Modern Middle East Studies

专业详情

The Modern Middle East Studies major focuses on the culture, history, religion, politics, and society of the modern Middle East in its full geographical breadth, while developing expertise in any of the major languages associated with the region, namely Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish. Courses are drawn from departments in the humanities and social sciences, including Anthropology, History, History of Art, Judaic Studies, Political Science, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Religious Studies, and Sociology. The Modern Middle East Studies major gives students the analytical and linguistic skills necessary to master the complex issues of the Middle East and serves as excellent preparation for graduate study or for professional careers in which an understanding of that region is essential.

requirements Of the Major

The major allows students to develop highly individualized courses of study, tailored to their own academic, intellectual, and linguistic interests. There are no prerequisites. Twelve term courses are required for the major, including one course at the L5 level in a Middle Eastern language and two survey courses on the modern period, taken at the introductory level. Beyond those requirements, students take eight distribution courses focusing on any aspect of the culture, thought, history, religion, politics, and society of the region. These eight distribution courses must be spread geographically and temporally and draw from distinct methodological or disciplinary approaches. They must include, at a minimum, two courses from different regions or countries within the Middle East, two courses from different departments or programs, two courses that focus substantially on the period before 1750, and two advanced seminars. Up to two language courses below L5 in a Modern Middle East language may count toward the distributional requirement with approval of the director of undergraduate studies (DUS). The proposed course of study also requires DUS approval.

Senior Requirement

Students in the major undertake a one- or two-term senior essay that involves use of materials in one or more modern Middle Eastern languages. Each student selects a faculty adviser with competence in the appropriate language. A prospectus and outline signed by the adviser must be submitted to the DUS by the end of the fourth week of classes in either term of the senior year. Senior essays are graded by the adviser and a second reader. See the course descriptions of the senior essay courses (MMES 491, 492, 493) for further information. Alternatively, under supervision of the instructor, majors may take an additional seminar and write an essay in that course to fulfill the senior requirement.