The Middle East studies program
The Middle East studies program is an interdisciplinary program consisting of a number of courses in humanities and social sciences. The opportunity of participating in this intensive study of the region ’s history and culture is open to all foreign exchange students studying at MIU. The variety of courses thus presents a comprehensive overview of the potentials and challenges of the region. Students of this program will gain deeper insights towards an overall understanding of the Middle East region.
Courses Included in the Program:
Arabic Language for foreigners
Ancient Egyptian History
History of Islamic Architecture
History of Islamic Egypt
Survey of the History of Modern Egypt
Arab Societies
Oriental Music
Contemporary Issues
Middle East Politics
Contemporary Arabic Literature
Economic Development in the Middle East
Arabic Language for foreigners
This course offers students interested in studying the Arabic language a chance to learn spoken colloquial Egyptian Arabic as well as written classical Arabic. The aim is to build bridges of understanding & facilitate inter-cultural communication. The course is offered every semester.
Ancient Egyptian History
This course is an introduction to the history, society, religion, art and architecture of Ancient Egypt, including a description of the nature and character of the field of Egyptology. It begins with the earliest stages of civilizations (Paleolithic, Neolithic and Pre-dynastic) moving on to the thousands of years of dynastic evolution, Greco-Roman conquests and culminates with the Coptic cultural development of Egypt. Field trips to ancient Egyptain monuments are part of the course requirements. This course is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters.
History of Islamic Architecture
This course surveys the architectural and the decorative expressions of the various regions that Islam took root in. The extents of the survey begin in heartland of Arabia reaching the extents of the Umayyad, Abbasid, Andalusian, Fatimid, Ayyubid, Mamluke and Ottoman empires. The regional manifestations of architectural expression for Islam will be critically evaluated throughout the course. Field trips to local monuments from these eras are integral to the course. The course is offered in the Fall & Spring semesters.
History of Islamic Egypt
The history of presence & influence of Islam in Egypt is surveyed in this course. It presents a comprehensive overview of the different Islamic dynasties & their cultural & political influences on the Egyptian region. Fields trips to relevant local monuments emphasize the qualities of the eras studied. This course is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters.
Survey of the History of Modern Egypt
This course covers history of Egypt between the Ottoman conquest (16th CE) to the October War in 1973. The turmoil of the shift between colonial to democratic rule is examined. This survey involves a number of themes: political, social, economic and cultural. Particular emphasis is laid upon social transformation, administration, foreign relations and cultural heritage. The course is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters.
Arab Societies
This course presents an analysis of the social and cultural characteristics of the societies in the Arab region. Contemporary problems and challenges that address the Arab world including unity, gender and democracy are discussed. Students are required to apply the knowledge gained in a Model Arab League simulated near the conclusion of the course. This is offered every semester.
Oriental Music
This course introduces students to the meaningful and profound qualities of Arabic music. Aspects such as instruments, forms, styles and performance techniques are discussed. This course is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters.
Contemporary Issues
This course tackles the contemporary issues that surround the Arab world. It aims at widening students' perspectives and comprehension on issues that are widely debated in Arab societies including: globalization/ cultural identity, information/ biotechnology ethics, human security, electronic democracy and the role of NGO's in overall development. This course if offered in the Fall and Spring semesters.
Middle East Politics
This course tackles a number of hot issues that the Middle East region has been undergoing ever since the second half of the 20th century, accelerating with the turning of the 21st century. These hot issues are manifested in the political transformation towards democracy, security crisis due to terrorists attacks launched by fundamentalist militant organizations as well as inter and intra Arab conflicts. This course is offered every semester.
Contemporary Arabic Literature
This course focuses on the study of contemporary Arabic literature: drama, poetry and novel. This course covers the different forces and factors that affected the development of Arabic literature including contemporary movements such as Modernism and Post-Modernism and an introduction to leading Arab writers. As well, this course addresses how political and socio-economic changes in the Arab world are reflected in literature. This course if offered every semester.
Economic Development in the Middle East
Since the mid-1980s the field of economic growth and development has been rejuvenated by an influx of new theoretical ideas and empirical studies. This course is designed to understand economic, social and political determinants of economic growth in a number of countries in the Middle East. It also explains why some Middle East countries succeeded in implementing credible reforms (economic and political), while other countries failed. In this context, the course discusses programs of financial liberalization , trade liberalization, capital-account liberalization, democratic and institutional transformation in a large number of Middle East countries.