The Major

All students majoring in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations must fulfill a set of Basic Requirements. These requirements are to be met within one of four linguistic and cultural concentrations: Hebrew & Judaica (Heb/Jud), Arabic & Islamic Studies (Arab/Islam), Arabic & Hebrew Studies - modern or medieval (Arab/Heb), Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations (ANE).
In addition to the Basic Requirements, there are further requirements specific to each concentration.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: 14 c.u.

Language Requirement: 6 c.u.
Both basic language courses and advanced courses in literature in the original language count toward this requirement.

Breadth Requirement: 2 c.u.
NELC 101 (Ancient Middle Eastern History & Civilization)and NELC 102 (Introduction to the Middle East), which are broad-based, culturally integrated introductory courses on Near Eastern literatures, history, cultures, and thought from ancient to modern times, fulfill the breadth requirement. This requirement provides majors with a overall understanding of Near Eastern cultures which span more than four millennia, so that they are familiar with other Near East traditions in addition to the one in which they concentrate.

Electives: 6 c.u.
These will normally be content courses within the chosen concentration, but each concentration imposes certain constraints on the electives to be selected. Electives must be selected for appropriateness with the student's major advisor.
Students may count up to four courses from outside the Department (i.e., not cross-listed in NELC) towards the major electives; and up to seven courses, with the special approval of the student's advisor. In no case may a student count more than half of the total major requirements in non-NELC courses.

Concentration Paper Requirement:
Within his or her chosen concentration, every student must write a substantial term paper in conjunction with an appropriate "upper-level" course. In all cases, these courses must be pre-designated by the student, and the paper topic must be pre-approved by the professor teaching the course. A Concentration Paper Requirement Form (available in the Department office), with the professor's pre-approval, must be filed with the student's record prior to the writing of the paper. Upon completion and acceptance of the concentration paper, the professor must sign the form again and return it to the Department office. Should there be a term in which no appropriate "upper-level "course is offered in the student's concentration, the advisor may approve a reading and research course (NELC 201) with an appropriate instructor. All concentration papers must receive a grade of A or A- in order to fulfill the requirement.

CONCENTRATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

Arabic & Islamic Studies (Arab/Islam):
This concentration explores Arabic, Persian and/or Turkish cultures in the context of Islamic civilization. The language requirement (6 c.u.) is to be fulfilled in either Arabic, Persian, or Turkish. Electives, to be chosen in consultation with the student's advisor, may be focused on either the medieval or modern period, but must include a minimum of one course each in history, literature (in the original language or translation), and religion. Examples of concentration paper courses are NELC 434 (Arabic Literature and Literary Theory), and NELC 437 (Methods in Medieval Islamic Studies).

Arabic & Hebrew Studies (Arab/Heb):
This concentration explores the inter-relationships between Arabic and Hebrew cultures within the modern and/or medieval periods. The language requirement (6 c.u.) may be split between two years (4 c.u.) of one language (Arabic or Hebrew) and one year (2 c.u.) of the other. Students are encouraged, however, to study the second of the two languages for two years also, by using 2 of the elective courses for that purpose. The electives, to be chosen in conjunction with the major adviser, as well as the concentration paper should promote the combined study of Arabic and Hebrew cultures. Examples of concentration paper courses include: NELC 201 (Modern Middle East Literature in Translation, NELC 434 (Arabic Literature and Literary Theory), NELC 437 (Methods in Medieval Islamic Studies), HEBR 359 (Studies in Modern Hebrew Literature), HEBR 357 (Classical Midrash and Aggadah).

Hebrew & Judaica (Heb/Jud):
This concentration explores Hebrew culture from the Biblical through the Rabbinic and Medieval periods and modern times. Students without previous knowledge of Hebrew are required to fulfill the language requirement (6 c.u.) with three years of basic Hebrew instruction (HEBR 051-054 and HEBR 151/152 and 153/154). For students placing out of lower-level courses, the corresponding number of c.u. is converted to electives. For all students, however, 3 c.u. from the electives must be upper-level courses in Hebrew texts, one each in the areas of Biblical literature, Rabbinic or Medieval literature, and modern Hebrew literature. Examples of concentration paper courses are HEBR 356 (Talmudic Literature), HEBR 359 (Seminar in Modern Hebrew Literature), HEBR 551 (Dead Sea Texts), HEBR 550 (A Book of the Bible). Double-majors who have placed out of elementary language courses may apply to have the majorrequirement reduced to 12 c.u. For further information, consult the concentration advisor.

Ancient Near East (ANE):
This concentration explores the cultures of the ancient Near East, including Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Israelite, Hittite and Persian civilizations. As for the language requirement, 2 c.u. of the 6 c.u. may be fulfilled by appropriate courses in literature in translation such as NELC 061 (The Literary Legacy of Ancient Egypt) and NELC 342 (Introduction to Mesopotamian Literature). Additional language c.u.’s will normally consist of either two years of Egyptian (ANEL 460, 461, and 462), two years of Biblical Hebrew (HEBR 151/152 and 153/154) or two years of a West Semitic language, either Aramaic (ANEL 575/576) or Ugaritic (ANEL 573/574) or one year of Akkadian (ANEL 440/441) and one year of West Semitic. Electives will be taken from culture course offerings in at least two ancient civilizations. Examples of concentration paper courses are NELC 466 (Archaeology and History of the Middle Kingdom) and NELC 342 (Intro to Mesopotamian Literature).