Admission requirements
Admission to the MA Middle Eastern Studies.
Attending the 1st session on Monday September 4, 13:15-15:00 hrs.
Description
How are theorizations of social, historical, and cultural phenomena arrived at? What constitutes evidence? How have different epistemological, methodological, and ontological traditions shaped the study of the Middle East and North Africa?
During the past two centuries scholars in different parts of the world have produced a large body of knowledge on Middle Eastern and Muslim societies, both historical and contemporary. The present seminar will introduce students to key issues and concepts of this scholarly tradition and encourage them to engage critically with these, as has become the practice during the last forty years. This critical review should enable students to contribute productively to this body of knowledge themselves. This course is meant to equip MA students with the skills and insights that are necessary to evaluate existing research and prepare them to design and carry out their own research projects.
During the course students are familiarized with key theories developed in the humanities and social sciences (with a particular attention to critical social theories, and ethnographic approaches), and their application specifically for the study of topics relating to North Africa and the Middle East. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to develop and carry out a small thesis project on a well-defined topic.
Course objectives
To develop the skills and insights that are necessary to evaluate existing research and to design and carry out empirical research projects;
To obtain familiarity with the theories developed in the humanities and social sciences and their application in the study of the Middle East and Islam;
To understand the merits and drawbacks of these theories both in general and in specific cases;
To develop and carry out a small research project on a well-defined topic, based on a range of sources;
To report on research findings orally and in writing, in accordance with the basic standards of scholarship.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Assessment method
Assessment and Weighing
The final grade will be composed of the average of the following components:
| Partial Assessment | Weighing |
|---|---|
| In-Class Participation | 20 % |
| Weekly Assignments | 20% |
| Oral presentations | 20% |
| Final assignment | 40% |
Resit
Only if the total weighted average is insufficient (5.49 or lower) and the insufficient grade is the result of an insufficient paper, a resit of the final paper is possible (40%).
Reading list
- A full list of the required literature and study materials will be announced at the beginning of the course.
Registration
After the first class, students will be divided into three groups and registered by the Education Administration Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the information bar ont the right.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: De Vrieshof
Remarks
Please note that the additional course information is an integral part of this course description.
The 1st session will be given on Monday September 4, 13:15-15:00 hrs.