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Middle East and
North African Studies

Faculty

Anthropology
Antoun, Richard
Horowitz, Michael
Moench, Richard
Mohsen, Safia
Pollock, Susan
Art History
Ruggles, D. Fairchild
Classical and Near Eastern Studies
Lacey, Kevin (Arabic)
Education
Yousuf, Abdulqadir
Geography
Blumler, Mark
Budin, Morris, Emeritus
History
Abou-el-Haj, Rifa'at
Kadish, Gerald
Muhammad, Akbar
Quataert, Donald
Judaic Studies
Arkush, Allan
Morell, Samuel
Sussman, Lance
Library
Zuwiyya, Jalal
Middle East Program
Jowkar, Forouz
Political Science
Mazrui, Ali A.,
Sociology
Keyder, Caglar
Translation Research Center
Adi, Nuhad

Undergraduate
Programs

The Middle East, North Africa (Maghreb), Sudanic Africa, and those countries in Europe and Asia which came under Islamic political control, or were exposed to extensive Islamic religious and cultural influences, are the primary concerns of the interdisciplinary program in Middle East and North African (MENA) studies.
The program in Middle East and North African studies is not a degree-granting body. Students interested in the Middle East, including Israel and Judaic studies as they relate to the MENA area, North Africa, Islam, and other MENA subjects, must be degree candidates in one of the regular departments of the University. The MENA program administers several undergraduate cross-disciplinary concentrations and awards recognition to students who fulfill the necessary requirements in the cross-disciplinary concentration of their choice.
The University's library has approximately 75,000 volumes related to the MENA area in all disciplines. These include volumes in Arabic, Ottoman and Modern Turkish, Persian, and Hebrew.

MENA Concentration

The MENA cross-disciplinary concentration constitutes a coherent course of study about this area within the framework of requirements for graduation. Interested students must meet with the program director to plan their program within the guidelines below.
The MENA undergraduate cross-disciplinary concentration requirements are simple. Students must successfully complete eight undergraduate courses that are MENA-related. These courses will be drawn from a number of cultural traditions and a number of disciplines, and may, at the student's discretion, include one or more language courses. The application for an undergraduate certificate will be subject to review by a multidisciplinary faculty committee.
Upon graduation, students receive recognition if they have completed these requirements.

Note: Courses in all departments titled Special Topics, Seminar, Independent Study, or Honors may be accepted in meeting the requirements for the MENA cross-disciplinary concentration only when they cover a MENA topic appropriate to the period. Students are advised to consult the MENA director about the acceptability of topics and courses.

Departments Offering MENA Courses:
Africana Studies
Anthropology History
Art
Art History
Classical and Near Eastern Studies
Comparative Literature
Geography
History
Philosophy
Political Science
Sociology

Graduate Programs

The graduate MENA certificate programs offer opportunities for all graduate students interested in the Middle East and North Africa (Maghreb) to receive special recognition for work in area studies. The requirements go beyond those of a special department, although work in the graduate MENA certificate programs may usually be used to satisfy a number of departmental requirements. Admission to the programs requires previous admission to a department of study and approval by the MENA director with the concurrence of the MENA executive committee. Those who complete the requirements in each of the graduate MENA certificate programs receive two credentials: either the MA or PhD in an established discipline, and a certificate in Middle East and North African area studies.
The library collection at the University includes approximately 75,000 volumes in Arabic, Ottoman and Modern Turkish, Persian, and Hebrew. It exceeds 185,000 volumes in Western vernacular languages. The library regularly receives a number of newspapers, periodicals, and scholarly journals on MENA, both in European and in MENA languages.

Requirements for MA

Degree with Graduate MENA Certificate
1. Knowledge of at least one Middle Eastern language equivalent to the intermediate level, to be determined by a standard examination. Native speakers are expected to acquire a second Middle Eastern language to meet this requirement or to acquire a specialized research tool acceptable to the MENA director with the concurrence of the MENA executive committee.
2. Completion of course work required in the student's department of specialization, of which a minimum of eight credit hours other than language should be in the MENA area. Students may substitute other courses, if they can show to the satisfaction of the MENA director with the concurrence of the executive committee that such substitution is germane to the MENA area.
3. One graduate course relevant to MENA outside the student's own department.
4. At least one interdisciplinary MENA seminar so designated by the MENA director with the concurrence of the executive committee.
5. Thesis on a MENA topic acceptable to the MENA director with the concurrence of the executive committee.

Requirements for PhD Degree with Graduate MENA Certificate

1. A reading or speaking knowledge of at least one Middle Eastern language is required, depending on the needs of the student's discipline. The student's department determines the level of competence sufficient to permit original research in the discipline. Native speakers are expected to acquire a second Middle Eastern language or a specialized research tool acceptable to the dissertation advisor and the MENA director, with the concurrence of the executive committee.
2. Completion of course work required in the student's department of specialization, of which 16 credits (excluding credit for the dissertation but including credits earned toward the MA) must be in MENA subjects. Students may substitute other courses, if they can show to the satisfaction of the MENA director with the concurrence of the executive committee that such substitution is germane to the MENA area.
3. One graduate course relevant to MENA outside the student's own department.
4. One interdisciplinary MENA seminar so designated by the MENA director with the concurrence of the executive committee.
5. Dissertation on a MENA topic acceptable to the MENA director with the concurrence of the executive committee.

Graduate MENA Courses

MENA courses are currently available in the Anthropology, Art and Art History, Classical and Near Eastern Studies, Comparative Literature, Economics, Geography, History, Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology Departments. Several professional schools also provide courses directly related to MENA concerns. In addition, there are special interdisciplinary courses and seminars arranged on a regular basis. For full information on MENA course offerings, write to the MENA director, Binghamton University.

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