Director of Undergraduate Studies: Nanor Kenderian, 407 Knox Hall; 851-4002; nk2334@columbia.edu

Departmental Office: 401 Knox Hall; 854-2556

• http://www.columbia.edu/cu/mealac/

The undergraduate program in Middle East and Asian languages and cultures, which is now expanding to include African languages and cultures, offers students the opportunity to study in depth the cultures, ideas, histories, and politics of several overlapping world regions. The program emphasizes the close reading of intellectual traditions, creative movements, and political debates, drawing on a wide variety of historical and contemporary sources in literature, religion, the sciences, the visual and performing arts, and new media. Courses also examine the historical and cultural contexts in which these traditions and debates have been produced.

Majoring in the Department of Middle East and Asian Languages and Cultures means developing two closely related skills. The first is linguistic expertise. A minimum of two years of course work in one language is required, and further work (including intensive summer language study) is greatly encouraged, with the aim of learning how to study a cultural field through its own texts. MEALAC offers courses in Arabic and several other Middle Eastern languages, in Hindi/Urdu and a number of other South Asian languages, and in at least three African languages. The second skill is learning how to think and write about complex cultural formations, drawing on a variety of methods and disciplinary approaches. The approaches vary according to the faculty members' expertise, incorporating methods from various fields in the humanities and social sciences, such as political theory, literary criticism, film studies, cultural studies, and history.

Majors and concentrators begin their work with an introductory course that emphasizes a particular area (the Middle East, South Asia, or Africa). They then take AHUM V3399 Asian humanities, a small-group seminar course in which they explore some of the classic texts of the region. Five additional courses are chosen in consultation with the Director of Undergraduate Studies. These may include six points of course work from other departments, subject to the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Although students typically choose a particular focus (for example, Arab political thought, Urdu literature, Armenian history, Iranian cinema, or contemporary West Africa), students are encouraged to gain exposure to the fullest range of topics and approaches offered by the faculty of the department.

With this background, students are ready to take, preferably in their senior year, MDES W3000 Theories of Culture. This examination of various critical approaches to the study of language, culture, and politics enables students to reflect on their own work from a number of different perspectives. Students may also wish to write a thesis. While not required for graduation, the thesis enables a student to be considered for departmental honors.

In Fulfillment of the Language Requirement

Students should be aware that enrollment in language courses is in some cases determined by placement examinations. They should consult the appropriate member of the language faculty, whose names are listed at the beginning of the language placement contact list. Language courses must be taken for a letter grade. Pass/D/Fail or Registration credit (R) is not permitted.

Language Placement Contacts:

African languages: Mariame Sy, sms2168@columbia.edu, 408 Knox Hall; 851-2439
Arabic: Taoufik Ben Amor, tb46@columbia.edu, 302 Knox Hall; 854-2895
Armenian: Nanor Kenderian, nk2334@columbia.edu, 407 Knox Hall; 851-4002
Hebrew: Ruth Raphaeli-Slivko, rr9@columbia.edu, 411 Knox Hall; 854-6519
Hindi/Urdu: Rakesh Ranjan, rr2574@columbia.edu, 409 Knox Hall; 851-4107
Persian: Ghazzal Dabiri, gd2287@columbia.edu, 412 Knox Hall; 854-6664
Sanskrit: Somdev Vasudeva, sv2246@columbia.edu, 307 Knox Hall; 854-1304
Tamil: D. Samuel Sudanandha, dss2121@columbia.edu, 305 Knox Hall; 854-4702
Turkish: Etem Erol, ee2105@columbia.edu, 412 Knox Hall; 854-0473
For important information about language classes, see the departmental Web site at: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/mealac/languages/

All students wishing to place into anything other than the introductory level of the Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi/Urdu or Persian language programs at Columbia or wishing an exemption from the Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi/Urdu or Persian language requirements must take a placement test before registration. The test is administered in the departmental office, 401 Knox Hall. Complete beginners who cannot read or write basic Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi/Urdu or Persian must sign up for First Year Arabic, First Year Modern Hebrew, Elementary Hindi/Urdu, or Elementary Persian before registration. For Hebrew, students who passed the Jerusalem Examination or who scored a 700 or above on the College Board Achievement Test are exempt from the language requirements and may take courses in Hebrew literature. Please see the department Web site for more information on registration requirements.

Advising

Newly declared majors and concentrators should consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies in order to plan a program of study. The goal is to strike a balance between courses that will help a student achieve depth in a particular area/discipline and those that foster a wider perspective. Although students are encouraged to approach faculty in the department based on their specific interests, the Director of Undergraduate Studies functions as an ad hoc adviser for all entering students, addressing issues of course requirements, credit and approval for courses in other departments or other schools, study abroad, and, eventually, honors requirements (including the senior thesis). Please do not hesitate to contact the director of undergraduate studies by e-mail or phone, or during office hours.

Grading

Courses in which the grade of D has been received do not count toward the major or concentration requirements, nor do those taken Pass/D/Fail except for the first course taken toward the major or concentration.

Honors Program/Senior Thesis

For complete guidelines see Departmental Honors as outlined in Regulations in this bulletin. To be considered for the MEALAC honors program, a senior thesis with a topic and format approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies is required. Students must submit a thesis proposal to the Director of Undergraduate Studies by November 15 of their senior year; the thesis itself is due on April 1. A senior thesis is not a requirement for the B.A. degree. For more information, please see Frequently Asked Questions.