Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies

College of Arts and Sciences

Departmental E-mail: melc@indiana.edu

Departmental URL: https://melc.indiana.edu/ 

The Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures is affiliated with the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies (HLS) in the College of Arts and Sciences, dedicated to providing Indiana University graduate students with the intellectual tools they will need to live, work, and thrive in the globalized world of the twenty-first century.  Degree programs associated with HLS emphasize language proficiency, cultural competency, and in-depth training in qualitative and quantitative methodologies.  HLS students enjoy unparalleled access to a stellar faculty and professional development opportunities.  For further information regarding the mission, structure and resources of the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies see http://hls.indiana.edu/.

(Please note that when conferring University Graduate School degrees, minors, certificates, and sub-plans, The University Graduate School’s staff use those requirements contained only in The University Graduate School Bulletin.)

Curriculum

Curriculum
Courses
Crosslisted Courses
Faculty

Special Departmental Requirements

(See also general University Graduate School requirements.) 

Admission Requirements 

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for any applicant. International applicants (non-U.S. citizens, non green–card holders) whose native language is not English are required to submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test of 79 or better, or an International English Language Testing System score of 6.5 or better. Applicants from any country of which the principal language is not English must take the TOEFL or IELTS, even if they consider themselves to have native or near-native fluency in English. Consult with the Director of Graduate Studies for more information.

U.S. citizens who have been educated abroad (e.g., dual nationals from the Arab world) and have their bachelor’s degree from non-U.S., non–English language institutions, must also submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. Consult the Director of Graduate Studies or Department Chair for additional information.

Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (MELC)

Course Requirements (See special requirements below for the MELC Egyptology M.A. track and for the dual O’Neill SPEA M.P.A./MELC M.A.) 

Students must take a minimum of 36 credit hours of graduate courses in Middle Eastern studies. These can be courses offered by the MELC department itself or, with the approval of the MELC Director of Graduate Studies and Chair, courses offered by other departments or schools appropriate to the course of study of the student. Each student's curriculum must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. 

At least 6 credits of the required course work must be fulfilled by courses in at least two of the following fields: the ancient (pre-Islamic), pre-modern (medieval), or modern (1500 CE to present) history of the Middle East, chosen with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.

At least 3 credit hours of the course work must be fulfilled by a methodology / theory course from a discipline in the student's personal academic interest, selected with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.

Students must take at least 12 credit hours of language coursework in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish. For this requirement, students choose one of the two options below:

“One major language" track: In this option, students are required to complete 12 credits in their chosen Middle Eastern (ME) Language. Out of these 12 credits, at least 6 credits must be obtained through language study at the fourth-year Advanced Level. In the case of Arabic, this is Advanced Arabic III (3 credits) and Advanced Arabic IV (3 credits). In the case of other major MELC languages, the equivalent must be completed. Students who begin their M.A. program at the fourth-year level or above may, with the prior approval of the course instructor and Director of Graduate Studies, count non-language courses in which they make substantial use of their major MELC language toward the 12 credits. These are courses in which the student reads primary sources in the chosen language. In the case of Hebrew, language credits can be fulfilled with a combination of Modern and Biblical Hebrew courses. "Two languages" track: In this option, in addition to a major ME language as described above, the student also chooses a second ME language and is required to fulfill 6 credits at the Intermediate (second-year) Level or above.

Examinations

At the conclusion of their coursework, the following additional requirements must be met:

Students who are not native speakers of their major language will take a two-hour comprehensive exam in their major language, which will (a) test all four language skills (reading, writing, listening comprehension, and speaking) and (b) include a translation exercise. Students who are native speakers of their major language will normally take a comprehensive language exam in their minor language at the highest level attained, but at least Intermediate II. Students who are native speakers of their major language and who are following the "one major language" (terminal M.A.) track, and who have not studied a minor language, will take a two-hour written examination in a subject area to be agreed upon with the Director of Graduate Studies.

Take a two-hour comprehensive exam in history covering two of the following three areas: ancient, pre-modern/medieval, and/or modern Middle East.

Submit a suitable term or seminar paper substantially revised and expanded, which must demonstrate the following:

A clear understanding of the chosen topic;

The ability to conceive and carry out an original project of a scholarly nature, including the use of primary and secondary texts in the original language, where appropriate;

An advanced level of critical or theoretical insight;

Excellent command of academic English;

Competence in the proper use of research and bibliographic tools.

The paper must be modeled, both in format and in intellectual substance, on articles that would be acceptable for publication in a scholarly journal of an appropriate sub-discipline of Middle Eastern Studies.

Students must notify the Director of Graduate Studies of their intention to take the M.A. examinations before the end of the preceding semester. The examining committee will be composed of three faculty members, including the faculty members responsible for the language exam, the history exam, and the individual research paper. If additional faculty readers are required to fill the committee, they will be appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies. All examiners and readers must be members of the MELC Graduate Faculty; any exceptions must be approved in writing by the Department Chair. The exams should be taken and the paper submitted in the final semester of the student's coursework or shortly thereafter, in accordance with the University Graduate School rules.

Students who fail an exam may be offered one opportunity to retake it. Those who do not successfully pass the exams by the end of their sixth semester may be placed on probation and subsequently dismissed from the program for lack of progress as described in the "Academic Regulations" section of the Bulletin.

Special Requirements for the M.A. Track in Egyptology

1) The M.A. requires a minimum of 36 graduate-level credits in ancient Egyptian language, civilization, and appropriate electives, including up to six credits of M.A. thesis research.

2) An M.A. thesis is required. 

3) Students will demonstrate reading proficiency in scholarly French or German by the end of the first year, either by completing a 492-level course, or by passing the proficiency examination administered by the Bloomington Evaluation Services and Testing office. Note that 400-level language courses taken to acquire and demonstrate modern-language proficiency do not count towards the 36 graduate credits required for the M.A. 

4) At the conclusion of their course work, students will take written examinations in Egyptian history (two hours), in Egyptian religion (two hours), and take a translation examination in Middle Egyptian (two hours). Students may request a waiver of one, two, or all three of these exams if they have earned an A in all relevant courses, and they have cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better as of the end of the semester before graduation is expected. This request will be considered at the end of the fourth week of the student's final semester, and will be approved for students whose thesis is well in hand, and who are performing at a high level in all current classes. 

Model two-year curriculum (substitutions based on previous coursework or student interest must be approved by the track advisor.) 

Year 1 - Fall: MELC-E500, Elementary Hieroglyphic Egyptian I (3 credits). MELC-E505, Seminar in Ancient Egyptian History I (3 credits). Elective chosen in consultation with program advisor. Recommended subjects include Virtual Heritage; Coptic; Classical Greek; Biblical Hebrew; Arabic; anthropology/archaeology; historical linguistics; ancient history; art history (3-6 credits). Spring: MELC-E550; Elementary Hieroglyphic Egyptian II (3 credits). MELC-E510; Seminar in Religions of Ancient Egypt (3 credits). Elective chosen in consultation with program advisor. Recommended subjects include Virtual Heritage; Coptic; Classical Greek; Biblical Hebrew; Arabic; anthropology/archaeology; historical linguistics; ancient history; art history (3-6 credits). 

Year 2 - Fall: MELC E-507, Seminar in Ancient Egyptian History II (3 credits); MELC-E600, Intermediate Middle Egyptian (3 credits). MELC-E660, Demotic I: Grammar and Script (3 credits). Spring: MELC-E650, Late Egyptian: Grammar and Texts (3 credits). MELC-E670, Demotic II: Persian and Ptolemaic Texts (3 credits). MELC-N710, Thesis Research (1-3 credits). 

Special Requirements for the Dual M.P.A./M.A. in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs

The Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures and the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs jointly offer a three-year program that qualifies students for a dual master’s degree. The first semester of course work toward the dual degree may be completed in the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs to complete prerequisite courses that are only offered in the fall semester.  Under this program, the degrees must be awarded simultaneously. 

Admission Requirements 

Same as for the Master of Arts degree except that application must also be made to the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs for study toward the Master of Public Affairs degree. Students must be accepted by both units to be admitted to the dual degree program.  Students may apply for admission to both programs simultaneously.  Alternatively, students may apply first for the M.A. in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures and apply for the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs M.P.A. program during their first year of study; they can then enter the dual degree program in their second year of study. 

Students pursuing a dual Master of Public Affairs/Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures will complete a total of 66 credit hours: 36 credit hours in the Master of Public Affairs program plus 30 credit hours in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. 

Public and Environmental Affairs Course Requirements 

M.P.A. Core (18 credits)

SPEA V502 Public Management

SPEA V506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making

SPEA V517 Public Management Economics

SPEA V540 Law and Public Affairs

SPEA V600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs

M.P.A. Concentration (18 credits) 

Students will complete 18 credit hours pertaining to one of the specialized concentration areas of the MPA, with courses to be chosen in consultation with a O’Neil School  faculty advisor. 

MELC Requirements; Course Work, Research Language, Paper, and Examinations 

M.A. in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (30 credits)

Students will complete 12-18 credits in graduate-level courses on the culture, history, politics, and religious traditions of the Middle East. 

Students will complete 12-18 credit hours of graduate level courses in an appropriate Middle Eastern language. Students should complete their language to at least the third year level (i.e., in the case of Arabic, to the level of A670, Advanced Arabic II), and must take no fewer than 12 credits of language courses. For students who begin their program with a high level of proficiency in their major language (whether attained through previous instruction or because they are native speakers), the 12-hour minimum in language can include seminars or research courses with substantial content in the major language, to be approved by the MELC Director of Graduate Studies. 

Students will submit a term or seminar paper (i.e., a paper originally written in one of their courses) substantially revised and expanded, and meeting the following criteria: 

A clear understanding of the chosen topic;

Demonstrated ability to conceive and carry out an original project of a scholarly nature, including the use of primary and secondary texts in the original language, where appropriate;

An advanced level of critical or theoretical insight;

Excellent command of expository English;

Competence in the proper use of research and bibliographic tools.

The paper should be suitable in form and content for publication in a professional journal in a recognized sub-field of Middle Eastern Studies. 

Students will undergo two, two-hour comprehensive examinations in Middle Eastern language, history and culture. Students who are not native-speakers of their major language will undergo a four-skill language examination, along with a two-hour written examination in Middle Eastern history. Students who are native speakers of their major language will undergo a two-hour history examination and a second two-hour examination in a field to be determined in consultation with Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures Director of Graduate Studies. 

Select List of Representative MELC Courses that may Count towards the Dual Degree: 

MELC-A600 Intermediate Arabic I

MELC-A660 Advanced Arabic I

MELC-M611 Isis and Terrorism

MELC-M650 Modern Iran

MELC-M695 Graduate Topics in MELC; recent topics include The Cultural History of the Middle East; Research Politics of Muslim Countries; States and Societies in Muslim Central Asia and the Middle East; Islam and Politics in Muselim Central Asia and the Middle East; Representations of Islam and Mulsims in Ethnographic Literature of Central Asia and the Middle East; African and Middle Eastern Narratives; Muslim Immigration and Minorities in the West; Researching Civil War (crosslisted with POLS-Y657)

NELC-N682 Islam and Modernity

Note on Tuition Costs: 

Students in this dual-degree program may find variance in their tuition charges. There is no standardized method of coding students in dual-degree programs. The O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the College of Arts and Sciences charge different graduate tuition rates per credit hour.  The school in which students register each semester may depend on their source of funding.  Students must consult with both units to determine in which school they should register each semester. 

For more information see also the O’Neil School Graduate Bulletin.

Ph.D. in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures

Minimum Admission requirements:

Admission to the MELC Ph.D. requires a BA or MA in an appropriate field with at least a 3.0 GPA. Any student whose first language is not English (including dual U.S. citizens who were educated in a language other than English) must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 79, or an International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) score of at least 6.5. The Graduate Record Exam is not required for any applicant. 

All MELC Ph.D. students will declare at least one major language and at least one secondary language. Students entering with a BA who are not native speakers of their intended major language should have already studied at least two years of their intended major language. Students entering with an MA who are not native speakers of their intended major language should have already studied at least three years of their intended major language. Students may also demonstrate language proficiency by examination in MELC or in the appropriate language department (in the case of Persian, Turkish or other Middle Eastern Languages). Any other exceptions to these or any other requirements must be approved by the student’s Advisor and the Department Chair. 

Degree requirements

Most students will complete their Ph.D. entirely within MELC, but students may also double major with another department. In both cases, the Ph.D. requires a total of at least 90 credits, with at least 75 credits of classwork; the remaining 15 credits are normally satisfied with dissertation research credits (MELC-M810 or, if applicable, the equivalent in any second major department). With approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and the Chair of the student’s advisory committee, students may take more than 75 credits of classwork, but they must take at least 3 credits of dissertation research so that their dissertation may be graded. Courses in the student’s first year will normally be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.  By the end of the student’s first year of study, the student must have formed an advisory committee.  For subsequent years of study, the Chair of the advisory committee will approve the student’s courses before enrollment.  The following are specific requirements. 

Single Major Option

• Primary field: Students will select one of the following three MELC core areas as their primary field: Arabic Language and Linguistics; Islamic Studies and Pre-Modern Middle Eastern Cultures; or the Modern Middle East.
• Secondary concentration: In consultation with their Advisor, students will select a secondary concentration from among the following four MELC core areas: Arabic Linguistics; Islamic Studies and Pre-Modern Middle Eastern Cultures; Modern Middle East; Pre-Islamic North Africa and East Mediterranean Studies. Students will take at least four courses in this secondary concentration (four courses, 12 credits).
• MELC distribution courses: Students will take at least two courses in each of the remaining MELC core areas other than their primary field and their secondary concentration (four courses, 12 credits).
• Outside minor: All MELC Ph.D. students are required to complete a minor in an outside department. Requirements for the outside minor are determined by the outside department; most departments require four courses (12 credits) to complete a minor. Students pursuing a double Ph.D. major in another department may use their courses in that department to satisfy the Outside Minor requirement.
• Major Middle Eastern language (typically Arabic; Hebrew, Persian or Turkish also available): MELC Ph.D. students must select a major Middle Eastern language. Non-native speakers of their intended major language must demonstrate proficiency in their major Middle Eastern language equivalent to the sixth year of study by the end of their doctoral program. Non-native speakers of their major language may satisfy this requirement through coursework, including graduate coursework not previously applied to any Ph.D. degree; passing a proficiency examination; or a combination of the two. Native speakers must write at least two substantial research papers (about 25 pages or more) in which the majority of their sources are in the major language.
• Secondary Middle Eastern language (normally Persian or Turkish; other options include Hebrew, Kurdish and Ancient Egyptian): Students must demonstrate proficiency equivalent to the second year of study. This requirement may be satisfied by coursework, passing a proficiency examination, or a combination of the two. Courses taken to satisfy this requirement may also count towards the requirements above for a secondary MELC concentration or MELC distribution courses.
• Research language (normally French or German; another relevant language may be substituted with the permission of the student’s Advisor and the Department Chair): By the end of their second year of study, students must pass the BEST proficiency test or pass the second semester of the appropriate graduate student reading course in the selected research language. Note that courses taken to fulfill this requirement do not count towards the 90 credits required for the Ph.D. degree.
• Electives: As necessary, students will complete additional electives to complete a program of at least 75 credits of course work. These electives must be approved by the student’s Advisor.
• Arabic pedagogy requirement: All students focusing on Arabic Language and Linguistics and Islamic Studies will take MELC-M 698, “Introduction to Arabic Pedagogy.” This course may be used to fulfill the Primary Field, Secondary Concentration, or MELC distribution requirements, and is strongly recommended for all MELC doctoral students. 

Second year exams (applies only to students entering the program without an MA or with an MA or MS in a field not relevant to Middle Eastern Language and Culture): Students entering the Ph.D. program without having previously been awarded an MA in a relevant field will take examinations in two fields of Middle Eastern history and in their major language (at least fourth year proficiency) at the end of their second year of study, and will submit a thesis of at least 50 pages on a topic approved by the Chair of their advisory committee, which they should have formed by the end of their first year of study as described above. This thesis may be an expanded version of a paper submitted for one of their MELC courses.  Students must receive a grade of at least B on each of their exams and on their thesis to be approved to continue their doctoral program.  If desired, students approved to continue their doctoral program may apply for the conferral of an MA.   

Students who fail one or more of their two-year exams may retake their exams once; the exam(s) must be retaken by the end of the student’s fifth semester. Students whose thesis has been submitted but deemed not acceptable, may also submit a revised thesis by the end of their fifth semester. Students who do not pass both required exams and write an acceptable thesis by the end of their fifth semester will not be approved to continue their doctoral program. Those who have passed at least one exam, or who have written an acceptable thesis within the specified time limit, may be approved to receive a terminal MA in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. 

Students who have less than a B average in their coursework at the end of their third semester will not be approved to take their two-year exams. Students who have not shown sufficient academic progress by the end of their fourth semester, and thus are not able to complete their two-year exams and their MA thesis within the required maximum time limit of five semesters, will be dismissed from the program. 

Double Major Option: Students may pursue a MELC Ph.D. simultaneously with a Ph.D. in another department. For their MELC degree, students pursuing a double major are encouraged, but not required, to complete the requirements for a secondary MELC concentration and MELC distribution requirements. The specific balance and mix of courses for students with two Ph.D. majors will be decided in consultation with the student’s advisory committee and with the Directors of Graduate Studies of both departments, and approved by the Chairs of the two departments. All other MELC requirements for double Ph.D.-majors are identical to those for MELC-only majors. 

Previous work:  Students who are admitted to the MELC Ph.D. program having previously earned an MA in an appropriate preparatory field may transfer up to 30 credits of graduate coursework from their previous institution, and apply those credits to the Ph.D. with the approval of their Advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies. The Advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies will determine which of the above requirements may be partly or fully met by this previous coursework, and which requirements must still be partly or completely met by courses taken at Indiana University. 

Qualifying examinations: Upon completion of their doctoral coursework, students majoring in Arabic Language and Linguistics, Islamic Studies and the Premodern Middle East, and the Modern Middle East will take written qualifying examinations in three MELC fields: one major and two minor.  The format of these examinations will be decided upon by the student and the student’s Advisor, and must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. The examination fields for students who are pursuing a double Ph.D. major, and the format of those exams, will be decided upon by in consultation by the student, the student’s Advisor, and the Directors of Graduate Studies in MELC and in the student’s other major Department. For all students, an oral examination must be taken within four weeks of the written examinations. 

Advisory Committee: If the student is pursuing the single-major option, the advisory committee should include at least four members, of whom at least three must be from MELC (faculty appointed in MELC or MELC adjuncts). The student may also have one or more committee members from outside MELC, and potentially from outside of Indiana University, if important to the student’s intended doctoral research. In the case of students pursuing a double Ph.D.  major, at least two advisory committee members must be from MELC and at least two must be from the second department.  In all cases, at least two committee members (but preferably all) must be members of the Graduate Faculty.

Dissertation Research: Following completion of all required and elective classes, and in the field of the student’s second Ph.D. major if applicable, students will take dissertation research credits as necessary to complete the requirement for a total of 90 credit hours. Students must take at least one research credit in order to receive a grade for their dissertation. 

Exceptions: Any exceptions to the above requirements must be approved by the student’s Advisor the Chair of the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures, and (if applicable) the student’s second major department.