Middle East Studies / Arabic

Middle East Studies / Arabic
BA
Hours61 - 69 Credit Hours
MAPMajor Academic Plan

Program Requirements

Students should take courses in this approximate sequence: (1) language prerequisites; (2) core major curriculum; (3) track requirements in "History and Humanities" or "Social Sciences": (4) Arabic study abroad; (5) track electives; and (6) senior seminar.
Note: Students with a second major in Arabic language cannot double count the same upper-division Arabic courses for both the double major and for MESA elective credit.
requirement 1 Complete 2 courses
Complete the following prerequisite courses: (Note: Arab 101 and 102 may be waived for students with appropriate language experience.)
requirement 2 Complete 4 courses
Complete the following core curriculum:
requirement 3 Complete 5 courses
Complete the one-semester Study Abroad program in the Arab world, which includes the following Arabic language courses:
requirement 4 Complete 1 course
Complete a senior seminar in Middle Eastern Studies. (Note: This course should be taken after returning from the semester abroad. Choose a senior seminar section on a topic appropriate to your track specialization when available.
requirement 5 Complete 1 option
Choose and complete one of the following disciplinary tracks:
option 5.1 Complete 4 groups
History and Humanities track:
group 5.1.1 Complete 4 courses
group 5.1.2 Complete 1 course
group 5.1.3 Complete 1 course
group 5.1.4 Complete 11.0 hours from the following course(s)
Notes: (1) Arab 361 and 362 can only be taken for elective credit if they are not used to satisfy the core track credit requirement; (2) Arab 424R and 425R can each be taken up to two times with different content, including in fulfilling the core track requirement; (3) Students can receive no more than 3 total internship credits to satisfy this requirement; (4) Relevant MESA 467R courses can be taken for credit with permission; (5) Students with a second major in Arabic Language cannot double count the same upper-division Arabic courses for both the double major and for MESA elective credit; (6) Only one FLang 201R course in either Turkish or Persian will count.
ANTHR 340 - Peoples of the Middle East 3.0
ANTHR 379 - Archaeology of Islam 3.0
ARAB 361 - Introduction to Modern Arabic Literature in Translation 3.0
ARAB 362 - Introduction to Medieval Arabic Literature in Translation 3.0
ARAB 377 - Arabic Language Teaching Methods 3.0
ARAB 411R - Advanced Formal Arabic Conversation and Rhetorical Skills 3.0v
ARAB 422R - Advanced Spoken Arabic 2.0
ARAB 424R - Modern Arabic Literature 2.0
You may take this course up to 2 times.
ARAB 425R - Classical Arabic Texts 2.0
You may take this course up to 2 times.
ARAB 495R - Directed Studies in Arabic 3.0v
FLANG 201R - Second-Year Language Study: Turkish 4.0
FLANG 201R - Second-Year Language Study: Persian 4.0
GEOG 271 - Middle East 3.0
HEB 201 - Second-Year Modern Hebrew 1 4.0
HIST 244 - Jewish History: A.D. 70 to the Present 3.0
HIST 308 - The Mediterranean 3.0
HIST 335 - Crusades 3.0
HIST 390R - Family History Research in Ireland 3.0v
IAS 354R - Model Arab League Preparation 3.0v
IAS 399R - Academic Internship: International 9.0v
You may take up to 3 credit hours.
IHUM 350 - Interpretation of Literature and the Arts 3.0
LING 452 - Introduction to Sociolinguistics 3.0
MESA 350 - Islam in Contemporary Society 3.0
MESA 399R - Academic Internship 3.0v
You may take up to 3 credit hours.
MESA 451 - The Figure of Muhammad in Islamic Tradition 3.0
MESA 467R - Topics in Middle East Studies 3.0v
POLI 357 - Middle East: Political Systems 3.0
POLI 381 - International Relations of the Middle East 3.0
POLI 452 - Islam and Politics 3.0
POLI 474 - Arab-Palestinian-Israeli Conflict 3.0
option 5.2 Complete 4 groups
Social Sciences track:
group 5.2.1 Complete 5 courses
group 5.2.2 Complete 1 course
group 5.2.3 Complete 7.0 hours from the following course(s)
Notes: (1) Students can receive no more than 3 total internship credit hours to satisfy this requirement; (2) Relevant MESA 467R and POLI 359R courses can be taken for credit with permission; (3) POLI 328 is strongly recommended for those pursuing careers involving research or analysis; (4) Only one FLang 201R course in either Turkish or Persian will count.
group 5.2.4 Complete 2.0 hours from the following course(s)
ARAB 411R - Advanced Formal Arabic Conversation and Rhetorical Skills 3.0v
You may take up to 2 credit hours.
ARAB 424R - Modern Arabic Literature 2.0
You may take up to 2 credit hours.
ARAB 495R - Directed Studies in Arabic 3.0v
You may take up to 2 credit hours.
Program Outcomes

Succinct Analytical Writing

Write succinct analytical papers on Middle Eastern events or topics in which students situate the event or topic in its broader context (geographical, political, religious, historical, etc.)

Substantive Research Papers

Write substantive research papers which integrate extensive background knowledge and personal experience in the Middle East

Oral Presentation

Explain and analyze Middle Eastern events or topics in significant oral presentations.

Library/Internet Research

Perform skilled library and internet research on Middle Eastern topics

Speaking Proficiency

Speak an Arabic dialect at the ACTFL Advanced Level, demonstrating an ability to negotiate both survival and basic professional situations

Reading Proficiency

Read and understand Arabic newspapers fluently, specifically front page, international page and Arab World page news articles, without the use of a dictionary or other aids.

Arabic Research Sources

Research using Arabic sources.

Gospel principles of respect

Understand and apply gospel principles of appreciation and respect for cultural and religious differences and similarities.

Cultural Proficiency

Exhibit understanding of Middle Eastern culture, humanities, geography, history, politics and religion while studying and living in the Middle East for an extended period of time.