Middle East Studies
The Middle East Studies BA is a multi-disciplinary program that requires three-years of foreign language study (typically in Arabic, though the program can accept transfer credit in other languages with certain conditions). Students build skills and knowledge through coursework in three areas: A) History, B) Language and Literature, and C) Social and Cultural Studies. They complete their degree with a capstone course that draws upon that expertise. The program allows for an emphasis on the transnational and diasporic experiences of people with heritage ties to the region so students can take advantage of our campus’ Center for Arab American Studies and the Armenian Research Center. In addition to preparing students for graduate study of the modern Middle East, this BA provides a solid foundation for a variety of careers in which language, social, and cultural expertise alongside oral and written communication skills are desirable.
The Middle East Studies Certificate (MEST) is a credential for students who have studied the history and culture of the Middle East from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Requiring a minimum of 12-16 upper level credits after the completion of prerequisites, the MEST Certificate can complement your major or stand alone as a post baccalaureate credential.
Dearborn Discovery Core (General Education)
All students must satisfy the University’s Dearborn Discovery Core requirements, in addition to the requirements for the major. Students must also complete all CASL Degree Requirements.
Prerequisites to the Major
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Major Requirements | ||
| All of the following are required: | ||
| HIST 101 | The World to 1500 CE | 3 |
| or HIST 103 | The World Since 1500 CE | |
| COMP 106 | Writing & Rhetoric II 1 | 3 |
| or AAST 238 | Storytelling: Arab American Literature | |
| or AAST 267 | Arab & Arab American Workshop | |
| ARBC 101 | Introduction to Arabic Language and Culture 1 2 | 4 |
| ARBC 102 | Introduction to Arabic Language and Culture 2 2 | 4 |
| ARBC 201 | Introduction to Arabic Language and Culture 3 | 4 |
| ARBC 202 | Introduction to Arabic Language and Culture 4 | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 22 | |
- 1
COMP 220 or COMP 270 or COMP 280 may substitute for COMP 106.
- 2
If a student is proficient (per test) to 300+ level in a Middle Eastern language other than Arabic, Arabic 101-102 must still be taken.
Major Requirements
For a major in Middle East Studies, students are required to complete 30 upper level credit hours from the following:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Arabic (ARBC) Courses | ||
| ARBC 301 | Advanced Arabic Writing and Conversation | 4 |
| Arabic Elective: Any one upper level ARBC class | 4 | |
| Group A: History - Select a minimum of two classes from the following: | 6-8 | |
| Reporting on the Middle East: Revising First Drafts of History | ||
| Women&Islam Mid East to 1900 | ||
| The Late Ottoman Empire, 1789-1924 | ||
| Armenia Ancient Medieval World | ||
| Armenians in the Modern World | ||
| The Middle East from 570 to 1800 CE: An Intersectional History | ||
| Modern Middle East, 1945-1991 | ||
| Lebanon in Modern Middle East | ||
| America and the Middle East in the Age of Nation-States | ||
| Culture& Hist. in Mod. Iran | ||
| An Introduction to Middle East Studies | ||
| Independent Study in Middle East Studies 4 | ||
| Group B: Language and Literature - Select a minimum of two classes from the following: | 6-8 | |
| Arab American Women Writers | ||
| The Poetry of Arab Women from the Pre-Islamic Age to Andalusia | ||
| Language of Business | ||
| Arabic Translation Skills: Arabic-English and English-Arabic | ||
| Simultaneous Interpreting Arabic-English and English-Arabic | ||
| Subtitling Arabic-English and English-Arabic | ||
| Survey of Arabic Literature | ||
| Arabic Cinema | ||
| Arabic Civilization | ||
| Arabic Literature and Culture | ||
| Contemporary Arabic Literature | ||
| Intro to the Quran | ||
| Topics in Arabic | ||
| Arabic and Comparative Literature in English | ||
| The Arabic Novel and Short Story in Translation | ||
| Arab Literature in English | ||
| An Introduction to Middle East Studies | ||
| Independent Study in Middle East Studies 4 | ||
| Group C: Social and Cultural Studies - Select a minimum of two classes from the following: | 6-8 | |
| Intro to Arab American Studies | ||
| Public History in Arab Detroit | ||
| History of Islam in the US | ||
| Arabs & Muslims in Media | ||
| Arab Americans Since 1890 | ||
| Arab American Women Writers | ||
| Arab American Identities | ||
| Middle Eastern Diasporas | ||
| Anthropology of Middle East | ||
| Economies of the Middle East | ||
| An Introduction to Middle East Studies | ||
| Independent Study in Middle East Studies 4 | ||
| Islamic Philosophy | ||
| Israeli-Palestinian Conflict | ||
| Capstone Course - Select one class from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Arab American Women Writers | ||
| Arab American Identities | ||
| Middle Eastern Diasporas | ||
| Economies of the Middle East | ||
| Culture& Hist. in Mod. Iran | ||
| Advanced Research Seminar in Middle East Studies 4 | ||
| Advanced Independent Research in Middle East Studies 4 | ||
| Elective Course | 0-3 | |
| One course as needed from any group above to reach a minimum total of 30 credits required for the major. | ||
| Total Credits | 30-36 | |
Notes:
1. At least 15 of the 30 upper level credit hours must be elected at UM-Dearborn.
2. A mimimum major gpa of 3.0 is required for graduation.
3. Any one course may be used to satisfy only one requirement within the major.
4. MEST 3900, MEST 4000 and MEST 4900 can be applied to Group A, B, or C by petition (as they depend on the particular project students complete in those courses).
5. Students with upper level credit in any of the following Middle Eastern languages (with a grade of B or higher) from another institution may petition to apply that credit to satisfy the Group B requirement: Berber, Persian, Kurdish, Hebrew, Urdu, Dari, Pashto, Baluch, Armenian, Azeri Turkish, Turkish,Uzbek, and Tajik. This is not an exhaustive list and other languages may be considered via petition.
6. If proficient in Arabic through High Intermediate Level (per test placement), the student may substitute other upper-division Arabic (ARBC) courses for ARBC 301 by petition.
7. A minimum 3.0 major GPA and minimum 3.0 overall GPA is required in order to graduate.
Certificate Requirements
Pre-requisites:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| The completion of: | ||
| HIST 101 | The World to 1500 CE | 3 |
| or HIST 102 | Medieval and Renaissance World | |
| or HIST 103 | The World Since 1500 CE | |
| COMP 106 | Writing & Rhetoric II | 3 |
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum of 12 credits required from the following: | ||
| Group A: History- 3-4 credits from | 3-4 | |
| Reporting on the Middle East: Revising First Drafts of History | ||
| Women&Islam Mid East to 1900 | ||
| The Late Ottoman Empire, 1789-1924 | ||
| Armenia Ancient Medieval World | ||
| Armenians in the Modern World | ||
| The Middle East from 570 to 1800 CE: An Intersectional History | ||
| Modern Middle East, 1945-1991 | ||
| Lebanon in Modern Middle East | ||
| America and the Middle East in the Age of Nation-States | ||
| Culture& Hist. in Mod. Iran | ||
| An Introduction to Middle East Studies | ||
| Advanced Research Seminar in Middle East Studies | ||
| Advanced Independent Research in Middle East Studies | ||
| 9-12 credits from the following (a minimum of 3 credits must be from Group B or Group C) | 9-12 | |
| Additional Group A (History) course - must be a different course from the required course. | ||
| Group B: Language and Literature | ||
| Arab American Women Writers | ||
| Advanced Arabic Writing and Conversation | ||
| The Poetry of Arab Women from the Pre-Islamic Age to Andalusia | ||
| Language of Business | ||
| Arabic Translation Skills: Arabic-English and English-Arabic | ||
| Simultaneous Interpreting Arabic-English and English-Arabic | ||
| Subtitling Arabic-English and English-Arabic | ||
| Survey of Arabic Literature | ||
| Arabic Cinema | ||
| Arabic Civilization | ||
| Arabic Literature and Culture | ||
| Contemporary Arabic Literature | ||
| Intro to the Quran | ||
| Topics in Arabic | ||
| Arabic and Comparative Literature in English | ||
| The Arabic Novel and Short Story in Translation | ||
| Arab Literature in English | ||
| An Introduction to Middle East Studies | ||
| Independent Study in Middle East Studies | ||
| Advanced Research Seminar in Middle East Studies | ||
| Advanced Independent Research in Middle East Studies | ||
| Group C: Social and Cultural Studies | ||
| Intro to Arab American Studies | ||
| Public History in Arab Detroit | ||
| History of Islam in the US | ||
| Arabs & Muslims in Media | ||
| Arab Americans Since 1890 | ||
| Arab American Women Writers | ||
| Arab American Identities | ||
| Middle Eastern Diasporas | ||
| Anthropology of Middle East | ||
| Economies of the Middle East | ||
| An Introduction to Middle East Studies | ||
| Independent Study in Middle East Studies | ||
| Advanced Research Seminar in Middle East Studies | ||
| Advanced Independent Research in Middle East Studies | ||
| Islamic Philosophy | ||
| Israeli-Palestinian Conflict | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12-16 | |
NOTES REGARDING MIDDLE EAST STUDIES CERTIFICATE PROGRAM:
- Application to the MEST Certificate Program requires the following: Completion of all pre-requisite courses and ONE course from Group A or B or C (with a grade of B or better in the Group A or B or C course).
- Any one course may be used to satisfy only one group requirement within the certificate. MEST 3000, 3900, 4000, and 4900 may each be used to satisfy a Group A, B, OR C requirements.
- A minimum 3.0 GPA in the courses counting in the MEST Certificate is required at the time of graduation and/or posting of the certificate.
- At least 6 of the minimum12 credits for the certificate must be completed at UM-Dearborn.
- All courses must be taken as standard grade mode (no pass/fail mode allowed), with the exception of a maximum of 3-4 credits of internship/co-op (approved by Petition).
- A maximum of 3-4 credit of internship or co-op may satisfy a Group A, B or C requirement by Petition.
- Students may Petition the MEST Chair for use of upper level research based independent study credit.
- Students with upper level credit in any of the following Middle Eastern languages (with a grade of B or higher) from another institution may Petition to apply that credit to satisfy the Group B requirement: Berber, Persian, Kurdish, Hebrew, Urdu, Dari, Pashto, Baluch, Armenian, Azeri Turkish, Turkish, Uzbek, and Tajik. This is not an exhaustive list.
Post-baccalaureate students may apply directly through the standard undergraduate non-degree admissions procedure, meeting the following stipulations:
- Must have a bachelor's degree completed (any field) with minimum 3.0 GPA, or have completed a minimum of 90 credits in a declared major and be in good standing with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- If pre-requisites have not been met at time of application, provisional admission may be granted with the stipulation that pre-requisites must be completed within two semesters and that no certificate will be granted unless pre-requisites are complete.
MEST 3000 An Introduction to Middle East Studies 4 Credit Hours
This course introduces students to the growing field of Middle East Studies. Students will acquire and demonstrate a command of current theoretical approaches and debates, and they will learn interdisciplinary research methodologies that help us understand the region, past and present. Throughout the course, students will apply these theories and methods to key questions, problems, and debates. The course will culminate in a research project on a subject chosen by the student. (F, AY).
Prerequisite(s): (COMP 106 or COMP 220 or AAST 238 or ENGL 238 or AAST 267 or COMP 267) and (HIST 101 or HIST 103)
MEST 3900 Independent Study in Middle East Studies 1 to 3 Credit Hours
Readings or analytical assignments in Middle East Studies in accordance with the needs and interests of those enrolled and agreed upon by the student and instructor. Permission of instructor required. (YR).
MEST 4000 Advanced Research Seminar in Middle East Studies 4 Credit Hours
This course is designed to fulfill the capstone requirement for Middle East Studies and requires students to develop and execute a research prospectus that results in a presentation of research findings in a class workshop and submission of a capstone paper or equivalent project. (AY, OC).
Prerequisite(s): (COMP 106 or COMP 220 or AAST 238 or ENGL 238 or AAST 267 or COMP 267) and (HIST 101 or HIST 103) and ARBC 202
MEST 4900 Advanced Independent Research in Middle East Studies 1 to 4 Credit Hours
This course is for individual students working on an advanced project developed under the supervision of a faculty member affiliated with Middle East Studies. The resulting project should be equivalent to that of any capstone course in Middle East Studies. Permission of instructor required. (YR).
Prerequisite(s): (COMP 106 or COMP 220 or AAST 238 or ENGL 238 or AAST 267 or COMP 267) and (HIST 101 or HIST 103) and ARBC 202