester, “Arab Americans,” will be part of the Middle East Studies program. In this class, taught by professor Gamal Gasim, students will be introduced to historical experiences of Arab Americans and exposed to social and political issues related to the community.

“This is of a high importance for a state like Michigan, which is the home for one of the largest Arab American communities in the country,” Gasim said. “Since many of GVSU graduates are going to be working in this state, this course will help these students to understand the culture of this significant minority group.”

Issues discussed will include ethnic makeup, gender, political behavior, economic development, media coverage and civil rights. Gasim said this course will strengthen and improve the curriculum of the Middle East Studies program by increasing the number of courses focusing on diversity. Currently, there is no course in the MES program that focuses on the Arab diaspora in North America.

In the Area Studies department, the Latin American Studies minor will introduce “The Yucatec Maya of Today: Vestiges of the Past and Vitality in the Present,” taught by professor Michael Vrooman. This course includes an optional excursion to the Yucatan Peninsula during Spring Break after students have begun learning about its culturally relevant sites and activities.

New classes will begin in the Writing Department as well.

WRT 380 presents different sections with different classes. These include “Reading for Technique,” “Advanced Magazine Writing,” “Responding to Writers,” “Visual Rhetoric and Document,” “Environmental Writing” and “Advanced Writing for the Web.”

[email protected]