College of Arts and ScienceCollege of Arts and ScienceSee also the Graduate School of Arts and Science department pages and the 1998-2000 College Bulletin section on this department.
The Department of Middle Eastern Studies at NYU provides students with a comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of the history, cultures, and languages of the Middle East, from antiquity to the present. Department faculty are drawn from a variety of disciplines, including history, anthropology, literature, and the study of religion; languages taught include Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hindi/Urdu, and ancient Egyptian.
The Department offers a major in Middle Eastern Studies, the requirements for which are set forth in the College of Arts and Science Bulletin. Highly motivated students may want to take part in the Department's honors program, which involves taking graduate-level courses and culminates in the writing of an honors paper during the senior year under the supervision of a faculty member. The faculty is supplemented by visitors brought in by the Department and the Center for Near Eastern Studies. This center, a joint venture between NYU and Princeton University, allows students in the Department to take courses at the partner institution. The Department encourages students to seek out internships that will broaden their understanding of Middle Eastern Studies by work outside of the classroom. In the past, students have held internships at a variety of government agencies, research institutions, and corporations.
The Rumi-Biruni Prize is given for excellence and achievement in the study of Persian; the Ibn Khaldun Prize is presented for excellence and achievement in the study of Arabic; and the Evliya Chelebi Prize is presented for excellence in Turkish studies.
Majors in the Department pursue careers in journalism, business, government service, and education, including graduate study of the Middle East and teaching at the college/university level.
Persian literature; mysticism; Islamic studies and performing arts of the Middle East
Arabic, French, American, and Francophone North African literatures; comparative imperialisms; literary and cultural theory
Turkish language and literature
Modern Egyptian History
Arabic language; socio-linguistics; technology applications in pedagogy
Anthropology of Arab societies; forms of power and hierarchy; urban studies
Cultural and political history of Ancient Egypt; Ancient Egyptian religion; religious iconography; philology; and lexicography
Islamic law and society; Yemeni society and history
Cross-cultural contact; comparative, medieval history, religion, mysticism, apocalypse, and cultural theory
Classical and Modern Arabic literature; wine poetry; modern vernacular poetry
Persian language and literature, computer-based language training
Hindi language
Modern Middle Eastern history; particularly Egypt and Palestine; Middle East labor and sociocultural history; Zionism
Early modern history of Iran and Central Asian
Modern and contemporary Arabic language and literature; gender studies
Islamic history and religion; history; comparative Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Political economy of the Ottoman Empire; comparative history
Social anthropology; gender; media, popular culture and oral literature; self and emotions.
Islamic philosophy and theology.
Civil society and politics; urban and rural politics in the Middle East; political reform in the Middle East.
Comparative politics; international relations; Middle Eastern politics.
Students seeking admission should apply to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, New York University, 22 Washington Square North, New York, NY 10011. The University sponsors and administers a wide variety of financial aid programs. Awards are based on the student's record of academic achievement and test scores as well as on financial need.
New York University
Department of Middle Eastern Studies
Director of Undergraduate Studies
50 Washington Square South, Room 200
New York, NY 10012
(212) 998-8880 - phone
(212) 995-4689 - fax
Email: mideast.studies@nyu.edu
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