Modern Middle East Studies
Director of undergraduate studies: Jonas Elbousty; www.yale.edu/macmillan/cmes
The Modern Middle East Studies major focuses on the culture, history, religion, politics, and society of the modern Middle East in its full geographical breadth, while developing expertise in any of the major languages associated with the region, namely Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish. Courses are drawn from departments in the humanities and social sciences, including Anthropology, History, History of Art, Judaic Studies, Political Science, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Religious Studies, and Sociology. The Modern Middle East Studies major gives students the analytical and linguistic skills necessary to master the complex issues of the Middle East and serves as excellent preparation for graduate study or for professional careers in which an understanding of that region is essential.
requirements Of the Major
The major allows students to develop highly individualized courses of study, tailored to their own academic, intellectual, and linguistic interests. There are no prerequisites. Twelve term courses are required for the major, including one course at the L5 level in a Middle Eastern language and two survey courses on the modern period, taken at the introductory level. Beyond those requirements, students take eight distribution courses focusing on any aspect of the culture, thought, history, religion, politics, and society of the region. These eight distribution courses must be spread geographically and temporally and draw from distinct methodological or disciplinary approaches. They must include, at a minimum, two courses from different regions or countries within the Middle East, two courses from different departments or programs, two courses that focus substantially on the period before 1750, and two advanced seminars. Up to two language courses below L5 in a Modern Middle East language may count toward the distributional requirement with approval of the director of undergraduate studies (DUS). The proposed course of study also requires DUS approval.
Senior Requirement
Students in the major undertake a one- or two-term senior essay that involves use of materials in one or more modern Middle Eastern languages. Each student selects a faculty adviser with competence in the appropriate language. A prospectus and outline signed by the adviser must be submitted to the DUS by the end of the fourth week of classes in either term of the senior year. Senior essays are graded by the adviser and a second reader. See the course descriptions of the senior essay courses (MMES 491, 492, 493) for further information. Alternatively, under supervision of the instructor, majors may take an additional seminar and write an essay in that course to fulfill the senior requirement.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Prerequisites None
Number of courses 12 term courses
Distribution of courses 2 intro survey courses on the Middle East, focusing on the modern period; 2 courses from different Middle Eastern regions or countries; 2 courses from two different departments or programs; 2 courses with focus on pre-1750; 2 adv seminars; and 1 course at L5 level in a Middle East language
Substitution permitted With DUS approval, up to 2 language courses below L5 in Modern Middle East language may count toward distributional requirement
Senior requirement One-term senior essay (MMES 491), two-term senior essay (MMES 492, 493), or essay written in additional seminar
12 courses (12 credits) including the senior requirement
- 2 intro survey courses on the Middle East, focusing on the modern period
- 2 courses from different Middle Eastern regions or countries
- 2 courses from two different departments or programs
- 2 courses with focus on pre-1750
- 2 advanced seminars
- 1 course at L5 level in a Middle East language
- MMES 491, or MMES 492 and MMES 493, or an essay written in an additional advanced seminar
The Modern Middle East Studies major focuses on the culture, history, religion, politics, and society of the modern Middle East in its full geographical breadth, using any of its four major languages, namely Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish. Students design individual programs of study in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies (DUS), drawing on courses both from the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and from a variety of humanities and social science fields, including anthropology, history, history of art, political science, religious studies, sociology, and women's, gender, and sexuality studies. Participation in approved study abroad programs in the region is strongly encouraged. The major gives students the language skills necessary to understand complex issues of the Middle East, and serves as excellent preparation for graduate study or for business and professional careers in which an understanding of the region is essential.
There are no prerequisites in Modern Middle East Studies, but interested students should keep in mind that majors are required to complete advanced language training in a modern language from the Middle East. Prospective majors are encouraged to begin study of a Middle Eastern language in their first year.
FACULTY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM OF MODERN MIDDLE EAST STUDIES
Professors Frank Griffel (Religious Studies), Hannan Hever (Comparative Literature), Marcia Inhorn (Anthropology), Ivan Marcus (History), Alan Mikhail (History), A. Mushfiq Mobarak (School of Management), Kishwar Rizvi (History of Art), Maurice Samuels (French), Shawkat Toorawa (Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations)
Associate Professors Thomas Connolly (French), Robyn Creswell (Comparative Literature), Zareena Grewal (American Studies), Kaveh Khoshnood (Public Health), Eliyahu Stern (Religious Studies), Jonathan Wyrtzen (Sociology), Travis Zadeh (Religious Studies)
Assistant Professors Supriya Gandhi (Religious Studies), Samuel Hodgkin (Comparative Literature), Jill Jarvis (French), Elizabeth Nugent (Political Science), Eda Pepi (Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies), Claire Roosien (Slavic Languages and Literatures), Evren Savci (Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies)
Senior Lecturer Tolga Köker (Economics)
Lecturers Karla Britton (Architecture), Teresa Chahine (School of Management), Emma Sky (Global Affairs)
Senior Lectors II Sarab Al Ani, Shiri Goren
Senior Lectors Muhammad Aziz, Jonas Elbousty, Dina Roginsky, Farkhondeh Shayesteh, Orit Yeret
Lector Ezgi Yalcin