华盛顿大学

The Near East is a region of critical importance. As its many nations continue to play pivotal roles on the world stage, the need for firm knowledge about Near Eastern languages and cultures becomes increasingly clear. These languages and cultures are our specialty. Indeed, in NELC one can find experts in Arabic, Hebrew (ancient and modern), Persian, Turkish (Ottoman and Modern), Egyptian (hieroglyphic and Coptic), and the languages of Central Asia. Our courses offer great breadth, in terms of the number of different languages taught, and great depth, in terms of the historical range our courses cover (from ancient to medieval to modern periods). As a NELC graduate student, you will develop a thorough understanding of historical and cultural contexts and skills in critical analysis of texts, research procedures, and integrative thinking.

TIME LIMIT: Complete all degree requirements within six years.

NELC Department Graduate Program Requirements

I. The M.A. SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE: As early as possible, but no later than the end of the 3rd quarter of study, students should select a Supervisory Committee.
II. READING LISTS: A reading list serves as a guideline for students preparing for exams. These lists will include readings covered in the students’ coursework, plus additional material.
III. EXAMINATIONS: The scheduling of the exams is by agreement of the examiners and students. The M.A. exams are normally scheduled for students’ final quarter of M.A. study, however, the faculty may accept petitions for earlier examinations.

• The Concentration Near Eastern Language Exam: Students must demonstrate knowledge at an advanced level of a Near East language. Students must take an exam or pass the third year series of NELC UW courses with a 3.5 or higher GPA.
• The Second Near Eastern Language Exam: Students must demonstrate knowledge at the intermediate level of a Near East Language. Students must take an exam or pass the second year series of NELC UW courses with a 3.5 or higher GPA.
• The Research Language Exam: Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of a research language that is pertinent to the research in their area of study (French, German, etc). Students must take an exam or pass the first year series of UW courses with a 3.5 or higher GPA.
• The General Culture of the Near East Exam: Students will take a written examination on the General Culture of the Near East. The exam will assume broad core knowledge of the Near East and comparative perspectives on the field. However, it will not be a standardized exam but rather suited to each student’s course of study.
• Specialization Exam: This exam assesses students’ ability to analyze the scholarship produced in a particular field. They should be prepared to assess the accuracy of content in particular works and to demonstrate a strong grasp of the chronology of their discipline. Students will need to demonstrate an awareness of the major scholarly approaches to the subject and the important questions each has raised over time.