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Graduate Degree Program Description

Master Of Arts, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures

M.A. Degree Program in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures

1. Description of the program: The NELC M.A. program is neither an area/regional (as in international studies) nor an interdisciplinary (as in One-of-a-Kind) program. The curriculum focuses on language, literature, linguistics, and culture requiring the study of either one or two NELC languages at an advanced level. Ten graduate credit hours of related courses in NELC or allied courses in other departments will be selected in consultation with the adviser. The curriculum includes fields of study which are not all available in any M.A. program in the country. Furthermore, the curriculum is not a duplication of programs available at other institutions; it offers a wider range of courses and more innovative approaches to and new critical paradigms for the study of language, linguistics, literature, and culture. The curriculum is rigorous but flexible, preparing students for professional employment in business, education, or government, as well as for the pursuit of doctoral work involving NELC languages. Students may specialize in one NELC language or in two coherently combined NELC languages, depending on the availability of course offerings, in consultation with the adviser.
   
   
2. Requirements for admission:
   1. B.A. degree in a NELC language or its equivalent (candidates without a B.A. in a NELC language will be expected to make up any deficiencies within the first four quarters of enrollment)
      
      
   2. General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (required)
      
      
   3. at least three letters of recommendation prepared on official stationery, along with a Graduate School Personal Reference Form for each letter, from persons acquainted with the applicant's academic program, scholastic ability, or professional performance
      
      
   4. a brief autobiographical statement or statement of purpose describing the applicant's educational and professional goals and objectives
      
      
   5. an official transcript from each college or university attended
      
      
   6. submission of a sample of critical/scholarly writing is strongly recommended
   
   
   
3. Research language requirement: All candidates must fulfill the research language requirement in a language of scholarship (such as French, German, etc.) demonstrably related to their area of specialization prior to the beginning of their fifth quarter of study.
   
   
4. Fields of study: Students should consult with their advisers early and obtain reading lists to guide them in preparation for the Master's Examination. Students specializing in one NELC language may select either two (thesis option) or three (non-thesis option) fields of study. Students specializing in two NELC languages may select either one (thesis option) or two (non-thesis option) fields of study in the first language and one field in the second language. One of the fields must be a., b., or c., whether specialization is in one or two languages.
   
   The fields of study are as follows:
   1. Classical literature
   2. Medieval literature
   3. Modern literature
   4. Linguistics
   5. Folklore/culture
   6. Critical theory
   7. Comparative Semitics
   
   
5. Options: Candidates for the M.A. degree may elect either the thesis or the non-thesis option. The thesis option requires (1) completion of the thesis, (2) a written examination on a field of study other than that of the thesis, to be chosen in consultation with the adviser, and (3) an oral examination on the thesis, the field of study to which it is related, and the written examination on the second field. The non-thesis option requires students to undertake (1) a written examination on each of three fields, to be chosen by the student in consultation with the adviser, and (2) an oral examination on those three fields.
   
   
6. Course requirements for the M.A. degree in NELC
   1. For M.A. candidates studying one NELC language:
      1. 30 credit hours at the 600 level or above
      2. 10 credit hours at the 700 level or above
      3. 5 credit hours at the 800 level
      4. 10 graduate credit hours of related courses in NELC or allied courses in other departments (to be determined in consultation with the adviser)
      
      Total: 55 credit hours
      
      NOTE: No more than 5 credit hours of 693 may count toward the minimum of 55 hours. For students selecting the thesis option, no more than 10 hours of 998 may count toward the minimum of 55 hours, with 5 hours to be applied to category i. above and 5 hours to category ii.
      
      
   2. For M.A. candidates studying two NELC languages:
      
      In the first language:
      1. 15 credit hours at the 600 level or above
      2. 10 credit hours at the 700 level or above
      3. 5 credit hours at the 800 level
      
      In the second language:
      
      1. 10 credit hours at the 600 level or above
      2. 5 credit hours at the 700 level or above
      
      Allied courses: 10 graduate credit hours of related courses in NELC or allied courses in other departments (to be determined in consultation with the adviser)
      
      Total: 55 credit hours
      
      NOTE: No more than 5 credit hours of 693 may count toward the minimum of 55 hours. It is strongly recommended that these credits be applied to preparations for the Master's Examination.