MA in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies

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Why M.A. in Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies?

• Study the Middle East from an interdisciplinary perspective.
• Immerse yourself in Literary Arabic and other languages.
• Study in the culturally rich city of Jerusalem.
• Prepare for a career in government, NGOs, or journalism.

Overview

Offered by Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School (RIS) in conjunction with the Department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, the M.A. in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies is an intensive, integrated program designed for students who wish to study religion, politics, society, history, and culture of the Middle East.

As a student in the program, you will also delve into the study of Literary Arabic. Courses are taught by leading scholars in the field, and you have the added benefit of studying in Jerusalem, a unique city with a rich and complex history and culture where 35% of the local population are native Arabic speakers.

Curriculum

In the M.A. in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies program, you will gain a breadth of knowledge in the field through courses in history and other fields in the humanities, such as Islamic archaeology. Literary Arabic is a strong focus of the program, and your goal will be to become proficient by the end of the academic year.

Structure

The M.A. in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies consists of required courses (including a historiography seminar) and elective courses over two consecutive semesters, as well as up to 12 hours per week (depending on your level) of Literary Arabic study over the autumn and spring semesters. If you have little or no knowledge of Literary Arabic, you’ll take an intensive beginner’s course prior to the start of the academic year. You also have the option to study additional languages.

Credits

The M.A. in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies consists of 36 credits over 2 consecutive semesters.

Courses

Provided as an example only and subject to change:

Required Courses

• Seminar in Historiography
• Introduction to the Middle East: Adjustment and Change in Modern Times
• Islam and State

Elective Courses from the Following Areas

• History of the Modern Middle East
• Early Islamic History and Cultural Legacy of Islamic Societies

Other recent elective courses include:

• Islamic Archaeology of Palestine and Syria
• Selected Problems in Islamic History and Civilization
• Colonialism in the Middle East
• The Palestinian Arabs under the Mandate
• The Maghrib: Politics and Society in Contemporary North Africa
• Social and Cultural History of Modern Egypt
• Turkey’s Regional Foreign Policies: Changing Ties with the Middle East, the EU, and Israel
• The History of Modern Iraq: The Quest for the State and the Search for National Identity

Study Tours: A number of courses in the M.A. program include tours of ancient and medieval Islamic sites, as well as to different ethnic and religious communities in and around Jerusalem.

Languages

Literary Arabic

• As a new student, you are required to take an Arabic placement exam several months prior to the start of your program.
• If you have no prior knowledge of Arabic, you are required to take a pre-semester course during the months of September and October, as well as 12 weekly hours during the autumn and spring semesters. If you have intermediate Arabic skills, you can expect to study 12 hours per week during the autumn and spring semesters. If you have advanced Arabic skills, you can expect to study 2–4 hours per week during the autumn semester.
• No Arabic classes are offered during the summer semester.
• Completion of Advanced Literary Arabic is a requirement for graduation but does not count toward the 36 credits needed for the M.A. degree.

Other Middle Eastern & Islamic languages

The Faculty of Humanities offers courses in other Middle Eastern and Islamic languages (taught in Hebrew) including:

• Modern Turkish
• Ottoman Turkish
• Persian

European Languages

Relevant European languages (e.g., French or German) are also available through the Faculty of Humanities (taught in Hebrew).

Modern Hebrew

Although it is not a requirement of the degree, basic knowledge of Modern Hebrew will enrich your experience in Israel. You have the option to enroll in Modern Hebrew courses offered in the autumn and spring semesters. If you do not need to take the intensive Literary Arabic beginner’s pre-academic year course, you may also enroll in the Modern Hebrew Summer Ulpan (intensive Hebrew language training) prior to the start of the academic year for an additional fee.

Note: Modern Hebrew courses do not count toward credit requirements for your degree.

Seminar Papers

At least two of the papers you will submit are seminar papers. Seminar papers are required for the degree but do not count towards the credit requirements.

Thesis

As a student in the M.A. in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, you are not required to write a thesis.

Career

Graduates of the M.A. in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies program have gone on to positions in government service, relevant NGOs, journalism, and other areas.