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Program Details

Graduate Program: Middle Eastern and North African Studies (MA)

General Information

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Program/Degree
Middle Eastern and North African Studies (MA)  
Program Description

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.

Concentrations

MA students choose from seven basic concentrations:

 

  • Middle Eastern Literatures (Arabic, Persian, Turkish)
  • Islamic Studies
  • Gender and Society in the Middle East
  • Linguistics of Middle Eastern Languages
  • History of the Middle East
  • Middle East Conflict Studies
  • Topics in Middle Eastern Studies. This option allows students to create a self-designed concentration with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.
  • Students consult with the Director of Graduate Studies each semester to select their courses and they are required to complete 3 courses in their concentration prior to graduation.

    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

 

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

School of Middle Eastern and North African Studies

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

 
College

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

 
Campus where offered

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Sergio J Canez
520-626-8731
Graduate Program Coordinator
Sergio J Canez
520-626-8731
Director of Graduate Studies
Yaseen A Noorani
520-626-9696
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Guadalupe Estrella
520-621-3484
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

School Requirements

NOTE: Graduate applications can now be done entirely online

All documents, including the following may be uploaded:

  • Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
  • 3 Letters of recommendation from academic references preferable. Note: recommenders will be required to upload their letters through the graduate college website. Instructions on how this works are provided within the online application process- we do not have a recommendation form.
  • Statement of purpose
  • Curriculum Vitae/Resume
  • Writing Sample (term paper, chapter of thesis, etc.)

MINIMUM Requirements

  • GPA 3.0 on undergraduate or M.A. degree (cumulative GPA or last 60 semester units if your undergraduate GPA is lower than 3.0 cumulative; graduate GPA taken will be cumulative only)
  • GRE – UA code is 4832.  Use school code 2201 (area studies), or 2299 (social sciences, other) This is required for both domestic and international students.

Other Graduate College Information/Requirements

Phone: (520) 621-3471 | Email Graduate College Questions: OnlineAppHelp@grad.arizona.edu

  • $85 Application Fee Due at time of Submission
  • Domicile Affidavit
 
Standardized Tests

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)

 
Funding Opportunities

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:

  • Teaching Assistantships (TAs)
  • Tuition and Registration Scholarships
  • Graduate College Fellowships (normally for incoming students only)

The following awards require separate applications:

  • Foreign Language and Area Studies Award
  • Study Abroad
  • Roshan Fellowships in Persian and Iranian Studies (due first Monday in February)
  • Summer TAs (due second Monday in February, 4:00 p.m.)
  • Winter TAs (due first Monday in October, 4:00 p.m.)
  • Travel Award: Travel Authorization Form (ongoing: students may request awards for conferences in which they are presenting or participating)
  • Thesis/Dissertation Tuition Waiver

 

 
Admissions Deadlines

Domestic Applicants:

  • Fall: January 8

    *Applications must be paid for and submitted by the close of business on January 8th. 

International Applicants:

  • Fall: January 8

    *Applications must be paid for and submitted by the close of business on January 8th. 

 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

33 

Core Coursework Requirements

All M.A. students complete:

  • MENA 595D Middle East Studies: Approaches, Themes and Controversies
  • One Graduate Course in Middle Eastern History
  • One Graduate Course in Islamic Studies
  • One Course in Gender or Culture in the Middle East

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 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.

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.

Concentrations

Choose from seven basic concentrations:

  • Middle Eastern Literatures (Arabic, Persian, Turkish)
  • Islamic Studies
  • Gender and Society in the Middle East
  • Linguistics of Middle Eastern Languages
  • History of the Middle East
  • Middle East Conflict Studies
  • Topics in Middle Eastern Studies. (This option allows students to create a self-designed concentration with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies).
 
Elective Coursework

Possible Courses for MENAS MA (all courses listed below are 3 units unless otherwise noted):

  • MENA 508A - Islamic Movements in the Contemporary Muslim World
  • MENA 517A - North African Societies - History, Culture, & Politics
  • MENA 518 - Historiography: The Annals of the Arab Israeli Conflict
  • MENA 530A - Language and Society in the Middle East
  • MENA 532 - Iranian Culture and Society
  • MENA 544 - Islamic Mysticism
  • MENA 550 - Arabic Language Variation: Linguistic Analysis, Diglossia and Ideology in Multiple Genres
  • MENA 559A - Turkey: Culture, Power, and History
  • MENA 563 - Gender Issues and Women's Literature in the Middle East
  • MENA 571 - Iranian Cinema, Gender Issues, and Social Change
  • MENA 575 - Kingship in Medieval Islamic Iran
  • MENA 579 - The Ottoman Empire to 1800
  • MENA 580 - The Middle East in the Twentieth Century
  • MENA 581 - Medicine & Power in the Middle East
  • MENA 584 - History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1800 to Present
  • MENA 585A - History of the Iranian Plateau: Authority, Religion, and Literature, 633-1501
  • MENA 590 - Women in Middle Eastern Society
  • MENA 593 - Internship (1-6 units)
  • MENA 595D - Middle East
  • MENA 595E - Struggle and Survival: Modern Mid East and North Africa, c. 1850 - Present
  • MENA 596B - Special Topics in Middle Eastern and North African Studies
  • MENA 596C - The Literature of Identity in the Modern Middle East
  • MENA 596D - The Late Ottoman Empire
  • MENA 596E - Marxism and the Middle East
  • MENA 596H - Shi'ism
  • MENA 596Q - Qur'anic Studies
  • MENA 596S - Colonialism and the Critique of Modernity
  • MENA 599 - Independent Study (1-6 units)
  • MENA 696J - Ethnography of the Middle East: Issues and Methods
  • MENA 696Y - Nationalism and Islam
  • MENA 699 - Independent Study (1-6 units)
 
Additional Requirements

Language Requirements:

  • Thesis Track - Students must achieve 3rd year language proficiency in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish.  Dialect courses do not count towards fulfilling this requirement.
  • Pre-Professional/General Track - Students must achieve 2nd year language proficiency in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish.  Dialect courses do not count towards fulfilling this requirement.
 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Program StatisticsInformation about these numbers

Program-level Information
Application Acceptance Rate 66.67%
Med. Time-to-degree (years) 2.50
 
Department-level Information
Enrollment Percent Male 62.5%
Enrollment Percent Female 37.5%
Enrollment Percent International 12.5%
Enrollment Percent URM 0%

Back to statistics
  • All application, admit, and enrollment data are from Fall 2020.
  • Median Time to Degree calculates how long graduates in the last 5 years (2015-2019) took to complete their degrees, counting back to the first semester entering their program. This measure uses the methodology established in the 2011 Assessment of Research-Doctorate Programs by the National Research Council.
  • Underrepresented Minorities (URM) includes domestic students of ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education: African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/MENASMA
Last revised 12 Aug 2020
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