College of Letters and Science Faculty Document No. 723
December 15, 2005

Certificate Program in Middle East and North African Studies
Annual Report
2004-2005

1. Middle East and North African Studies (MENAS) Advisory Committee.
   1. Membership. Ellen Amster, History, Co-Chair; Caroline Seymour-Jorn, Foreign Languages and Linguistics, Co-Chair; Sami Hawi, Philosophy; Connie Jo, L&S Administration, ex officio; Ahmed Kraima, Golda Meir Library; Christina Maranci, Art History; Yair Mazor, Classics and Hebrew Studies; Chava Nachmias, Center for Jewish Studies; Tasha Oren, English and Film Studies. Associate Dean Eleanor Miller asked Amster and Seymour-Jorn to serve as co-chairs.
   2. The full committee met once on October 8, 2004. The co-chairs subsequently met several times to discuss details of re-tooling the certificate.
      
      
2. Major Issues considered by the Committee.
   1. At the suggestion of the new co-chairs, the Committee voted to make major changes to requirements of the Certificate in Middle East and North African Studies. The changes include:
      1. specify Arabic or Hebrew as the required Middle Eastern language;
      2. drop the European reading proficiency requirement;
      3. lower the credit requirement to 23 (from 29);
      4. require one history survey course;
      5. require at least one course in Hebrew studies and one in Arabic studies;
      6. update titles of courses on the elective list; add appropriate new courses to that list; remove inactive courses from the list; and
      7. open the certificate program to non-degree students.
   2. The above recommendations were approved by the APCC and by Dean Meadow's office on February 11, 2005. The changes are reflected in the current certificate brochure.
   3. The Committee plans to address a number of issues in the 2005-2006 academic year, including:
      1. development of a web site for the certificate;
      2. improving the brochure for the certificate;
      3. planning for speaker events;
      4. planning for a film series on Middle East events;
      5. developing Arabic and Hebrew tables; and
      6. developing new courses in history, culture and literature.
         
         
3. Program Activities.
   1. Committee members (Seymour-Jorn and Kraima) organized and participated in the campus event "Recognizing the Arab-American Experience in Milwaukee". This was an event involving a video screening on an Arab-American topic and a Middle Eastern dinner. This event was open to the public and attracted members of the local Arab-American community. It was part of a "Cultures and Communities" grant for Seymour-Jorn's course, Arabic 164.
      
      
4. Status of the Certificate program.
   1. There is considerable interest in the certificate program, particularly since the requirement changes were implemented.
   2. Students: 6 enrolled; 1 graduated AY 2004-2005.
   3. Effectiveness of committee's role: The committee was crucial in re-working the certificate requirements.
   4. Future plans: See 1. C. above.
      
      
      

Respectfully submitted,

Caroline Seymour-Jorn, Co-chair
Ellen Amster, Co-Chair
MENAS Certificate