Middle East/South Asia Studies, Bachelor of Arts College of Letters & Science
The Major Program
Are you interested in languages and culture? Do you want a global education? Middle East/South Asia Studies is a unique major where you can learn about the interconnected regions of South Asia, Central and West Asia, and North Africa. This area encompasses many countries, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Students can explore these regions through a variety of courses: anthropology, art history, art studio, Asian American Studies, cinema, classics, comparative literature, English, gender studies, history, music, political science, religious studies, and sociology. As a ME/SA major, you will be able to learn a regional language (Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi/Urdu, Persian or Punjabi). Beyond coursework, ME/SA majors also have the opportunity to get involved in research, special projects with faculty guidance, and study abroad.
The Middle East/South Asia Studies major focuses on the comparative study of these regions and their historically intertwined cultures and societies. Students will receive a strong foundation in one regional language, with two years required in Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi/Urdu, Persian, Punjabi, or another language of this area. The two required ME/SA Studies courses lay a comparative foundation, and options for remaining requirements include coursework from a wide range of departments/programs in the College of Letters and Science.
Language Courses
To enforce Davis Division Regulation 536¹, a student who has completed a second or more advanced year of high-school-level course work in a foreign language in tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade shall be awarded credit for Course 1 (or its equivalent) in that language only if he or she takes the course on a Passed or Not Passed basis. Enforcement of this regulation occurs in the sixth week of the quarter. For more information, contact the Office of the University Registrar. Please note this UC Davis policy applies to Arabic 001, Hebrew 001, Hindi/Urdu 001, Persian 001, and Punjabi 001/001V.
Major Advisor
Consult the Middle East/South Asia Studies Advisor in 1287 Social Science & Humanities, 530-752-3576, or at Middle East/South Asia Studies.
Programs, Internships, & Career Alternatives
Many internship opportunities are available for the Middle East/South Asia Studies major and minor, consult with your advisor.
Middle East/South Asia Studies Abroad Program
For information, see Global Learning Hub and UC Davis Summer Abroad.
¹ Davis Division Regulation 536
536. Grading in Beginning Language Courses.
A student who has completed a second or more advanced year of high-school-level course work in a foreign language in tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade shall be awarded credit for Course 1 (or its equivalent) in that language only if the student takes the course on a Passed or Not Passed basis under the option authorized by Davis Division Regulation A545(A), subject to the limits specified in Davis Division Regulation A545(B). (Am. and effective 2/14/78)
The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Degree Requirements & College Degree Requirements; unless otherwise noted. The minimum number of units required for the Middle East/South Asia Studies Bachelor of Arts is 48.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Subject Matter | ||
| History | ||
| HIS 006 | Introduction to the Middle East | 4 |
| HIS 008 | History of Indian Civilization | 4 |
| Two years (or the equivalent) of Arabic, Hebrew, or Hindi/Urdu (other Middle East/South Asia Studies regional languages accepted with petition): | 0-27 | |
| Arabic | ||
| Elementary Arabic 1 | ||
| Elementary Arabic 2 | ||
| Elementary Arabic 3 | ||
| Intermediate Arabic 21 | ||
| Intermediate Arabic 22 | ||
| Intermediate Arabic 23 | ||
| Hebrew | ||
| Elementary Hebrew | ||
| Elementary Hebrew | ||
| Elementary Hebrew | ||
| Intermediate Modern Hebrew I | ||
| Intermediate Modern Hebrew II | ||
| Intermediate Modern Hebrew III | ||
| Hindi/Urdu | ||
| Elementary Hindi/Urdu I | ||
| Elementary Hindi/Urdu II | ||
| Elementary Hindi/Urdu III | ||
| Intermediate Hindi/Urdu I | ||
| Intermediate Hindi/Urdu II | ||
| Intermediate Hindi/Urdu III | ||
| Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal | 8-35 | |
| Depth Subject Matter | ||
| Middle East & South Asia | ||
| MSA 100 | Middle East & South Asia: Comparative Perspectives | 4 |
| MSA 180 | Topics in Middle East & South Asian Studies | 4 |
| Choose two: | 8 | |
| Peoples of the Middle East | ||
| Literatures of the Modern Middle East | ||
| History of Modern Palestine/Israel | ||
| Middle Eastern History I: The Rise of Islam, 600-1000 | ||
| Middle Eastern History II: The Age of the Crusades, 1001-1400 | ||
| Middle Eastern History III: The Ottomans, 1401-1730 | ||
| History of the Modern Middle East, 1750-1914 | ||
| History of the Modern Middle East, From 1914 | ||
| International Politics of the Middle East | ||
| The Arab-Israeli Conflict | ||
| Introduction to Islamic Thought | ||
| Introduction to Islamic Law | ||
| Gender in the Arab World | ||
| Choose 8 units: | 8 | |
| Performance, Embodiment, & Space in South Asia | ||
| Undergraduate Proseminar in History: India | ||
| Medieval India | ||
| Modern India | ||
| Additional Electives from Core Course List | ||
| Additional Electives | 16-18 | |
| Note: With prior consultation with an advisor, students can petition in the Program Committee in advance to accept other elective courses toward the major program, including language courses. | ||
| Note: While some courses are identified as fulfilling more than one requirement, a given course can only fulfill one such requirement. 1 | ||
| Depth Subject Matter Subtotal | 40-42 | |
| Total Units | 48-77 | |
- 1
Restriction: No more than 6 units of MSA 092, MSA 098, MSA 099, MSA 192, MSA 198, MSA 199 may be offered in satisfaction of the major requirements. However, students must have completed at least 40 units of upper division course work in satisfaction of the major requirements.
Additional Electives
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANT 142 | Peoples of the Middle East | 4 |
| ANT 145 | Performance, Embodiment, & Space in South Asia | 4 |
| ARB 001 | Elementary Arabic 1 | 5 |
| ARB 002 | Elementary Arabic 2 | 5 |
| ARB 003 | Elementary Arabic 3 | 5 |
| ARB 021 | Intermediate Arabic 21 | 4 |
| ARB 022 | Intermediate Arabic 22 | 4 |
| ARB 023 | Intermediate Arabic 23 | 4 |
| AHI 001E | Islamic Art & Architecture | 4 |
| AHI 155 | The Islamic City | 4 |
| ASA 150F | South Asian American History, Culture, & Politics | 4 |
| ASA 189E | Topics in Asian American Studies: Comparative Racial Studies | 4 |
| CLA 001 | Ancient Near East & Early Greece: 3000-500 B.C.E. | 4 |
| COM 053B | Literature of South Asia | 4 |
| COM 053C | Literatures of the Islamic World | 4 |
| COM 166 | Literatures of the Modern Middle East | 4 |
| HEB 001 | Elementary Hebrew | 5 |
| HEB 002 | Elementary Hebrew | 5 |
| HEB 003 | Elementary Hebrew | 5 |
| HEB 021 | Intermediate Modern Hebrew I | 4 |
| HEB 022 | Intermediate Modern Hebrew II | 4 |
| HEB 023 | Intermediate Modern Hebrew III | 4 |
| HIN 001 | Elementary Hindi/Urdu I | 5 |
| HIN 002 | Elementary Hindi/Urdu II | 5 |
| HIN 003 | Elementary Hindi/Urdu III | 5 |
| HIN 021 | Intermediate Hindi/Urdu I | 4 |
| HIN 022 | Intermediate Hindi/Urdu II | 4 |
| HIN 023 | Intermediate Hindi/Urdu III | 4 |
| HIS 102Q | Undergraduate Proseminar in History: India | 5 |
| HIS 102R | Undergraduate Proseminar in History: Muslim Societies | 5 |
| HIS 113 | History of Modern Palestine/Israel | 4 |
| HIS 190A | Middle Eastern History I: The Rise of Islam, 600-1000 | 4 |
| HIS 190B | Middle Eastern History II: The Age of the Crusades, 1001-1400 | 4 |
| HIS 190C | Middle Eastern History III: The Ottomans, 1401-1730 | 4 |
| HIS 193A | History of the Modern Middle East, 1750-1914 | 4 |
| HIS 193B | History of the Modern Middle East, From 1914 | 4 |
| HIS 196A | Medieval India | 4 |
| HIS 196B | Modern India | 4 |
| MSA 092 | Internship | 1-12 |
| MSA 098 | Directed Group Study | 1-5 |
| MSA 099 | Special Study for Undergraduates | 1-5 |
| MSA 180 | Topics in Middle East & South Asian Studies | 4 |
| MSA 192 | Internship | 1-12 |
| MSA 198 | Directed Group Study | 1-5 |
| MSA 199 | Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates | 1-5 |
| MUS 129B | Musics of Africa, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent | 4 |
| MUS 148 | Hindustani Vocal Ensemble | 2 |
| POL 135 | International Politics of the Middle East | 4 |
| POL 136 | The Arab-Israeli Conflict | 4 |
| RST 021 | The Bible & Its Interpreters | 4 |
| RST 023 | Introduction to Judaism | 4 |
| RST 060 | Introduction to Islam | 4 |
| RST 065C | The Qur'an & Its Interpretation | 4 |
| RST 068 | Introduction to Hinduism | 4 |
| RST 160 | Introduction to Islamic Thought | 4 |
| RST 161 | Modern Islam | 4 |
| RST 162 | Introduction to Islamic Law | 4 |
| WMS 184 | Gender in the Arab World | 4 |