The waters of Tigris and Euphrates have given birth to many ancient civilizations. This piece of land stretching from the Persian Gulf to Armenia and from the Hakkari Mountains to the Syrian Desert was one of the most fertile regions of the world. The availability of sweet waters in abundance and one of the very few sites of early organized agricultural practices made it extremely attractive to many other kingdoms. It encouraged Sumerians, Semites, Egyptians, Hyksos, Kassites, Assyrians, Greeks, Sasanians and others to invade and establish their dynasties.

This was the beginning of “might is right” rule in the ancient Middle East, and now it has become one of the most polarized regions of the world. Up to 45 million Kurds are one of the largest nations of the world that does not have their own country. Having a very rich political, social and economic past in the ancient Mesopotamian region, Kurds have come to a point where they are fighting for their survival as well as their independence. After their ancient glory, first, Muslim invaders Umar ibn al-Khattab, Umayyads, Abbasids, Ottomans and Safavids tried to oppress the Kurds and after World War I the British Mandate along with other Western Allies divided the Kurds in a way that their dream of “Greater Kurdistan” became a farfetched reality. Their geo-political importance, external involvement and internal conflicts are some of the main reasons of their vulnerability. 

FIN 501-Financial Reporting and Analysis

Course Description

This course focuses on users of financial information and their needs, rather than the preparation of accounting data. It takes an in-depth look into company financial statements and show how information therein can be analyzed and processed to aid creditors, investors, and managers. Financial reporting and analysis is a course that will prepare students to understand business strategy and its financial implication. As a result of this course, students should be able to:

·         Understand basic concepts underlying primary financial statements and the importance of the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and other relevant documents.

·         Locate and use information on a corporate annual report to analyze a company’s financial performance.

·         Write background material on a company, its industry and its economic environment.

·         Evaluate a company’s sources and uses of funds.

This course is a survey of various political forms (democracy, authoritarianism, totalitarianism), and political institutions (presidential and parliamentary systems; federal and unitary systems). Some attention may also be given to questions related to leadership, political parties, interest groups, globalization, and media in politics. The course emphasizes the development of necessary university-level skills such as critical thinking and clarity of expression.

This course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive theoretical introduction to the positive and/or normative aspects, respectively, of marketing as a task, an activity, a function, an orientation, a paradigm, and a science, in order to build a solid foundation for advanced business courses in general and advanced marketing courses in particular. You will be introduced to: the marketing terminology; the theoretical considerations and practical applications of marketing; the scope of marketing activities in modern societies and their importance to that society’s standard of living; the global marketing environment; and ethical issues involved in marketing decisions. Students successfully completing this class will be better prepared for the next business class they take, better prepared for a business career in general and a marketing career in particular, and better prepared for life. Hopefully, this course will also further stimulate your interest in marketing studies and applications. In addition to the learning objectives listed above, upon successful completion of this course, you will have also demonstrated your ability and willingness to: engage in constructive criticism and discussion; exhibit oral and written communication skills; manage your time; use a wide range of research resources; exhibit skills and characteristics desired by employers of AUIS graduates – these skills and characteristics include motivation, dedication, discipline, creativity, integrity, diversity awareness, global thinking, analytical thinking, and a positive work attitude.