Theories of Globalization

Course code: POS520

Semester and year: Fall 2024

Day and time: Mondays 18:30 – 21:15

Instructor: Pamir H. Sahill, Ph.D.

Instructor contact: pamir.halimzai@aauni.edu

Consultation hours: Before class and by appointment in the faculty lounge. Students may also contact via Teams on Tuesdays at 12:30 CET.

 

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

This 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. 

The Theories of Globalization 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. 

Why Theories of Globalization?

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. 

Despite greater economic growth, trade liberalization, and the connectedness of global financial system, which reduced economic isolation of the developing countries, globalization remains a contested term. “Why has globalization –a force that has brought so much good– become so controversial?” Stiglitz (2002) raised this important question that we are going to address in this course. Noting unfulfilled promises in the post-colonial Africa, the growing divide between “haves” and “have-nots” in both developing and developed economies, Stiglitz argues that globalization neither “succeeded” in alleviating poverty nor did it “ensure stability” because economic crises are still threatening economies in various parts of the world. For example, the financial crises that began in the US in 2007 engulfed the whole of Europe and caused a major disruption globally. The effects of that crisis are said to have been far-reaching, particularly for the generation of US graduates who were about to enter the workforce or the young generation already working at the time of the crisis. 

However, it is not just the economic, but the political aspects of globalization, the so-called contagion-effect of global political movements –whether right, centre or left– that influenced and continue to influence state and government structures, and in the case of the Middle East and North Africa, led to gigantic security issues. 

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.

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 (All readings can be found in course site)

Required Materials.

Books and Articles:

1. Alcaro, Riccardo and Haubrich-Seco, Miguel (eds.), 2012. Re-thinking Western Policies in Light of the Arab Uprising, Istituto Affari Internazionali Research Papers, Edizioni Nuova Cultura, Rome.
2. Eschle, Catherine and Maiguashca, Bice. (eds.), 2005. Critical Theories, International Relations and ‘the Anti-Globalisation Movement’: The Politics of Global Resistance, 1^st ed., Routledge, Abingdon.
3. Harari, Yuval, 2020. “The world after coronavirus”, Financial Times. pdf available in Readings folder on NEO, link: https://www.ft.com/content/19d90308-6858-11ea-a3c9-1fe6fedcca75#comments-anchor
4. Hayden, Patrick and el-Ojeili, Chamsy, 2006. Critical Theories of Globalization, 1^st ed. Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
5. Klausen, Jytte, 2015. Tweeting the Jihad: Social Media Networks of Western Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq, Studies, in Conflict and Terrorism, 38:1, pp. 1-22
6. Klein, Naomi, 2007. The Shock Doctrine: the Rise of Disaster Capitalism, 1st ed. Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt, New York.
7. Krishna, Sankaran, 2009. Globalization and Postcolonialism: Hegemony and Resistance in the Twenty-first Century, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Lanham, Maryland.
8. Lewis, Simon L. and Maslin, Mark A., 2018. The Human Planet: How We Created the Anthropocene, 1^st ed., Pelican Books, London. Chapter 11pp. 233-263
9. Mann, Michael, 2013. The Sources of Social power: Globalizations 1945-2011, Volume 4, Cambridge University Press, New York.
10. Milanović, Branko, 2016. Global Inequality: a New Approach for the Age of Globalization, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
11. Ritzer, George and Dean, Paul, 2019. Globalization: The Essentials, 2^nd ed., John Wiley & Sons Ltd., New Jersey.
12. Sahill, Pamir H., 2018. The U.S. War on Terror Discourse: Mapping Depoliticization and the Politics of Confinement in Afghanistan. Insight Turkey, 21(1), pp. 189-208.
13.  Stiglitz, Joseph. E., 2006. Making Globalization Work, 1^st ed., W W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York.

Optional readings

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

4.       Teaching methodology

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

5.       Course Schedule

Date	Class Agenda
September 02, 2024	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 Dean, Paul, 2019. Globalization: The Essentials, 2nd ed., John Wiley & Sons Ltd., New Jersey. Chapter 1 Assignments/deadlines: None.
September 09, 2024	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 Dean, Paul, 2019. Globalization: The Essentials, 2nd ed., John Wiley & Sons Ltd., New Jersey. Chapter 1 and 2; Klein, Naomi, 2007. The Shock Doctrine: the Rise of Disaster Capitalism, 1st ed. Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt, New York. pp. 25-71. Assignments/deadlines: Topics for essay projects discussed.
September 16, 2024	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, 2006. Critical Theories of Globalization, 1st ed. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. pp. 49-88; Krugman, Paul R., 2009. The return of depression economics and the crisis of 2008, Norton, New York. pp. 181-191. Assignments/deadlines: Q&A regarding readings of the previous week. Students choose essay topics which will be discussed before approval in the next lecture.
September 23, 2024	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, 2016. Global in equality: a New Approach for the Age of Globalization, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Introduction pp. 1-9 and pp. 118-154. Hardt, Michael and Negri, Antonio, 2000. Empire, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. pp. 3-21. Assignments/deadlines: Students submit a maximum one-page outline about their essay topics, research question and chosen theory by September 28, 11:59 (23:59) CET. Student prepare for the first quiz.
September 30, 2024	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 and Haubrich-Seco, Miguel (eds.), 2012. Re-thinking Western Policies in Light of the Arab Uprising, Istituto Affari Internazionali Research Papers, Edizioni Nuova Cultura, Rome. pp. 11-30; Keane, John, 2003. Global Civil Society?, Cambridge University Press, New York. pp. 1-39. Assignments/deadlines: Quiz 1. Students begin working on their approved essays.
October 07, 2024	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, 1st ed., Routledge, Abingdon. pp. 195-211. Assignments/deadlines: Q&A related to readings.
October 14, 2024	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, 2015. Tweeting the Jihad: Social Media Networks of Western Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 38:1, pp. 1-22; Sahill, Pamir H., 2018. The U.S. War on Terror Discourse: Mapping Depoliticization and the Politics of Confinement in Afghanistan. Insight Turkey, 21(1), pp. 189-208. Assignments/deadlines: Students prepare for mid-term exam.
October 21, 2024	Topic: In-class mid-term written exam. Students must bring laptops to class to answer exam questions via NEO.
October 28-Novemeber 01, 2024	Midterm Break Assignments/deadlines: Immediately after the midterm break week, students prepare and submit a one-page outline via NEO regarding their research essay. The outline should explicitly state the progress and 3-4 main sources used for research. The deadline is November 02, 2024, 23:59 (11:59) CET.
November 04, 2024	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, 2009. Globalization and Postcolonialism: Hegemony and Resistance in the Twenty-first Century, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Lanham, Maryland. Chapter 2 and 5. Assignments/deadlines: Q&A related to readings. In-class discussion about research essays and submitted outlines.
November 11, 2024	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, 2019. Globalization: The Essentials, 2nd ed., John Wiley & Sons Ltd., New Jersey. Chapter 8. Assignments/deadlines: Q&A related to readings. Students revise all readings and lectures’ content for the surprise quiz.
November 18, 2024	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 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, 1st ed., Pelican Books, London. Chapter 11pp. 233-263; Stiglitz, Joseph. E., 2006. Making Globalization Work, 1st ed., W W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York. pp. 3-23 Assignments/deadlines: A discussion with students on progress regarding research essays.
November 25, 2024	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, 2019. Globalization: The Essentials, 2nd ed., John Wiley & Sons Ltd., New Jersey. Chapter 7; Hayden, Patrick and el-Ojeili, Chamsy, 2006. Critical Theories of Globalization, 1st ed. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. pp. 134-177. Assignments/deadlines: Students should submit their essays via NEO by December 01, 2024, 23:59 (11:59 pm) CET. Students prepare for surprise quiz.
December 02, 2024	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, 2020. “The world after coronavirus”, Financial Times. pdf available in Readings’ folder on NEO, link: https://www.ft.com/content/19d90308-6858-11ea-a3c9-1fe6fedcca75#comments-anchor Assignments/deadlines: None.
December 09, 2024	Topic: Light at the End of the Tunnel Description: Lecture. The core idea for this session is that despite all its shortfalls, there are ways to make globalization work, so that its benefits are shared by all, across the globe. Assignments/deadlines: None. Students can finally relax

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 (Attendance is mandatory)	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 in Week 5	14	10 %	Understand theories, interpret, and analyze data, enhance critical thinking.	1
Readings and lectures related Surprise Quizzes	14	10%	Understand theories, 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. Both in-class and remotely learning 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. Students will be evaluated based on how well they communicate the ideas, know theories and concepts, and analyze various theories/notions and processes pertaining to globalization.

Assessment breakdown

Assessed area	Percentage
Communication of the ideas	50%
Understanding theories and notions	30%
Critical insights	20%
Total	100%

 

Research Essay:

Students will choose a case study, do research, utilize a theory, and write a 3,500-word (excluding the reference list) essay in which they will provide a comprehensive critical analysis of the topic chosen/assigned. Students must strictly follow the minimum 3,000 and maximum 3,500 word-limit (excluding references). Not doing so will affect the grade. 

Students will choose a topic and discuss it with the course convener in class, as well as at the end of the second and third weeks of the course. Students will be assisted in choosing appropriate topics/case studies and in selecting sources. They need to submit an outline of the essay by September 28 regarding the chosen topic, research question and the chosen theory; and another one by November 02 discussing their progress. Both outlines should be as precise as possible and should not exceed the allowed one-page limit, not following that rule will affect the grade of the assignment. Off-site students can send their topics to the lecturer via email or discuss them via a TEAMS meeting preferably every TUESDAY at 12:30 CET. TEAMS meeting can also be arranged also by appointment via email for students living in different time zones. 

Essays should begin with an introduction to the problem/case(s) discussed, explicitly stating the research question. The body of the essay will include data/literature linked to the theoretical concepts learned during lectures, which in turn will lead to a reasonable conclusion. The essay must use Chicago referencing style (i.e., in-text author-date system) plus a list of references at the end. Bear in mind that Wikipedia is not a proper academic SOURCE. Students need to rely on academic literature and credible media information sources for their essays. 

All essays should be submitted via NEO on December 01, 2024, by 23:59 (11:59 pm) CET. Progress with the research work will be discussed each week. Missing the deadline may result into failing the essay assignment. 

Note: For the general requirement and School policies about research ethics and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), please refer to section 8 of this syllabus. 

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 75-minute long. 

The mid-term exam will be given online to all students via NEO, but all students must be present in class, should bring their laptops/tablets to take it on October 21, 2024, at 18:30 CET. After the allotted time slot, the exam will not be available. 

Assessment breakdown

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

 

Quiz 1:

There will be one quiz administered via NEO in Week 5 on September 30, 2024. The quiz will have multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and will be based on the readings and topics covered in the lectures. The time allotted for the Quiz will be 25 minutes after which it will not be available on NEO. All students must be present in class and should bring their laptops/tablets. 

Assessment breakdown

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

 

Surprise Quizzes:

Apart from discussing the reading assignments almost every week, surprise quizzes (drawn from the readings and lectures) will be given to students. These will be MCQs in a written form. All surprise quizzes will be given online and in class to all students via NEO, so they should bring their laptops/tablets. After the allotted time slot, the quizzes will not be available. 

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 NEO LMS 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 NEO LMS. No substantial pieces of writing (especially take-home exams and essays) can be submitted outside of NEO LMS.

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

Electronic devices (e.g. phones, tablets, laptops) may be used only for class-related activities (taking notes, looking up related information, etc.). Any other use will result in the student being marked absent and/or being expelled from the class. No electronic devices may be used during tests or exams unless required by the exam format and the instructor.

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,
• Fictious 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 artificial intelligence tools to search sources, to process, analyze and summarize data, and to provide suggestions or feedback in order to improve content, structure, or style, defined here as AI-assisted writing, is not in itself plagiarism. However, it is plagiarism if, as a result, it obscures the authorship of the work produced or the degree of its originality (see the examples above).

AAU acknowledges prudent and honest use of AI-assisted writing, that is, the use of AI for orientation, consultation, and practice is allowed. For some courses and assignments, however, the use of AI is counterproductive to learning outcomes; therefore, the course syllabus may prohibit AI assistance.

A work (text, image, video, sound, code, etc.) generated by artificial intelligence based on a mass of existing data, defined here as AI-generated work, is not considered a work of authorship. Therefore, if an AI-generated work (e.g. text) is part of the author’s work, it must be marked as AI-generated. Otherwise, it obscures the authorship and/or the degree of originality, and thus constitutes plagiarism. Unless explicitly permitted by the instructor, submission of AI-generated work is prohibited.

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 disabilities 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, 2024.  

Approved by and when:  Dr. Silviya Lechner           Aug 14, 2024.