MES X81 MES 381 Topics in Seminar in Middle Eastern Civilizations and Cultures 3 Hours
3 Lecture Hours 0 Lab Hours
Advanced studies of various aspects of the civilizations and cultures of the Middle East and North Africa. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.
Pre/Corequisites: Graduate standing; additional prerequisites vary with the topic.
Grading: Student Option
Repeatable for credit: May be repeated for credit when the topics vary.
Academic Level: Master's
Topic 1: Civilization of Ancient Israel.
Topic 2: The Environmental Impact and Economics of Water Scarcity.
Topic 3: Symbols and the Origins of Writing.
Topic 4: Biblical Archaeology: The Middle East.
Topic 5: The Satanic Verses. Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures 395 (Topic 5: The Satanic Verses) and Middle Eastern Studies 381 (Topic 5) may not both be counted.
Topic 6: The Arab World.
Topic 7: Iranian Film and Fiction. Middle Eastern Studies 324K (Topic 4: Iranian Film and Fiction) and 381 (Topic 7) may not both be counted. Additional prerequisite: Three semester hours of upper-division coursework in Persian and consent of instructor.
Topic 8: The Art of Ancient Sumer.
Topic 9: Cross-Cultural Management.
Topic 10: Islamic Historiography.
Topic 11: Regional Geography of the Middle East and North Africa. Topics include developmental activity and spatial change in the Middle East, comparative regional studies. Same as: GRG 385.5
Topic 12: European Imperialism: British Empire. Study of the British Empire in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Additional prerequisite: Consent of the graduate adviser.
Topic 13: Language and Culture in Arabic-Speaking Communities.
Topic 14: Business and Politics in the Middle East.
Topic 15: Iran, Islamic Resurgence, and the Persian Gulf.
Topic 16: Ethnography and Literature: Perspectives on the Middle East.
Topic 18: Ottoman Egypt and Syria, 1516-1918.
Topic 19: Arab Society and Culture, 1500-1920.
Topic 20: Shamanism in Central Asia.
Topic 21: Islamic Reform Movements in the Nineteenth and Twentieth
Topic 22: Politics of the Middle East and North Africa. Readings and research on the political systems of the Arab world, Israel, Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan. Precise topics vary. Same as: GOV 390L.4 Additional prerequisite: Twenty-four semester hours of coursework in government or related fields, and consent of the graduate adviser.
Topic 23: International Marketing and Middle Eastern Markets.
Topic 24: Seminar in Middle Eastern History.
Topic 25: Economic History of the Middle East.
Topic 26: Turkic Cultures and Languages in Central Asia. Same as: LIN 396.4 Additional prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Topic 27: Islam, Nationalism, and Revolution.
Topic 28: Iranian Literature in Exile. Additional prerequisite: Three semester hours of upper-division coursework in Persian and consent of instructor.
Topic 29: Environment and Development in the Middle East.
Topic 30: Language and Politics in Language Planning. Same as: EDC 385G.7 Additional prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Topic 31: Mapping the Middle East. Ways in which the Middle East is and has been represented cartographically. Cartographic representations of the region during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries; the nature and evolution of a distinctive Islamic cartographic tradition; the role and use of maps during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries both in the extension of colonialism and in the creation of modern states; and the contemporary use, applications, and implications of geographic information systems in organizing and representing data spatially. Additional prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Topic 32: The Jordan River Basin after the Peace Agreements. Additional prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Topic 33: Translation: Theory, History, and Practice. Additional prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Topic 34: Development Communication. Only one of the following may be counted: Latin American Studies 381 (Topic: National Development and Social Change), Middle Eastern Studies 381 (Topic 34), 381 (Topic: National Development and Social Change), Radio-Television-Film 387D (Topic: Development Communication), 387D (Topic: National Development and Social Change). Additional prerequisite: Consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.
Topic 35: Women in Islamic Societies. History 388K (Topic: Women in Islamic Societies) and Middle Eastern Studies 381 (Topic 35) may not both be counted.
Topic 36: Business in Emerging Markets. Only one of the following may be counted: Latin American Studies 381 (Topic: Business in Developing Countries), Middle Eastern Studies 381 (Topic 36), 381 (Topic: Business in Developing Countries).
Topic 37: Intellectual History of Indo-Iranian Islam. Only one of the following may be counted: Asian Studies 390 (Topic 6), History 388K (Topic 2), Middle Eastern Studies 381 (Topic 37), Religious Studies 394T (Topic: Intel Hist of Indo-Iran Islam), 394T (Topic 2). Same as: ANS 390.6, HIS 388K.2, R S 394T.2
Topic 38: Music Cultures of the Middle East: Past and Present.
Topic 39: Translating Arabic Texts. Only one of the following may be counted: Arabic 360L (Topic 4: Translating Arabic Texts), 380C (Topic 8), Middle Eastern Studies 381 (Topic 39). Same as: ARA 380C.8
Topic 40: Theory and Practice in Literary Translation.
Topic 41: Gender, Clothing, and Identity in Muslim Society.
Topic 42: Introduction to Arabic Literature. General survey of major themes, genres, and artists in the Arabic literary tradition from the sixth century to the modern era. Additional prerequisite: Arabic 320L or the equivalent, and consent of instructor.
Topic 43: Loyalty and Rebellion in Arabic Literature. Additional prerequisite: Arabic 320L or the equivalent, and consent of instructor.
Topic 44: Modern Iranian History and Historiography.
Topic 45: Politics of Court Literature. Additional prerequisite: Arabic 420L (or 320L).
Topic 46: The Arabian Nights. Additional prerequisite: Arabic 320L or the equivalent, and consent of instructor.