NOTICE - This edition of the Catalog of Studies is provided as a courtesy to students who may be attending classes under these degree requirements. If you are a prospective student, or are attending class under a different set of degree requirements, please visit

http://catalogofstudies.uark.edu/

to find your class year catalog.

Middle East Studies (MEST)

Vincent J. Cornell, Director, 202 Old Main, 575-4157

Professors Cornell (V.) (history), DuVal (English), Haydar (foreign languages), Paradise (geography), Rose (anthropology) • Associate Professors Adler (philosophy), Coon (history), Farah (education), Gordon (history), Reid (political science), Tucker (history) • Assistant Professors D'Alisera (anthropology), Ghadbian (political science), Kahf (comparative literature), Okruhlik (political science), Swedenberg (anthropology), • Research Associate Professor Cornell (R.)

Students interested in the Middle East, and wishing to maximize their potential for academic business, professional, or government careers related to the area, may earn a major in Middle East Studies with a required second major in an approved area such as anthropology, economics, foreign languages, geography, history, journalism, and political science. New students entering the program are required to notify both the major adviser and the MEST director of their intention to participate. Freshmen and sophomores considering this program are advised to begin their study of a Middle East language as early as possible. Students may also earn a minor in Middle East Studies.

Requirements for a Major in MEST: To attain a major in MEST, the student is required to have a second major in an approved area such as anthropology, history, political science, geography, foreign languages, comparative literature, journalism, or economics. Up to 9 hours of approved courses in this major may be counted toward the MEST major.

Total Hours Required: (30 semester hours) Students must complete a minimum of 12 hours in MEST core courses, 3 hours in the MEST Colloquium (MEST 4003), 6 hours of Arabic beyond the 12 credit College language requirement, and 9 hours of Middle East-related electives, subject to the approval of the MEST major adviser and the MEST director. No more than 9 hours of MEST core courses in a single discipline.

Arabic Requirement: (6 hours of MEST credit) Students must complete 18 hours of Arabic, of which 6 must be beyond the 12 hours of foreign language required by the College. Courses completed in approved summer intensive Arabic programs or an approved study-abroad program in an Arabic speaking country may substitute for all or part of this requirement.

Middle East Studies Colloquium: (3 hrs.) Students must complete at least 3 hours in the Middle East Studies Colloquium (MEST 4003). The Colloquium may be repeated with a change of subject for a maximum of 6 credits, with the 3 additional credits counted as non-departmental electives with the program.

Electives: (9 hours) Students must complete at least 3 hours in the Middle East-related courses in addition to the Arabic requirement and the Colloquium. To count for MEST credit, these courses must be approved by the student's MEST major advisor and the MEST director. Individualized readings, directed research courses, or courses in a second Middle Eastern language such as biblical Hebrew or Aramaic may count as electives. In addition, the following distribution requirements apply:

1. Electives must be selected from at least two separate departments;

2. No more than 3 hours of coursework presented for the second major outside of MEST core courses will count toward the MEST minor.

Current MEST Core Courses:

ARAB 4213 Introduction to Arab Culture
ANTH 3123 Anthropology of Religion
ANTH 4023 Seminar in Egyptology
ANTH 4123 Ancient Middle East
ANTH 4533 Middle East Cultures
ANTH 4913 Topics in the Middle East
ANTH 4803 Historical Archeology
ANTH 4256 Archeological Field Session
ANTH 4253 Peoples and Cultures of World Regions
ECON 4533 Comparative Economic Systems
GEOG 4033 Geography of the Middle East
GEOG 2103 Emerging Nations
HIST 3033 Islamic Civilization
HIST 4353 Middle East 600-1500
HIST 3043 History of the Modern Middle East
HIST 3473 Palestine and Israel in Modern Times
HIST 4373 Mongol and Mamluk 1250-1520
HIST 4393 The Ottoman Empire and Iran 1300-1722
HIST 4413 Women and Family in the Middle East Since 1800
HIST 4433 Social History of the Modern Middle East
HIST 4483 Diplomatic History of U.S. 1890 to 1960
HUMN 4203 World Religions Middle East
MEST 4003 Middle East Studies Colloquium
MEST 4003 H Honors Middle East Studies Colloquium
PLSC 3523 Politics of the Middle East
PLSC 4583 Political Economy of the Middle East
PLSC 4593 Islam and Politics
PLSC 4843 The Middle East in World Affairs
WLIT 3983/603 Special Studies (Modern Arabic Poetry)
WLIT 3983/603 Special Studies (Modern Arabic Literature in Translation)
WLIT 3983/603 Special Studies (Women and Arabic Literature)

Requirements for a Minor in Middle East Studies:

Total Hours Required: (18 semester hours) Students must complete a minimum of 9 hours of MEST core courses, 3 hours in the MEST Colloquium (MEST 4003), and 6 hours of Arabic beyond the 12 credit College language requirement.

Arabic Requirement: (6 hours of MEST credit) Students must complete 18 hours of Arabic, of which 6 must be beyond the 12 hours of foreign language required by Fulbright College. Courses completed in approved summer intensive Arabic programs or an approved study-abroad program in an Arabic speaking country may substitute for all or part of this requirement.

Middle East Studies Colloquium: (3 hrs) Students must complete at least three 3 hours in the Middle East Studies Colloquium (MEST 4003). The Colloquium may be repeated with a change of subject for a maximum of six credits, with the three additional credits counted as non-departmental electives within the program.

Electives: (9 hours) Students must complete at least 9 hours in addition to the language requirement and the Colloquium from among the following or in individualized courses under faculty participating in the program. Students choosing to take individualized reading or directed research courses as a part of the minor must obtain the approval of the MEST director and their major advisor. In addition, the following distribution requirements apply:

1. Courses must be selected from at least two separate departments;

2. A maximum of 3 hours may be submitted from courses presented for the major.

MIDDLE EAST STUDIES (MEST)

MEST4003 Middle East Studies Colloquium (FA, SP, SU) An interdepartmental colloquium with an annual change in subject required of all students in the Middle East studies program. May be repeated for 6 hours. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.

MEST4003H Honors Middle East Studies Honors Colloquium (FA, SP, SU)