THE
MASTER’S PROGRAM
Department of Near Eastern Studies, University of Arizona
UA Graduate College MA Requirements
This web last updated 02/01/2008
| Director, Graduate Studies, Leila Hudson, Assistant Professor | Graduate Programs Coordinator, Kathleen Landeen |
| (520) 626-9562 or email lhudson@email.arizona.edu | (520) 626-8731 or email klandeen@email.arizona.edu |
The M.A. program in Near Eastern Studies at the University of Arizona is a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum in which students develop proficiency in at least one Near Eastern language and enroll in courses that examine Middle Eastern History, Islamic Studies, and Gender Studies. They also engage in a critical examination of contemporary ideas and methodologies in the field of Near Eastern Studies. Students have a choice between the Thesis track and the General Middle East Studies track.
I. Core Requirements
for both tracks (12 units)
| Middle East Studies: Approaches, Themes, and Controversies (NES 595D) | 3 Units |
| 1 Course in Middle Eastern History | 3 Units |
| 1 Course in Islamic Studies | 3 Units |
| 1 Course in Gender & Society in the |
3 Units |
| Students must complete at least one seminar in the course of their study. |
Students are advised to have completed the equivalent of
NES 277A (History of the Middle East 600-1453) and NES 277B (History of the
No more than 6 units can be transferred from outside
of the University
of
Students may apply 3 units of Independent Study (599, 699, 799) to their degree requirements. In exceptional circumstances, the Director of Graduate Studies (Leila Hudson, lhudson@email.arizona.edu) may approve an additional 3 units of Independent Study. All Independent Study units must be approved by the Graduate Advisor.
First and second year language units cannot be applied to the total number of units required for the degree, unless they are at the 500-level. There is one exception to this rule: In the General Middle East Studies Track, 500-level dialect classes cannot be applied to the total number of units required for the degree if they are being used to fulfill the Near Eastern Language requirement (see below).
Students who have native or near-native fluency in a Near Eastern Language must take 6 units of that language in advanced linguistics or literature courses if they wish to fulfill their Near Eastern Language requirement with the language in which they are fluent.
II. Requirements for
the Thesis track
The Thesis track requires students to complete a major research project as preparation for work at the Ph.D. level in Near Eastern Studies or in other disciplines. It consists of six concentrations: 1) Middle Eastern Languages and Literatures; 2) Islamic Studies; 3) Gender and Society in the Middle East; 4) Linguistics of Middle Eastern Languages; 5) Middle Eastern History, Culture, and Politics; and 6) Topics in Near Eastern Studies. The sixth concentration, Topics in Near Eastern Studies, affords students the opportunity to propose their own, original concentration that is subject to the approval of the Graduate Advisor. Students consult with the Graduate Advisor each semester to select their courses and they are required to complete 3 courses in their concentration prior to graduation. Students who complete this track successfully in the concentrations of Middle Eastern Languages and Literatures, Islamic Studies, or Linguistics of Middle Eastern Languages may petition the Graduate Studies Committee for direct entry into the Ph.D. program.
Students must complete a minimum of 33 units of course work. They enroll in either 3 or 6 units of Thesis research (NES 910).
Students must achieve 3rd year language proficiency in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish. Dialect courses do not count towards fulfilling this requirement.
Students must demonstrate reading proficiency in either French or German. Reading proficiency in any other research language, as an alternative, is subject to the approval of the Graduate Advisor.
By the end of the second semester of enrollment, students must assemble a thesis committee of three faculty members, one of whom serves as the thesis advisor, and must also have filed their Master's Plan of Study (login to My GradColl using UA NetID; then go to 'Forms') in consultation with and approval of the Graduate Advisor. At least two members of this committee must be tenure-track professors in NES, and the committee must be approved by the Graduate Advisor.
The student’s thesis advisor will approve the appropriate subject matter and length of his or her thesis. Students are responsible for scheduling an oral defense of their thesis and coursework with their committee.
Students who complete their M.A. in the thesis track may be considered for advancement to one of the NES Ph.D. programs (NES or Dual NES/Anth) in Near Eastern Studies. To request advancement to, submit the, 'NES Student Petition for Advancement to the Ph.D. Program' to the NES Director of Graduate Studies. You must have completed your Masters thesis, a recommendation from your Thesis Committee, and approval of the Graduate Studies Committee before advancement decisions will be rendered. If approved, a 'Request for Change of Degree Program' should be provided to the NES Graduate Coordinator for processing. Petitions should be submitted at least one semester prior to matriculation into the Ph.D. program. For instance, if you plan to begin your Ph.D. in fall, the deadline for submission is January 15 of the spring semester prior: October 1 for spring admission.
The track in General Middle East Studies is designed for students seeking to develop the language and analytical skills necessary for advancement in non-academic careers in government, NGOs, and business, as well as a solid understanding of the modern Middle East. It is tailored for students who do not plan on pursuing a Ph.D. after their completion of the M.A. in Near Eastern Studies.
Students must complete a minimum of 33 units. The final departmental paper counts as 3 units (NES 909).
Students must achieve 2nd year language proficiency in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish. Second-year language proficiency is achieved by successfully completing four semesters of the focus language. Students whose focus language is Arabic may alternatively enroll in 3 semesters of Modern Standard Arabic plus one sequence (two semesters) of an Arabic dialect (Egyptian, Levantine, or Moroccan). The dialect units may not be applied to the total requisite sum of 33 units for the degree if they are being used to fulfill the language requirement.
By the end of the second semester of enrollment, students must assemble a departmental paper committee of three faculty members, one of whom serves as the departmental paper advisor. At least two members of this committee must be tenure-track professors in NES, and the committee must be approved by the Graduate Advisor.
The student’s departmental paper advisor will approve the appropriate subject matter and length of his or her paper. Students are responsible for scheduling with their committee a final oral exam on their cumulative coursework in the M.A. program.
The Graduate Studies Committee ordinarily will not entertain petitions for advancement to the Ph.D. Program from students who select the track in General Middle East Studies.