Courses

• Fall 2013 Courses

• Summer 2013 Courses

• Spring 2013 Courses

• Fall 2012 Courses

• Spring 2012 Courses

• Fall 2011 Courses

• Spring 2011 Courses

• Fall 2010 Courses

• Summer 2010 Courses

• Spring 2010 Courses

• Fall 2009 Courses

Program Courses

Middle Eastern Studies, which is housed in the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, is an interdisciplinary major and minor. In addition to courses originating in the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, the major and minor includes courses anchored in other departments that are approved for the Middle Eastern studies major or minor, many of which are cross-listed. Cross-listed courses usually utilize the same last three digits of the course number as the listing in the originating department. The Middle Eastern studies code designation is 01:685:__. For example, course 01:790:351 Contemporary Politics in the Middle East, a political science course, is offered simultaneously within Middle Eastern studies as course 01:685:351, with the same title. Credit is not given for both a Middle Eastern studies course (01:685:__) and its corresponding cross-listed course.

 

Summary descriptions of cross-listed and other approved courses may be found under the relevant originating department's subject code listing (e.g., for a description of 01:685:385 Arab Politics and Society, consult the parallel course entry in the Political Science program, which is 01:790:385).

Courses Originating in Middle Eastern Studies

01:685:202 Introduction to Iranian Studies (3) Introduction to the study of Iranian culture and civilization from Achaemenian times to the present.

 

01:685:306 Multiple Identities of the Middle East (3) Survey of peoples, languages, and religions found in the contemporary Middle East, with a focus upon underrepresented groups and transnational issues.  Emphasizes their histories, their roles in the contemporary Middle East, and their evolving relationships with the dominant group of the nations in which they are found.

 

01:685:329 Medieval Arabic Religious Texts (3) Reading and close analysis of selected medieval religious texts, including Qur'an, Qur'anic exegesis, hadith, fiqh, and philosophical treatises exploring relationships between reason and revelation. Prerequisites: 01:013:128 Elementary Arabic II and 01:013:228 Intermediate Arabic II, or placement test given by the Middle Eastern studies program. Credit not given for both this course and 01:840:329.

 

01:685:330 Major Themes in Contemporary Iranian Cinema (3) Examines major films from post revolutionary Iranian cinema. Major themes: role of religion in film, art, feminism, children in adult roles, city versus rural and tribal spaces, gradual erosion of political and cultural restrictions.

 

01:685:331 Impacts of Media Technologies and Globalization on the Middle East (3) Examines how media, especially information technology, have changed societies in the modern Middle East. Tensions between traditional values and modernity as they are manifesedt in the widespread application of computer technology. Challenges to authoritarian governments in the Middle East by the proliferation and democratization of public access to technology. Introduction to the languages and cultures of the Middle East and facilitation of cross-cultural communication and understanding between the people of the West and of the Middle East.

 

01:685:332 Language and Culture Through Persian Film I (3) Intensive study, in a discussion-oriented format, of Persian language, culture, and art through film and visual media, enhancing student's comprehension and conversation learning ability. Prerequisite: 01:013:176,177 or permission of instructor.

 

01:685:333 Language and Culture through Persian Film II (3) Intensive study, in a discussion-oriented format, of Persian language, culture, and art through film and visual media, enhancing students' comprehension and conversation learning ability. Prerequisite: 01:685:332 or permission of instructor.

 

01:685:335 Ta‘zieh (Passion Play): Religious Rituals, History, and Shi'ite Culture (3) Examination of the Persian passion play Ta‘zieh, its roots in Shi'ite history, and its ritual and aesthetic dimensions.

01:685:336 History and Cultures of Iran (3) Introduction to Iranian civilization through its material and intellectual cultures.  A diachronic view of various influences on Iran: Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, and Islamic.

 

01:685:345 Islam and Democracy in the Arab World

Current debates about why the Arab world is reluctant to embrace democracy and why some governments in the Arab world remain authoritarian. Includes the role of Islam in political, economic and cultural discourse.

Credit not given for both this course and 01:790:456

 

01:685:346 Media in the Arab World (3) Examines media in the Arab world from mid-19th century print sources to modern electronic media. The role that satellite channels such as al-Jazeera play in contemporary political discourse in Arabic

 

01:685:350 Introduction to the Modern Middle East (3) Introduction to the languages and cultures of the Middle East and facilities of cross-cultural communication and understanding between the people of the West and of the Middle East.

Credit not given for both this course and 01:563:350.

 

01:685:355 Muslims and Islamic Institutions in America (3) Explores the bonds of Muslim community, the meaning of Muslim American identity, how immigrant groups are assimilated into American society, and institutional frameworks being adopted for national integration.

Credit not given for both this course and 01:014:355.

 

01:685:380 Introduction to the Persian Epic (3) General overview of the Persian epic from Ferdowsi's Shahnameh as the example of heroic literature to romantic epics by Nezami Ganjavi.  Studies the ways in which Persian epics influenced contemporary Iranian literature, cinema, painting, and politics. Also explores how the Persian epic tradition differs from the Homeric epic. All readings in English. No knowledge of Persian required.

 

01:685:395,396 Special Topics in Middle Eastern Studies (3,3) Study, in a discussion-oriented format, of a specifically defined subject of Middle Eastern studies. Subjects vary according to individual instructors; contact the undergraduate director for information.

 

01:685:445 Democracy and Reform in Iran (3) Explores critical internal conflicts over the issues of democracy and reform within the Islamic Republic of Iran. Included are the nature of the 1979 Revolution, and the relationship between religion and the state in the postrevolutionary Iran.

 

01:685:447 20^th Century Social Movements in Iran (3) The Constitutional Revolution of 1906-09; impact of the Russian Revolution on social movements in Iran and emergence of the nationalist movements in Iran's Azerbaijan, Gilan and Kurdistan provinces; Mossaddegh's oil nationalization effort and its aftermath; the1979 Revolution in Iran; the ongoing struggle for social and political freedoms.

 

01:685:457 Islamic Law and Jurisprudence (3)

Introduction to Islamic legal theory in its historical and modern contexts. Contrasts Islamic law and legal theory with Western legal theory and constitutional thought.

Credit not given for both this course and 01:790:457

 

01:685:480,481 Internship in Middle Eastern Studies (3,3) Students work in outreach projects or with a designated agency concerned with Middle Eastern affairs; requires an appropriately designed academic project, resulting in a paper. Prerequisite: Permission of program director.

 

01:685:491-492 Independent Study and Research in Middle Eastern Studies (3,3)

 

01:685:495-496 Advanced Topics in Middle Eastern Studies (3,3) Intensive study, in a discussion-oriented format, of a specifically defined subject of Middle Eastern studies. Subjects vary according to individual instructors; contact the center director for information.

 

01:685:499 Senior Seminar in Middle Eastern Studies (3) Ways of looking at and interpreting Middle Eastern societies, cultures, histories, languages, religions, etc. Examines popular scholarly materials including artwork, films, fiction, and essays using modern methods of critical analysis. Prerequisite: 01:685:350 or 01:563:350. Open to seniors only. Credit not given for both this course and 01:563:397

 

Middle Eastern Studies Courses Offered by Other Departments

A. African, Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages and Literatures (for Hebrew language courses, see under Jewish Studies)

01:013:140 Elementary Arabic (4)

01:013:141 Elementary Arabic (4)

01:013:145  (01:563:145, 01:685:145) Introduction to Aramaic (4)

01:013:176 Elementary Persian (4)

01:013:177 Elementary Persian (4)

01:013:190 Elementary Turkish (4)

01:013:191 Elementary Turkish (4)

01:013:221 Introduction to the Literatures of the Middle East (3)

01:013:240 Intermediate Arabic (4)

01:013:241 Intermediate Arabic (4)

01:013:242 Introduction to Classical and Qur’anic Arabic (4)

01:013:243 Introduction to Classical and Qur’anic Arabic (4)

01:013:276 Intermediate Persian (4)

01:013:277 Intermediate Persian (4)

01:013:290 Intermediate Turkish (4)

01:013:291 Intermediate Turkish (4)

01:013:301 Topics in AMESALL (3)

01:013:302 Topics in AMESALL (3)

01:013:303 Language and Society in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia (3)

01:013:314 Islam and African Literatures (3)

01:013:322 Middle Eastern Folklore and Myth (3)

01:013:340 Advanced Arabic (3)

01:013:341 Advanced Arabic (3)

01:013:342 Modern Arabic Literatures (3)

01:013:343 Classical Arabic Literatures (3) [cross-listed with Comp. Lit]

01:013:376 Advanced Persian (3)

01:013:377 Advanced Persian (3)

01:013:378 Classical Persian Literatures (3)

01:013:379 Modern Persian Literatures (3)

01:013:390 Advanced Turkish (3)

01:013:391 Advanced Turkish (3)

01:013:401 Advanced Topics in AMESALL (3)

01:013:402 Advanced Topics in AMESALL (3)

01:013:409 Introduction to the Semitic Languages (3)

01:013:441 (01:685:322) Moroccan Culture (3)

01:013:476 Theory and Practice of Persian Translation (3)

01:013:477 Theory and Practice of Persian Translation (3)

B. Art History

01:082:320 (01:685:320) Islamic Art and Architecture (3)

C. History

01:506:363 (01:685:363) Imperialism (3)

01:506:367 (01:685:367) Protest and Revolution (3)

01:506:375 (01:563:375, 01:685:375) The Jewish Immigrant Experience (3)

01:508:200 (01:563:200, 01:685:200) Ancient Near East (3)

01:508:201 (01:685:201) Islamic Civilization (3)

01:508:205 (01:685:305) The Modern Middle East (3)

01:508:210 (01:685:210) The Armenian Experience in World History (3)

01:508:300 (01:563:300, 01:685:300) The Arab-Israeli Conflict (3)

01:508:301 (01:685:301) The Ottoman Empire (3)

01:508:302 (01:685:302) The Classical Age of Islam (3)

01:508:306 War and Revolution in Iran and Iraq (3)

01: 508:307 (01:685:307, 01:988:308) Women and Society in the Islamic Middle East (3)

01:508:316 (01:563:316, 01:685:316, 01:988:316) Israeli Women: Historical and Literary Perspectives (3)

01:508:409 (01:685:409) The Crusader States and Syria-Palestine (3)

01:510:205 (01:685:205) Byzantium: The Imperial Age (3)

01:510:207 (01:685:207) Byzantium: The Last Centuries (3)

01:510:382 (01:685:382) Genesis of Modern Greece, 1450-1830 (3)

01:510:386 (01:563:343, 01:685:343) History of Zionism (3)

01:510:213 (01:695:213) The Crusades (3)

 

D. Jewish Studies

Hebrew Language Courses

01:563:101 (01:013: 152, 01:685:101) Elementary Hebrew (4)

01:563:102 (01:013: 153, 01:685:102) Elementary Hebrew (4)

01:563:131 (01:013: 252, 01:685:131) Intermediate Hebrew (4)

01:563:132 (01:013: 253, 01:685:132) Intermediate Hebrew (4)

01:563:210 (01:013:352, 01:685:210) Advanced Hebrew (3)

01:563:211 (01:013:353, 01:685:211) Advanced Hebrew (3)

Culture and Literature

01: 563:201 (01:685:208) Jewish Society and Culture (3)

01:563:310 (01:508:310, 685:310) Israeli Culture (3)

01:563:371 (01:013:354, 01:685:371) Contemporary Hebrew Literature and Media (3)

01:563:372 (01:013:355, 01:685:372) Introduction to Modern Israeli Literature

01: 563:393 (01:685:393) Modern Israeli Theater and Film (3)

01:563:397 (01:685:499) Topics in Jewish Studies (3)

01:563:471 (01:013:452) Readings in Modern Hebrew Literature (3)

01:563:472 (01:013:453) The Hebrew Novel (3)

01:563: 484 (01:013:454, 01:685:484) Love and Desire in Hebrew Prose and Poetry (3)

01:563: 485 (01:013:455, 01:685:485) Israeli Literature and Society (3)

E. Political Science

01:790:317 (01:685:317) Globalization and the Non-Western World (3)

01:790:351 (01:685:351) Contemporary Politics in the Middle East (3)

01:790:352 (01:563:352, 01:685:352) Israeli Politics (3)

*01: 790: 367 (01:685:357) Islam and Democracy in the Middle East (3)

[not yet approved]*

01:790:385 (01:685:385) Arab Politics and Society (3)

01:790:451 (01:563:451, 01:685:451) Critical Perspectives on the Middle East (3)

01:790:452 (01:685:452) Advanced Topics in Middle Eastern Politics (3)

01:790:457 (01:685:455) Culture and Revolution in the Middle East (3)

01:790:457 (01:685:457) Islamic Law and Jurisprudence

F. Religion and Philosophy

01:730:374 (01:840:374, 01:685:374) Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism (3)

01:840:203 (01:685:233) Islamic Scriptures

01:840:312 (01:685:312) Greek Christianity (3)

01:840:325 (01:685:325) Prophet Muhammad (3)

01:840:326 (01:685:326) Islam (3)

01:840:328 Shi’i Islam (3)

01 840 329 (01:685:329) Medieval Arabic Religious Texts

01:840:356 (01:685:356) Sufism: Mystical Islam (3)

01:840:456 Seminar on Rumi (3)

01:840:482 (01:685:482) Seminar in Islamic Ethics (3)