2017-2018 Undergraduate Course Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Middle Eastern Studies, BA


Program Director:

Yüksel Sezgin
100 Eggers Hall
315-443-4431
mes@maxwell.syr.edu

Faculty

Lamis Abdelaaty, Ahmed E. Abdel-Meguid, Hossein Bashiriyeh, Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Zachary J. Braiterman, Miriam Fendius Elman, Carol Fadda-Conrey, Ken Frieden, Rania Habib, Timur Hammond, Susan Henderson, Amy Kallander, Tazim R. Kassam, Osamah F. Khalil, Amos Kiewe, Natalie Koch, Jaklin Kornfilt, Sandra D. Lane, Dana M. Olwan, Kara Richardson, Robert A. Rubinstein, Ossama “Sam” Salem, Yüksel Sezgin, Nazanin Shahrokni, James W. Watts

The Middle Eastern Studies Program provides students with the opportunity to study the languages, history, culture, religions and politics of the Middle East. Overseen by the College of Arts & Sciences and the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs at the Maxwell School, the MESP brings together faculty members from many departments including Anthropology, Architecture, Art and Music Histories, English and Textual Studies, Geography, Health and Wellness, History, International Relations, Language, Literature, and Linguistics, Law, Philosophy, Political Science, Religion and Women’s and Gender Studies.

Student Learning Outcomes


1. Describe modern history and political development of the Middle East region.

2. Acquire and demonstrate basic knowledge of one of the four languages, widely used in the region (i.e. Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish).

3. Recognize key peoples, geography, social, intellectual, and/or religious facets of the Middle East region. 

4. Use cultural knowledge to analyze cultural differences.

5. Use a variety of methodological and theoretical approaches from the humanities, social sciences, and/or related professions in the study of the Middle Eastern region

Major Requirements


This interdisciplinary major, leading to a B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies, requires 36 credits in Middle Eastern Studies courses. The major will require students to complete (a) three core courses, (b) three consecutive semesters in one of the regional languages (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish), (c) two lower division courses and (d) three upper division courses. The Major is open to all undergraduates who have completed at least two Middle Eastern content courses (one of which can be a language course) and have a GPA of 2.8 or better. Prospective majors must meet with the Program Director before submitting a major application. At least 18 of the 36 credits required for the major should be in courses numbered above 299. A maximum of six credits of independent study can be applied to the major by petition. Experience credit courses (i.e., internships) may not be used to satisfy the requirements of the major.

Required Core Courses (choose three courses, 9 credits)


Language Category (three consecutive courses, 12 credits):


Lower Division Courses (two courses, 6 credits):


Required Core Courses (choose three courses, 9 credits)


Senior Seminar in Middle Eastern Studies, including but not limited to:


Upper Division Courses (three courses from across at least two different departments, 9 credits)