Middle Eastern Studies Program  

Coordinator:

Dr. Ali Antar

Physics and Earth Sciences Department

Central Connecticut State University

1615 Stanley Street
New Britain, CT  06050-4010

Phone: (860) 832-2930

Antar@ccsu.edu  

The Middle East is the birthplace of ancient civilizations, which can be traced to more than 7000 B.C.  It is the birthplace of the three great monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, on which the spirituality and the ethics of many people and countries are based.  It occupies a strategic area in the world across Southwest Asia into North Africa.  The countries of the Middle East are diverse in their climate, languages (Arabic, Farsi, Hebrew, and Turkish), population density, and lifestyles.  The Middle East has strategic resources and economic power.  The transfer of technology makes investment capital for the region one of the most important on the globe.  It is a great place for American business in every aspect of trade and services.

Central Connecticut State University has interdisciplinary B.A. and M.S. programs in International Studies with regional specialization in Middle Eastern Studies.  The program is designed to help students take advantage of varied job opportunities overseas, as well as with companies here, which are dealing with the Middle East.  Also, there are jobs in the federal government.  This field of study, when combined with other areas, gives the graduate great skills for employment.

CCSU provides courses taught abroad and study abroad opportunities for students to learn first-hand about Middle Eastern languages and culture.  These unique experiences enhance students’ academic and professional development in their specialized area, while completing degree requirements.

B.A. Program in International Studies, 57 credits

Program Requirements

  Core Curriculum, 12 credits

IS 225 The World as a Total System

IS 475 Senior Project and two of the following:

GEOG 120    World Regional Geography

HIST 122       World Civilization II

PS 104                     The World’s Political Systems

 

Regional Specialization, 18 credits

Six courses in Middle Eastern Studies, selected from:

 

·         HIST 431, 472, 473, 474

·         IS 450, 490*, 497*

·         PS 339, 434, 439

 

and appropriate courses in Art, Communication, Economics, Geography,  Philosophy, and Political Science, approved by the student’s advisor.

 

Additional Topic and/or IS course options focusing on the region of specialization may be available.

 

Directed Electives, 9 credits

Three additional courses in Middle Eastern Studies or in a related field approved by advisor.

 

Modern Language , 18 credits

Six courses in a Middle Eastern language or culture, or demonstrated proficiency.  Arabic language courses can be taken at Hartford Seminary, which has a relationship with CCSU as part of the Hartford Higher Education Consortium. Students with proficiency must take additional courses in Middle Eastern Studies in order to fulfill this eighteen credit requirement.

 

*These topic and field courses may be chosen only when they focus on the area of specialization.

 

Structured International or Multi-cultural Experience

At least one semester of faculty supervised, in-depth exposure to another way of life is required.  Ideally, students will spend one academic year abroad, as part of the CCSU Study Abroad Program.  As an alternative, International Studies faculty will assist students to develop local multi-cultural experience related to the student’s academic track or regional specialization.

 

M.S. Program in International Studies, 30-33 credits

Program Requirements

 

Core Curriculum, 12 credits 

IS 570, IS 571, IS 572, Comm 543

 

Regional Specialization, 15 credits

Five courses in Middle Eastern Studies at the 400 level or above, as approved by advisor, chosen from among the following:

·         HIST 431, 472, 473, 474

·         IS 450, 490*, 497*, 590*, 596*, 597*

·         PS 434, 439

and appropriate courses in Art, Economics, Geography, Philosophy, and Political Science, as approved by the student’s advisor.

 

*These topic and field courses may be chosen only when they focus on the area of specialization.

 

Additional Topic and/or IS course options focusing on the region of specialization may be available.  Also, other 500 level courses in the above mentioned departments, under topics related to the Middle East, to meet the requirement of the number of 500 level courses.  Students should consult their advisor.

 

Note: No more than 9 credit hours at the 400 level, as approved by the graduate adviser, may be counted toward the graduate planned program of study.

 

Research and Capstone, 3 to 6 credits

Plan A: IS 598, Research in International Studies and IS 599, These in International Studies; or

Plan B: IS 598, Research in International Studies and Comprehensive Exam; or

Plan C: IS 598, Research in International Studies and IS 595, Special Project in International Studies.

 

Modern Language Requirement

Demonstrated competency equal to the 226 level in a single language related to the area of specialization.

 

Study Abroad

Through the University’s partner institutions around the globe, CCSU students are presented with exciting opportunities to discover the world through overseas study.  Living and learning in a new culture prepares students for the increasingly integrated and interdependent world around them.  Students in the Middle Eastern Studies program can apply to study abroad at any of the following institutions:

 

Egypt:

Ain Shams University

American University in Cairo

 

Northern Cyprus:

Eastern Mediterranean University

 

Students may also pursue studies at other accredited universities in the Middle East with the prior approval of the Coordinator of Middle Eastern Studies and the Study Abroad Coordinator in the Center for International Education.

 

Affiliations

Dr. Ghassan El-Eid in the Political Science Department coordinates CCSU student participation in the Model United Nations Program held at the American University in Cairo, Egypt annually in March.  Students registered for his Spring section of (insert course title), are eligible to apply to participate in the program.  Selected participants are eligible to apply for scholarships for this program through the Center for International Education.

 

Middle Eastern Studies Committee

 

Coordinator:

Dr. Ali Antar

Physics and Earth Sciences Department

Central Connecticut State University

1615 Stanley Street
New Britain, CT  06050-4010

Phone: (860) 832-2930

 

Members:

Dr. Fatemeh Abdollahzadeh, Computer Science

Dr. Karen Beyard, Educational Leadership

Dr. Anthony Cannella, English

Dr. Ghassan El-Eid, Political Science

Dr. Norton Mezvinsky, History

Dr. Anastasias Papathanasis, Economics

Dr. Timothy Rickard, Geography Department

Dr. Nanjundiah Sadanand, Physics & Earth Sciences

Dr. Leyla Zidani-Eroglu, English

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