Arabic Language

• NELC-A 160 First-Year Arabic (4 cr.) For students with prior knowledge of Arabic whose scores on the placement test do not place them into second-year Arabic. Covers the grammar and vocabulary of Elementary Arabic I and II (A100 and A150) in one semester.

• NELC-A 100 Elementary Arabic I (5 cr.) Modern standard Arabic as in contemporary literature, newspapers, and radio. Grammar, reading, dictation, composition, penmanship, conversation, translation. I Sem.

• NELC-A 150 Elementary Arabic II (5 cr.) P: A100 or equivalent. Modern standard Arabic as in contemporary literature, newspapers, and radio. Grammar, reading, dictation, composition, penmanship, conversation, translation. II Sem.

• NELC-A 200 Intermediate Arabic I (5 cr.) P: A150 or equivalent. Grammar, reading, composition, conversation, and translation, using materials from medieval classical and modern literary Arabic. A200, I Sem.

• NELC-A 250 Intermediate Arabic II (5 cr.) P: A200 or equivalent. Grammar, reading, composition, conversation, and translation, using materials from medieval classical and modern literary Arabic. A250, II Sem.

• NELC-A 300 Advanced Arabic I (3 cr.) P: Consent of department. Continuation of A200-A250. A300, I Sem.; A350, II Sem.

• NELC-A 310 Arabic Dialects I (3 cr.) P: A200 or N182. Focuses on a particular regional dialect (Egyptian, Iraqi, North African), teaching students to speak the everyday language. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

• NELC-A 320 Arabic Dialects II (3 cr.) P: A310 or equivalent. Language course which focuses on a particular regional dialect (Egyptian, Iraqi, North African) and teaches students to speak the everyday language. May be repeated with a different language for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

• NELC-A 350 Advanced Arabic II (3 cr.) P: Consent of department. Continuation of A200-A250. A300, I Sem.; A350, II Sem.

• NELC-A 400 Advanced Arabic III (3 cr.) P: A350 with a grade of B or higher. An advanced Arabic language course which builds on the student’s knowledge of Arabic structures and vocabulary, aiming for higher proficiency in stylistic differences and usage.

• NELC-N 455 Advanced Media Arabic (3 cr.) P: NELC-A 450. Advanced media Arabic provides students with the language of the Arab media and develops their communicative skills mainly in reading, presentational speaking, listening, interpersonal communication, and writing (expository and persuasive). The course covers current events in Arabic language mass media including diplomacy, demonstrations, elections, conflicts, business and finance, and social issues. May be repeated with a different experience for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

• NELC-A 450 Advanced Arabic IV (3 cr.) P: A400 with a grade of B or higher. An advanced Arabic language course which builds on the student’s knowledge of Arabic structures and vocabulary, aiming for higher proficiency in stylistic differences and usage.

• NELC-N 223 Conversational Arabic (3 cr.) Formal spoken or “polite” Arabic, with attention to divergences in Arabic dialects.

• NELC-N 255 Multimedia Arabic (3 cr.) P: A200. Modern literary Arabic as found in newspapers, magazines, television, and radio will be the main source of material for this course. Focuses on speaking, reading, and vocabulary in this genre. Language laboratory materials, computer programs, and SCOLA will be utilized.

• NELC-N 310 Arabic Composition (3 cr.) P: A100-A150. Readings from Arabic essayists and practice in writing of essays.

• NELC-N 312 Arabic Grammar (3 cr.) P: A100-A150, A200, or consent of instructor. This course will present, in Arabic, the principal features of traditional classical Arabic grammar. A treatise on Arabic grammar will be utilized to constitute a base and guide for student reading.

• NELC-N 324 Introduction to Arabic Linguistics (3 cr.) Concise history and description of the structure of Arabic. Special emphasis on the written and selected spoken varieties of modern Arabic phonology, grammar, and basic vocabulary.

• NELC-N 329 Arabic Phonetics and Phonology (3 cr.) Systematic study of Arabic phonetics/phonology utilizing scientific phonetics both practical and theoretical and the phonological processes of generative phonological theory.

• NELC-X 392 Individual Readings in Arabic Language and Linguistics (1-6 cr.) Focuses on reading and analyzing materials in the fields of Arabic language and linguistics. Students may register to research certain aspects of these fields that are not covered by the regular sequence of departmental courses. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours in X392 and N398.

• NELC-X 393 Individual Readings in Classical Arabic (1-6 cr.) P: Permission of the instructor and the department. Linguistic and literary analysis of selected classical Arabic texts. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits in X393 and N393.

• NELC-X 394 Individual Readings in Modern Arabic (1-6 cr.) P: Permission of the instructor and the department. Linguistic and literary analysis of selected modern Arabic texts. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours in X394 and N394.

Ancient Egypt

• NELC-E 100 Elementary Hieroglyphic Egyptian I (4 cr.) Introduction to Middle Egyptian, the language of Ancient Egypt as spoken and written during the Middle Kingdom and early New Kingdom (c. 2000 BCE - 1400 BCE). Students master the rudiments of the hieroglyphic script and learn basic Egyptian grammar and vocabulary. Credit given for only one of E100 or E101.

• NELC-E 150 Elementary Hieroglyphic Egyptian II (4 cr.) P: Grade of B or higher in E100 or consent of instructor. Continuation of the introduction to Middle Egyptian, the language of Ancient Egypt as spoken and written during the Middle Kingdom and early New Kingdom (c. 2000 BCE - 1400 BCE). Students master the basics of the hieroglyphic script, learn advanced Egyptian grammar and vocabulary, and read edited hieroglyphic texts. Credit given for only one of E150 or E102.

• NELC-E 200 Intermediate Middle Egyptian (3 cr.) P: Grade of B or higher in E150 or consent of instructor. Readings from Middle Egyptian prose and poetic texts of intermediate difficulty. Texts will include fictional narratives, royal inscriptions, personal letters, religious texts and tomb autobiographies.

• NELC-E 201 History and Civilization of Ancient Egypt (3 cr.) The history and civilization of ancient Egypt including important historical and cultural events from the Egyptian Predynastic period (c. 5000 - 3050 BCE) to the end of Egypt's traditional culture (c. 450 CE).

• NELC-E 250 Late Egyptian: Grammar and Texts (3 cr.) P: Grade of B or higher in E200 or consent of instructor. Fundamentals of literary and documentary Late Egyptian (Egyptian as written during the later New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period), through reading and study of literary and documentary texts and royal inscriptions.

• NELC-E 300 Demotic Egyptian I: Grammar and Script (3 cr.) P: Grade of B or higher in E250 or consent of instructor. Introduction to Demotic, the script and vernacular language of Ancient Egypt, in documented usage from around 650 BCE to around 450 CE.

• NELC-E 301 Religions of Ancient Egypt (3 cr.) A survey of religious belief and practice in Egypt from the Late Predynastic period (c. 3500 BCE) down to the end of Egypt's traditional culture (c. 500 CE).

• NELC-E 306 Topics in Egyptology (3 cr.) Advanced study of selected topics in the history, culture or religion of Ancient Egypt. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

• NELC-E 350 Demotic Egyptian II: Persian and Ptolemaic Texts (3 cr.) P: Grade of B or higher in E300 or consent of instructor. Continues mastery of Demotic, the vernacular script and language of Egypt as written from circa 650 BCE to circa 450 CE.

Kurdish Language

• NELC-K 100 Introduction to Kurdish I (4 cr.) Basic communication skills in Kurdish taught using the Kurmanji Kurdish dialect. Functional knowledge of sentence structures and vocabulary.

• NELC-K 150 Introduction to Kurdish II (4 cr.) P: K100 or equivalent proficiency. A continuation of K100. Familiarity with the grammar of Kurmanji Kurdish will be strengthened through readings, conversation, and an introduction to Kurdish music, literature, and popular culture.

• NELC-K 200 Intermediate Kurdish I (3 cr.) P: K150 or equivalent proficiency. A continuation of the basic skills taught in K100 and K150 with the aim of expanding vocabulary and functional grammatical knowledge.

• NELC-K 250 Intermediate Kurdish II (3 cr.) P: K200 or equivalent proficiency. Building upon the foundational skills developed in previous semesters, students continue to solidify their command of vocabulary and their knowledge of grammar.

Persian Language and Literature

• NELC-P 360 Topics in Studies of Iranian Languages (3 cr.) An introduction to selected works of Iranian languages in relation to social history and religious and political developments. Topics will vary from semester to semester. May be taken for a total of 9 credit hours with different topics.

• NELC-P 365 Introduction to Persian Literature in Translation (3 cr.) Intended to provide coverage of the development of Persian literature from its earliest stages in the tenth century A.D. to the present. Although the course covers a broad period of about 1,000 years, it does so in a general way and seeks to provide background information for students who may have an interest in Persian literature.

• NELC-N 380 Topics in Persian Literature in Translation (3 cr.) Study and analysis of selected readings from Persian literature in English translation. May concentrate on a particular theme, period, or author. Special attention paid to the historical and cultural contexts of the works, as well as problems in translation, critical analysis, and interpretation. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours in N380, CEUS R354, and CEUS U372.

• NELC-N 385 Persian Mystical Literature in Translation (3 cr.) Examines the Persian literature of Islamic mysticism in English translation. Following an introduction to the history and doctrines of Sufism, the class will turn to detailed readings and discussions of works in several prose and poetic genres: hagiographic biography, allegorical epic, mystical lyric, and gnostic meditation.

• NELC-X 391 Directed Readings in Persian Language (1-4 cr.) P: Permission of supervising instructor and department. Readings in Persian texts selected in accordance with the student’s level and interest. May be repeated for a maximum of 8 credit hours in X391 and N240.

History, Civilization, Literature, and Religion

• NELC-N 122 U.S. Foreign Policy and the Muslim World (3 cr.) An introduction to some salient debates that shape American foreign policy toward the Middle East and the Muslim world today.

• NELC-N 203 Topics in Middle Eastern History (3 cr.) Studies of a particular theme or topic in Middle Eastern history. Topics will vary. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

• NELC-N 204 Topics in Middle Eastern Culture and Society (3 cr.) Analysis of selected Middle Eastern cultural or social issues. Topics will vary. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

• NELC-N 205 Topics in Middle Eastern Literature (3 cr.) Selected works of Middle Eastern literature in relation to a single cultural problem or theme. Topics will vary. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

• NELC-N 207 Topics in Islamic Studies (3 cr.) Studies of particular topics or themes in Islamic thought and practice. Topics will vary. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

• NELC-N 208 Muslim Communities in Europe and the U.S.: Transnational Islam (3 cr.) An interdisciplinary survey course about the social and cultural aspects of the contemporary Muslim communities in Europe and the United States, with stress on the transnational character of these immigrant communities.

• NELC-N 212 Contemporary Literatures of the Middle East (in English Translation) (3 cr.) An introduction to contemporary literature of the Middle East (in English translation) and to the main concepts and approaches used in academic discourse on literary analysis. Offers insight into the cultures, lives, and issues of the peoples of the Middle East.

• NELC-N 213 World of Late Antiquity (3 cr.) Surveys the transformation of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East between the second and seventh centuries, focusing on the emergence of religion as a central facet of political identity, the fusion of Christian monotheism with imperial politics, and its impact on traditional societies and cultures on the eve of Islam.

• NELC-N 214 Multiple Voices of Israeli Society (3 cr.) A survey of academic work by and about different groups in Israel. Attention is paid to local and theoretical issues highlighted by this work, such as collective memory, identity of immigrants, diaspora and the experience of homecoming, gay and lesbian families, reproductive regimes, and religious and secular worldviews. Credit given for only one of N214 or JSTU-C 214.

• NELC-N 216 Israeli Inequality in Context (3 cr.) How does Israeli inequality compare to inequality in other societies? And within Israel, how do different axes of inequality, like nation, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, etc., relate to and inform each other? The course addresses these questions using a social stratification approach. Credit given for only one of N216 or JSTU-C 216.

• NELC-N 220 Muhammad: Life of the Prophet (3 cr.) Study, from an historical perspective, of the career of the prophet of Islam, Muhammad b. Abd Allah, from pre-Islamic times through his call to prophethood; his campaigns against the opposition; the establishment of the Muslim community at Medinah; the conquest of Mecca; and his death.

• NELC-N 222 The Contemporary Middle East in World Politics (3 cr.) An introduction to the interaction among people, governments, and outside powers in the greater Middle East and North Africa.

• NELC-N 233 The Golden Age of Islamic Civilization (3 cr.) Focuses on the Abbasid period of Islamic history, which began in 750 of the Common Era, and is considered the "golden age" of Islamic civilization due to remarkable accomplishments in culture, art, architecture, and scholarship during this time.

• NELC-N 245 Introduction to the Ancient Near East (3 cr.) Introduction to ancient Near Eastern cultures from early farmers around 8000 B.C. to the Iron Age kingdoms of the Babylonians, Assyrians, and Iranians; emphasis on agriculture, literacy, urbanization, state formation, sociopolitical and religious institutions, and legal and economic developments. Archaeological and textual information will be utilized in conjunction with visual aids. Credit given for only one of N245, CEUS R250, or CEUS U254.

• NELC-N 251 Post-Taliban Afghanistan and the War on Terror (3 cr.) The September 11th attacks prompted the on-going "War on Terrorism" against Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. This course examines this conflict while focusing on Afghanistan as a multi-ethnic, modern nation-state ravaged by a century of internal colonialism and most recently by foreign invasions, proxy wars, and global terrorism. Credit given for only one of NELC-N 251, ANTH-E 251, or CEUS-R 251.

• NELC-N 260 Literary Masterpieces of Muslim Spain (3 cr.) Overview of the Golden Age of Arabic and Hebrew literature in the Iberian Peninsula under Muslim rule (al-Andalus) during the Middle Ages. Covers the historical context in which the Golden Age occurred, as well as examples from its poetry and prose, in English translation. Credit given for only one of N260 or JSTU-J 260.

• NELC-N 265 Introduction to Islamic Civilization (3 cr.) Survey of Islamic civilization in the classical period. Topics include the life of Muhammad, Koranic and other teachings of Islam, conquests and caliphates, early successor states, law, sects, theology, philosophy, and the relationship between state and religion. Credit given for only one of N265 or HIST C205.

• NELC-N 268 Military History of the Middle East (3 cr.) Survey of conflict in the Middle East including the rise of Islam, the Crusades, World War I, the Arab-Israeli Conflict, the Persian Gulf Wars, and terrorism.

• NELC-N 303 Issues in Middle Eastern History (3 cr.) In-depth study of a particular topic, problem, or theme of Middle Eastern history. Topics will vary. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

• NELC-N 304 Issues in Middle Eastern Culture and Society (3 cr.) In-depth studies of particular problems, themes, and topics relating to the cultures of the Middle East. Topics will vary. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

• NELC-N 305 Issues in Middle Eastern Literature (3 cr.) Selected works of Middle Eastern literature in relation to a singular cultural problem or theme. Topics will vary. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 9 credit hours.

• NELC-N 306 Topics in Middle Eastern Studies (3 cr.) In-depth studies of particular topics, problems, or themes in Middle Eastern studies. Topics will vary. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

• NELC-N 307 Issues in Islamic Studies (3 cr.) In-depth studies of particular topics, problems, or themes in Islamic studies. Topics will vary. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

• NELC-N 315 Ancient Greek and Near Eastern Religions (3 cr.) Greek religious, cultural and philosophical trends in relation to Near Eastern civilizations, 900 BCE-150 CE. Topics include cosmology, mythologies, mystery cults, prophesy, shamanism, demonology, asceticism, notions of the afterlife and of the soul.

• NELC-N 339 Middle Eastern Politics (3 cr.) Political culture and change in selected Middle Eastern and North African countries. Topics include political elites, traditional cultures, modern political ideology, institutions of political control, conflict management, and social reform policies. Credit given for only one of N339 or POLS-Y 339.

• NELC-N 340 Prophets, Poets, and Kings: Iranian Civilization (3 cr.) Traces the culture, society, and beliefs of Iran from ancient times through the Muslim conquest to the eighteenth century. Focuses on politics, religions (Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, and Islam), administrative and social institutions, relationship between secular and ecclesiastic hierarchies, status of minorities, devotional and communal change, and Iranian influences on Islamic culture. Visual aids used in class.

• NELC-N 347 Rise of Eastern Rome (3 cr.) The evolution of the Eastern Roman Empire in relation to Sassanian Persia from the second to seventh centuries, focusing on centralization at Constantinople; response to Western overlords; promotion of Christian orthodoxy, monasticism and Holy Land; and formulation of imperial strategies that defeated Persia but ultimately facilitated the Arab conquests.

• NELC-N 348 Byzantium (3 cr.) Explores the history, society, economy and culture of the Byzantine Roman Empire ("Byzantium") ca. 330-1453 CE, focusing on its imperial and Christian ideology, urban and frontier life, military ventures and diplomatic strategies for survival situated between Western Christendom and Islamic Caliphates in the medieval Near East. Credit given for only one of NELC-N 348 or HIST-B 348.

• NELC-N 350 Modern Iran (3 cr.) The history and culture of Iran from 1500 to the present, with an emphasis on developments in the last century, in particular the role of Shiism in shaping the history of modern Iran. Readings will deal with the historical, religious, and cultural background, the two great revolutions of the 20th century, and the role of Iran in recent events in the Middle East. We will also follow current events in Iran on a regular basis.

• NELC-N 352 Contemporary Turkey (3 cr.) A comprehensive reading about and discussion of major issues for Turkey from 1970s to date. Issues include domestic politics and foreign policy; European Union; social structure; religion; art and culture; migration and transnational Turkish communities; minorities in Turkey; Turkey and Central Asia/Caucasus/Middle East; and relations with the U.S.

• NELC-N 360 Muslim Spain and Portugal: History and Memory (3 cr.) P: One year of Arabic, Hebrew, Latin or Spanish language study. Introduces the history, culture, and memory of Muslim Iberia, a multicultural society in a corner of premodern Europe ruled by Islam. Provides the history from 711 until 1492, focuses on its cultural achievements, and explores the roles that Muslim Iberia played in various historical and religious contexts. Credit given for only one of NELC-N 360 or JSTU-J 360.

• NELC-N 361 Islamic Feminisms (3 cr.) Provides a broad survey of women's issues and gender issues within the contexts of multiple societies in the Islamic world, with a focus on the Middle East.

• NELC-N 365 Islamic Philosophy (3 cr.) This course introduces the chief philosophers, schools, and issues of Islamic philosophy. Issues discussed include the relationship between religion and philosophy, philosophy and society; the essence/existence and necessary/contingent distinctions; basis of rational knowledge; relationship between mysticism and philosophy.

• NELC-N 370 Koranic Studies (3 cr.) The Koran in its historical role as the Islamic revelation. Its formation and compilation, the structural and stylistic characteristics of the text, and its role and function in Islam. The different schools of interpretation throughout history, and comparative studies between the Koran and the Judeo-Christian scriptures.

• NELC-N 389 Politics of the United Nations (3 cr.) Origins and evolution of the UN; principal UN bodies, how they operate and what they do; who finances the UN; controversies and voting patterns in the UN; attitudes toward the UN and debates within member countries regarding its role; impact of UN activities and programs (e.g., conflict resolution and mediation, peacekeeping and peace enforcement; nation building, development aid, weapons proliferation, human rights, health, environment). Credit given for only one of NELC-N 389 or POLS-Y 399.

• NELC-N 391 War and Peace in the Islamic Tradition (3 cr.) P: An introductory course on Islam or Islamic history. War and peace are universal themes in which Muslim scholars took great interest. This class will focus on how the concepts of war and peace are dealt with as religious, ethical, and legal issues within the internally diverse Islamic tradition. Readings will focus on Qur'an commentaries, hadith, and legal texts.

• NELC-N 392 Islam and Modernity (3 cr.) Islam and its compatibility with modernity is a much debated issue. Examination of this timely topic and the important hot-button issues involved in these debates, such as political Islam, democracy, pluralism, women's rights, human rights, secularization, and globalization.

• NELC-N 397 Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East (3 cr.) General anthropological introduction to social institutions and cultural forms of the Arab countries of North Africa and the Near East, Israel, Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan. Topics include ecology, development of Islam and Muslim empires, traditional adaptive strategies, consequences of colonialism, independence and rise of nation-states, impact of modernization, changing conceptions of kinship, ethnicity, and gender. Credit given for only one of N397, ANTH E397, CEUS R352, or CEUS U397.

• NELC-N 399 Readings for Honors (3 cr.) P: Approval of the departmental honors advisor. Individual readings for outstanding students in Arabic, Hebrew, or Persian in preparation for the honors thesis (N499) supervised by a member in the appropriate field.

• NELC-X 477 Field Experience (3 cr.) P: Permission of instructor. Supervised research or practice carried out away from campus and in direct contact with the people, natural phenomena, or other entities being studied. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

• NELC-X 490 Directed Readings in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (3-4 cr.) Study and analysis of selected Near Eastern Languages and Cultures issues and problems within an interdisciplinary format. Topics will vary and will ordinarily cut across fields, regions, or periods. May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours in X490 and N495.

• NELC-X 498 Research in Classical Persian Texts (1-3 cr.) P: Grade of C or higher in CEUS-T 252 or reading knowledge of Persian. Intensive training in classical Persian. Emphasis on the accurate reading and translation of classical texts, their grammatical and stylistic features, and the use of modern and classical lexica. Survey of relevant bibliographic and secondary sources. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 6 credit hours in X498 and N492.

• NELC-N 499 Honors Thesis (3 cr.) P: N399 and approval of honors advisor. A specialized research project conducted under the supervision of a staff member in the appropriate field.