Middle Eastern and North African Studies Certificate Program

Undergraduate Catalog

Certificate Program Information

Middle Eastern and North African Studies Certificate

The process for officially enrolling in the Certificate Program is a simple one. Interested students should contact ...

To sign-up for the certificate program you will need to schedule an advising appointment to complete a Declaration of Certificate Program form.

Program Information

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:

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

   327 Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East

   641 Seminar in Anthro (w/subtitle)

   Arabic

   111 Cultures and Civilizations of the Muslim Middle East

   201 Third-Semester Arabic

   202 Fourth-Semester Arabic

   299 Ad Hoc: (with appropriate subtitle)

   499 Ad Hoc: (with appropriate 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 Literature and Human Experience: (with appropriate subtitle)

   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

   261 Representing the Holocaust in Words and Images

   268 Jewish and Christian Responses to the Holocaust

   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

   401 Topics in Middle Eastern History: (subtitle)

   600 Seminar in History: (with appropriate subtitle)

   892 Colloquium in Midieval Islam: (Subtitle; when carrying undergraduate credit for undergraduate students)

   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 (660)

   371 Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict

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

*** If not taken under Section II.