Certificate in middle eastern studies What is the Certificate Program?

Program Mission

The Middle Eastern Studies Certificate is an 18-credit hour program designed to give students in the area an appreciation and understanding of the region in which they are currently studying Faculty and in which many will be pursuing professional careers. It is an Nadia Wardeh, Coordinator opportunity for these students to and Assistant Professor of enhance their knowledge of the Middle Eastern Studies cultural, historical, and political Ph.D., McGill University factors that have shaped the through time and to Kamal Abdel-Malek, Professor a large extent, explain the profile of Literature and texture of the current Middle Ph.D., McGill University Eastern landscape.

Richard Gauvain, For students outside the region Associate Professor of (Study Abroad, etc.), the certificate Middle Eastern Studies program offers the unique Ph.D., University of Glasgow opportunity to develop their interest in and awareness of Middle William Gueraiche, Assistant Eastern culture by living in a Middle Professor of Social Sciences Eastern country while earning Ph.D., University of Toulouse credit at an American-accredited university. Bassak Ozoral, Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Studies Ph.D., McGill University Program Goals Program Learning Outcomes

The Certificate in Middle Eastern Upon completion of the Studies program seeks to: Certificate in Middle Eastern Studies, students will be able to: • educate students to such a level that they can • demonstrate required familiarity function successfully in a with Modern Standard Arabic; contemporary global forum • exhibit a geographic knowledge with an understanding of the region including both of other ethnicities and physical and economic aspects; nationalities, specifically • identify and discuss the those in the Middle East; historical underpinnings • provide students with a of the region; comprehensive understanding • explain the basic tenets of of the culture(s) of the the Islamic faith and the role Middle East region; various religions play in the • provide students with the societies of the Middle East; necessary skills to critically • identify and discuss the analyze current situations/ various cultures whose events in the Middle East presence contributes to and region, considering both cultural presents challenges to the and historical backgrounds; and cohesiveness of the region; • provide students with • identify the various political an understanding of the systems historically geopolitical role of the region and currently practiced in the context of the current in the region; and concept of “globalization”. • identify significant contributions to human culture by civilizations in the region. Who should be interested in the Program?

The certificate program should be of potential interest to all baccalaureate degree candidates.

Students who, following graduation, will seek employment within the Middle East will gain a deeper understanding of the environment – historical, cultural, and political – which will serve them well, regardless of the profession they choose.

Study Abroad students benefit from the structured study of the Middle East as a means of complementing the understanding gained from living in the region.

The certificate serves to complement the undergraduate degree program in which the student is enrolled, the result being a broadening of cultural knowledge and sensitivity – both of which play a role in professional endeavor and success.

Who is eligible?

Any student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at AUD, attending AUD as a visiting student, in the Study Abroad Program, or as an exchange student. or Students who have already completed a Bachelor’s degree and are only seeking admissions to the Certificate in Middle Eastern Studies program. What are the requirements?

Admissions Requirements

In order to qualify for admission to the Certificate in Middle Eastern Studies program, students must: • Be in good academic standing Exceptions: at AUD or their primary • A native speaker of English who has completed his/her undergraduate university of study; education in an English medium • Be pursuing a bachelor’s degree institution in a country where English at an institution accredited by is the official language. the UAE Ministry of Higher • A student admitted to and graduated Education and Scientific from an English medium institution who can provide evidence of having Research (MOHESR) or by the achieved a TOEFL® escor of 500 or its relevant national or regional standardized equivalent approved by institutional accrediting body the MOHESR upon admission to the in the case of international undergraduate program. • A visiting student, a study abroad applicants; or have earned student, or exchange student from a a bachelor’s degree at an regionally accredited institution in the institution accredited by the . MOHESR or by the relevant national or regional institutional Transfer Credits accrediting body in the case of Please consult www.aud.edu international applicants; • Have successfully completed ENGL102 (Advanced Composition and Research) or its equivalent; • Satisfy all other requirements for admission to AUD • Satisfy the English language requirements: a TOEFL® score of 550 and 4.0 on the TWE (CBT 213, 79-80 iTB) or an equivalent score in a test approved by the MOHESR in order to qualify for admission at AUD. Certificate Requirements

Course Components CH Arabic Language 3 Required Courses 6 Humanities/Social Sciences 3 Religion 3 3 Total 18

Course Sequencing

The recommended course sequence for students pursuing the Certificate in Middle Eastern Studies is as follows:

Semester I (Six Credits) MEST 210 and MEST 310 or MEST 323 or MEST 343

Semester II (Six Credits) Arabic Language Course and MEST Religion Course

Semester III (Six Credits) MEST Area Studies Course and MEST Humanities/Social Sciences Course Naturally, Study Abroad Students who only take courses within the scope of the certificate may complete the progam in one semester by incurring one overload.

Completion Requirements

The certificate will be awarded upon a student’s completion of all Certificate requirements. All courses applied towards the Certificate in Middle Eastern Studies program must be completed with a grade of C or above, and students must achieve a minimum 2.0 CGPA for the Certificate. Students completing the program should request the certificate from the Registrar’s Office. For information on Transfer Credits, please refer to the AUD Undergraduate Catalog. Course* Classifications (rq. cr. hrs.)

Langge ua (3) Religion (3) MEST 101 Elementary Arabic I MEST 320 The Qur’an: Text, History, MEST 102 Elementary Arabic II and Meaning MEST 201 Intermediate Arabic I MEST 323 Islam: Historical MEST 202 Intermediate Arabic II and Societal Aspects MEST 327 Islamic Politics Required Courses (6) MEST 329 Islamic Art and Architecture MEST 210 An Introduction to Middle MEST 350 Religions of the Middle East East History and one of the following courses: Area Studies (3) MEST 310 Islamic Civilization MEST 380 The Gulf: Culture and MEST 323 Islam: Historical and Societal Economics since 1970 Aspects MEST 381 North Africa: Nation, MEST 343 Business in the Modern Society and Culture Middle East MEST 382 The Levant: Arab Lands of the Eastern Mediterranean Humanities/Social Sciences (3) MEST 383 : Reinventing the Nation MEST 310 Islamic Civilization MEST 384 : Literature Since 1952 MEST 315 History of the Modern Middle East * all courses carry three hours of credit. MEST 317 Middle Eastern Literature in Translation MEST 318 Cultures of the Middle East MEST 319 Politics in the Middle East MEST 320 The Qur’an: Text, History, and Meaning MEST 323 Islam: Historical and Societal Aspects MEST 327 Islamic Politics MEST 329 Islamic Art and Architecture MEST 330 The Ancient Near East MEST 333 The Near East in Late Antiquity MEST 352 Conflicts in the Middle East MEST 353 Women and Gender in the Middle East

For a full description of the courses, please refer to the AUD Undergraduate Catalog or browse online at http://www.aud.edu/AcademicAffairs/ ArtsAndSciences/ugrad_certMES/index.asp Admissions at AUD

Pursuant to the Mission of AUD, the Admissions Department consists of a professional team that assists prospective students gain accessibility to opportunities in higher education.

The Admissions team is held to a high level of integrity and is charged with providing quality service and accurate information to all students.

AUD admits to its degree programs only those students who possess appropriate credentials and the demonstrated capacity and potential to successfully complete the educational programs provided by the university and meaningfully participate in the total educational experience offered by AUD.

AUD Admissions Department P. O. Box 28282, Dubai, UAE T. +971 4 399 9000 F. +971 4 399 5585 E. [email protected] www.aud.edu For specific admissions requirements, please consult: the AUD Undergraduate Catalog or the website http://www.aud.edu/Admissions/ugrad.asp

Application Deadline Fall semester: August 10 Spring semester: December 21

The American University in Dubai is accredited by the Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR) has licensed the university and accredited all of its programs.