Overview
Program Committee
Rama Alhabian (Arabic)
Erella Brown-Sofer (Hebrew)
Usman Hamid (Asian Studies)
Kira Jumet (Government), Director
Shoshana Keller (History)
Mireille Koukjian (Arabic)
Claire Mouflard (French and Francophone Studies)
Concentrators in MEIWS will be able to:
- Communicate effectively in oral and written Arabic.
- Develop an ability to interpret arguments about the history, politics and literary cultures of the Islamicate world.
- Conduct research and demonstrate an understanding of the Islamicate world in the senior project.
Both a concentration and a minor in Middle East/Islamicate Worlds Studies are offered.
A concentration in Middle East/Islamicate Worlds Studies consists of nine courses. Concentrators must take Arabic language up to the 300-level. Arabic 115, 116, and 215 and Hebrew 107 and 108 do not count toward the concentration. Students interested in continuing Hebrew beyond the first year should consult with the program director about opportunities at area colleges.
Students must take at least one course in each of these major areas: language and literature; politics and history; religion and culture.
No more than two courses at the 100-level count toward the concentration. One 100-level must be Writing Intensive.
Students must take 4 or 5 courses at the 200-level.
Students must take at least 2 courses at the 300-level. One of these courses must be Arabic 315 or 316.
The program strongly encourages students to study Arabic or other Middle Eastern languages off-campus, but does not require it.
The senior project will most often take the form of a major research or literary analysis paper. Students should consult with the program director during their junior year to identify an appropriate advisor. The project will be conducted either through an advanced-level course or an independent study.
To earn honors, the minimum GPA in the concentration is 3.6.
An interdisciplinary minor in Middle East/Islamicate Worlds Studies consists of five courses from the list below. Students must take at least one course from each of three divisions: language and literature; social sciences; and religion and culture. One course must be taken at the introductory (100) level, and one at the advanced (300 or 400) level.
Language and Literature
ARABC-115 First-term Arabic
ARABC-116 Second-term Arabic
ARABC-215 Third-term Arabic
ARABC-216 Fourth-term Arabic
ARABC-231 Societies of the Middle East
ARABC-315 Advanced Arabic
ARABC-316 Advanced Arabic
FRNCH-241 In Translation: North African Literature in France
HEBRW-107 First-term Hebrew
HEBRW-108 Second-term Hebrew
Social Sciences
GOVT-207 Politics in the Middle East and North Africa
GOVT-303 Syrian Politics
GOVT-315 Foreign Policies of Middle Eastern States
GOVT-317 Arab Spring and its Aftermath
HIST-124 Silk Road
HIST-132 Jewish Civilization
HIST 228 History of Iran
HIST-275 History of the Modern Middle East
HIST-295 The Crusades
HIST-345 USSR as a Multi-National State
Religion and Culture
ARTH-225 Mass Media and the Jewish Experience
ARTH-245 Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic Arts of India
ARTH-266 Art of the Islamic World
ASNST-160 Everyday Islam
ASNST-209 Islamic History and Culture
ASNST-211 Islamic Spirituality, Mysticism, and Devotion
ASNST-256 Islam in South Asia
ASNST-329 Art of Devotion in Islam
RELST-111 Ancient Jewish Wisdom
RELST-143 The Sacred in South Asia
RELST-231 Judaism and Social Justice
RELST-242 Rise and Fall of David
RELST-244/HIST-244 Hindus and Muslims in South Asia
RELST-335 Philosophy and Revelation: Maimonides' Guide of the Perplexed Science