Area Courses
HSTAFM 163/ The Modern Middle East
Instructor: Arbella Bet-Shlimon
TTH | 12:30 PM -2:20 PM
5 Credits (DIV, SSc) | 15482
Course Description:
Provides an introduction to the politics, society, and culture of the Middle East since the 19th century and through the present. Aims to foster an understanding of imperial power and anti-imperialism, ethnicity and sectarianism, religious and secular sociopolitical movements, authoritarianism, and the transformations wrought by modernity and economic development.
HSTAFM 460 / JSIS A 462 History Of Central Asia, 1700-Present
Instructor: Eric W. Johnson
TTh | 2:30 PM- 4:20PM
5 Credits (DIV, SSc) | 21974
Course Description:
Explores the history of the five Central Asian republics, examining how colonialism, communism, independence, and the region’s ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity have shaped its cultures, empires, and nations.
HSTCMP 446 / JSIS B 446 History, Memory, and Justice
Instructor:Liora R. Halperin
TTH | 10:30 AM -12:20pm
5 credits (SSc) | 15529
Course Description:
Focuses on the complex interactions between history and historical representation, remembrance and commemoration, memory and identity, and notions of justice and reconciliation. Addresses these issues on methodological, theoretical, and practical grounds, drawing on examples from various genres, periods, and world regions.
HSTCMP 462/ JEW ST 462 Antisemitism: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Instructor: Devin E Naar
TTH | 1:30 PM- 3:20 PM
5 Credits (DIV, SSc) | 15530
Course Description:
Analyzes antisemitism from ancient times to the present, exploring anti-Jewish attitudes, actions, and violence. Uses intersectional frameworks to examine connections with Islamophobia, white supremacy, anti-Black racism, and sexism. Evaluates relationships between antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and Christian Zionism, while mapping antisemitism’s role in American culture wars.
HSTCMP 469/JEW ST 466 The Sephardic Diaspora: 1492-Present
Instructor: Devin E Naar
MW | 3:30 PM – 5:20 PM
5 Credits (DIV, SSc) | 15531
Course Description:
Examines the history and culture of Sephardic Jewry from the expulsion from the Iberian Peninsula in 1492 to the present. Explores the creation of Sephardic communities in the Dutch and Ottoman Empires, Western Europe, the Americas, and Africa, and the history of the conversos and “hidden Jews.”
JSIS A 402 The Middle East In The Modern World
Instructor: Resat Kasaba
TTH | 1:30 PM-3:20 PM
5 Credits (SSc, W) | 16050
Course Description:
Economic, political, and cultural ties between the Middle East and the modern world between the eighteenth century and the present. Particular attention to the transformation of societies, formation of modern states, the relationship between Islam and democracy, and gender and society in the Middle East.
JSIS B 302/JEW ST 302 Jewish Experiences In World Literature And Cinema
Instructor: Sasha Senderovich
MW | 1:30 PM-3:20 PM
5 Credits (A&H, DIV) | 16087
Course Description:
Explores the diversity of Jewish experiences through the study of literature, film, and graphic novels from around the world. Covers issues of tradition and secularization, diasporas and homelands; questions of cultural, racial, and sexual identities; effects of enormous changes wrought by displacements, world wars, the Holocaust, and other rapid cultural transformations.
MELC 201 Introduction To The Ancient Near East
Instructor: Kathryn McConaughy Medill
MW | 3:30 PM- 5:20 PM
5 Credits ( SSc, A&H) | 17449
Course Description:
Surveys the peoples, places, and events of the ancient Near East. Examines the cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Canaan, and Israel with an eye to each culture’s cultural contributions. Pays special attention to shared cultural elements as well as distinguishing characteristics of the peoples of these regions.
MELC 269 Music Cultures Of The Silk Road
Instructor: Talant Mawkanuli
TTH | 12:30 PM-2:20 PM
5 Credits (A&H, SSc, DIV) | 17451
Course Description:
Explores music cultures of the Silk Road lands of Central Eurasia, China, and the Middle East from anthropological perspectives. Examines the interconnections between music and culture, and the political ramifications and the sociohistorical contexts of colonization, imperialism, and sovereignty on the production of musical expressions. Topics include culture, ethnicity, diversity of musical expression, literature, religion, and colonialism.
MELC 286 / MELC 596 B Themes In Middle Eastern Literature
Instructor: Selim S. Kuru
MTTh | 2:30 PM- 3:50PM
5 Credits (SSc, A&H) | 17452
Course Description:
Significant and interesting aspects of Middle Eastern culture and society as represented by literary themes. Aspects of Middle Eastern life and art such as women, minority groups, mysticism, and modern literature. Content varies. Cannot be taken if credit received for MELC 330 .
MELC 312 / ARCHY 312 Looting and Loss: Middle Eastern Archaeology
Instructor: Stephanie Selover
MW | 1:30 PM- 3:20 PM
5 Credits (SSc) | 17453
Course Description:
Explores the history and context of recent politicization, looting, and destruction of archaeological and cultural sites in the Middle East, as well as the associated human toll, with primary focus on the current state of modern Syria and Iraq. Covers the politics of archaeology in the Middle East from the First Gulf War to more recent times.
MELC 321 Israel In Film
Instructor: Hadar Khazzam-Horovitz
Hybrid To be Arranged
2 credits (A&H, SSc) | 17454
Course Description:
Presents films that introduce students to important aspects of Israeli culture. Topics include: Zionism, the Holocaust, immigration, religious and secular communities, mizrachim, Russians, army service, war and trauma, LGBTQ+ themes, and Israel’s Arab minority.
MELC 343 Classical Persian literature In Translation
Instructor: Selim S. Kuru
TTh | 11:30 AM- 1:20 PM
5 Credits ( SSc, A&H) | 17456
Course Description:
Introduces themes, forms, and historical development of Persian literature from the tenth to nineteenth centuries CE. Topics include lyric and epic forms, Sufism, premodern poetics, and reception history of English translations. Reading include Rumi, Hafez, Khayyam, Ferdowsi, Sa’di among others. No prior knowledge of Persian language or literature required.
MELC 415 / 596 C Holy People And Holy Places of The Horn Of Africa
Instructor: Mehari Zemelak Worku
TTh | 1:30PM- 2:50 PM
3 Credits (A&H, SSc) | 17458
Course Description:
Offers a comprehensive introduction to the holy men and women of the Horn of Africa, whose lives and legacies have shaped the region’s religious, political, and cultural milieu. Explores major sacred spaces and their constitutions in the region. Covers Ethiopian Christian saints to Somali Sufi mystics and Jewish Ethiopian heroes. Explores the hero formation processes in the different religious traditions of the region.
MUSIC 269 Music Cultures Of The Silk Road
Instructor: Talant Mawkanuli
TTh | 12:30 PM- 2:20 PM
5 Credits (A&H, SSc, DIV) | 17849
Course Description:
Explores music cultures of the Silk Road lands of Central Eurasia, China, and the Middle East from anthropological perspectives. Examines the interconnections between music and culture, and the political ramifications and the sociohistorical contexts of colonization, imperialism, and sovereignty on the production of musical expressions. Topics include culture, ethnicity, diversity of musical expression, literature, religion, and colonialism.
POL S 325 The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Instructor: Yoav H. Duman
TTh | 1:00 PM- 2:20 PM
5 Credits (DIV, SSc) | 19420
Course Description:
Explores development of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from inception to the present. Examines competing ideologies, political and social institutions, and forces that shaped the conflict. Critically examines state, nation and institution building; identity formation; domestic sources of foreign policy; political mobilization; economic development; human rights; and potential pathways to resolution.
RELIG 212 / MELC 231 Introduction To The Quran
Instructor: TBA
TTh | 2:3 0PM- 4:20 PM
5 Credits (A&H, SSc) | 19932
Course Description:
A literary, historical, and theological introduction to the Quran. Looks at the historical circumstances of the text’s compilation; its collection and redaction; its narrative structure; its rhetorical strategies; its major themes; its connections to and departures from the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament; commentary and exegesis; translation; and its impact on political and religious thought.
Language Courses
ARAB 102 / ARAB 512 Elementary Arabic
Instructor: Khalid A Ahmed
Section A MWF | 9:30 AM- 11:20 AM
Section B TThF | 9:30 AM – 11:20 AM
5 Credits (A&H) | 10343
Course Description:
Develops the four communicative language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Stresses communication skills and emphasizes the links between language and culture, using mainly Modern Standard Arabic, with exposure to Egyptian Colloquial Arabic. Second in a sequence of three.
ARAB 202 / ARAB 522 Intermediate Arabic
Instructor: Amina Moujtahid
MWF | 9:30 AM- 10:50 AM
5 Credits (A&H) | 10345
Course Description:
Explores aspects of Arab culture and emphasizes all skills of language acquisition: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students also learn more about Arab society in general and about features of Arab culture that influence the use of the language in daily life. Focuses on developing communication skills. Second in a sequence of three.
ARAB 302 / ARAB 532 Third Year Arabic
Instructor: Khalid A Ahmed
MWF | 11:30 AM- 12:50 PM
5 Credits (A&H) | 10346
Course Description:
Helps students acquire an advanced proficiency in Arabic by focusing on developing all four skills of language acquisition: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Explores topics related to Arabic culture, Arabic society, Arabic music and arts, and Arabic literature.
EGYPT 102 / EGYPT 512 Hieroglyphic Egyptian II
Instructor: Scott B. Noegel
TTh | 10:30 AM- 12:20 PM
5 Credits (A&H) | 14100
Course Description:
Provides an introduction to hieroglyphic Egyptian as written during the Middle Kingdom (circa 2040-1782 BCE). Students learn to read and write basic hieroglyphics so they can read a complete Egyptian text.
LADINO 100 Elementary Ladino
Instructor: Canan Bolel
MW | 3:30 PM – 5:20 PM
F | 9:30 AM- 10:20 AM
5 Credits (A&H) | 16207
Course Description:
Introduces the Ladino language, Sephardic culture, and cultural encounters throughout the Balkans, Eastern Mediterranean, and Middle East. Covers fundamental grammatical features and builds vocabulary through primary sources (both in Rashi and Romanization).
MELC 196 / GEEZ 102 Introductory Studies In Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures
Instructor: Mehari Zemelak Worku
TTh | 10:30 AM- 12:20 PM
5 Credits (A&H) | 17448
Course Description:
Offered occasionally by visitors or resident faculty. Content varies.
PRSAN 102 / PRSAN 512 Elementary Persian
Instructor: Elham Monfaredi
TTh | 11:30 AM- 1:20 PM
5 Credits (A&H) | 19498
Course Description:
Conversation, pronunciation, and graded reading. Persian alphabet and basic sentence constructions. Offers rudimentary conversational and reading ability with a vocabulary of about two thousand words. Second in a sequence of three.
PRSAN 202 / PRSAN 522 Intermediate Persian
Instructor: Elham Monfaredi
Hybrid TTh | 9:30 AM- 11:20 AM
5 Credits (A&H) | 19499
Course Description:
Reading of simple texts with emphasis on reading and writing, conversation skills, grammar, and syntax. Builds a vocabulary of standard Persian in preparation for advanced reading and comprehension of literary texts. Second in a sequence of three.
TKISH 102 / TKISH 512 Elementary Turkish
Instructor: Melike Yucel Koc
MWF | 10:30 AM -11:20 AM
5 Credits (A&H) | 21391
Course Description:
Introduction to modern Turkish. Pronunciation and conversation, grammar and composition, graded reading. Latin characters used throughout. Second in a sequence of three.
TKISH 202 / TKISH 522 Intermediate Turkish
Instructor: Melike Yucel Koc
TTh | 10:30AM- 12:20 PM
F | 11:30 AM-12:20 PM
5 Credits (A&H) | 21392
Course Description:
Introduction to modern Turkish literature
