Explores multiple aspects of Ancient Egyptian civilization including chronology, art, religion, literature and daily life. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

Covers a special topic or issue. May be repeated for up to 12 hours of degree credit.

Special topics classes may selectively count toward MEST program requirements and must be approved by the MEST director.

Covers a special topic or issue, offered as part of the honors program. Prerequisite: honors candidacy (not restricted to candidacy in anthropology). May be repeated for degree credit.

Special topics classes may selectively count toward MEST program requirements and must be approved by the MEST director.

Study of the peoples and cultures of the Middle East; ecology, ethnicity, economics, social organizations, gender, politics, religion, and patterns of social change. May be repeated for up to 9 hours of degree credit.

Covers a special topic or issue. May be repeated for up to 9 hours of degree credit.

Development of advanced speaking and writing skills. Extensive reading and writing assignments and translating exercises from English into Arabic. Prerequisite: ARAB 4016.

Continued advanced speaking, reading, and writing skills. Prerequisite: ARAB 4023.

Develops skill in description, analysis, and argumentation through weekly reading and writing assignments within a workshop atmosphere. Selected readings from various styles of standard Arabic, ranging from newspapers to literary texts. Prerequisite: ARAB 4023 or equivalent.

Selected readings from Arabic fiction and poetry from the 20th century to the present. Prerequisite: ARAB 4023 or equivalent.

Selected readings from Arab history, literature, the Islamic Tradition, and the Holy Qur'an. Prerequisite: ARAB 4023 or equivalent.

May be offered in a topic not specifically covered by courses otherwise listed. May be repeated for degree credit.

The study of works of Arab American literature, with attention to particular themes, genres, authors, literary movements, historical moments, or other organizing principles. Content varies. No knowledge of Arabic necessary. May be repeated for up to 9 hours of degree credit.

The study of works of Arab American literature, with attention to particular themes, genres, authors, literary movements, historical moments, or other organizing principles. Content varies. Research paper required. No knowledge of Arabic necessary. May be repeated for up to 9 hours of degree credit.

Physical and cultural landscapes, natural and cultural resources, art and architecture, land use, political history, OPEC, and current problems of North Africa and the Middle East region west of Afghanistan are discussed. Class participation, discussions, slides and films, and student presentations will round out the class. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

Designed to meet the needs of students who wish to study one particular geographic topic in some detail.
Prerequisite: Junior standing. May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.

Special topics classes may selectively count toward MEST program requirements and must be approved by the MEST director.

A survey of the foundation, evolution, and distinctive character of Islam, with attention to religion, literature, art, architecture, science, and political society. Particular attention given to the development of Islamic doctrines, sectarian movements, and systematic theology. Concludes with a look at Islamic resurgence movements and their place in the contemporary world.

Examines the history of the Islamic Middle East from the rise of the Ottoman and Safavid Persian empires up to World War I and then concludes with the issues and patterns of 20th century Middle Eastern political and socioeconomic life. Topics include Islam and politics, Arab nationalism, Western imperialism, the Arab-Zionist conflict, petroleum politics, and modernization vs. traditionalism.

History of 19th-20th Century Palestine, Zionism and the founding of modern Israel, and the Palestine-Israel
conflict in local and regional perspective.

Treats a special topic or issue, offered as part of the honors program. Prerequisite: Honors candidacy (not restricted to candidacy in history). May be repeated for degree credit.

Special topics classes may selectively count toward MEST program requirements and must be approved by the MEST director.

Historical topics which are not usually presented in depth in regular courses. May be repeated for up to 9 hours of degree credit.

Special topics classes may selectively count toward MEST program requirements and must be approved by the MEST director.

Main currents in Islamic theology and political philosophy from the Ottoman Empire to the end of the twentieth century.

An examination of the origins of modern Middle Eastern societies - Arabic, Turkish, and Persian - with
emphasis upon the development of the Islamic faith and culture. 

Middle East since 1914 addresses European colonialism, the rise of new social elites, independence, revolution, globalization, economic self-determination, persistent regional conflicts and ongoing battles over "cultural authenticity".

An examination of the historical development of the three great Islamic empires in the early modern period - the Ottomans, the Safavids of Iran, and the Mughals of India. Special attention given to imperial expansion, administrative structures, religious-legal establishment, and the formation of distinct traditions in political ideology, historiography, and the arts and sciences.

This course covers the transformation of social and cultural roles of women in the Middle East since the 19th Century. Emphases include political emancipation, religious reformation, artistic representation, and gendered redefinition.

Required for all history majors. Examines research methods and current theories of interpreting and evaluating the past. Emphasizes skills of analysis, synthesis, and integration. Students produce a primary source-based research paper. A grade of a B or better will satisfy the Fulbright senior writing requirement. Prerequisite: History major; senior standing.

Special topics classes may selectively count toward MEST program requirements and must be approved by the MEST director.

This course is designed to provide students with fundamental building blocks for understanding the contemporary Middle East/Islamic World. Students will be introduced to a variety of disciplinary approaches to the study of the geo-cultural region, including history, politics, arts and literature, religions and cultures, social geography, and economics.

An exploration of varied topics related to the Middle East and North Africa studied independently with the supervision of a faculty member. Credit arranged with instructor. Prerequisite: Instructor consent, junior standing and honors standing. May be repeated for up to 9 hours of degree credit.

This course is cross-listed with MEST 340V.

An interdepartmental colloquium with an annual change in subject required of all students in the Middle East studies program. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.

Survey of the unity and diversity in the political development of the Middle East, as evident in historical legacies, state formation, civil society, social class, and political identity.

Special topics in political science. May be repeated for degree credit. 

Special topics classes may selectively count toward MEST program requirements and must be approved by the MEST director.

Topics in political science not usually covered in other courses. May be repeated for degree credit.

Special topics classes may selectively count toward MEST program requirements and must be approved by the MEST director.

Introduces the complexities of women's political lives in the Middle East by studying gender roles, relations and how identities are constructed during different political moments.

Compares contemporary Islamist political movements. Seeks to explain causes, debates, agendas, and strategies of Islamists in the political realm. Addresses sovereignty, the rule of law, visions of the good state and society, and relations between nationalism, religion and political development. Focus on Middle East with comparative reference to other cases.

Explores citizenship in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with a focus on theoretical and empirical illustrations. Theoretically grounded in comparative politics, and empirically engaged with case studies on citizenship formation, students will develop an understanding of the complex debates and challenges which shape this sub-field of political science.

An analysis of geopolitical and socioeconomic characteristics of Middle Eastern societies and their impact on world economic and political order. Special attention to such issues as the Arab-Israeli conflict, the promotion of lasting peace in the region, impact of oil on world politics, the involvement of superpowers, rehabilitation of Palestinian refugees and the role of the United Nations.

The Quran as literary text, its style and form, historical context, translation issues, communities of interpretation, and comparative perspectives. Course's integrated approach includes translations of literature originally in Arabic. All readings in English; students with reading abilities in Arabic encouraged to read original text.

Examines the multiple cultural traditions of Spain between 711 and 1615 C.E. Course's integrated approach includes translation of literature originally in Arabic (50%+ of course content), Hebrew, Spanish, and French. All readings in English; students with reading abilities in original languages encouraged to read original text.

Arabic literature from the 1) pre-Islamic era; 2) dawn of Islam, 610-661 C.E.; 3) Umayyad era, 661-750; Abbasid era, peaking in the ninth and tenth centuries. May include selected post-classical but pre-modern works. No Arabic required; students with Arabic encouraged to engage original text.

Arabic literature from the 1) pre-Islamic era; 2) dawn of Islam, 610-661 C.E.; 3) Umayyad era, 661-750; Abbasid era, peaking in the ninth and tenth centuries. May include selected post-classical but pre-modern works. No Arabic required; students with Arabic encouraged to engage original text.

This course is equivalent to WLIT 3723.