Middle East Studies

Minor

Due to University Updates, Course Numbers for all Departments have Changed. Please reference the Courses Tab for new Course Numbers.

Requirements for the Minor (24 Credits)

Students minoring in Middle East Studies must complete 24 credits, of which 20 must be intermediate- or upper-level course credits.

I. Required Course (4 credits)

• REL 36/Introduction to Islam (4)

II. At least four credits (4) in a modern Middle Eastern language.

Minors not already fluent in a Middle Eastern language should choose one language course from the following:

• ARBC 1/Elementary Modern Standard Arabic (4)
• MHEBW 1/Elementary Modern Hebrew (4)

III. Four elective courses (16 credits) with a Middle East focus from at least two of the following three areas:

A. Humanities

• HIST 65/History of the Islamic Middle East, 600-1800 (4)
• HIST 66/History of the Modern Middle East (4)
• HUM 16/Islam and the West (4)
• REL 13/Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (4)
• REL 27/Eastern Christianity I (4)
• REL 37/Introduction to the Qur’an (4)
• REL 46/The Sufi Path: Studies in Islamic Mysticism (4)
• REL 47/Religion and Politics: The Challenge of Islamic Revivalism (4)
• REL 48/Religion and Society in Modern Egypt (4)
• REL 145/Seminar in Islamic Studies (4)
• REL 169/Religions of the Ancient Near East (4)

B. Social Sciences

• ANTH 39/Regional Archaeology [when topic applies] (4)
• ANTH 135/Selected Topics in Cultural Anthropology [when topic applies] (4)
• PSCI 110/Middle East Politics (4)
• ECON 29/Selected Topics in Economics [when topic applies] (4)
• PSCI 116/Foreign Policies of the Middle East (4)

C. Language & Literature

• ARBC 20/Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic I (4)
• ARBC 30/Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic II (4)
• FREN 120/Class, Ethnicity, and Culture (4)
• FREN 111/Selected Topics in French: Francophone Literature [when appropriate] (in English) (2-4)
• FREN 112/Selected Topics in French: Translation [when appropriate] (in French) (2-4)
• MEST 10/Middle East Literatures in Translation (in English) (4)
• MHEBW 20/Elementary Modern Hebrew II (4)
• MHEBW 30/Intermediate Modern Hebrew (4)

With the approval of the Director of the program in Middle East Studies, students may count towards their minor other appropriate intermediate- and upper-level courses, with a primary focus on the Middle East, which may be offered from time to time.

In fulfilling their requirements for the minor, students may also substitute one of their four elective courses for one course from the following list of courses which, while not focusing primarily on the Middle East, contain a significant Middle East component:

• ARTHST 108/Islamic Art Spring (4)
• HIST 70/Modern Jewish History (4)
• JWST 12/The Jewish Experience: An Introduction to Judaism (4)
• REL 39/Studies in Mysticism (4)
• REL 41/Sects and Cults in Modern Judaism (4)
• REL 112/Seminar in Jewish Studies (4)

Students seriously contemplating future graduate or professional work related to the Middle East are strongly encouraged to begin study of Arabic as early as possible and to supplement their study of the language through intensive summer language programs recommended by the director of the Middle East Studies program.

Courses

Courses Offered

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ARBC 101H - Formerly 1H - Elementary Modern Standard Arabic (4)

An introduction to Modern Standard Arabic. Students learn the Arabic script, the basic rules of Arabic grammar, appropriate vocabulary, reading, oral, and aural skills commensurate with the elementary level. Consult instructor concerning the required language lab. Students who have been placed in Arabic 1H in the Fall and Arabic 2H in the Spring are exempt from taking the co-curricular conversation courses, based on oral interviews during the placement period.
Meets: Three hours class. Offered fall semester.

ARBC 102 - Formerly 2 - Elementary Modern Standard Arabic II (4)

This two-credit course allows students enrolled in ARBC 101 - Formerly 1 - (Elementary Arabic) to supplement their study of Arabic by working intensively on spoken Arabic. Emphasis is on developing the ability to produce and respond to spontaneous, fluid, clear, and syntactically correct spoken Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). To enroll in this course, students must also enroll simultaneously in ARBC I.
Meets: one hour per week Corequisite: ARBC 104 - Formerly 4 - .

ARBC 102H - Formerly 2H - Elementary Modern Standard Arabic II (2)

This two-credit course allows students to supplement their study of Arabic by working intensively on spoken Arabic. Emphasis is on developing the ability to produce and respond to spontaneous, fluid, clear, and syntactically correct spoken Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Students who have been placed in Arabic 1H in the Fall and Arabic 2H in the Spring are exempt from taking the co-curricular conversation courses, based on oral interviews during the placement period.
Meets: One hour per week. Offered spring semester.

MEST 203 - Formerly 10 - Middle East Literatures in Translation (4)

An examination, through English translation, of one or more literary traditions of the Middle East. The focus of the course varies from one semester to the next. In any given semester, the course may center on Arabic, Israeli, Persian, Turkish, or other literature of the region in translation, or on a comparison of two or more of these traditions. Literary genres and themes covered in this course may also vary. For example, the course may focus primarily on prose, such as novels and short stories, or center on particular themes, such as conflict or construction of identity.
May be repeated for credit as topic changes. Offering to be determined.

MEST 201 - Formerly 12 - Introduction to the Modern Middle East (4)

An introduction to the study of the modern Middle East, this course will survey the contemporary history, politics, economics, and intellectual currents that have shaped the region since World War II. The goal of the course is to build students' understanding of the shared features that have served to distinguish and unite Middle Eastern societies as well as raise their awareness of the diversity in ethnicity, religion, and political ideology that shape much of the contemporary knowledge about the region. Topics covered will include history, religion, political science, anthropology, sociology, art history, economics, and literature. Guest lectures throughout the semester. The course will end with an inquiry into the discipline itself, with students discussing the different theoretical models used to study the Middle East and their implications.
Enrollment priority: Priority given to Middle East Studies minors. Offered spring semester.

MEST 207 - Formerly 32 - Selected Topics in Middle East Studies (2)

A focus on aspects of Middle East studies not covered by regular course offerings. Topics vary from year to year depending upon student interest and faculty expertise.
May be repeated for credit as topic changes. Offering to be determined.

MEST 208 - Formerly 34 - Selected Topics in Middle East Studies (4)

A focus on aspects of Middle East studies not covered by regular course offerings. Topics vary from year to year depending upon student interest and faculty expertise.
May be repeated for credit as topic changes. Offering to be determined.
Fulfills: DIT

MEST 301 - Formerly 132 - Independent Study in Middle East Studies (2)

A tutorial stressing independent investigation of a topic selected in close consultation with the instructor. Students must meet with their faculty adviser at least once every two weeks and submit regular oral and written reports in a timely manner. Admission to the course is by petition to the director of the program in Middle East studies.
May be repeated for credit with the approval of the department. Signature of instructor required for registration. Offered every semester.

MEST 302 - Formerly 134 - Independent Study in Middle East Studies (4)

A tutorial stressing independent investigation of a topic selected in close consultation with the instructor. Students must meet with their faculty adviser at least once every two weeks and submit regular oral and written reports in a timely manner. Admission to the course is by petition to the director of the program in Middle East studies.
May be repeated for credit with the approval of the department. Signature of instructor required for registration. Offered every semester.

REL 330 - Formerly 137 - Seminar in Christianity (4)

This course examines advanced questions in the study of Christianity. Topics will vary but include theology, ritual practice, history, and art. Students are expected to conduct primary research rooted in an understanding of relevant scholarship.

See appropriate departments for the following courses

REL 330 - Formerly 137 - Seminar in Christianity (4)

This course examines advanced questions in the study of Christianity. Topics will vary but include theology, ritual practice, history, and art. Students are expected to conduct primary research rooted in an understanding of relevant scholarship.

ANTH 232 - Formerly 39 - Regional Archaeology (4)

An intensive archaeological study of a selected region, focusing on surveys, specific sites, and ethnohistoric and experimental evidence to derive sequences of human occupation, use, and principles of culture change.
May be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: ANTH 103 - Formerly 3 - or 4 Offering to be determined.

ANTH 304 - Formerly 135 - Selected Topics in Cultural Anthropology (4)

An investigation of one or more major subject areas in cultural anthropology. Topics vary in accordance with student interest and faculty expertise and may include visual anthropology, structural theory, and post-postmodernism.
May be repeated for credit as topic changes. Offering to be determined.

ARBC 101 - Formerly 1 - Elementary Modern Standard Arabic (4)

An introduction to Modern Standard Arabic. Students learn the Arabic script, the basic rules of Arabic grammar, appropriate vocabulary, reading, oral, and aural skills commensurate with the elementary level.
Consult instructor concerning the required language lab. Meets: Three hours class, one hour language laboratory. Corequisite: A. Offered fall semester.

ARBC 201 - Formerly 30 - Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic I (4)

An intermediate-level study of writing, reading, oral, and aural skills in Modern Standard Arabic. Explores advanced structures of grammar, syntax, and expression. Students are also expected to gain a greater degree of cultural proficiency through appropriate readings, tapes, class discussions, and Arabic language films.
Meets: Three hours class, one hour language laboratory Prerequisite: , or equivalent as determined by placement exam Offering to be determined.

ARBC 202 - Formerly 50 - Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic II (4)

An advanced-level course in Arabic that will allow students to build active vocabulary and develop a higher level of proficiency in reading, writing, and oral expression. Students' command of Arabic grammar will be solidified through the mastery of basic grammatical terms and knowledge of syntax and morphology. The course will incorporate various readings, class discussion, and non-textual materials such as films and audio exercises that will provide a cultural component.
Prerequisite: ARBC 201 - Formerly 30 - or Permission of the Instructor.

ARBC 101 - Advanced Arabic (4)

A third-year Arabic course with continued study of the structure of the language and a focus on speaking and writing skills. This course includes and extensive review and refinement of Arabic grammar and will include advance reading materials from a variety of sources and multimedia assignments.
Prerequisite: ARBC 202 - Formerly 50 - on permission of instructor. Offered fall semester.

ARBC 302 - Formerly 102 - Advanced Arabic II (4)

The second semester of the third year Arabic sequence with a focus on the finer points of grammar and syntax. Listening, speaking, reading and writing skills will continue to be developed. Authentic texts and audio-visual materials will be used in conjunction with standard textbook materials to develop student proficiency.
Prerequisite: or permission of the instructor. Offered spring semester.

ARTH 208 - Formerly ARTHST 108 - Islamic Art (4)

This course examines the history of ten centuries of Islamic art and architecture both chronologically and thematically. It begins with a study of medieval Islamic art of the Near East and Mediterranean, examining major themes and regional variations. Study will then shift to select monuments of Islamic art from the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries. The focus may include architecture and manuscript painting, with some attention also to metalwork, pottery, and textiles. Issues considered may include: Islamic aesthetic attitudes, definitions of Islamic art, adaptations of a late antique artistic vocabulary, cross-cultural influence, architecture and ritual, and ideology and style in manuscript painting
Offered spring semester in even numbered years.
Fulfills: DIT

ECON 250 - Formerly 29 - Selected Topics in Economics (2-4)

Recent topics have included the economics of food and nutrition, the economics of corporate downsizing, and the economics of financial market integration and comparative central banking.
May be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: ECON 101 - Formerly 5 - (and ECON 102 - Formerly 6 - when topic merits it; see course listings each semester) Offering to be determined.

FREN 261 - Formerly 111 - Selected Topics in French and Francophone Literatures (2-4)

A study of a topic or topics in a linguistic, cultural, or literary aspect of the French-speaking world not covered by the current offerings of the French Department.
May be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisite: FREN 201 - Formerly 30 - Offering to be determined.

HIST 256 - Formerly 65 - History of the Islamic Middle East, 600-1800 (4)

A broad survey of the history of the Middle East from the rise of Islam in the early seventh century C.E. to the 19th century. Emphasizes major transformations in the region's history during this period, including the mission of Muhammad, the early Islamic conquests, the formation of classical Islamic culture and society, the demise of the universal empire and the rise of regional states in the 10th century, the impact of the Crusades and the Mongol invasions, and the reconsolidation of political and social order under Ottoman and Safavid rule.
Offered spring semester.
Fulfills: BH, DIT

HIST 257 - Formerly 66 - History of the Modern Middle East (4)

A survey of Middle East history in the 19th and 20th centuries. Topics include the decline of Ottoman power and the Tanzimat reforms, the Eastern Question and European rivalry in the Mediterranean, the rise of nationalism in the region, the impact of the First and Second World Wars, the establishment of the state of Israel, the struggle for independence in the Arab world, the Arab-Israeli conflict, superpower rivalry in the Middle East during the Cold War, and the conflict between pan-Islamic forces and secular responses to the crisis of modernity.
Offering to be determined.
Fulfills: BH, DIT

HIST 258 - Formerly 70 - Modern Jewish History (4)

A study of the social and cultural experiences of Jews and Jewish communities from the Enlightenment to the present. Explores the diversity of Jewish experience in Western Europe, Russia, America, the Arab lands, and Israel, beginning with a survey of the major developments in European and American history that have shaped Jewish identities.
Offered fall semester in odd-numbered years.
Fulfills: DIT

HUM 230 - Formerly 16 - The Humanities and Islam (4)

The courses in the Comparative Humanities group offer rich possibilities for study. While the cultural and geographical frame for each course is a constant (Islam/Middle East, Africa/African-American, Asia, Latin America) is a constant, the emphasis on specific themes and materials will be determined by the faculty who currently teach the course. Please check the course announcements each semester. Offered once every four years in the fall semester. Next offered fall 2007.

JWST 220 - Formerly 12 - The Jewish Experience: An Introduction to Judaism (4)

A survey of the basic religious doctrines, ritual practice, and philosophical schools of the Jewish religion, from biblical times to the present. The course includes analysis of Jewish theology, rational philosophy, mysticism, messianism, religious ceremonies, family life-cycle, and rites of passage, as well as universal concepts.
Offered spring semester. Same as: REL 220 - Formerly 12 -
Fulfills: BH

REL 222 - Formerly 13 - Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (4)

A study of religious developments in ancient Israel in their historical contexts. Emphasizes the understandings of Israel as covenant people of God, the relation of religious understandings to historical and social circumstances, the role of prophecy, and the religious restoration following the exile.
Offered fall semester.

REL 244 - Formerly 27 - Eastern Christianity I (4)

History of the four Ancient Patriarchates and the seven separated churches of the East until the time of the Roman Schism.
Offered fall semester in odd-numbered years. Same as:
Fulfills: BH

REL 250 - Formerly 36 - Introduction to Islam (4)

A broad introduction to the world's second largest religion. Topics covered include a brief historical overview of the life and mission of the Prophet Muhammad, the rise of the early Islamic community, and the formation of Islamic civilization. Additional units focus on the nature and structure of the Qur'an, the role of Islamic law, aspects of ritual practice, and expressions of Muslim spirituality. Relying heavily on primary textual sources in translation, students consider issues such as the relationship between religion and politics, women and society, and themes of unity and variety in the Islamic tradition.
Offered fall semester.
Fulfills: BH, DIT

REL 252 - Formerly 37 - Introduction to the Qur'an (4)

A thematic and historical investigation of the central document of Islamic revelation. Devotes special attention to understanding conceptions of God, humanity, nature, community, holy law, prophethood, history, eschatology, and cosmology as reflected in both the Qur'an and in early Muslim theology. Seeks to provide historical and contextual appreciation of the Qur'an in various aspects of Islamic thought and practice. Comparison with both the Jewish and Christian scriptural tradition is encouraged where appropriate.
Offering to be determined.

REL 377 - Formerly 39 - Studies in Mysticism (4)

An introduction to mysticism through comparative and phenomenological study of mystical traditions in five major world religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Examines and compares primary texts, practices, major figures, and significant historical developments in mysticism within and among these five religions. Specific themes and topics covered may vary.
Course may be repeated. Offered spring semester in odd-numbered years.
Fulfills: BH

REL 258 - Formerly 46 - The Sufi Path: Studies in Islamic Mysticism (4)

Mysticism has historically served as one of the three great paths to faith in the Islamic tradition. This course locates Islamic mysticism, or Sufism, within the larger context of Islamic spirituality. Explores the rich legacy of mysticism in Islam from its pre-Islamic roots through to the present. The primary approach to Sufism in this course is through examining the seminal texts of the great Sufi masters in translation.
Offering to be determined.

REL 256 - Formerly 47 - Religion and Politics: The Challenge of Islamic Revivalism (4)

An examination of modern currents in Islamic thought, focusing on the relation of religion to both political life and modernity. Emphasizes appreciating the diversity of contemporary Islamic thought through a reading of primary texts in translation. Evaluates both the continuities and contrasts between classical and modern Islamic thought.
Offering to be determined.

REL 254 - Formerly 48 - Religion and Society in Modern Egypt (4)

An interdisciplinary examination of the role and place of religion in modern Egyptian society. Examines issues such as the impact of religion on the family, on politics, on education, and on various aspects of contemporary Egyptian intellectual and cultural life. Employs literature and film, as well as historical, sociological, anthropological, political science, and religious studies approaches to the study of religion. Focuses on comparing and contrasting Muslim and Christian experiences.
Signature of instructor required for registration. Offering to be determined.

REL 320 - Formerly 112 - Seminar in Jewish Studies (4)

An in-depth study of a specific religious or philosophical aspect of Judaism, with an emphasis on the critical analysis of primary sources and traditional texts.
Course may be repeated. Same as: JWST 320 - Formerly 112 -

REL 350 - Formerly 145 - Seminar in Islamic Studies (4)

An intensive study of special topics in this field.
Offering to be determined.

REL 301 - Formerly 169 - Religions of the Ancient Near East (4)

A study of the religions of Mesopotamia (Sumeria, Babylonia, Assyria), Egypt, Anatolia, and Syria-Palestine (Canaan, Aram) through analysis of literature and archaeological remains. Focuses on general religious questions and the interrelationship of Israel and other ancient Near Eastern cultures.
Offering to be determined. Same as: BBST 669 - Formerly BIBST 169 -