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The MA program in Middle Eastern and North African Studies at the University of Arizona offers a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum in which students develop proficiency in at least one Middle Eastern language and enroll in courses that examine Middle Eastern history, Islamic studies, and cultural, literary, linguistic, gender and conflict studies. They also engage in a critical examination of contemporary ideas and methodologies in the field of Middle Eastern Studies.
MA students choose from seven basic concentrations:
MA students enroll for either (1) the thesis track, requiring three years of a Middle Eastern language and a thesis; or (2) the pre-professional track or 'general track', requiring two years of a Middle Eastern language and a final departmental paper
The School of Middle Eastern and North African Studies is a multi-disciplinary unit focusing on the region extending from Morocco to Afghanistan which includes the Arab world, Iran, Israel and Turkey, providing a full range of language courses in Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Hebrew (through Judaic Studies) and undergraduate and graduate studies in culture, history, religion, politics and conflict.
MENAS offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Master of Arts (MA) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Near Eastern Studies, with courses in Anthropology, Art and Architecture, Geography, History, Linguistics, Islamic Studies, Literary Studies, Mass Culture and Media Studies, Minority Studies, and Political Science.
MENAS offers, in conjunction with other departments, a Dual MA in MENAS and Journalism, a Dual MA in MENAS and Library Science, a Dual MA-MPA in MENAS and Public Policy, and a Dual PhD in MENAS and Anthropology. Minor Programs in MENAS are offered for PhD students in other departments
School Requirements
NOTE: Graduate applications can now be done entirely online
All documents, including the following may be uploaded:
MINIMUM Requirements
Other Graduate College Information/Requirements
Phone: (520) 621-3471 | Email Graduate College Questions: OnlineAppHelp@grad.arizona.edu
Required test(s):
GRE and TOEFL for International Students
Minimum GRE: No minimum GRE. GRE is required. UA code is 4832. Use school code 2201 (area studies), or 2299 (social sciences, other) This is required for both domestic and international students.
Minimum TOEFL: TOEFL score of 550 (213 CBT; 80 IBT)
The School of Middle East and North African Studies (MENAS) awards financial aid on a competitive basis. Meritorious factors include demonstrated excellence in academics including GPA, progress in the program (for current students), test scores (for incoming students), publication, and professional experience such as a previous assistantship or other Middle East-related experience. Most funding is awarded in the fall for the academic year, therefore students entering the program in the spring have a minimal opportunity for departmental support. Many of our students also receive academic year and summer FLAS (Foreign Language Area Studies) scholarships through the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES). Comprehensive information on FLAS awards may be obtained by visiting the CMES web site. Listed below are the types of financial aid awarded by the Department.
Complete only ONE Financial Aid Application (due first Monday in Feb) to request the following types of support:
The following awards require separate applications:
Domestic Applicants:
*Applications must be paid for and submitted by the close of business on January 8th.
International Applicants:
*Applications must be paid for and submitted by the close of business on January 8th.
4832
Thesis Track Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 33 units of course work. They enroll in either 3 or 6 units of Thesis research (MENA 910) in their final semester(s).
Students must achieve 3rd year language proficiency in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish. Dialect courses do not count towards fulfilling this requirement.
By the end of the second semester of enrollment, students must assemble a thesis committee of three faculty members, one of whom serves as the thesis advisor, and must also have filed their Master's Plan of Study (login to UAccess Student, then select GRADPATH to submit your plan online) in consultation with and approval of the Graduate Advisor. At least two members of this committee must be tenure-track professors in MENAS, and the committee must be approved by the Graduate Advisor.
The student’s thesis advisor will approve the appropriate subject matter of his or her thesis. The thesis must include research that utilizes primary sources in a Middle Eastern language. Primary sources can include historical works, media outlets, internet sources, survey data and/or interviews. The thesis should address a gap or problem in the scholarly literature, and be aimed at an academic audience. An appropriate thesis length is 75-90 pages. Students are responsible for scheduling an oral defense of their thesis and coursework with their committee. To see a list of all MA theses from 2008-2011 please click on the following link: MA Theses Titles
Students who wish to continue graduate work in a Ph.D. program should choose the thesis track.
General/Pre-Professional Track
The track in General Middle East Studies is designed for students seeking to develop the language and analytical skills necessary for advancement in non-academic careers in government, NGOs, and business, as well as a solid understanding of the modern Middle East. It is tailored for students who do not plan on pursuing a Ph.D. after their completion of the MA in Middle Eastern and North African Studies.
Students must complete a minimum of 33 units. The final departmental paper counts as 3 units (MENA 909).
Students must achieve 2nd year language proficiency in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish. Second-year language proficiency is achieved by successfully completing four semesters of the focus language. Students whose focus language is Arabic may alternatively enroll in 3 semesters of Modern Standard Arabic plus one sequence (two semesters) of an Arabic dialect (Egyptian, Levantine, or Moroccan). The dialect units may not be applied to the total requisite sum of 33 units for the degree if they are being used to fulfill the language requirement.
By the end of the second semester of enrollment, students must assemble a departmental paper committee of three faculty members, one of whom serves as the departmental paper advisor, and must also have filed their Master's Plan of Study (login to UAccess Student, then select GRADPATH to submit your plan online) in consultation with and approval of the Graduate Advisor. At least two members of this committee must be tenure-track professors in MENAS, and the committee must be approved by the Graduate Advisor.
The student’s departmental paper advisor will approve the appropriate subject matter of his or her paper. The paper must include research that utilizes primary sources, these sources can be in a western language. Subject matter should reflect an issue raised in the secondary literature and can be addressed to educated non-specialists. An appropriate departmental paper length is 35-50 pages. Students are responsible for scheduling with their committee a final oral exam on their cumulative coursework in the M.A. program.