Near Eastern Languages (M.A.)
Admission Requirements
Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School. Additionally, applicants must supply the program with a letter of intent, a 5-7 page sample of academic writing in English, and three confidential letters of recommendation. GRE scores are encouraged, but not required. International applicants must satisfy English proficiency requirements as established by the Graduate School, which may require submission of TOEFL scores.
Admission Requirements consist of: Minimum undergraduate g.p.a. of 2.75 (‘C+’); and a minimum of two years of prior study in Arabic language, with a minimum g.p.a. in Arabic language courses of 3.5 (‘B’+). Prior coursework in Islamic and/or Near Eastern Studies is preferred. Candidates for the master's degree with concentration in either Hebrew or Arabic must have an adequate knowledge of at least one Semitic language and some knowledge of the culture of the Near East.
Program Requirements
The master’s degree is offered by this department under the following options:
Plan A: Thirty credits including a six-credit thesis; oral and written exit exams in the target language.
Plan B: Thirty credits including a three-credit essay; oral and written exit exams in the target language.
Academic Scholarship: All course work must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Candidacy must be established by the time twelve credits have been earned. The applicant's Plan of Work must have the approval of the academic program advisor.
Under Plan A: Students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits, including:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework with primary texts in Arabic | ||
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Medieval Arabic Texts | ||
| Media Arabic | ||
| Modern Arabic Literature in Arabic and English | ||
| Electives in Arabic language studies | ||
| Select three courses from the following (or additional courses from above): | 9 | |
| Teaching of Arabic as a Foreign/Second Language (TAFL) | ||
| Arabic Sociolinguistics | ||
| Structure of Arabic | ||
| Quranic Arabic | ||
| Arabic for Healthcare Professions | ||
| History of Arabic | ||
| Electives in Near Eastern studies | ||
| Select two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| History and Development of Islamic Political Thought | ||
| Muslim Personal Law | ||
| Islam and the Challenge of Modernity | ||
| Religion and Society | ||
| Coursework at the 7000 level | ||
| NE 7100 | Islam and the West | 3 |
| NE 7300 | Qur'an: History and Interpretation | 3 |
| Master's Thesis | ||
| NE 8999 | Master's Thesis Research and Direction | 6 |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- *
Other electives can be chosen with the consent of an advisor.
Under Plan B: Students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits, including:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework with primary texts in Arabic | ||
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Medieval Arabic Texts | ||
| Media Arabic | ||
| Modern Arabic Literature in Arabic and English | ||
| Electives in Arabic language studies | ||
| Select four courses from the following (or additional courses from above): | 12 | |
| Teaching of Arabic as a Foreign/Second Language (TAFL) | ||
| Arabic Sociolinguistics | ||
| Structure of Arabic | ||
| Quranic Arabic | ||
| Arabic for Healthcare Professions | ||
| History of Arabic | ||
| Electives in Near Eastern studies | ||
| Select two of the following courses: | 6 | |
| History and Development of Islamic Political Thought | ||
| Muslim Personal Law | ||
| Islam and the Challenge of Modernity | ||
| Religion and Society | ||
| Coursework at the 7000 level | ||
| NE 7100 | Islam and the West | 3 |
| NE 7300 | Qur'an: History and Interpretation | 3 |
| Master's Essay | ||
| NE 7999 | Master's Essay Direction | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- *
Other electives can be chosen with the consent of an advisor.
In addition to Arabic language (ARB) courses, students elect courses in Near Eastern studies (NE) and Hebrew (HEB), and may elect up to six credits in cognate courses in other related topics in the history, philosophy, anthropology, linguistics, literature, sociology and politics of the Middle East, with consent of advisor. At least two courses must be completed at the 7000+ level. Students are expected to write an essay or a thesis wherein they must show ability in using Arabic sources and doing research as well as demonstrate proficiency in the target language. A final oral and written examination will be required to test the ability of the student in the target language.