The Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (MELC) major is the study of the languages, literature, history, and cultures of the Middle East from antiquity to modern times. MELC offers language programs in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish, and in the ancient languages of Egyptian, Sumerian, Akkadian, and Aramaic. Students can explore the interconnected worlds of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and their neighbors, as well as the modern literature and diverse cultures of the modern Middle East. The major also offers study in pre-modern and modern Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. The department offers students the opportunity to participate in a discovery experience that is innovative, collaborative, transdisciplinary, and features digital research.
The major in Middle Eastern Language and Cultures offers two specializations: 1) Languages and Literature and 2) Middle Eastern Worlds. Students in the Languages and Literature specialization can pursue a major in the modern languages of:
Arabic
Hebrew
Persian
The Middle Eastern Worlds' specialization is the study of the material, intellectual, and religious histories and cultures of the region from ancient to modern times. Students can pursue a major in:
Ancient Middle Eastern Worlds
Modern Middle Eastern Worlds
Students can focus on a specific region, time period, language, art, and culture of the Middle East. The areas of study featured in the MELC department include:
1) Ancient Middle Eastern societies & languages, including ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
2) Modern Middle Eastern societies and languages including Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish (minor only).
Declaring the Major
Students are recommended to declare the major early in their academic careers. MELC 10 and MELC 11 are required lower-division courses, which may be taken after declaring the major. Students should consult with the undergraduate student advisor regarding major requirements, transfer credits, study abroad plans, and the opportunity to combine two disciplines through a double major study.
Honors Program
Students in any of the Middle Eastern Language and Cultures majors, with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 or higher and a GPA of 3.51 or higher in courses completed in the major, may apply for admission to the honors program in their senior year. Students must maintain the required GPA in the major in order to remain eligible for the honors program.
In addition to the GPA requirement, students must submit an honors thesis of at least 20 double-spaced, typewritten pages in their senior year. Students are required to enroll in an Independent Study course (MELC 199) in the fall semester and the honors course in (MELC H195) in the spring semester of their senior year in order to receive credit for the thesis. The honors thesis must be read and evaluated by a two-member committee consisting of a department faculty thesis supervisor and another member of the faculty. The thesis must be deemed to be at least B+ quality in order to qualify the candidate for graduation with a degree of honors. Students may receive distinctions of "high honors" or "highest honors" for outstanding thesis papers.
Minor Programs
In addition to the major program, the department offers a minor in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (MELC), as well as minors in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish.
Minors Offered by the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (MELC)
The Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (MELC) major offers concentrations in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Ancient Middle Eastern Worlds, and Modern Middle Eastern Worlds. Students are encouraged to begin the study of a language early in their academic studies. MELC 10 (Middle Eastern Worlds: Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia) and MELC 11 (
The Modern Middle Eastern Worlds) are required courses for the major.
General Guidelines
All courses taken to satisfy major requirements must be taken for a letter grade and be at least 3 units.
Students pursuing a double major may overlap two courses to meet both major requirements. Students can also overlap one course to satisfy a major and minor requirement.
A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required to declare the major and must be maintained in both lower and upper-division courses used to satisfy major requirements.
With the prior consent of the faculty major advisor, students may take courses across various disciplines to satisfy the culture and history course requirements for the major.
Students may be able to satisfy the lower division requirements by completing Arabic 10 (satisfies Arabic 1A and 1B) and Arabic 30 (satisfies Arabic 20A and 20B) courses offered during the summer term or through study abroad programs.
Students may select two courses from the MELC Worlds majors course list (see below). Students may also select courses from other departments. All courses for the major must be approved by the faculty major advisor.
Students may select two courses from the MELC Worlds majors course list (see below). Students may also select courses from other departments. All courses for the major must be approved by the faculty major advisor.
Students may select two courses from the MELC Worlds majors course list (see below). Students may also select courses from other departments. All courses for the major must be approved by the faculty major advisor.
The major requires 7 upper-division courses. Students may choose to take two ancient upper-division language courses to count towards the 7 required courses for the major.
The major requires 7 upper-division courses. Students may select two upper-division courses in a modern Middle Eastern language (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish, & others) to count towards the 7 required courses for the major.
Upper-Division Content Courses
Students may select courses from the list below or from other departments. All courses for the major must be approved by the faculty major advisor.
The Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (MELC) minor program requires five upper-division courses in the literature, language, culture, or history of the Middle East from ancient to modern times. Students can take two upper-division courses in one of the modern languages of the Middle East, such as Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish, among others, or from the ancient languages such as Egyptian, Cuneiform, and Semitics. Students can also take courses related to the Middle East from other departments. All courses for the minor must be approved by the faculty major advisor.
General Guidelines
All minors must be declared before the first day of classes in your Expected Graduation Term (EGT). For summer graduates, minors must be declared prior to the first day of Summer Session A.
All upper-division courses must be taken for a letter grade.
A minimum of three of the upper-division courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements must be completed at UC Berkeley.
A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required in the upper-division courses to fulfill the minor requirements.
Courses used to fulfill the minor requirements may be applied toward the Seven-Course Breadth requirement, for Letters & Science students.
No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs.
All minor requirements must be completed prior to the last day of finals during the semester in which the student plans to graduate. If students cannot finish all courses required for the minor by that time, they should see a College of Letters & Science adviser.
All minor requirements must be completed within the unit ceiling. (For further information regarding the unit ceiling, please see the College Requirements tab.)
Minor Requirements
Course List
Code
Title
Units
Upper-Division Requirements (5 Courses)
15-20
Select five courses from the list below or relevant courses from other departments. Students may also take up to 2 courses in an ancient or modern language of the Middle East. All courses must be approved by a faculty major adviser.
1) MELC 18 may count as an upper division course for the major or minor.
Total Units
15-20
College Requirements
Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.
For a detailed lists of L&S requirements, please see Overview tab to the right in this guide or visit the L&S Degree Requirements webpage. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages.
All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley and must be taken for a letter grade.
The American History and American Institutions requirements are based on the principle that all U.S. residents who have graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.
All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this campus requirement course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses are plentiful and offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.
College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements
The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer/data science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course taken for a letter grade.
The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work taken for a letter grade.
In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College of Letters and Science requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses in sequential order by the end of their fourth semester for a letter grade.
College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements
The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.
Unit Requirements
120 total units
Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units
Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department
Residence Requirements
For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes at Cal for four years, or two years for transfer students. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you graduate early, go abroad for a semester or year, or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an L&S College adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.
Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.
Senior Residence Requirement
After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your B.A. degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.
You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.
Modified Senior Residence Requirement
Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.
Upper Division Residence Requirement
You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.
Student Learning Goals
Learning Goals for the Major
Proficiency in speaking, listening, and writing in the designated language.
Knowledge of the major literary genres and corpora relevant to the designated language.
Knowledge of the main historical and cultural periods and geographies relevant to the designated language.
Familiarity with the entire area of the Middle East from ancient to modern times.
Awareness of the importance of the Middle East in today’s global society.
The ability to formulate a well-organized argument supported by evidence.
The ability to critically read and analyze scholarship in the field.
The ability to write and to communicate orally.
Major Map
Major maps are experience maps that help undergraduates plan their Berkeley journey based on intended major or field of interest. Featuring student opportunities and resources from your college and department as well as across campus, each map includes curated suggestions for planning your studies, engaging outside the classroom, and pursuing your career goals in a timeline format.
Use the major map below to explore potential paths and design your own unique undergraduate experience:
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Fall 2023
Expository writing based on analysis of selected texts or literature in translation or writings interpreting the material culture of the ancient or modern Middle East. Specific topics vary with the instructor. R1A satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement, and R1B satisfies the second half. Reading and Composition in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing Requirement
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD R1A after completing NE STUD 1A.
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Summer 2023 Second 6 Week Session
Expository writing based on analysis of selected texts or literatures in translation or writings interpreting the material culture of the ancient Near or modern Middle East. Specific topics vary with instructor. R1A satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement, and R1B satisfies the second half. Reading and Composition in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Previously passed an R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Previously passed an articulated R_A course with a letter grade of C- or better. Score a 4 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Literature and Composition. Score a 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Exam in English Language and Composition. Score of 5, 6, or 7 on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examination in English
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD R1B after completing NE STUD 1B.
Requirements this course satisfies: Satisfies the second half of the Reading and Composition requirement
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
This course introduces students to the Ancient Middle Eastern world through its languages, texts, art, and material culture. Emphasis is placed on Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia as well as their neighbors in Iran, Turkey, Arabia, and Africa. Students are introduced to techniques scholars use to study this evidence, including philology, archaeology, visual analysis, and digital humanities. Topics include urbanism, kingship, science, religion, and death. Students interact with original materials in campus and Bay Area museums. No prior coursework is required. Middle Eastern Worlds: Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
This course provides a multidisciplinary introduction to the Middle East, an area that has long dominated the news but remains relatively unknown to most Americans. In a broad sense, the Middle East refers to “Arab” countries in general as well as Israel, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and the region of Kurdistan. The course aims to help students expand their knowledge and understanding of the social, economic, and cultural complexities that underlie current events and politics in the Middle East. We will examine the interplay of cultures, societies, and economies of various regional communities that remain central to the dynamics of Middle Eastern identities. Middle Eastern Worlds: The Modern Middle East: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD N16 after completing NE STUD 16. A deficient grade in NE STUD N16 may be removed by taking NE STUD 16.
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 6.5 hours of lecture and 2.5 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2024
A general introduction to ancient Egypt, providing overview coverage of ancient Egyptian culture and society (history, art, religion, literature, language, social structure), Egyptian archaeology (pyramids, tombs, mummies, temples, cities, monuments, daily life), and the history and development of the modern discipline of Egyptology. Assumes no prior knowledge of subject. Almost all lectures are illustrated extensively by power point presentation. Discussion sections include meetings in the Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology, which has the best collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts west of Chicago. Introduction to Ancient Egypt: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD 18 after completing ANTHRO 18.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Fall 2023
The Berkeley Seminar Program has been designed to provide new students with the opportunity to explore an intellectual topic with a faculty member in a small-seminar setting. Berkeley Seminars are offered in all campus departments, and topics vary from department to department and semester to semester. Freshman Seminars: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1 hour of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: The grading option will be decided by the instructor when the class is offered. Final Exam To be decided by the instructor when the class is offered.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Man’s fate on earth, friendship, love, suffering, and evil—every civilization considers these themes. This course surveys legends and myths of ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), a cradle of civilization, home to the world’s first cities and empires, and the first writing system. Students will read ancient literary masterpieces such as the Gilgamesh Epic, Creation and Flood Myths, and other Mesopotamian literary texts in translation. Ancient Babylonian Legends and Myths: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
This course will introduce the student not only to ancient and modern Central Asia, but also to the role played by the region in the shaping of the history of neighboring regions and regimes. The course will outline the history, languages, ethnicities, religions, and archaeology of the region and will acquaint the student with the historical foundations of some of the political, social and economic challenges for contemporary post-Soviet Central Asian republics. Introduction to Central Asia: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD C26 after completing GEOG 55, or NE STUD 26. A deficient grade in NE STUD C26 may be removed by taking NE STUD 26.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Near Eastern Studies C26/Geography C55
Prerequisites: Lower division standing; 3.3 GPA and consent of instructor. Students must submit a written proposal to the chair of the department for approval
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-4 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Fall 2021
Women have been ignored or marginalized in much of past scholarship on ancient Egypt despite their highly visible presence in and importance to ancient Egyptian society. This course examines the roles of women and gender in ancient Egyptian society and belief systems. It reviews sources of evidence and interpretive frameworks for understanding the public and private roles of women and the definition of gender in ancient Egypt. It also places the women of ancient Egypt and ancient Egyptian gender constructions into comparative contexts with other ancient eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern societies. Women and Gender in Ancient Egypt: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Near Eastern Studies 18 or equivalent
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Ancient Egypt has fascinated visitors since antiquity to our modern imagination. From mummies, pyramids, and enchanting mythologies, these fanciful ideas have made their ways into books, movies, cartoons, and music. This course will explore the way ancient Egypt has been “consumed” in the West from the Napoleonic campaign to modern pop culture. We will study the impact that ancient Egypt and its wonderful monuments and civilization has had on art, literature, music, and even a number of religious and spiritual movements in the West as well as in Middle Eastern and African cultures. Egyptomania: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Spring 2025
A survey of the religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, based primarily upon the written sources. Religion of Ancient Egypt: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 18 or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022
A survey of Babylonian religious beliefs and practices based on indigenous texts and monuments. Babylonian Religion: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD 104 after completing NE STUD C104.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 10 weeks - 4.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
A representative survey of original 3rd-1st millennium Cuneiform texts in translation. The Sumerian religious and scholastic tradition; myths of creation, hymns, epics and early historical material. Ancient Mesopotamian Literature: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
The course focuses on ancient astronomy from Babylonia to the Greco-Roman world. Readings from primary texts, including Babylonian astronomical and astrological documents (MUL.APIN, Enuma Anu Enlil, etc.) and Greek treatises such as Geminos= Introduction to the Phenomena and Ptolemy's Almagest are used. Problems of the calendar and of planetary motion are of special interest. Two different approaches to celestial phenomena are covered, one from cuneiform texts, predominantly arithmetical and linear and the other from hellenistic Greek antiquity, characteristically geometrical and introducing a quantitative dimension only after contact with and borrowing from Babylonian astronomy. Ancient Astronomy: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD 108 after completing COM LIT 151, IDS 113, or CLASSIC 130.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2024
This course introduces students to the history of Mesopotamia, ancient Iraq, home to the world's first cities, writing and monetary exchange. Reading micro-histories of better- and lesser-known historical figures and original Akkadian and Sumerian sources (in translation), students will experience, from the distance of many millennia, the rise and fall of empires, class structures that divided and united society, the treatment of minority populations, the contributions of women --- scholars, queens, and priestesses, and the contributions of the Mesopotamian intellectual tradition to human experience. A visit to the Hearst Museum of Anthropology provides an opportunity for students to interact with original materials from antiquity. Mesopotamian History: Stories of Ancient People and Places: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Spring 2023
The material and written culture of ancient Egypt constitutes one of the best preserved and most robust archaeological corpora to survive from antiquity as well as one of the most popular avenues for public engagement within the Humanities. Digital initiatives have become crucial for the conservation, documentation, and dissemination of ancient Egyptian material and texts to the broadest possible audience. This course will introduce students to the main projects of Egyptology in the field of archaeology, philology, and material studies, which apply techniques of Digital Humanities, from 3D modeling of objects and architectural spaces to digital epigraphy and the creation of searchable databases. Digital Humanities and Egyptology: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD 110 after completing NE STUD 110. A deficient grade in NE STUD 110 may be removed by taking NE STUD 110, or NE STUD 110.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2021
Disease is a constant of the human condition. Like health, it is both a social construct and a physical reality. Epidemics are diseases that affect very large numbers of people; pandemics are epidemics with a passport—they spread over multiple countries and often continents. In this course we will survey, compare, and contrast ancient and modern conceptions of disease and health, and medicine and doctors, and examine and evaluate what evidence exists—historical, textual, archaeological--for identifying epidemics and pandemics in ancient times. Disease, Health and Pandemics in Ancient Egypt, the Ancient Middle East, and the Classical World: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
The most famous of Babylonian heroes is Gilgamesh, King of Uruk. The Gilgamesh Epic, recorded on twelve tablets in cuneiform, follows him in his quest for fame and eternal life. In this course, we will read the Gilgamesh Epic as well as several earlier texts around the same character. Moreover, we will read additional ancient texts that elucidate one or another aspect of the Epic. We will follow the traditions around Gilgamesh and see how his fame was used for literary, religious, and political purposes. Finally, we will look at some of the modern Gilgamesh interpretations. Gilgamesh: King, Hero, and God: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Today, much of the information we gather on any topic comes from Internet sources. Goal of this class is to increase students' skills in critically evaluating the scholarly value of information on the Ancient Near East that is to be found in web pages, e-journals, and online books. We will consider the goal and context of sources of information (touristic, commercial, scholarly, religious, etc.) and how this influences and filters the information provided. Although the class will focus on Internet resources, we will not neglect to use the same critical eye when using print media. The class will feature a number of collaborative projects in which this critical attitude may be practiced. Beyond Wikipedia: The Ancient Middle East: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week 15 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 10 weeks - 4.5 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Ancient Egypt was one of the earliest, most spectacular and most powerful of the world’s complex civilizations. Beginning as a series of Neolithic villages, it slowly transformed into a state and then a great kingdom with an all-powerful king. This course explores the first crucial journey of ancient Egypt, from the Neolithic through the Predynastic, Protodynastic, Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom eras. It overviews major aspects of the archaeology, art, history, and culture of Early Egypt as well as important methodological and theoretical issues. Early Egypt: From Village to Pyramid: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: NE STUD 18 or consent of the instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Second Millennium BCE Egypt boasted powerful centralized kingdoms and an international empire alternating with weaker decentralized periods of provincial power and foreign subjugation. This course overviews selected aspects of archaeology, art, history and culture of First Intermediate Period, Middle Kingdom, Second Intermediate Period and New Kingdom Egypt, as well as related methodological and theoretical issues of interpretation. Middle and New Kingdom Egypt especially were soaring heights of cultural achievements and political power. Ancient Egypt: Power, Glory and Empire in the Second Millennium: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: NESTUD 18 or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025
This course provides students an opportunity to investigate the similarities and differences between premodern and modern group identity narratives. Premodern narratives of peoplehood will be analyzed alongside modern racial narratives utilizing a comparative approach to reading primary sources, coupled with a critical engagement with secondary sources on the issues of race, racism, and religion. The course will focus on narratives related to Western Civilization, white people, black people, Antisemitism, and Orientalism. It will also cover some of the parallels and differences between Western ideologies of racism and Antisemitism and those found in certain parts of the premodern Islamic world and the Middle East. The Origins of Racism in the West: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Spring 2023
This course is about how humans have written language from ancient to modern times. Students will be introduced to the origins, evolutions, and adaptations of writing and explore various types of writing systems, including hieroglyphic, logographic, alphabetic, and syllabic, from around the world. The course will examine topics such as the invention of writing in ancient Mesopotamia, China, and Mesoamerica, the development of hieroglyphics in ancient Egypt, the evolution of the alphabet, the spread of Semitic scripts like Aramaic and Arabic, the invention of modern scripts such as Cherokee and Adlam, and even Emoji. Students will be encouraged to learn about additional scripts not covered in class as part of their assignments. Writing Systems of the World: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022
This course examines the development of archaeology in the Middle East from 1800 to
contemporary times. The first half of the course explores the roles that explorers, pilgrims, and
archaeologists played in the field’s development against the backdrop of European imperialism
and Middle Eastern nationalism. The second half of the course evaluates urgent issues about
looting, the antiquities market, repatriation, tourism, and climate change. Students will examine primary source materials such as ethnographies, memoirs, films, social media, and still images, and interrogate case studies that ponder the future of the past in the Middle East.
Terms offered: Fall 2011, Fall 2006
The art and architecture of early Mesopotamia will be explored in terms of the social, political, and cultural context of ancient Sumer, Babylonia, and Assyria during the period of urbanization and early kingdoms. The course provides an integrated picture of the arts of Mesopotamia and neighboring regions from 3500-1000 BCE with an emphasis on the development of visual narrative, the use of art in the expression of authority and legitimacy, and artistic interconnections between cultures. Collections on campus or in the area will be incorporated whenever possible. The Art of Ancient Mesopotamia: 3500-1000 BCE: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD C120A after completing NE STUD 120A. A deficient grade in NE STUD C120A may be removed by taking NE STUD 120A.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Near Eastern Studies C120A/History of Art C120A
Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020
The royal art and architecture of later Mesopotamia will be explored in terms of the social, political, and cultural context of the great empires of Assyria, Babylon, and Persia. The course provides an integrated picture of the arts of Mesopotamia and neighboring regions from 1000-330 BCE with an emphasis on the development of visual narrative, the use of art in the expression of authority and legitimacy, and artistic interconnections between cultures. Collections on campus or in the area will be incorporated whenever possible. The Art of Ancient Mesopotamia: 1000-330 BCE: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD C120B after completing NE STUD 120B. A deficient grade in NE STUD C120B may be removed by taking NE STUD 120B.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Near Eastern Studies C120B/History of Art C120B
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2015, Fall 2013
The course will treat in depth topics in Islamic architecture and topics in Islamic art. Subjects addressed may include painting, calligraphy, and book production. Topics in Islamic Art: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for MELC C121A after completing HISTART 121A, NE STUD 121A, or MELC 121A. A deficient grade in MELC C121A may be removed by taking NE STUD 121A, NE STUD 121A, or MELC 121A.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures C121A/History of Art C121A
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
A survey of the archaeology of Iran and its neighbors from the Paleolithic Era to the Sasanian period. Students will analyze architecture, artifacts, and written sources, discuss debates, and learn archaeological methods. Iranian Archaeology: Read More [+]
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
A survey of Mesopotamian archaeology from the Paleolithic Era to 300 BCE investigating the origins of agriculture, urbanism, states, and empires in ancient Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Students will analyze architecture, artifacts, and written sources, discuss current debates, and learn archaeological research methods. Archaeology of Mesopotamia: Read More [+]
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
A survey of Levantine archaeology from the Paleolithic Era to 300 BCE investigating the origins of agriculture, technologies, villages, and states in ancient Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. Prehistoric, Canaanite, and Israelite societies are emphasized. Students will analyze architecture, artifacts, and written sources, discuss debates, and learn archaeological methods. Archaeology of the Levant: Read More [+]
Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021
This course explores the art, archaeology, and history of Middle Eastern Christian communities from Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages. Particular emphasis is placed on the everyday life of Christian populations in their various contexts, especially on Assyrian and Syriac-speaking communities. This course investigates material evidence using historical and archaeological methods in order to reconstruct the complex history of Middle East Christianity. Art and Archaeology of Middle Eastern Christianity: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
The course will outline art and archaeology of the Silk Roads from the 5th century BCE to the 10th century CE. A number of specific sites located along the Silk Roads will be selected and explored in depth, as examples which reveal the manifold cultural currents along the trade routes. Special attention will be paid to the eclecticism in Silk Road cultures brought about by the movement of peoples and merchandise which facilitated the spread and fusion along these trading routes of various ideas, cultural forms, art styles, and religious concepts. The social and political underpinnings of this eclecticism will be examined. Silk Road Art and Archaeology: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
The course provides a broad introduction to the cultures of ancient Syria from the Neolithic period to 500 BCE. The diversity of cultures and their development over time will be assessed in light of the built environment and artistic production. Emphasis is placed on interpreting the material culture of the region within its social and political contexts. Art and Archaeology of Ancient Syria: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This course explores the art and archaeology of ancient Turkey from the Neolithic period to the time of Alexander's conquest of the Near East (330 BCE). The survey will include geographic and historical considerations and will focus in particular on the ancient sites and monuments. Topics of discussion may include the Anatolian mother goddess, resource procurement, trade contacts, the Trojan war, and the rise of Phrygia and Lydia. A general theme throughout the course is the issue of defining indigenous, regional cultures and the ways in which they interacted with the broader ancient world. Art and Archaeology of Ancient Turkey: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This course focuses on the arts of the Iranian cultural environment from the mid-first Millennium BCE through the first Millennium CE. Geographically, it covers a region stretching east from modern Iran to Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and north towards the Central Asian steppes, the ancestral home of important ancient Iranian pastoral nomadic tribes. The course will, among others, explore the art and archaeology of the Achaemenids, Parthians, Sasanians, and Sogdians to come to a better understanding of the social, political, and cultural underpinnings of the pre-Islamic Iranian world. Arts of Iran and Central Asia: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2010, Fall 2005
This course analyzes the art, architecture, and archaeology of prehistoric Greece, concentrating on the Minoan and Mycenaean palatial arts of the Bronze Age (3000-1200 BCE). The evocative yet still enigmatic remains of palaces and funerary complexes, frescoes and vase paintings, and precious worked pieces will be closely examined in terms of their forms and cultural contexts. The place of prehistoric Greece in the international world of the eastern Mediterranean will also be explored. Minoan and Mycenaean Art: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD C129 after completing NE STUD 129. A deficient grade in NE STUD C129 may be removed by taking NE STUD 129.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Near Eastern Studies C129/History of Art C140
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
A survey of the poetics and genres of poetry in the Hebrew Bible, focusing on close reading of selected texts. Theoretical issues will include the dynamics of parallelism, metaphor, intertextuality, agency, and gender. Historical issues will include the ancient Near Eastern literary genres and the political and ritual dynamics of the biblical poems. Throughout the course, we will also be reading selected modern poems that respond to biblical poetry. Primary texts will be largely drawn from the books of Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and the prophets. All texts will be read in translation. Biblical Poetry: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This class will examine the emergence and development of classical Judaism, its piety, institutions, thought, and literature. Judaism in Late Antiquity: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for MELC C133 after completing NE STUD 133, or MELC 133. A deficient grade in MELC C133 may be removed by taking NE STUD 133, NE STUD 133, or MELC 133.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Near Eastern Studies C133/Religious Studies C133/Undergrad Interdisciplinary Studies C153
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2022
A course on trends in Jewish religious, cultural, and social life. The course will study innovative and conservative aspects of thought, ritual, and belief in relation to contemporary life and traditional Jewish values in at least one country other than the United States. Topics in History and Cultures of Israel: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2024
Our understanding of the Hebrew Bible has been transformed in recent years due to insights from literary criticism, anthropology, archaeology, and historiography. This course explores the impact of these innovations and provides a multilayered introduction to the writings of the Hebrew Bible, focused on the mingling of memory, religion, and the literary imagination. Literature and History in the Hebrew Bible: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD 135 after completing UGIS C152.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
A critical examination of the form and content of history-like narratives of the Hebrew Bible in the light of concepts of history and historiographic practices in the ancient Near East and in contemporary historical studies. Selective focus on one or more books in Genesis through Kings, Chronicles, and Ezra-Nehemiah. History and Historiography in the Hebrew Bible: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
An analysis of modern Jewish movements and ideas. Topics include Spinoza, Hasidism, the Enlightenment, Jewish religious movements in America, Zionism, Buber, Rosensweig, Kaplan, Heschel. Modern and Contemporary Jewish Thought: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
An investigation of concepts of the hero/heroine in the literature of ancient Mesopotamia, Canaan, and Israel. The importance of heroic epic in defining and exploring morality, the self, and the cosmos will be a guiding concern. Texts include the epics of Gilgamesh and Aqhat, the Hebrew Bible, and the New Testament. All texts are read in translation. The Hero in the Bible and the Ancient Middle East: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Trends and genres in modern Jewish literatures--translated from Hebrew and Yiddish, with selected texts translated from other Jewish languages like Ladino and Judeo-Arabic. Focus will be on developments in Jewish literary traditions since the enlightenment in the context of tensions between occidental and oriental formations of Jewish culture. Modern Jewish Literatures: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture and 2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
A general survey of the religious history of Iran in the Islamic period, covering the rise and development of religious institutions, the elaboration of the religious sciences, Sufism, and sectarian movements. Islam in Iran: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
A general presentation of Sufism that, while not aiming at exhaustiveness, will seek to acquaint students with the place and function of Sufism in Islam; the main outlines of its history; doctrinal and ritual features; the relationship between Sufism and literature, especially poetry; the principal Sufi orders; leading figures in the elaboration of Sufism as a distinct mode of Islamic practice; and the great diversity of Sufism as reflected in its geographic spread throughout the Muslim world. Sufism: The Mysticism of Islam: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
This course explores the status of women in Islam by examining how the most authentic Islamic sources, the Qur’an, and Hadith, have addressed the role of women in society. We will critically discuss the different interpretations of these texts and their instructions towards women. In addition, the course will examine other academic writings to investigate questions, such as whether the resistance to modernity in Muslim societies is due to Islam or patriarchal laws. Did Islam dictate the patriarchal order in Muslim societies? What are the difficulties that Muslim women face in their societies? Also, the course will include biographies of many great Muslim women whose names are enshrined in the ancient and modern history of Islam. Women in Islam: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Fall 2023
This course aims at introducing students to some of the most important features of the Islamic religious tradition. The main subjects of discussion include life of Muhammad, the Quran, Tradition, Law, Sufism, Theology, Philosophy, and Politics. The course will cover both medieval and modern Islam and will touch upon all major sects. In reference to the modern period, particular emphasis will fall on the relationship of medieval and modern interpretations and on the emergence of “political” and “liberal” Islam with reference to the history of the modern Middle East. Students will also be exposed to important theories and methods in the academic study of the discipline. Islam: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
A survey of Islamic civilization in the Middle East during the medieval period. Topics include the emergence of Islam in Arabia and the role of the Prophet Muhammad; the rapid rise of an Islamic empire and its effects on the societies it governed; the creation of an Islamic civilization and the religious, political, and intellectual debates it engendered; contact with Europe and Asia through trade, Crusades, and nomadic conquest; the contributions of non-Muslims, women, slaves. The Rise of Islamic Civilization: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
The course provides a chronological and thematic approach using biographies and texts to trace the emergence of the modern Middle East from the late 17th to the early 20th century culminating in the dissolution of the Ottoman dynasty and the advent of the nation-state structure. The course contextualizes the region’s social history, culture, religious, and social stratification, colonization, and Orientalism as a pathway toward understanding the forces that shaped the modern Middle East. Emergence of the Modern Middle East: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
The course will trace the birth of the modern map of the Middle East, explore the development of new nation-states, the emergence of various social-religious movements, anti-colonial struggles, and forging national identities as well as the erasure of others. We will explore the emerging national projects and contestations in Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and the un-making of Palestine. The course will explore the emerging and continued instrumentalization of ethnic, religious, and cultural differences by domestic and external forces, and the continued mobilization of colonial discourses in the post-colonial era. The Modern Middle East from WWI to the Present: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
No knowledge of Arabic is required. Survey of Arabic literature from its origins in pre-Islamic poetry through its historical development during the Umayyad, and Abbasid periods. Arabic Literature in Translation: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Spring 2023
No knowledge of Arabic is required. Survey of Arabic literature in its development from the post-Abbasid period to the present. Arabic Literature in Translation: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2024
This course focuses on poetry, short stories, novels, and the history of Middle Eastern women writers. The course will feature writings from women of diverse social and religious backgrounds and their distinct role in shaping the cultural history of Arabic poetry and literature. Texts may range from the pre-Islamic to the Medieval period as well as contemporary writings in both print and digital. Students will examine various literary methods developed over time by women writers seeking to defend and assert their rights for independence, education, and self-fulfillment. Examining their narratives from both historical and fictional sources will allow us to reflect on contemporary concerns regarding freedom, human rights, and equality. Middle Eastern Women Writers: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD 151 after completing NE STUD 151. A deficient grade in NE STUD 151 may be removed by taking NE STUD 151, or NE STUD 151.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This course is organized around two broad but inter-related issues: the quest for identity and the representation of the "other" in modern Arabic literature. Central to both concerns is the treatment of colonialism, nationalism, and gender in modern Arabic literature and Arab culture in general. Cultural Encounters in Modern Arabic Literature: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 6 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025
This course focuses on the cultural history of Islamic Spain (Al-Andalus) from the Muslim conquest of 711 until the expulsion of Moriscos in 1609. Topics covered include the history, literature, architecture, arts, and music of Al-Andalus. The major aim is for students to develop an understanding of and a sensibility to the history, politics, and cultures of Al-Andalus as well as its social and cultural relevance to contemporary audiences. Synagogues, Cathedrals, and Mosques: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
The dynamics of identity in contemporary Israeli and Palestinian fiction. Since in both literary traditions the quest for identity invariably involves an encounter with the cultural "other," the examination of this phenomenon within a single context can be revealing. We will approach the subject through lectures, discussion, and the viewing of video and film dramatizations of Arabic and Hebrew works that deal with identity, and make use of the class location to significantly enhance learning by visiting Arabic and Hebrew theaters and literary establishments and by meeting and interacting with Israeli and Palestinian writers, critics, and scholars. Narratives of Identity in Israeli and Palestinian Fiction: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 15 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2022
This course investigates the writing, transmission, and reception of The Thousand and One Nights. After studying the tales and examining their structure, students will investigate how stories were transmitted, translated, and received in Europe. This process offers a window into 19th-century attitudes about gender and race, especially Western views of the "oriental" other. How the tales were creatively manipulated by Western writers will be studied as will the influence of these stories on modern Arabic literature. Examples of how the stories are represented in Western films will be considered. All works will be read in English translation. The Thousand and One Nights in World Literary Imagination: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2021
The Middle East, Iran, and North Africa are home to a great number of languages and dialects, including many varieties of Arabic, as well as Persian, Kurdish, Hebrew, Aramaic, Berber, and more. This course provides an introduction to the current status of these languages, their social settings, and relevant parts of their histories. Students will acquire a basic foundation in sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology as we explore how these languages change, struggle, and thrive. Knowledge of a language from the region (e.g. Arabic or Persian) will be helpful; no background in linguistics is required. Sociolinguistics of the Middle East: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2023, Fall 2022
This course introduces students to the main themes and tropes in contemporary Arab cultural production. Within an analytical framework, the course surveys a variety of examples from the written and cinematic culture. These include films, fiction, autobiographies, documentaries, music as well as critical articles and essays. The texts engage a wide range of topics including desire, gender, Islam, colonialism, revolution, nationalism, borders, and refugees in the modern Arabic-speaking world. Ultimately, the course seeks to provide a critical method that will enable students to study and appreciate contemporary Arab culture. Knowledge of Arabic is not required. Reel Arabs: Film and Fiction in the Middle East: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
The course focuses on the impacts of migration and displacement of people from postcolonial Middle East region and the U.S. legal, political, social, and religious discourse on cross-cultural and ethical issues which arise in immigration practice while placing the phenomena within a global and transnational context. Three separate groups in the US will be examined; Middle Eastern immigrants, El Salvadoran diaspora, and rightwing white communities. The course seeks to draw connections between Middle Eastern migration and diaspora in the colonial and postcolonial periods leading to the modern period of restrictive immigration policies, building of walls, targeting Arab and Muslim immigrants as well as all immigrants from the Global South. Middle East: Post-Colonialism, Migration, and Diaspora: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
From Roman to American imperial interests, the Middle East sits at the crossroads of empires and the focal point for power struggles and Orientalist imaginaries. This course explores the intersections of culture, race, and imperialism, and Western engagement in the Middle East over the last 150 years. The recent invasion of Iraq has led to a renewal in the idea of “empire” building in the Middle East. The ideas of empire, colonial legacies, Orientalist tropes, war and competition for oil, and current globalization and neoliberal policies impacting the region will be explored. Middle East, Empire, and Orientalism: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2022
Principally devoted to Zoroastrianism and Manicheanism but with some attention to Indo-Iranian origins, and relevance of Iranian religion for the history of Hellenistic Gnosticism, Judaism, and Islam. Religions of Ancient Iran: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2021
An introduction to the visual and material cultures of the Persianate world. Persian art has one of the richest artistic heritages in world history and includes a wide range of artistic development in architecture, sculpture, painting, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, and metalwork. This course will explore the arts in terms of their larger social, political, and cultural context in history. In addition to the Iranian plateau, the course may also cover other regions that are part of the Iranian cultural domain, which stretches from India, Afghanistan, Central Asia to Egypt, and the Mediterranean. Topics in Persian Art and Culture: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Fall 2024
These courses offer a comprehensive introduction to the main currents in Persian literature from the 10th century to the contemporary period. They introduce students to various genres, period styles, and crucial formal and thematic elements necessary to the understanding of Persian literature. While 162A deals with classical Persian literature, 162B deals with Persian literature since the advent of modernity in Persian-speaking lands, namely the 19th century. Both courses emphasize the impact of social factors, political events, and intellectual currents on Persian literary production. The course is taught in English. Knowledge of Persian is desirable but not required. History of Persian Literature: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 2.5 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 162A
Terms offered: Fall 2023
An engaged study of Persian literature in translation, drawing on texts from the 8th to the 21st century. Readings will illustrate philosophies of either individual thinkers and themes, or the development within particular genres such as poetry, mysticism, novels, etc. We will further strive to understand the socio-political-religious milieu(s) of the text(s) and their author(s). Persian Literature in Translation: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This course introduces students to major themes in modern Iranian literature and cinema. Short story readings and discussions provide an analytical framework for the screening of films covering diverse topics of significance in Iran today. All films have English subtitles; lectures and readings are in English. No prior knowledge of Iranian history or literature is required. Film and Fiction of Iran: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Upper division status
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week 8 weeks - 6-6 hours of lecture and 0-2 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Fall 2021
The course introduces students to Islamic history and challenges of Islamic historiography from the rise of Islam (ca.600 CE) to the coming of the Seljuks (1050CE). Students will gain an understanding of the religious, social, and political institutions of Islam in their historical contexts. Throughout the course, they will be exposed to various primary and secondary sources that help them develop a sense of how the historical narrative was produced. Islamic History and Historiography (600-1050): Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
A study of Turkish literature in translation, drawing on texts from the 8th to the 20th century. Readings will be chosen to illustrate the development within specific genres: lyric poetry, drama, folktale, etc. Turkish Literature in Translation: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 170A
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
A survey of the main themes in the cultural, ethnic, and linguistic history of Central Asia and adjacent regions, principally from the rise of Islam down to the present. The first half of the course will deal with the Iranian element in Central Asia, and particularly with the Tajiks. The second half will be devoted to the Turks, including their history and expansion, not only in Central Asia but also in Anatolia and South East Europe. Topics in the History of Central Asia and the Turks: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Formerly known as: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 173A
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This course examines the social and religious lives of women and men through the lens of the law. A major concern is the relationship between law and culture, namely, the ways in which the law reflected ideals and tensions ranging from ideological competition between states to the problems of ordinary townspeople and peasants. In analyzing actual court cases, we will ask how individuals participated in the life of the court, and how they used the court to articulate their own self-interest and sense of moral worth. Readings will be in English. Students wishing to work with sources in the original Ottoman Turkish should also enroll in Turkish 104 (1 unit). Law and Society in the Early Modern Middle East: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2023
This course will discuss Afghanistan from ancient times to the present, including the emergence of Afghanistan as a modern nation-state and its geo-strategic importance. The Soviet invasion and aftermath will be emphasized, along with issues of state and society, ethnic diversity and tribal structure, challenges of modernization, and nationalism and political identity. The role of religion and mystical orders and the role of art, music, and literature will also be discussed. History and Culture of Afghanistan: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Summer 2024 Second 6 Week Session, Spring 2024
The course introduces students to Quran and to methods of its interpretation, as adopted in the exegetical (tafsir) literature. In addition to being exposed to secondary academic literature on the Quran and its exegesis, students will be offered a high dose of primary exegetical texts in translation. Passages from a number of periods and denominations will be selected, so that students may develop an appreciation of the interpretive range of a constantly-evolving tradition. The Quran and Its Interpretation: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 7.5-7.5 hours of lecture and 0-2.5 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Not yet offered
In the early seventh century, Muhammad initiated a movement that evolved into a global religion and civilization, profoundly influencing numerous cultures worldwide. This course endeavors to offer students a holistic understanding of the Prophet Muhammad’s life, drawing from the perspectives of both Muslim and Western scholars. Throughout the course, students will explore various discourses surrounding Muhammad’s life and character. For instance, they will delve into the biographies penned by Muslim scholars across different eras, spanning from ancient to modern times. Additionally, the course will examine the diverse perspectives of non-Muslim scholars, examining how they have perceived and depicted Muhammad from various vantage points. Prophetic Biography: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022
This course explores the history and culture of religious groups in the Middle East beginning in the Roman and Sasanian Eras and extending up to the current day. Evidence from Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Yezidi, and Muslim communities will be investigated. Particular emphasis will be placed on the development of the Assyrians from their ancient origins in Mesopotamia, their Christianization, and to their modern global diaspora. Primary texts will be read in translation and material culture will be examined in class. Themes such as persecution, nationalism, and genocide, among other topics, will be studied. The Assyrians and Other Religious Groups in the Middle East: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for MELC 187 after completing NE STUD 125. A deficient grade in MELC 187 may be removed by taking NE STUD 125, or NE STUD 125.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Alternative to final exam.
Terms offered: Spring 2022, Spring 2018, Spring 2016
This course will explore magic as an experimental science within the learned traditions of civilizations that we consider as fundamental for a modern Western identity: from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome to the medieval and early modern Middle East, Byzantium, and Europe. The primary sources used for this exploration will be texts on demons, magic, divination, and the sophisticated philosophical background to such beliefs. In addition, archeological remains pertinent to these practices such as talismans, amulets, and other magical objects will be discussed. Magic, Religion, and Science: The Ancient and Medieval Worlds: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of lecture and 0-1 hours of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department. Special Topics in Fields of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: Ancient Middle Eastern Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2022
Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department. Special Topics in Fields of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: Egyptian Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2022
Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department. Special Topics in Fields of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: Jewish Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Spring 2023
Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Near Eastern studies. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department. Special Topics in Fields of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: Islamic Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Near Eastern studies. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department. Special Topics in Fields of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: Arabic: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Near Eastern studies. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department. Special Topics in Fields of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: Hebrew: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Topics explore themes and problems in the various fields of Near Eastern studies. They often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Specific descriptions of current offerings in this series are available through the department. Special Topics in Fields of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: Iranian/Persian: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 8 hours of lecture per week 8 weeks - 5.5 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This series is designed to acquaint upper division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Near Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation. Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10-10 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This series is designed to acquaint upper-division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Middle Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation. Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Middle Eastern Studies: Ancient Middle Eastern Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10-10 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This series is designed to acquaint upper-division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Middle Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation. Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Middle Eastern Studies: Egyptian Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10-10 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This series is designed to acquaint upper-division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Middle Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation. Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Middle Eastern Studies: Jewish Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10-10 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This series is designed to acquaint upper-division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Middle Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation. Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Middle Eastern Studies: Islamic Studies: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10-10 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This series is designed to acquaint upper-division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Middle Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation. Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Middle Eastern Studies: Arabic: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10-10 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This series is designed to acquaint upper-division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Middle Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation. Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Middle Eastern Studies: Cuneiform: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10-10 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This series is designed to acquaint upper-division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Middle Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation. Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Middle Eastern Studies: Egyptian: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD 192G after completing NE STUD 192H.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10-10 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This series is designed to acquaint upper-division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Middle Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation. Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Middle Eastern Studies: Hebrew: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10-10 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This series is designed to acquaint upper-division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Middle Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation. Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Middle Eastern Studies: Iranian/Persian: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10-10 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This series is designed to acquaint upper-division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Middle Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation. Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Middle Eastern Studies: Semitics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10-10 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This series is designed to acquaint upper-division students with advanced research strategies in specific areas of Middle Eastern Studies. The course may reflect current research and interests of the instructors and will introduce students to specialized problems in the field. Two units for presentation; four units for paper and presentation. Undergrad Seminar: Problems and Research in Middle Eastern Studies: Turkish: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3-3 hours of seminar per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 10-10 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam required.
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
This course teaches archaeological field methods through hands-on instruction. Students work with the project staff and receive exposure to techniques like excavation, survey, illustration, photography, and artifact processing. Students also learn local archaeology and history through weekly lectures and field trips. Middle Eastern Archaeological Field School: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: No prerequisites but courses in archaeology or Middle/Near Eastern studies are recommended
Hours & Format
Summer: 6 weeks - 40 hours of fieldwork, 5 hours of laboratory, and 2 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Letter grade. Final exam not required.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
Directed study centered upon preparation of an honors thesis. Senior Honors: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Limited to senior honors candidates
Credit Restrictions: Students will receive no credit for NE STUD H195 after completing NE STUD 195. A deficient grade in NE STUD H195 may be removed by taking NE STUD 195.
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit up to a total of 4 units.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-4 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures/Undergraduate
Grading/Final exam status: Offered for pass/not pass grade only. Final exam not required.
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