Modern Middle East Studies courses
Directors of undergraduate studies: Marcia Inhorn, 340 RKZ, 432-4510, marcia.inhorn@yale.edu; Colleen Manassa, 321 HGS, 436-8181, colleen.manassa@yale.edu
FACULTY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM OF MODERN MIDDLE EAST STUDIES
Professors Abbas Amanat (History), Gerhard Böwering (Religious Studies), John Darnell (Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations), Stephen Davis (Religious Studies), Rabab El Mahdi (Visiting), Benjamin Foster (Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations), Steven Fraade (Religious Studies), Eckart Frahm (Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations), Frank Griffel (Religious Studies), Beatrice Gruendler (Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations), Dimitri Gutas (Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations), Christine Hayes (Religious Studies), Marcia Inhorn (Anthropology), Anthony Kronman (Law School), Bentley Layton (Religious Studies), Joseph Manning (Classics, History), Ivan Marcus (History), Robert Nelson (History of Art), W. Michael Reisman (Law School), Lamin Sanneh (Divinity School), Harvey Weiss (Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations)
Associate Professors Kaveh Khoshnood (Public Health), Ellen Lust (Political Science), Colleen Manassa (Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations), Andrew March (Political Science)
Assistant Professors Narges Erami (Anthropology), Zareena Grewal (American Studies), Adria Lawrence (Political Science), Mark Lazenby (School of Nursing), Nikolay Marinov (Political Science), Alan Mikhail (History), Ahmed Mobarak (School of Management), Kishwar Rizvi (History of Art), Eliyahu Stern (Religious Studies), Edwige Tamalet-Talbayev (French), Jonathan Wyrtzen (Sociology)
Senior Lecturers Geetanjali Singh Chanda (Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies), Tolga Koker (Economics)
Lecturers Adel Allouche (History, Religious Studies), Karla Britton (Architecture), Karen Foster (History of Art), Konstantina Maragkou (History), Sadia Saeed (Sociology), Kathryn Slanski (Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations)
Senior Lector II Ayala Dvoretzky
Senior Lectors Shiri Goren, Shady Nasser, Farkhondeh Shayesteh
Lectors Sarab al-Ani, Muhammad Aziz, Aaron Butts, Etem Erol, Dina Roginsky, Hasmik Tovmasyan
The Modern Middle East Studies major focuses on the culture, history, religion, politics, and society of the modern Middle East in its full geographical breadth, using any of its four major languages, Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish. Courses are selected from the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and from other departments in the humanities and social sciences, including Anthropology, History, History of Art, Judaic Studies, Political Science, and Religious Studies. The Modern Middle East Studies major gives students the language skills necessary to understand complex issues of the Middle East and serves as excellent preparation for graduate study or for business and professional careers in which an understanding of that region is essential.
Prerequisites There are no prerequisites, but prospective majors should keep the language requirement in mind while planning their course schedules (see below).
Language requirement All students are required to complete two courses at the L5 level in a Middle Eastern language. The two courses may be applied toward the twelve-course major requirement. Typical courses include ARBC 150, 151, and PERS 150.
Requirements of the major Twelve term courses are required for the major, including three foundational courses, one each in modern thought, classical thought, and the modern Middle East. Six electives on the modern Middle East examine culture and thought, history, religion, politics, and society. Elective courses must be spread geographically and substantively; they must focus on at least two different subregions and originate in at least two different departments. The proposed course of study requires the approval of the director of undergraduate studies.
Senior requirement Students in the major undertake a one- or two-term senior essay that involves use of materials in one or more modern Middle Eastern languages. The student selects a faculty adviser with competence in an appropriate language. A prospectus and outline signed by the adviser must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by the end of the fourth week of classes in either term of the senior year. Senior essays are graded by the adviser and a second reader. See the course descriptions of the senior essay courses (MMES 491, 492, 493) for additional information. Alternatively, majors may take an additional seminar and write an essay in that course to fulfill the senior requirement.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisites None
Number of courses 12 term courses
Distribution of courses 3 foundational courses, 1 each in modern thought, classical thought, and the modern Middle East; 6 electives spread geographically and substantively, focusing on at least 2 subregions and from at least 2 depts
Language requirement 2 courses at L5 level in a Middle Eastern lang
Senior requirement Senior essay (MMES 491 or MMES 492, 493) or essay written in an addtl sem
