Middle Eastern and North African Studies Certificate Program

The Certificate Program in Middle Eastern and North African Studies (MENA) is open to all students seeking a bachelor's degree from UWM, to students who previously received a bachelor's degree from UWM or any other accredited university, and to those who do not plan to pursue a college or university degree (non-degree students) but who have a strong interest in this subject.

The certificate program offers students a background in Middle Eastern and North African languages, cultures, history, and civilization. The program requires one year of either Arabic or Hebrew language courses and a historical survey course. Upper-level courses offer students the opportunity to explore Middle Eastern literature, history, politics, religion, and art in greater depth.

Courses totaling 23 credits must be completed with a GPA of 2.75 or better. At least one half of the work for the certificate must be completed at UWM.

The Faculty Committee for the Middle Eastern and North African Studies Certificate Program administers the program, and the Center for International Education provides the advising for the program.

In addition to taking courses related to the Middle East and North Africa, students have the opportunity to meet and study with Middle Eastern scholars who regularly visit UWM through a number of institutional partnerships with Middle Eastern universities. Students may also take advantage of study abroad programs that offer credit for academic work in the Middle East and North Africa.

The following are the detailed requirements of the certificate:

I: 8 credits (or equivalent) in a single language sequence from either

   Arabic or Hebrew

Arabic

101     First-Semester Arabic
102     Second-Semester Arabic

Hebrew Studies

101     First-Semester Hebrew
102     Second-Semester Hebrew
105     Intro to Biblical Hebrew I
106     Intro to Biblical Hebrew II

II. At least one course from the following survey history courses:

History

280     Islamic Civilization: The Formative Period, ca 550-1258
281     Islamic Civilzation: The Middle Period, ca 1200-1805
282     The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentienth Centuries

III. At least 12 additional credits selected from the approved electives lists, of which at least 9 credits must be at 300 level or above, and one must be from the Hebrew Studies Department:

Anthropology

641     Seminar in Anthro (w/subtitle)

Arabic    

164     Arabs and Islam in America
201     Third-Semester Arabic
202     Fourth-Semester Arabic
299     Ad Hoc (w/subtitle)

Art History

315     Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
324     Art and Architecture of Byzantium
326     Heretics & Inconoclasts: The Art and Arch of the Christian East
327     The Arts of Islam
435     Art and Architectrue Along the Western Silk Road

Classics

390     Egyptian Mythology

English

247     Egyptian Mythology

French

357     Literature of the French Speaking World in Translation (w/subtitle)
431     Literature of the Francophone World (w/subtitle)
432     Seminar in French and Francophone Cultures (w/subtitle)

Hebrew Studies

201    Third-Semester Hebrew
202     Fourth-Semester Hebrew
205     Intermediate Biblical Hebrew I
206     Intermediate Biblical Hebrew II
231     Intro to the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
235     The Dead Sea Scrolls & the Bible
238     Topics in Hebrew-Jewish Lit and Culture: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
254     Studies in Hebrew Culture
255     The Politics of American Jewish Identity
274** Ancient Egyptian Civilization
275** Intro to Middle Eastern & Western Culture
299     Ad Hoc (w/subtitle)
301     Modern Hebrew Lit I, in Hebrew
302     Modern Hebrew Lit II, in Hebrew
303     Modern Hebrew Lit I, in English
304     Modern Hebrew Lit II, in English
321     The Holocaust & the Politics of Memory
332     Women in the Bible
381     Honors Seminar (w/subtitle)
418     Modern Hebrew Drama in Translation
419     Contemporary Israeli Poetry in Translation

History

274** Ancient Egyptian Civilization
275** Intro to Middle Eastern & Western Culture
280***Intro to Middle Eastern & Western Culture
281***Islamic Civilzation: The Middle Period, ca 1200-1805
282***The Modern Middle East in the Nineteenth and Twentienth Centuries
283     Arab-Israeli Relations: The Search for Peace
319     The Era of the Crusades
370     Topics in the History of Religious Thought (w/subtitle)
386     Africa: The Age of Empire, to 1880
387     Africa: Imperialism and Independence, Since 1880

International Studies

350     Regional Seminar (w/subtitle)
450     Internship (w/subtitle)
550     Senior Seminar (w/subtitle)

Philosophy

275** Intro to Middle Eastern & Western Culture
452     Special Topics in Ancient and Medieval Philo (w/subtitle)
461     Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism
507     Special Problems in the Philosophy of Religion (w/subtitle)

Political Science

327     Politics of the Middle East and North Africa
329     African Politics
371     Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict

 

**Jointly offered; may be taken under only one area.

***If not taken under Section II.