Middle Eastern and Asian Languages and Cultures

Departmental Information

Director of Undergraduate Studies
Allision Busch
624 Kent
(212) 854-9262

Departmental Office
602 Kent
(212) 854-2556

Departmental Web Site
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/mealac/

To study a geographical area that reaches from Turkey to India, from North Africa to Central Asia, and to cover the Middle East and South Asia, from antiquity until today, requires an exposure to a wide variety of sources: literature, media coverage, and archaeological remains; visual and performing arts; institutions and social divisions; political, religious, and scientific treatises; narrative and administrative texts; and more. The Department of Middle East and Asian Languages and Cultures offers a sustained commitment to language instruction (Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew, Hindi/Urdu, and Persian) and to interdisciplinarity. Unique in the range of its approaches on the Columbia campus, the department provides training in literary and cultural analysis, political theory, comparative study, history, sociology, philosophy, and linguistics. This multiplicity presents students with great challenges and opportunities, bringing together, in their increasing complexities, cultures at work.

Majoring in MEALAC means developing two closely intertwined skills: a sound linguistic expertise (at least two full years of one language are required, with further work greatly encouraged) combined with a solid methodological competence and a commitment to learning, thinking, and writing about complex cultural formations. While an authoritative control of the primary sources remains sine qua non for all research and teaching conducted in MEALAC, philological competence needs to be accompanied and guided by an informed methodology of analysis and a commitment to a variety of disciplinary approaches. Methods and disciplines vary according to the faculty member’s interests and expertise and incorporate a wide array of influences from various fields in the humanities and social sciences, such as different schools of political analysis, literary criticism, film studies, sociology, history, and so on.

Majors and concentraors begin their work with an overview course, ASCM V2001 —Introduction to major topics in the civilizations of the Middle East and India, a course usually team-taught by two professors whose work involves different areas within the region. Students then take at least one course that emphasizes a particular area (such as Islamic or Indian civilization), along with five other courses chosen in individual consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. These courses may include some related courses from other departments, subject to the approval of the director of undergraduate studies. Although they should choose a particular focus (such as Middle East politics or Urdu literature, Armenian history or Middle Eastern cinema), students are encouraged to expose themselves to the fullest range of material and approaches offered by the faculty of the department.

With this background, students are ready to take, preferably in their senior year, CLME W3000 —Theories of culture: Middle East and South Asia. This examination of various methodological and critical approaches enables students to reflect on their own language and cultural work from a number of different perspectives. While not required for graduation, students may wish to write a thesis as well and thus become candidates for departmental honors.

Advising

Newly declared majors and concentrators should consult the director of undergraduate studies in order to plan a program of study. Although students are encouraged to approach faculty in the department based on their specific interest, 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). The director of undergraduate studies is available to work with each student individually to achieve both a focus in one area of interest and a balance with courses related to different areas. Please do not hesitate to contact the director of undergraduate studies by e-mail or phone, or during office hours.