Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
S = Objectives
The IMES concentration is an interdisciplinary curriculum sponsored by the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies in conjunction with the faculty from several other departments. It is designed to provide a strong foundation in Middle Eastern studies with a specialized knowledge of Islam. The concentration requires students to take elective courses from the departments represented by the faculty committee. Key contributing departments, besides Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, include politics, history, economics, sociology, African and Afro-American studies, and anthropology. With a solid training in language, political theory and praxis, history, economics, sociology, and anthropology, the concentration is especially appropriate for students wishing to pursue graduate work, particularly in the field of Middle Eastern studies, or for those who wish to pursue careers dealing directly or indirectly with the Middle East.
S = How to Become a Concentrator or Program Member
The student who wishes to concentrate
in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies must take the core course
in Islamic civilization (IMES 104a) and at least two full years
of a Middle Eastern language. The two years of language may be
comprised of either two years of Arabic or, alternatively, one
year of Arabic and one year of another Middle Eastern language,
such as Persian or Hebrew. In addition, with the goal of achieving
a balanced understanding of the overall field of study, the student
must take two courses in the classical period and two courses
in the modern, as well as four courses to be chosen from the wide
intellectual variety of elective courses. Study in the Middle
East for a term or a year is encouraged. As a culmination of the
student's education, he or she is encouraged to write a senior
thesis, with emphasis on some aspect of Islamic and Middle Eastern
studies.
The student who wishes to complete the program in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies must take the core course in Islamic civilization (IMES 104a) and at least one full year of a Middle Eastern language. In addition, the student must take one course in the classical period and one in the modern, as well as two courses to be chosen from the variety of elective courses.
S = Committee
Avigdor Levy, Acting Chair
(Near Eastern and Judaic Studies)
Tzvi Abusch
(Near Eastern and Judaic Studies)
Seyom Brown
(Politics)
Olga Davidson
(Near Eastern and Judaic Studies)
Gordon Fellman
(Sociology)
Judith Irvine
(Anthropology)
Leonard Muellner
(Classical Studies)
Yitzhak Nakash
(Near Eastern and Judaic Studies)
Wellington Nyangoni
(African and Afro-American
Studies)
Benson Saler
(Anthropology)
Barney Schwalberg
(Economics)
Ibrahim Sundiata
(African and Afro-American
Studies)
Luis Yglesias
(Romance and Comparative Literature)
S = Requirements for the Concentration
A.
Either four semesters of Arabic (usually ARBC 10a, 20b, 30a, and
40b) or two semesters of Arabic and two semesters of another Middle
Eastern language such as Persian (PRSN 10a and 20b) or Hebrew
(HBRW 10a and 20b).
B.
Core course: IMES 104a (Islam: Civilization and Institutions).
C.
At least two courses pertaining to the classical period from the
following electives: NEJS 103a, 103b, 128a, 128b, 144a, 147a,
PRSN 30a.
D.
At least two courses pertaining to the modern period from the
following electives: HIST 184a, NEJS 143b, 144b, 145b, 147b, 157a,
195b, SOC 157a.
E. Four additional courses from the list of electives below.
S = Requirements for the Program
A.
Two semesters of a Middle Eastern language.
B.
Core course: IMES 104a (Islam: Civilization and Institutions).
C.
At least one course pertaining to the classical period from the
following electives: NEJS 103a and b, 128a, 128b, 144a, 147a,
PRSN 30a.
D.
At least one course pertaining to the modern period from the following
electives: HIST 184a, NEJS 143b, 144b, 145b, 147b, 157a, 195b,
SOC 157a.
E. Two additional courses from the list of electives below.
S = Courses of Instruction
S = (1-99) Primarily for Undergraduate Students
IMES 98a Independent Study
Signature of the instructor required.
Usually offered every year.
Staff
IMES 98b Independent Study
Signature of the instructor required.
Usually offered every year.
Staff
G = (100-199) For Both Undergraduate and Graduate Students
IMES 104a Islam: Civilization and Institutions
[ cl38 nw hum NW ]
This course considers major issues in Islamic history, providing an appreciation of Islamic religion, civilization, and culture. Topics include Islam's relations with other civilizations and its role in contemporary society. Usually offered in odd years.
Mr. Levy
L =
Elective Courses
The following courses are approved
for the program. Not all are given in any one year, so the Course
Schedule for each semester should be consulted.
AAAS 60a
Economics of Third World Hunger
AAAS 80a
Economy and Society in Africa
AAAS 123a
Third World Ideologies
AAAS 126b
Political Economy of the Third
World
AAAS 163b
Africa in World Politics
ANTH 80a
World Religions
ANTH 133a
Tradition and the Contemporary
Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa
ANTH 154b
Selected Topics in Comparative
Religion: Seminal Works in the Study of Religion
ECON 32b
Comparative Economic Systems
ECON 175a
Introduction to the Economics
of Development
HIST 110a
The Civilization of the Early
Middle Ages
HIST 110b
The Civilization of the High
and Late Middle Ages
HIST 112b
The Crusades and the Expansion
of Medieval Europe
HIST 134b
Nineteenth-Century Europe:
Nationalism, Imperialism, Socialism (1850-1919)
HIST 137a
Evolution of the International
System, 1815 to the Present
HIST 142b
Europe since 1945
HIST 184a
Arabs and Jews in Palestine,
1840-1948
HIST 186a
The Second World War
NEJS 103a and b
Advanced Literary Arabic
NEJS 108b
Comparative Grammar of Semitic
Languages
NEJS 113b
Near Eastern Law: Source, Sense,
and Society
NEJS 114b
Biblical Ritual and Cult
NEJS 128a
Explorations in Islamic Literature
I: The Arab World
NEJS 128b
Explorations in Islamic Literature
II: The Persian World
NEJS 130a
The New Testament: A Historical
Introduction
NEJS 143b
The World of Shi'i Islam
NEJS 144a
Jews in the World of Islam
NEJS 144b
Nationalism and Islam in the
Modern Middle East
NEJS 145b
The Making of the Modern Middle
East
NEJS 147a
The Rise and Decline of the
Ottoman Empire, 1300-1800
NEJS 147b
The Arab-Israeli Conflict
NEJS 157a
History of the State of Israel
Since 1948
NEJS 166a
Modern Jewish History to 1880
NEJS 166b
Modern Jewish History, 1880-1948
NEJS 175a
History of Zionism
NEJS 195b
The Woman's Voice in the Muslim
World
POL 128a
The Politics of Revolution:
State Violence and Popular Insurgency in the Third World
POL 140a
Politics of Africa
POL 170b
Seminar: The Low-Income States
and the Global System
PRSN 30a
Intermediate Persian
SOC 119a
War and Possibilities of Peace
SOC 157a
Sociology of the Israeli-Palestinian
Confrontation
SOC 171a
Women Leaders and Transformation
in Developing Countries
SOC 175b
Environmental Sociology