Middle Eastern Studies

 

General Degree Information

Global Studies (GBST) majors construct an interdisciplinary sequence of coursework together with an advisor, often combined with service learning, internships or study abroad in the areas of Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, or in the Russian and Post-Soviet region. The major is designed to provide students with an historical understanding of the interplay of processes that have shaped peoples and regions and the recognizable political, economic, and religious ideas and institutions that have emerged as a result. Familiarity with the issues and cultures of a specific region gained through coursework and experience provides a foundation for conceptualizing complex interconnections and for grappling with the emerging possibilities and the ethical responsibilities of living in an interconnected world.

In general, a major in Global Studies includes courses from at least three departments. Detailed descriptions of the degree programs are provided below. Additional information about courses and requirements is available from Global Studies faculty advisors.

Language Requirement. Degrees in Global Studies include a modern foreign language component which exceeds the College’s proficiency requirement. Students meet the requirement by completing the appropriate line requirements of their concentration.
Major Writing Requirement (MWR). The major writing requirement may be satisfied by (1) fulfilling the major writing requirement for a department contributing courses to your degree program or (2) completing a writing project designed to meet the MWR with special permission from a faculty member.
Major Computer Proficiency Requirement (CPR). Global Studies majors may satisfy the computing proficiency requirement by (1) fulfilling the computing requirement for a department that offers a course in the student’s major or (2) completing Computer Science 131 or higher.
Study Abroad. Students are strongly encouraged to seek overseas opportunities which complement their Global Studies major. With prior approval, most courses taken abroad may be applied to major or other requirements. Contact Global Studies or the Global Education Office at the Reves Center for more information.
Major Declaration. Prospective majors in Global Studies should discuss their plans with a faculty advisor in the concentration as early as possible.
Minors. In Global Studies students may complete a minor in African Studies, East Asian Studies, Japanese Studies, Latin American Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, or Russian and Post-Soviet Studies.

Description of Global Studies Courses (GBST)

With the exception of core courses, special topics courses, internships, independent study, and senior honors (listed below), courses for a Global Studies major are selected from those available in the curricula of the various departments and schools. Course descriptions appear elsewhere in the catalog.

201. Introduction to European Studies.
Spring (3).

An introduction to the interdisciplinary field of European Studies.  Students explore how Europe has emerged and been contested as an idea, dynamic region, and shared community.  Topics include 1) Imagining Europe; 2) The European Mix: Peoples, Ideas, Spaces; and 3) European Integration.

310. Africa: History, Politics and Culture.

An interdisciplinary introduction to African traditions, institutions, and thought systems on both sides of the Sahara. Primary texts and films will be used to illuminate the continent’s panoramic oral and literate traditions in the appropriate regional and historical contexts.

390. Topics in Global Studies.
Fall or Spring (1-4) Staff.

Selected topics in Global Studies are offered occasionally. The topic to be considered will be announced prior to the beginning of the semester. These courses may be repeated for credit.

391. Short Course in Global Studies.
Fall or Spring (1) Staff.

Selected topics in Global Studies are offered occasionally. The topic to be considered will be announced prior to the beginning of the semester. These courses may be repeated for credit.

480. Independent Study in Global Studies.
Fall and Spring (3,3) Staff. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

For majors who have completed most of their major requirements and who have secured approval from a supervising instructor. A Global Studies major can include no more than six hours of independent study. These courses may be repeated for credit, if the topic varies.

495-496. Senior Honors in Global Studies.
Fall, Spring (3,3) Staff.

Students admitted into the Senior Honors program in Global Studies will enroll in these courses during both semesters of their senior year. Honors candidates are responsible for (1) formulating and completing a program of study in consultation with a faculty advisor; (2) preparation and presentation, by two weeks before the last day of classes in the spring semester, of an honors essay; and (3) satisfactory performance in a comprehensive oral examination which focuses on the subject matter of the honors essay. For College provisions governing admission to the Senior Honors program, see the discussion of major honors elsewhere in this catalog and the Charles Center web site.

498. Internship.
Fall and Spring (credits to be arranged) Staff.

An internship offers international work experience while providing opportunities to apply and develop ideas, languages and research techniques outside the classroom. Internships must be developed in cooperation with an on-site internship supervisor and a sponsoring William and Mary faculty member and must be approved in advance.

 

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Middle Eastern Studies Major

A major in Middle Eastern Studies provides interdisciplinary exposure to the diverse Middle East through the study of religion, history, politics, literature, fine arts, archaeology, and the primary language of the region, Arabic. Majors must complete courses from eleven "lines" of a menu system, where each line includes one or more courses. Once a course is counted under a line, it cannot be counted elsewhere. Thirty-three credit hours in these courses are required for the major.

Students majoring in Middle Eastern Studies must complete a minimum of thirty-three (33) credit hours. Students are advised to register for cross-listed courses in such a way as to avoid having more than half of the major courses in any one department. The language requirement (Lines 5 and 6) is met by completing two semesters of Arabic beyond the 202 level.

 

Lines 1, 2, 3 and 4. History, Religion, and Politics (required)
  • GOVT 339: Middle Eastern Political Systems
  • HIST 171: The Modern Middle East I (1516-1798)
  • HIST 172: The Modern Middle East II (1798-present)
  • REL 212: Introduction to Islam

 

Lines 5 and 6. Arabic language (choose two)
  • ARAB 301: Advanced Arabic I: Introduction to Arabic Literature and Society
  • ARAB 302: Advanced Arabic II: Arabic Literature and Society
  • ARAB 303: Media Arabic (ARAB 302 or consent of instructor)
  • ARAB 304: Introduction to Arabic Dialects (ARAB 201)
  • ARAB 305: Directed Readings in Arabic
  • ARAB 306: Directed Readings in Arabic
  • ARAB 411: Independent Study in Arabic

 

Lines 7, 8, and 9. Literature, History and Culture (choose three)
  • ANTH 150: Freshman Seminar Traditional Middle Eastern Societies
  • ANTH 350: Special Topics in Anthropology (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • ARAB 150: Freshman Seminar Introduction to Arab World Through Film 
  • ARAB 303: Media Arabic (ARAB 302 or consent of instructor)
  • ARAB 304: Introduction to Arabic Dialects (ARAB 201)
  • ARAB 309: Survey of Arabic Literature in Translation
  • ARAB 310: Topics in Modern Arabic Literature in Translation
  • ARAB 311: Special Topics in Arabic
  • ARAB 411: Independent Study in Arabic
  • MUS 372  : Music Cultures of the Middle East
  • HIST 490C: Topics in History (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • HIST 491C: Topics in History (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • INTL 390 : Topics in Interntional Studies (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • INTL 480 : Independent Study in Intern. Studies (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • RELG 308: Topics in Religion (Islamic topics only)
  • RELG 317: Women in Islam
  • RELG 318: Islam in the Modern World

 

Lines 10 and 11. Electives (choose two)
  • ANTH 150: Freshman Seminar (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • ANTH 319: Archaeology of the Near East
  • ANTH 350: Special Topics in Anthropology (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • ARAB 150: Freshman Seminar
  • ARAB 290: Iraqi Dialect
  • ARAB 309: Survey of Arabic Literature in Translation
  • ARAB 310: Topics in Modern Arabic Literature in Translation
  • ARAB 311: Special Topics in Arabic
  • ARAB 411: Independent Study
  • ARTH 460: Seminar Topics in Art History: Orientalism and Visual Culture
  • GOVT 312: Politics of Developing Countries
  • GOVT 341: Persian Gulf Politics
  • GOVT 391: Topics in Government (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • GOVT 491: Seminar in Government (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • HIST 490C Topics in History (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • HIST 491C: Topics in History (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • GBST 390: Topics in Global Studies (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • GBST 480: Independent Study in Global Studies (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • GBST 495/496:Senior Honors in Global Studies (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • GBST 498: Internship
  • MUS 372  : Music Cultures of the Middle East
  • RELG 211: Introduction to the History of Jewish Thought 
  • RELG 308: Topics in Religion (Islamic topics only)
  • RELG 317: Women in Islam: Tradition and Change
  • RELG 318: Islam in the Modern World

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Minor in Middle Eastern Studies

The minor in Middle Eastern Studies requires six courses (18 credit hours) selected from the courses below. While not required, students are strongly encouraged to take courses in Arabic language.

 

Lines 1, 2, 3 and 4. (required)
  • RELG 212: Introduction to Islam
  • HIST 171: The Modern Middle East I (1516-1798)
  • HIST 172: The Modern Middle East II (1798-present)
  • GOVT 339: Middle Eastern Political Systems

 

Lines 5 and 6. (choose two)
  • ANTH 150: Freshman Seminar (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • ANTH 350: Topics in Anthropology (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • ARAB 150: Freshman Seminar
  • ARAB 301: Advanced Arabic I: Intro to Arabic Literature/Society (ARAB 202 or consent of instructor)
  • ARAB 302: Advanced Arabic II: Intro to Arabic Literature/Society (ARAB 301 or consent of instructor)
  • ARAB 309: Survey of Arabic Literature in Translation
  • ARAB 310: Topics in Modern Arabic Literature in Translation
  • GBST 390: Topics in Global Studies (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • GOVT 391: Topics in Government (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • GOVT 491: Seminar in Government (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • HIST 490C: Topics in History (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • HIST 491C: Topics in History (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • HIST 490: Topics in History (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • HIST 491: Topics in History (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • INRL 390: Topics in International Relations (Middle Eastern topics only)
  • RELG 307: Topics in Religion (Islamic topics only)
  • RELG 308: Topics in Religion (Islamic topics only)
  • RELG 317: Women in Islam: Tradition and Change
  • RELG 318: Islam in the Modern World

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