Courses

The Middle East Studies Major is an interdisciplinary major leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in which students explore the myriad peoples, societies, languages, and cultures of the Near East and the Islamic worlds. The MES Major is housed in the Religious Studies Department at UCSB. Below you’ll find two lists: 1) courses that will be offered in the upcoming quarter and 2) courses that fulfill credits towards the MES major.

Winter Quarter 2024 Middle Eastern Studies Courses

*Graduate Seminars appear in boldface. ARTHI 6K Islamic Art & Architecture, Khoury, TR 2:00-3:15 ARTHI 132A Mediterranean City, Khoury, TR 9:30-10:45 HEB 2 Elementary Hebrew, Medina, MTWR 12:00-12:50 HIST 146 B Middle East History: Nineteenth Century to the Present, Seikaly, MW 2:00-3:15 HIST 146W Gender and Sexualities in the Modern Middle East, Moore, TR 2:00-3:15 HIST 201E Entwined Histories: Greece & Iran, Lee, W 1:00-3:00 HIST 201S Race and Science in Global History, Moore, R 4:00-6:50 MUS 22D/122D Dastgah, Osqueezadeh, R 5:00-6:15 MUS 22N/122N Nay, Marcus, TBA MUS 22o/122o Oud, Grippo, W 6-7 pm beginners, 7-8 pm advanced MUS 22o/122o Oud, Marcus, TBA MUS 22X/122X/222X Practicum in World Music Performance, Marcus TBA MUS A70i/A170i/A270i Music of India Ensemble (sitar) Marcus, TR 9:00- 10:50 MUS A70M/A170M/A270M Middle East Ensemble, Marcus/Rudnicki, T 7:00-10:00 MUS A70N/A170N/A270N. Middle East Chorus, Marcus, T 5:00- 6:30 MUS 168x/262x, Umm Kulthum, Her Music, Her Life, Her Times, Marcus, F 1:00-3:50 RG ST 10B Arabic I, Campo, MTWTR 11:00-11:50 RG ST 10B Arabic I, Campo, MTWTR 1:00-1:50 RG ST 10E Arabic V, Campo, R 9:00-9:50 RG ST 58B Intermediate Elementary Persian II, Feizmohammad, MTWR 10:00-10:50 RG ST 65B Intro Turkish II, Rambelli, MTWR 3:00-3:50 RG ST 65E Turkish V, Rambelli, MTWR 4:00-4:50 RG ST 81/HIS 46MI, Modern Iran and Global Politics, Afary, TTR, 2:00-3:15 RG ST 125A Religion & Modern Egypt, Ahmad, TR 3:30-4:45 RG ST 111, Religion, Politics and Marriage in the Middle East, Afary, TTR 5:00-6:15 RG ST 131H Pol/Rel Jerusalem, Medina, TR 9:30-10:45 RG ST 133E Hebrew Literature, Medina, MW 9:30-10:45 RG ST 140D Islam in South Asia, Campo, M 6:00-8:50 RG ST 148B Advanced Arabic, Reynolds, T/R  10:00-11:50 RG ST 149R Islamic Philosophy & Theology, Omri, MW 11:00-12:15 RG ST 158E Intermediate Advanced Persian I, Feizmohammad, MW 12:30-1:45 RG ST 209B Seminar on Hindus and Muslims in South Asia, Campo, M 6:00-8:50 RG ST 289C Modern Arabic Literature (short story), Reynolds, F 12:00-2:50  

Fall Quarter 2023 Middle Eastern Studies Courses

*Graduate Seminars appear in Boldface. HEB 1 Elementary Hebrew, Medina, MTWR 12:00-12:50 HIST 4A Ancient Mediterranean, Digeser, TR 2:00-3:15 HIST118B Medieval Spain, Blumenthal, TR 12:30-1:45 HIST149IA Islam in Africa, Ware, TR 11:00-12:15 HIST 201ME The Political Economy of the Modern Middle East, Seikaly, W 3-6 pm MES 45 Introduction to Middle East Studies, Campo, M 6:00-8:50 MUS 22D/122D Dastgah, Osqueezadeh, R 5:00-6:15 MUS 22N/122N Nay, Marcus, TBA MUS 22O/122O Oud, Grippo/Marcus, TBA MUS 22X/122X/222X Practicum in World Music Performance, Marcus TBA MUS A70M/A170M/A270M. Middle East Ensemble, Marcus/Rudnicki, T 7:00-10:00 MUS A70N/A170N/A270N. Middle East Chorus, Marcus, T 5:00- 6:30 MUS 175G/293G, Music of India, Marcus, F 1:00-3:50 pm RG ST 2 Islam and the West, Ahmad, TR 12:30-1:45 RG ST 10A Arabic I, Campo, MTWR 11:00-11:50 RG ST 10A Arabic I, Campo, MTWR 1:00-1:50 RG ST 10D Arabic IV, Campo, MTWR 9:00-9:50 RG ST 26 Introduction to Jewish Mysticism, Wolfson, MW 9:30-10:45 RGST 30 Judaism, Medina, TR 9:30-10:45 RG ST 58A Elementary Persian I, Feizmohammad, MTWR 10:00-10:50 RG ST 58D Intermediate Persian II, Feizmohammad, MTWR 11:00-11:50 RG ST 65A Introduction to Turkish I, Rambelli, MTWR 3:00-3:50 RG ST 65D Turkish IV, Rambelli, MTWR 4:00-4:50 RGST 84 Introduction to Islamic Civilization, El Omari, TR 11:00-12:15 RG ST 119A Introduction to Islamic Law, Ahmad, MW 5:00-6:15 RG ST 119B/282 Quranic Interpretation/Tafsir and Hadith, Ahmad, F 2:00-4:50 RG ST 148A Advanced Arabic, Reynolds, TR 10:00-11:50 RG ST 149H Islamic Humanism, El Omari, TR 12:30-1:45 RG ST 157J Persian Translation, MW 12:30-1:45 RGST181F/292SR Shi’ism Before and After the Iranian Revolution, Afary, TR 2:00-3:15

Spring Quarter 2023 Middle Eastern Studies Courses

*Graduate Seminars appear in Boldface. FAMST 189FT, Feminist Technology, MW, 10:00 – 11:50 Heb 3: Elementary Hebrew, MTWR 12:00-12:50, Medina HIST 46A The Middle East from Muhammad to the Nineteenth Century, TR 9:30-10:45, Sabra HIST 111F, Achaemenid Persia, 550-330 BC, TR 2:00-3:15, Lee HIST 145B The Middle East II: The Era of Invasions, 1000-1500, TR 3:30-4:45, Sabra MUS 22D/122D Dastgah, R 5:00-6:15pm, Osqueezadeh MUSC 22M/122M Maqam, TBA Marcus MUS 22N/122N Nay, TBA Marcus MUS 220/122O Oud, Grippo TBA MUS A70M/A170M. Middle East Ensemble, T 7 – 10 pm, Marcus MUS A70N/A170N. Middle East Chorus, T 5 – 6:30 pm, Marcus RG ST 6. Islam and Modernity, MW 11-1215, ED 1213, Ahmad RG ST 10C Arabic III, MTWR 1:00-1:50pm, Magda Campo RG ST 10C Arabic III, MTWR 11:00-11:50am, Magda Campo RG ST 10F. Second-year Arabic, M&W 9-10:50, El Omari RG ST 57C Elem Persian III, TR 11-12:50, Enteshari RG ST 58C Int Inter Persian I, MTWR 10-10:50am, Feizmohammadp RG ST 65C Intro Turkish III, MTWR 3:00-3:50, Rambelli RG ST 65F Turkish VI, MTWR 4:00-4:50, Rambelli RG ST 81/HIST46MI , Iran and Global Pol, TR 2:00-3:15pm, Afary RGST 111: Religion, Politics and Marriage in the Middle East, TR 6:30- 7:45pm, Afary RG ST 119a. Intro to Islamic Law, TR 2-315 pm, Ellison 2626, Ahmad RG ST 131J: Introduction to Rabbinic Literature, T R 9:30-10:45, Medina RG ST 133C: Studies in Jewish Law, M W 9:30-10:45, Medina RG ST140B: Religion, Politics & Society in the Persian Gulf, M 6-8:50, Juan Campo RG ST 148. Advanced Arabic, TR 10-12, Reynolds RG ST 149R. Islamic Philosophy and Theology, M&W 12:30-1:45, El Omari RG 157I Persian Media, TR 11:00-12:15pm, Feizmohammadp RG ST 158F INT ADV Persian II, M W 11:00-12:15pm, Feizmohammadp RG ST 240B: Religion, Politics & Society in the Persian Gulf, M 6-850, Juan Campo RG ST 287C Arabic-English Translation, F 12-3, Reynolds

Winter Quarter 2023 Middle Eastern Studies Courses

*Graduate Seminars appear in Boldface.

History 171ME. The United States and the Middle East since 1900, TR 3:30–4:45 pm, Yaqoub History 201E: Xenophon and Achaemenid Persia. Day and Time TBD MUS 22D/122D. Practicum in World Music Performance: Dastgah, R 5 – 6:15 pm, Osqueezadeh MUS 22M and 122M. Practicum in World Music Performance: Arabic Maqam, TBA, Marcus MUS 22N and 122N. Practicum in World Music Performance: Nay, TBA, Marcus MUS 22O 122O. Practicum in World Music Performance: Oud, R 6 pm, Grippo MUS 22P/122P. Practicum in World Music Performance: ME Percussion, M 7 pm, Rudnicki MUS 160E. The Arabic System of Melodic Modes: The Maqamat, F 1 – 3:50,  Marcus MUS A70M and A170M. Middle East Ensemble, T 7 – 10 pm, Marcus MUS A70N and A170N. Middle East Chorus, T 5 – 6:30 pm, Marcus MUS A70I and A170I. Sitar Ensemble, TR 9 – 10:50 am, Marcus RST 10E. Second-year Arabic, MTWR 9-00 to 9:50, M Campo RST 10B. First-year Arabic, MTWR 11:00 to 11:50, M Campo RST 10B. First-year Arabic, MTWR 1:00 to 1:50, M Campo RGST 58B. Intensive Persian II, MTWR 10:00-10:50 RGST 112. Trickster Tales, Religion, and the Body, Afary RS 131h. Religion and Politics in the City:  The Case of Jerusalem, MW 3:30-4:45, Hecht RGST144. The Problem of Evil in Religious Traditions, MW 9:30-10:45, El Omari RG ST 148B. Advanced Arabic, TR 10-12 Reynolds RGST 158E. Intensive Advanced Persian I, MW 11:00-12:15 RG ST 185. Food, Religion, and Culture in the Middle East, MWF 2-2:50, J. and M. Campo RGST187A. History ME 201. Politics of Veiling in Modern Egypt, Afary RGST 280. Research Methods in Islamic Studies, F 2-5, Ahmad  

Upper-Division Middle Eastern Studies Courses

Any of the following courses can be taken to fulfill the 36 UD credits required for the MES major. This course list was updated in Fall 2022. ANTH118TS: Archaeology of the Ancient Near East ANTH 138TS: Archaeology of Egypt ANTH 176TS: Ancient Egyptian Religion ARTHI 132A. Mediterranean Cities ARTHI 132D. Islamic Architecture 650-1400 ARTHI 132E. Islamic Architecture 1400-Modern ARTHI 132I. Art of Empire ARTHI 132J. Modern Art of the Arab World ARTHI 132K. The Mosque in History ARTHI 133AAZZ. Special Topics in Islamic Art ARTHI 186Q. Seminar in Islamic Art and ArchitectureGLOBL 112 Global Refugee MigrationHEB 114A-B-C. Readings in Modern Hebrew Prose and Poetry HIST 111F. Achaemenid Persia, 559-330BCE HIST 118A. The Crusades in Cross-Cultural Perspectives HIST 118B. Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Medieval Spain: Conquest, Colonization, and Coexistence HIST 119. The Crusades and the Near East, 1095-1291 HIST 145A. The Middle East I: From the Origins of Islam to the Year 1000 HIST 145B. The Middle East II: The Era of Invasions, 1000-1500 HIST 145C. The Middle East III: Early Modern Empires and Transformations, 1500-1800 HIST 145D. War and Diplomacy in the Middle East: 1876-Present HIST 146. History of the Modern Middle East HIST 146BQ. Readings Seminar in the Body and Revolution in Middle East History HIST 146FR. Undergraduate Research Seminar in Family, Gender, and Sexuality in Middle East History HIST 146Q. Readings in Middle Eastern History HIST 146R. Undergraduate Research Seminar in Middle Eastern History HIST 146T. History of Israel/Palestine HIST 146W. Women and Gender in Middle Eastern History HIST 168M. Middle Eastern Americans HIST 171ME. The United States and the Middle East Since 1900 FAMST 122ME. Middle East Media FAMST 166MI. Special Topics in Cultural Studies: Mediating Islam FAMST 187IS. Topics in Film and Television Analysis: Mediating Islam MUS 122D. Practicum in World Music Performance: Dastgah MUS 122M. Practicum in World Music Performance: Arabic Maqam. MUS 122N. Practicum in World Music Performance: Nay MUS 122O. Practicum in World Music Performance: Oud MUS 122P. Practicum in World Music Performance: Middle Eastern percussion MUS 160E. The Arabic System of Melodic Modes: The Maqamat MUS 168X. Umm Kulthum: Her Music, Her Life, Her Times MUS 175F. Music Cultures of the World: The Middle East MUS A 170N. Middle East Chorus (up to 4 units) POL S 149. Israeli Politics POL S 150A. Politics of the Middle East and North Africa RG ST 102A. Muslim Diasporas and Law RG ST 111. Religion, Politics and Marriage in the Middle East RG ST 115A. Literature and Religion of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament RG ST 116A. The New Testament and Early Christianity RG ST 116B. Second-Century Christianity RG ST 119A. Introduction to Islamic Law RG ST 119B. The Qur’an and Its Interpretations RG ST 119C. Jihad and Just War Theory RG ST 119D. Islam and Women RG ST 119E. Islam and Government RG ST 119F. History of Islamic Theology RG ST 128A. Religion and Spirituality in the Roman Empire RG ST 128C. The Sacred Geography of the Ancient Mediterranean World RG ST 129. Religions of the Ancient Near East RG ST 130. Judaism RG ST 131A. Religions in Judea from the Maccabees to Rabbis RG ST 131C. Judaism in the Medieval World RG ST 131D. Judaism in Modern Times RG ST 131F. The History of Anti-Semitism RG ST 131H. Politics and Religion in the City: The Case of Jerusalem RG ST 131J. Introduction to Rabbinic Literature RG ST 132A. Holy Delight: Eros and the Sacred in Jewish and Christian Interpretations of the Song of Songs RG ST 132B. Jewish Dream Interpretation from the Bible to Freud RG ST 132C. Representations of Jesus in Jewish Thought from Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages RG ST 132D. Jewish Magic, the Occult, and Western Esotericism RG ST 133C. Studies in Jewish Law RG ST 133D. Gender in Jewish Culture RG ST 133E. Introduction to Modern Hebrew Literature RG ST 133F. Image of Jews in Film RG ST 137. Gnosticism and Manichaeism RG ST 139C. Coptic Language and Literature RG ST 140A. Islamic Traditions RG ST 140B. Religion, Politics and Society in the Persian Gulf Region RG ST 140C. Islamic Mysticism and Religious Thought RG ST 140D. Islam in South Asia RG ST 140E. Islam in America RG ST 140F. Modern Islamic Movements RG ST 140G. Other Islams: Alternative Forms of Muslim Religiosity RG ST 142B. Religious Literature in Hebrew RG ST 145. Patterns in Comparative Religion RG ST 148. A-B-C Advanced Arabic RS 144 The Problem of Evil in Religious Traditions RG ST 149. Comparative Religion and Politics of the Middle East RG ST 149D. History of Islamic Philosophy RG ST 149H. Islamic Humanism RG ST 149R. Islamic Philosophy and Theology RG ST Advanced Persian 157A-B-C RG ST 157G. Persian Cinema RG ST 157I. Persian Media and Translation RG ST 157J. Persian Translation RG ST 157CP. Contemporary Persian Literature and Translation RG ST 157PP. Classic Persian Literature and Translation RG ST 158E-F. Intensive Advanced Persian I and II RG ST 181B. Political Islam and the Response of Iranian Cinema RG ST 181F. Shi’ism Before and After the Iranian Revolution RG ST 181G. Shiism, Politics and Everyday Life RG ST 185. Food, Religion, and Culture in the Middle East RG ST 186B. The Arabic Qur’an RG ST 187A. Politics of Veiling in Modern Egypt SOC 130ME. Development and Social Change in the Middle East