Courses

The following courses are available in Middle Eastern Studies:

ARAB 101-102 Elementary Arabic
Aadnani
An introduction to the Arabic language. The course takes a comprehensive approach to language learning and emphasizes the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students are introduced to the principles of grammar, taught how to read and write in the Arabic alphabet, and trained in the basics of everyday conversation. Through the use of a variety of written, video and audio materials, as well as other resources made available through the World-Wide Web, the course emphasizes authentic materials and stresses the active participation of students in the learning process. Each semester earns 1.0 unit of credit; however, both semesters must be completed satisfactorily to receive credit for either course.
Prerequisite: None
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0

ARAB 201-202 Intermediate Arabic
Aadnani
A continuation of ARAB 101-102. The course takes students to a deeper and more complex level in the study of the Arabic language. While continuing to emphasize the organizing principles of the language, the course also introduces students to a variety of challenging texts, including extracts from newspaper articles, as well as literary and religious materials. Students will be trained to work with longer texts and to gain the necessary communicative skills to prepare them for advanced-level Arabic. Each semester earns 1.0 unit of credit; however, both semesters must be completed satisfactorily to receive credit for either course.
Prerequisite: ARAB 101-102 or equivalent
Distribution: Language and Literature
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0

ARAB 210 Arabic Literature in Translation
Aadnani
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07.  Exploration of some highly influential works of literature translated from Arabic. Students will have a chance to delve into literary works composed by authors from a large geographical area, extending from Morocco to the Middle East, from the turn of the nineteenth century to the present day. Our study of modern and contemporary Arabic literature will focus on a number of recurring themes, such as cultural and national identity, colonialism, religion, gender relations, and class conflict. Authors to be discussed include Naguib Mahfouz, Abdelrahman Munif, Ahlam Mosteghanemi, Leila Abouzeid, Tahir Wattar, Mohammed Zafzaf, and Yusuf Idris.
Prerequisite: None
Distribution: Language and Literature
Semester: N/O            Unit: 1.0

ARAB 250 Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Two years of Arabic or permission of instructor.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0

ARAB 250H Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Two years of Arabic or permission of instructor.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 0.5

ARAB 350 Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Open to juniors and seniors only.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0

ARAB 350H Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Open to juniors and seniors only.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 0.5

MES 250 Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Open to first-year students and sophomores only.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0

MES 250H Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Open to first-year students and sophomores only.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 0.5

MES 310 Resistance and Dissent in North Africa and the Middle East (in English)
An exploration of the emergence and the shaping of a culture of “resistance” in North Africa and the Middle East since the early 1980s. Topics include the rise of democratic movements, such as political parties, associations and NGOs; the role and importance of Islam to the identity of contemporary nation states in the region; the status of women and minorities in the ideologies of the movements under study; and the status and implications of dissent. Materials studied include works of fiction and nonfiction, films, speeches, song lyrics, and online publications. Taught in English.
Prerequisite: Open to students who have taken at least one course in Middle Eastern Studies, and to juniors and seniors by permission of the instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis or Language and Literature
Semester: Spring        Unit: 1.0

MES 350 Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: None
Distribution: Open to juniors and seniors only.
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0

MES 350H Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: None
Distribution: Open to juniors and seniors only.
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 0.5

MES 360 Senior Thesis Research
Prerequisite: By permission of department. See Academic Distinctions.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0

MES 370 Senior Thesis
Prerequisite: 360 and permission of department.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0

Related Courses
For Credit toward the Major
ANTH 244 Societies and Cultures of the Middle East
ARTH 241 Egyptian Art
ARTH 247 Islamic Art and Architecture
ARTH 267 Cross-Cultural Encounters in the Early Medieval Mediterranean
ARTH 332 Topics in Medieval Art. The Architecture of Medieval Jerusalem
CLCV 209* Mirrors of Princes: Stories of Heroes
CLCV 240/REL 240 Romans, Jews, and Christians in the Roman Empire
HEBR 201-202 Intermediate Hebrew
HIST 219 The Jews of Spain and the Lands of Islam
HIST 266 The Struggle over North Africa, 1800 to the Present
HIST 284 The Middle East in Modern History
HIST 286 History of the Middle East, c. 600–1918
HIST 287 History of Everyday Life in the Modern Middle East and North Africa
HIST 290 Morocco: History and Culture (Wintersession in Morocco)
HIST 343 Seminar. History of Israel
HIST 364 Seminar. Women in Islamic Society: Historical Perspectives
HIST 366 Seminar. The Maghreb: Cultural Crossroads in the Islamic West
HIST 367* Seminar. Jewish Identity in the Modern World
POL4 346 Comparative Political Thought: Modern Western and Islamic Theories of Politics
REL 104 Study of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
REL 105 Study of the New Testament
REL 140* Introduction to Jewish Civilization
REL 207 Goddesses, Queens, and Witches: Survey of the Ancient Near East
REL 240/CLCV 240 Romans, Jews, and Christians in the Roman Empire
REL 241 Emerging Religions: Judaism and Christianity, 150 B.C.E. – 500 C.E.
REL 242 Introduction to Rabbinic Literature
REL 243 Women in the Biblical World
REL 244 Jerusalem: The Holy City
REL 260 Islamic Civilization
REL 261 Cities of the Islamic World
REL 262 The Formation of the Islamic Tradition
REL 263 Islam in the Modern World
REL 269 Religion and Culture in Iran
REL 342 Seminar. Archaeology of the Biblical World
REL 361 Seminar. Studying Islam and the Middle East
REL 362 Seminar. Religion and State in the Islamic World
REL 364 Seminar. Sufism: Islamic Mysticism
REL 367 Seminar.  Muslim Travellers
SPAN 252* Christians, Jews, and Moors: The Spirit of Spain in Its Literature

Courses with an asterisk (*) also require the permission of the instructor if the course is to be counted for Middle Eastern Studies.