Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures: MEL

Lower-Division Courses

Upper-Division Courses

Graduate Courses

MEL 380. Topics in Middle Eastern Cultures.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; additional prerequisites vary with the topic.

Topic 1: Gender, Clothing, and Identity in Muslim Societies. Same as Middle Eastern Studies 386 (Topic 25). Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 380 (Topic 1), Middle Eastern Studies 381 (Topic: Gend/Cloth/Ident in Muslim Soc), 386 (Topic 25). Additional prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Topic 2: Introduction to Islamic Studies. Introduction to the academic field of Islamic Studies. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Additional prerequisite: Graduate standing.

MEL 380C. Topics in Middle Eastern Languages.

Advanced studies in Middle Eastern languages. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor; additional prerequisites may vary with the topic.

Topic 1: Targumic Aramaic. Examines Aramaic translations of the Hebrew bible that contain many exegetical deviations from the Hebrew text, and provide a glimpse of Jewish theology at the time of their composition. Additional prerequisite: Consent of instructor; some knowledge of Hebrew is recommended.
Topic 2: Syriac. Study of the eastern Aramaic dialect that was spoken in the ancient Near East until the Muslim occupation. Examines the use of the dialect as a vehicle for Christianity in the East; its use in poetry, science, and philosophy; and its influence on Arabic. Covers the essentials of Syriac grammar for the purpose of reading Syriac texts. Hebrew 380C (Topic 9: Syriac) and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 380C (Topic 2) may not both be counted. Additional prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Topic 3: Classical Ethiopic. Study of the fourth-century language of the Semitic people who lived in what is now Ethiopia and Eritrea. Covers the alphabet and grammar needed for reading translations of the Bible and other texts. Additional prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Topic 4: Ugaritic. Study of the West Semitic languages from the city of Ugarit in what is now Syria, which was spoken from the fourteenth through twelfth century BC. Covers the essentials of grammar needed for reading Ugaritic texts. Additional prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Topic 6: Akkadian I. Introduction to the study of Akkadian, the principal language used in ancient Assyria, Babylonia, and their environs. Explore Old Babylonian grammar and the cuneiform writing system. Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 380C (Topic: Akkadian I) and 380C (Topic 6) may not both be counted.
Topic 7: Akkadian II. Continue the study of Akkadian and Old Babylonian grammar, syntax, and signs. Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 380C (Topic: Akkadian II) and 380C (Topic 7) may not both be counted. Additional prerequisite: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 380C (Topic 6).
Topic 8: Akkadian III. Read Akkadian texts from a variety of genres and time periods, including Assyrian and Babylonian letters and royal inscriptions. Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 380C (Topic: Akkadian III) and 380C (Topic 8) may not both be counted. Additional prerequisite: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 380C (Topic 7).
Topic 9: Akkadian IV. Read Akkadian texts from a variety of genres and time periods, including Standard Babylonian literary texts. Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 380C (Topic: Akkadian IV) and 380C (Topic 9) may not both be counted. Additional prerequisite: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 380C (Topic 9).

MEL 381. Topics in Middle Eastern Literatures.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; additional prerequisites vary with the topic.

MEL 382. Topics in Middle Eastern Linguistics.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; additional prerequisites vary with the topic.

Topic 1: Teaching Middle Eastern Languages. Additional prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.
Topic 2: Introduction to the Structure of Semitic Languages. Covers the grammatical structure of a number of ancient and modern Semitic languages (such as Akkadian, Biblical Hebrew, Ethiopic, and Modern Aramaic) and of the family of languages as a whole. Additional prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

MEL 383. Topics in the Ancient Near East.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; additional prerequisites vary with the topic.

Topic 6: Comparative Semitic Linguistics. Same as Linguistics 383 (Topic 11). Examine the Semitic languages and review the basic features of their phonology, morphology, and syntax. Only one of the following may be counted: Linguistics 383 (Topic 10), 383 (Topic 11), Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 383 (Topic 5), 383 (Topic 6), 383 (Topic: Comparative Semitic Linguistics). Additional prerequisite: Students should have familiarity with at least two Semitic languages.
Topic 7: Art, Gender, and Religion in Late Antiquity. Same as Art History 382R (Topic 1) and Religious Studies 387M (Topic 3). Examine the gendered experience of religion in Late Antiquity using the evidence of artistic record, with a primary focus on the Mediterranean world. Only one of the following may be counted: Art History 382 (Topic: Art/Gender Late Antiquity), 382R (Topic 1), Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 383 (Topic 7), Middle Eastern Studies 386 (Topic: Art/Gender Late Antiquity), Religious Studies 387M (Topic: Art/Gender Late Antiquity), 387M (Topic 3). Additional prerequisite: Consent of the graduate advisor.
Topic 8: Critical Problems in Second Temple Judaism. Same as Religious Studies 386M (Topic 3). Examine the literature and material culture of Second Temple Judaism (circa 520 BCE to circa 135 CE) in dialogue with recent scholarship on Jews and Judaism in Persian, Hellenistic, and early Roman contexts. Only one of the following may be counted: Classical Civilization 383 (Topic: Crit Issues 2nd Temple Judaism), Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 383 (Topic: Crit Issues 2nd Temple Judaism), 383 (Topic 8), Religious Studies 386M (Topic: Crit Issues 2nd Temple Judaism), 386M (Topic 3).
Topic 9: Critical Problems in Judaism in Late Antiquity. Same as Religious Studies 386M (Topic 4). Examine the literature and history of Judaism from the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple in 70 CE to the early Middle Ages, with a primary focus on classical Rabbinic Judaism as well as mystical and other writings beyond the canon. Only one of the following may be counted: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 383 (Topic: Crit Issues Judaism Lt Antq), 383 (Topic 9), Religious Studies 386M (Topic: Crit Issues Judaism Lt Antq), 386M (Topic 4) Additional prerequisite: Consent of the graduate advisor.
Topic 10: Critical Problems in New Testament. Same as Religious Studies 386M (Topic 5). Study foundational and emergent scholarly works and critical approaches in the study of Christian origins and the books of the New Testament in their ancient Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts. Only one of the following may be counted: Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 383 (Topic: Crit Issues in New Testament), 383 (Topic 10), Religious Studies 386M (Topic: Crit Issues in New Testament), 386M (Topic 5). Additional prerequisite: Consent of the graduate advisor.

MEL 383C. Current Issues in Hebrew Bible.

Examines the issues that are current in one major area of Hebrew Bible scholarship. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Hebrew 380C (Topic: Hebrew Bible Doctoral Seminar I), Jewish Studies 383 (Topic: Hebrew Bible Doctoral Seminar III), Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 383 (Topic: Hebrew Bible Doctoral Seminar III), 383C, 383 (Topic 1: Hebrew Bible Doctoral Seminar I), 383 (Topic 3: Hebrew Bible Doctoral Seminar III), Religious Studies 386H (Topic: Hebrew Bible Doctoral Seminar III). Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

MEL 383D. Exegetical Seminar in Hebrew Bible.

Examines a biblical book (e.g. Song of Songs) or subject (e.g. Jubilee) applying history, philology, literary theory, poetics, history of interpretation, and linguistics. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Hebrew 380C (Topic: Hebrew Bible Doctoral Seminar II), Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 383 (Topic: Hebrew Bible Doctoral Seminar IV), 383 (Topic 2: Hebrew Bible Doctoral Seminar II), 383 (Topic 4: Hebrew Bible Doctoral Seminar IV), 383D. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

MEL 389. Conference Course in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures.

Supervised individual study of selected problems in Middle Eastern languages and cultures. The equivalent of three lectures a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of the instructor and graduate adviser.

MEL 393. Comprehensive Examination Preparation.

The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and consent of the instructor and graduate adviser.

MEL 194, 294, 394. Professional Development in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures.

For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

MEL 698. Thesis.

The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for two semesters. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: For 698A, graduate standing in Middle Eastern languages and cultures and consent of the graduate adviser; for 698B, Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 698A.

MEL 398R. Master's Report.

Preparation of a report to fulfill the requirement for the master's degree under the report option. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Middle Eastern languages and cultures and consent of the graduate adviser.

MEL 398T. Supervised Teaching in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures.

Teaching under the close supervision of a faculty member; weekly group meetings with the instructor, individual consultation, and reports throughout the teaching period. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

MEL 399W, 699W, 999W. Dissertation.

May be repeated for credit. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree.

Professional Courses