Getting Started (Majors Guide)

College: HFA

 (Revised Spring 2018)

Judaic and Near Eastern Studies Department

How to Explore / Get Started in the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

Under the new guidelines students are still required to take two courses, one in U.S. Diversity and one in Global Diversity. Students entering in Fall 2018 are expected to take one of these diversity courses, either U.S. or Global, in their first year on campus.  For Fall 2018 Registration, look for courses with DU (formerly U) and DG (formerly G) to help students stay on track.  Any course labled DU will satisfy the requirement for a U.S. diversity course and any course labeled DG will satisfy the the requirement for Global diversity course. Course planning guidelines, including guidelines for students, are available at www.umass.edu/gened.

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses

  • HISTORY 130 and 131
  • First year of a Middle Eastern Language. Students may choose from among several Middle Eastern languages taught in the Five Colleges including Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish.

How to Declare the Major

It is recommended that students start planning for the major by the sophomore year. They should contact Professor David Mednicoff, the Chief Undergraduate Advisor listed below. The language requirement may be waived for students who can prove intermediate level proficiency. See Professor Mednicoff, the Chief Undergraduate Advisor listed below.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total # of credits required: 55

  1. HISTORY 130 and 131 (or approved 100-level Middle Eastern Studies courses)
  2. Two years of a language of the region, normally fulfilled by two-year Modern Standard Arabic classroom sequence at UMass (101, 102, 201 and 202 OR 126, 146, 226 and 246)
  3. 24 credits in Middle Eastern Studies courses (at or above the 200 level) chosen from an approved list of courses offered by the Five College consortium. 
  4. Junior Year Writing requirement
  5. The Integrative Experience seminar in senior year

     Notes:

  • The major in Middle Eastern Studies requires at least a C grade in courses taken towards the major.
  • No course with a Pass grade can be accepted for major credit.
  • Departmental Honors require an Honors project undertaken during a student’s final year.

Is there a minor? If so what are the requirements?

Minor in Middle Eastern Studies

  1. HISTORY 130 and 131 (or approved 100-level Middle Eastern Studies courses)
  2. One year of a language of the region
  3. Three 3 or-4 credit Middle Eastern Studies courses (at or above the 200 level) chosen from an approved list of courses offered by the Five College consortium.

Minor in Arabic

For non-native speakers:

  • One year of Arabic language courses (at least two courses and at least six credits) beyond the intermediate level

For native speakers:

  • Six Arabic language courses (at least 18 credits) beyond the intermediate level

UMass participates in the Five College Arabic Program. Please visit their website at www.fivecolleges.edu/arablanguage for more information on this program.

For further information, contact:
Professor David Mednicoff
735 Herter Hall
545-5849

or

Office Manager
744 Herter Hall
545-2550

department email: jne@judnea.umass.edu