The University of Edinburgh College of Humanities and Social Science April 2013

Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies

What is Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies?

Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) comprises a wide range of subjects connected with a region which is of vital importance in world affairs. Arabic and Persian may both be studied to honours level, or may be taken for one or two years in other degree programmes. Turkish is also available in the first and second years. These languages are studied in conjunction with a wide spectrum of courses in the history, religion, literature, cultural studies and politics of the region. The Islamic Studies and Middle Eastern Studies degrees cater to those students who do not wish to continue language study beyond the second year and would prefer to pursue their interest in Islam and the Middle East through other disciplinary approaches.
Why study Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh?
In 2000, IMES marked the 250th year since Arabic was first taught at the University of Edinburgh, and the 50th year since the appointment of the first lecturer in Persian. Over the years a series of scholars have ensured that the University has maintained a reputation for academic achievement and teaching excellence in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, IMES achieved the second-highest national result, confirming the departments continuing role as a leading programme for the research and study of Islam, the Middle East, and other related subjects. IMES is renowned for its knowledge and expertise in Islamic history, the development of Islamic law and theology, Arabic and Persian language and literature, and modern Middle Eastern history and politics. In Scotland, IMES is presently the largest centre of its kind, and the only one which offers Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies and three predominant languages of the Muslim world, namely Arabic, Persian and Turkish. IMES is housed in an 18th century building in the central University area, where many classes take place. It has its own library and study space. More than 200 undergraduates take courses in the subject area at any one time, and there are more than 40 postgraduates, many from different parts of the world. IMES prides itself on the individual attention shown to its undergraduates throughout their course of study.

Students undertaking the Middle Eastern Studies or the Islamic Studies Honours degree, pursue a range of courses related to the Middle East and Islam in IMES, History, Anthropology, Politics, History of Art, and Divinity. Students may also have the opportunity to participate in an ERASMUS exchange abroad in the third year. In addition, students are required to complete a dissertation on a topic of their choice.

What can I study Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies with?

Arabic may be studied as a Single Honours degree, or with one of the following for a Joint Honours degree: Ancient Greek, Business, Economics, French, History, History of Art, Persian, Politics, Social Anthropology and Spanish. Persian is available as a Single Honours degree or as a Joint Honours degree with Arabic, Politics or Social Anthropology. Arabic can also be combined with International Business.

What does the degree involve?

All students take three courses in each of the first two years of their Honours degree. In the Single Honours Arabic degree students take Islamic History and Modern Middle Eastern History alongside Arabic and two outside subjects. The students taking the Middle Eastern Studies or the Islamic Studies degree take a combination of Islamic History, Modern Middle Eastern History, Introduction to Islam and Arabic, Persian or Turkish courses over the first two years as well as outside subjects. For their outside subjects students may select from an extensive list of courses across a wide range of subjects. For students taking Joint Honours degrees the curriculum is more specific with prescribed courses from both subject areas. Arabic and/or Persian Honours students normally spend a prescribed period of time in their third year in an Arabic and/or Persianspeaking environment. In the case of Single Honours Arabic or Joint Honours Arabic and Persian this is a full year abroad, and in the case of Single or Joint Honours with Persian, a semester abroad (subject to the granting of visas). During their fourth year students pursue additional language study and language-based options in classical and modern literature, media or religious texts, and choose courses in politics, literature, history of the region and religion. Students are also required to undertake a dissertation on a topic of their choice.

What sort of teaching and assessment methods are used?

First and second year courses are taught using a mixture of lectures, seminars, audio-visual methods and (for languages) oral classes. Assessment involves a combination of continuous assessment (based on essays, seminar papers, written work and interim examinations) and end-of-year formal examinations. Discursive Honours courses are assessed by a combination of class-based assessment and end-of-year formal examinations. Honours language courses are assessed by written, oral and aural examinations.

Degrees in Humanities and Social Science

MA Honours in: Arabic Arabic and Ancient Greek Arabic and Business Arabic and Economics Arabic and French Arabic and History Arabic and History of Art Arabic and Persian Arabic and Politics Arabic and Social Anthropology Arabic and Spanish Islamic Studies Middle Eastern Studies Persian Persian and English Literature Persian and Middle Eastern Studies Persian and Politics Persian and Social Anthropology International Buisness with Arabic

Studying within a small and friendly department such as Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies has enabled me to really get the most out of my degree at the University. The teaching staff are excellent, and as a student you are always treated as an individual. The extracurricular events not only add to the social side of the course but have also given me a wider knowledge of the Middle East. The variety of courses on offer as part of a degree in IMES ensure that you leave the University with a depth of knowledge that goes way beyond just language learning. I have really enjoyed the experience of studying Arabic and Persian at Edinburgh, and am confident that I will be leaving the University with a really useful degree and a fantastic life experience. I would recommend a degree within IMES to anyone who has an interest in languages and wants to develop their knowledge of the Middle East
MA (Hons) Arabic and Persian student

What sort of teaching and assessment methods are used?

First and second year courses are taught using a mixture of lectures, seminars, audio-visual methods and (for languages) oral classes. Assessment involves a combination of continuous assessment (based on essays, seminar papers, written work and interim examinations) and end-of-year formal examinations. Discursive Honours courses are assessed by a combination of class-based assessment and end-of-year formal examinations. Honours language courses are assessed by written, oral and aural examinations.

What can I do after my degree?

The study of Arabic and Persian is still something of a minority subject in British universities, and as a result the number of new graduates in these fields is limited. Yet the Middle East is one of the UKs largest trading partners, and its geographical proximity to Europe means that politics, economics and diplomatic relations are all vitally important. Tourism is also important to the region. Recent graduates have gone into banking, NGOs such as Amnesty International, charities, insurance, the Diplomatic Service, business, the media (TV and journalism), teaching, the Civil Service, and postgraduate research and academia.

How do I find out more?

You will find our most up to date entry requirements at: www.ed.ac.uk/studying/ undergraduate/degrees If you are interested in studying with us or finding out more about the courses we offer, you are most welcome to write to, telephone or visit us. Our contact details are: Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies The University of Edinburgh 19 George Square Edinburgh, EH8 9LD Tel: 0131 650 4182 Email: Islamic.Studies@ed.ac.uk Web: www.imes.ed.ac.uk

Are there any opportunities to study abroad?

Honours students normally spend a prescribed period of time in their third year in an Arabic and/or Persian-speaking environment. Arabic students can choose from a range of options such as Cairo or Amman, and Persian students can choose from a range of options, such as Beirut, Dushanbe or Tehran (subject to granting of visas). For those doing the Middle Eastern Studies degree there is the possibility of doing an ERASMUS exchange to Istanbul, Turkey for one or two semesters to study a combination of history, politics and language. second year.

For more detailed information on degree structure and content, please see: www.ed.ac.uk/schoolsdepartments/studentrecruitment/publicationsresources/degreeprogrammes

Typical degree curriculum: MA (Hons) Single Honours Arabic

1st Year Arabic 1A and Arabic 1B Beginners Arabic language course Islamic History: From the Origins of Islam to the Age of Suleyman the Magnificent Early Islamic history survey Option course Choose from a range of courses across the University 2nd Year Arabic 2 Intermediate Arabic language course Modern Middle Eastern History: Emergence and Encounters Modern Middle Eastern history survey Option course Choose from a range of courses across the University 3rd Year Arabic Language Study Abroad Language study in Arab World for full academic year Arabic Coursework Essay 2,000 word essay in Arabic on selected topic IMES Dissertation (Part1) Preparatory work on dissertation 4th Year Arabic 4 Advanced Arabic language course Arabic Oral Spoken Arabic language skills IMES Dissertation (Part 2) 10,000 word independant research study Two Arabic language-based courses Courses on Arabic literature and Islam workig with original sources Two IMES options A range of courses on Middle Eastern politics, cultures, history and religion

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