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The Minor in Middle Eastern Studies

Course Requirements for the Minor: 21 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this minor.

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
HIST 261 Islam and the World   3.0 FS  GE  GC
This course is also offered as MEST 261, RELS 202.
Introduces students to the history, faith, practice, and cultures of Islam, starting with the Late Antique Near Eastern milieu from which it emerged and tracing its development and geographic spread around the world to the present day. 3 hours seminar. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (004515)
MEST 261 Islam and the World   3.0 FS  GE  GC
This course is also offered as HIST 261, RELS 202.
Introduces students to the history, faith, practice, and cultures of Islam, starting with the Late Antique Near Eastern milieu from which it emerged and tracing its development and geographic spread around the world to the present day. 3 hours seminar. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (004515)
RELS 202 Islam and the World   3.0 FS  GE  GC
This course is also offered as HIST 261, MEST 261.
Introduces students to the history, faith, practice, and cultures of Islam, starting with the Late Antique Near Eastern milieu from which it emerged and tracing its development and geographic spread around the world to the present day. 3 hours seminar. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (004515)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
HIST 362 The Middle East to 1800   3.0 FA  GC
This course is also offered as MEST 362.
Introduction to some major aspects of culture, society and the state in the Islamic Middle East, including Islamic religion, the Arab Empire, the family, law, roles of men and women, styles of living. Examination of the post-Mongol empires of Ottoman and Safavid, and their interaction with European powers in the early modern period. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (004550)
MEST 362 The Middle East to 1800   3.0 FS  GC
This course is also offered as HIST 362.
Introduction to some major aspects of culture, society and the state in the Islamic Middle East, including Islamic religion, the Arab Empire, the family, law, roles of men and women, styles of living. Examination of the post-Mongol empires of Ottoman and Safavid, and their interaction with European powers in the early modern period. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (004550)

15 units selected from:

A minimum of 6, and a maximum of 12, units must be selected from Group A. A minimum of 4, and a maximum of 8, units must be selected from Group B. A maximum of 6 units may be selected from Group C. No more than 1 Hebrew language course may be used for the minor. Other relevant Middle Eastern languages may be approved, in consultation with the minor advisor.

Group A

6-12 units selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
ANTH 377Z Anthropology of the Islamic World - Capstone   3.0 FS  GE  GC  WI
 C
This course examines Muslim cultures in the daily, national and global contexts in which Islam is practiced. Students read ethnography, fiction, history, and poetry in order to appreciate, respect and understand contemporary Islamic cultures. 3 hours lecture.This is an approved Writing Intensive course. This is an approved General Education Capstone course. This is an approved Global Cultures course. (021354)
HIST 463 Islamic Civilization   3.0 FA  
Islamic civilization 600-1800; religion, philosophy, law, education, literature, and political thought and activity. 3 hours seminar. (004649)
HIST 464 The Modern Middle East   3.0 SP  
Social, intellectual, and political changes in Turkey, Iran, and the Arab countries in the twentieth century. 3 hours seminar. (004650)
HIST 466 The Arab-Israeli Conflict   3.0 SP  
This course is also offered as MEST 466.
The development of Zionism and Arab nationalism since 1900; international politics and the creation of Israel; Arab-Israeli conflict since 1948 to the present; politics and society in Israel; Palestinian refugees and guerrilla groups; P.L.O. and the Palestinian nationalist movement; efforts and prospects for Arab-Israeli peace. 3 hours seminar. (004618)
MEST 302 Muhammad and the Qur'an   3.0 INQ  
This course is also offered as RELS 302.
This course introduces students to the sacred scripture and prophet of Islam. Students study the biography of Muhammad (570-632) and the text of the Qur'an by situating it within the context of Muhammad's life and career. By the end of the course, students are able to appreicate how devout Muslims view Muhammad and the Qur'an, as well as ask critical questions raised by modern scholars of religion. 3 hours lecture. (020263)
MEST 466 The Arab-Israeli Conflict   3.0 SP  
This course is also offered as HIST 466.
The development of Zionism and Arab nationalism since 1900; international politics and the creation of Israel; Arab-Israeli conflict since 1948 to the present; politics and society in Israel; Palestinian refugees and guerrilla groups; P.L.O. and the Palestinian nationalist movement; efforts and prospects for Arab-Israeli peace. 3 hours seminar. (004618)
POLS 446A International Relations of the Middle East   3.0 F1  
Analyzes the foreign policies of the Middle Eastern nations. Emphasizes Arab-Israeli and inter-Arab dynamics, the impacts of Muslim culture, sectarian strife, and the roles of external forces, including the superpowers. 3 hours lecture. (007565)
RELS 302 Muhammad and the Qur'an   3.0 INQ  
This course is also offered as MEST 302.
This course introduces students to the sacred scripture and prophet of Islam. Students study the biography of Muhammad (570-632) and the text of the Qur'an by situating it within the context of Muhammad's life and career. By the end of the course, students are able to appreicate how devout Muslims view Muhammad and the Qur'an, as well as ask critical questions raised by modern scholars of religion. 3 hours lecture. (020263)

Group B

4-8 units selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
ARAB 101A Beginning Arabic I   4.0 FS  GE
Introduction to Arabic language and culture. Emphasis is on the fundamental skills of understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Arabic. 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (020747)
ARAB 102A Beginning Arabic II   4.0 FS  GE
Prerequisites: ARAB 101A.
Continuation of ARAB 101A. Emphasis is on the fundamental skills of understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Arabic. 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (020748)
ARAB 201 Intermediate Arabic I   4.0 FS  GE
Prerequisites: ARAB 102A.
Students review and expand language skills and cultural concepts introduced in ARAB 101A and ARAB 102A. This course includes composition and reading. 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (020749)
ARAB 202 Intermediate Arabic II   4.0 FS  GE
Prerequisite: ARAB 201.
Students review and expand language skills and cultureal concepts introduced in ARAB 101A, ARAB 102A, and ARAB 201. This course includes composition and reading. 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (020750)

Group C

0-6 units selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
ANTH 222 Archaeology and the Bible   3.0 FS  
Students examine the early civilizations of the Levant with foundations in the Early Bronze Age. The class focuses on Middle and Late Bronze Age period Canaan, the development of villages, towns, and societies during the periods of Canaanite and early Hebrew settlement. The focus of the course is with the cultural, demographic, political, and economic emergence of the nation of Israel with comparisons in the Old Testament and extra-biblical accounts of the period. Tools used in the examination include interpretation of evidence from archaeological excavations, historical materials, biblical and other textual sources, and area studies. 3 hours lecture. (020211)
MJIS 204I Judaism and the Minority Experience   3.0 SP  GE  USD  WI
This course is also offered as RELS 204I.
This course surveys the texts, practices, and beliefs of Judaism, examines the development of the Jewish tradition in response to interactions with a variety of host cultures, and investigates how the Jewish experience complicates our understanding of what it means to be a minority. 3 hours discussion.This is an approved Writing Intensive course. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved US Diversity course. (005860)
MJIS 303 Hebrew Bible   3.0 INQ  
This course is also offered as RELS 303.
An introduction to the Hebrew Bible (also known as the Old Testament of Christianity and the Tanakh of Judaism) in English translation. Readings from the Pentateuch, the prophetic books, and the hagiographa. The course emphasizes the analysis of the biblical books in their ancient Near Eastern contexts, the documentary hypotheses, Israelite history and religion, the formation of the biblical canon, and early Jewish and Christian scriptural interpretation. 3 hours lecture. (005858)
MJIS 418 Government and Politics of Israel   3.0 F1  
This course is also offered as POLS 418.
This course will examine the Israeli political system from its early development to the present. The class will focus on the Zionist ideology of the founders and the transformation of that ideology during the state-building period. Israeli political institutions will be examined along with historical and contemporary political conflicts, the vagaries of the peace process, and Israeli-American relations. 3 hours lecture. (005865)
POLS 418 Government and Politics of Israel   3.0 F1  
This course is also offered as MJIS 418.
This course will examine the Israeli political system from its early development to the present. The class will focus on the Zionist ideology of the founders and the transformation of that ideology during the state-building period. Israeli political institutions will be examined along with historical and contemporary political conflicts, the vagaries of the peace process, and Israeli-American relations. 3 hours lecture. (005865)
RELS 100 Judaism, Christianity, Islam   3.0 FS  GE
An analysis of the religions of the West: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (008129)
RELS 204I Judaism and the Minority Experience   3.0 SP  GE  USD  WI
This course is also offered as MJIS 204I.
This course surveys the texts, practices, and beliefs of Judaism, examines the development of the Jewish tradition in response to interactions with a variety of host cultures, and investigates how the Jewish experience complicates our understanding of what it means to be a minority. 3 hours discussion.This is an approved Writing Intensive course. This is an approved General Education course. This is an approved US Diversity course. (005860)
RELS 303 Hebrew Bible   3.0 INQ  
This course is also offered as MJIS 303.
An introduction to the Hebrew Bible (also known as the Old Testament of Christianity and the Tanakh of Judaism) in English translation. Readings from the Pentateuch, the prophetic books, and the hagiographa. The course emphasizes the analysis of the biblical books in their ancient Near Eastern contexts, the documentary hypotheses, Israelite history and religion, the formation of the biblical canon, and early Jewish and Christian scriptural interpretation. 3 hours lecture. (005858)
RELS 307 New Testament   3.0 INQ  
This course covers the books of the Christian New Testament in the context of ancient Judaism and the world of the ancient Mediterranean. Who wrote the gospels and the epistles? Is there anti-Jewish prejudice in the New Testament? This class explores how Jesus was depicted, inquires whether the new Testament promotes or opposes Gnosticism, explains why the Christian apocrypha are not accepted as scripture, and also considers the relationship between the early Christian movement and ancient Greek mystery religions, the Dead Sea Scroll sect, Hellenistic Judaism, and/or Enoch traditions. 3 hours seminar. (008141)
Catalog Cycle:13