The Master of Arts in Middle East and Islamic Studies introduces students to the major methodological and theoretical issues and debates in the study of the Islamic tradition and of Middle Eastern societies. The program situates the study of the Middle East and Islam within a globalized world. The curriculum covers topics of recent scholarly significance including political Islam, the political economy of business-government networks, the relationship between "resource wars" and the "war on terrorism," new diasporas and transnational Muslim communities in the “West,” and the changed geopolitical environments of Muslim and Middle Eastern countries. The degree prepares students for a variety of post-graduate opportunities in academia, government, and an expanding job market for people with this expertise.
Admissions
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For specific information, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental website.
Policies
For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 30
Core Courses
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MEIS 500 | Critical Issues and Debates in Middle East and Islamic Studies | 3 |
HIST 575 | Approaches to Middle East and Islamic History | 3 |
RELI 644 | Islamic Texts and Contexts | 3 |
GOVT 632 | Politics and Societies of the Middle East | 3 |
Select one methods course from the following: | 3 | |
Methods in Anthropology | ||
Interdisciplinary Research Methods | ||
The Scientific Method and Research Design | ||
The Study and Writing of History | ||
Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry | ||
Theories and Methods in the Study of Religion | ||
Total Credits | 15 |
Language Proficiency
Prior to graduating, students must demonstrate professional competency in one of five major languages of the Middle East and Muslim world: Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hebrew, or Urdu.
A waiver for this requirement may be received either through 1) documentation verifying primary language of instruction at either the high school or university level in respective foreign language; transcripts showing coursework at the advanced level in respective foreign language or 2) an examination with an appropriate faculty/examiner designated by the director in consultation with the program's steering committee.
Electives
In addition to the following list, electives may include special topics courses when relevant, directed readings and research, study abroad courses, internships, and other courses with the approval of the program director. Students who choose to complete a research project or write a thesis take 3 or 6 fewer elective credits.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select five electives from the following: | 15 | |
Regional Ethnography (when topic is Middle East and North Africa) | ||
Special Topics in Art History (when topic is Middle Eastern or Islamic art) | ||
Topics in Art History (when topic is Middle East or Islamic art) | ||
World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution | ||
Conflict and Religion | ||
Topics in Folklore Studies | ||
Seminar in Global Culture (when topic is Middle East or Muslim world) | ||
Special Topics (when topic is a language of the Middle East or Muslim world) | ||
Special Topics (when topic is a language of the Middle East or Muslim world) | ||
Issues in Regional Geography (when topic is Middle East) | ||
Advanced Seminar in Comparative Politics (when topic is the Middle East or a Muslim world region) | ||
Islam and Politics | ||
Problems in Global History | ||
Problems in Middle Eastern History | ||
Graduate Internship in Middle East and Islamic Studies | ||
Directed Readings in Middle East and Islamic Studies | ||
Issues in Middle East and Islamic Studies | ||
Special Topics in Religious Studies (when topic is Islam or Muslim communities) | ||
Muslim Comparative Theologies: Sunni-Shi`i Religious Thought | ||
Islam and Human Rights | ||
Islamic Biomedical Ethics | ||
Total Credits | 15 |
Optional Research Project or Thesis
Research Project
Students choosing to complete a research project take one of the following courses, and one less elective.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Select one from the following: | 3 | |
Political Science Research Project | ||
Directed Research and Writing in History | ||
Independent Study | ||
Master's Research Project | ||
Research Project in Middle East and Islamic Studies | ||
Total Credits | 3 |
Thesis
Students who choose to write a thesis should be aware of the policies governing theses as stated in AP.6.9.3 Master's Thesis. They must follow the thesis enrollment policy of the university and once enrolled in MEIS 799 Thesis Research and Writing in Middle East and Islamic Studies, maintain continuous enrollment.
Students choosing to complete a thesis take 6 fewer credits of electives.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Six credits of | 6 | |
Thesis Research and Writing in Middle East and Islamic Studies | ||
Total Credits | 6 |
Bachelor's Degree (any)/Middle East and Islamic Studies, Accelerated MA
Overview
Highly qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BA/BS in a chosen major and an MA in Middle East and Islamic Studies in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 138 credits.
See AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree for policies related to this program.
Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master's degree. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
BAM Pathway Admission Requirements
Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Polices and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies. For information specific to this accelerated program, see Application Requirements and Deadlines on the departmental website.
Students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits and with a minimum overall GPA of 3.50.
Students who are accepted in the BAM Pathway will be allowed to register for graduate courses after successful completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credits.
Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements
Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MA program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form:
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.50
- Completion of at least one core course in the MA in Middle East and Islamic Studies with a minimum grade of B-
- Successfully met Mason's requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completed the application for graduation
Accelerated Pathway Requirements
To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:
Advanced Standing courses (up to 12 credits)
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MEIS 500 | Critical Issues and Debates in Middle East and Islamic Studies | 3 |
HIST 575 | Approaches to Middle East and Islamic History | 3 |
RELI 644 | Islamic Texts and Contexts | 3 |
GOVT 632 | Politics and Societies of the Middle East | 3 |
ANTH 650 | Methods in Anthropology | 3 |
GLOA 605 | Interdisciplinary Research Methods | 3 |
GOVT 500 | The Scientific Method and Research Design | 3 |
HIST 610 | The Study and Writing of History | 3 |
SOCI 620 | Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry | 3 |
RELI 630 | Theories and Methods in the Study of Religion | 3 |
Reserve Graduate Credit courses (up to 6 credits) taken while an undergraduate and will only count for the graduate degree program
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
ANTH 635 | Regional Ethnography (when topic is Middle East and North Africa) | 3 |
ARTH 599 | Special Topics in Art History (when topic is Middle Eastern or Islamic art) | 1-6 |
ARTH 699 | Topics in Art History (when topic is Middle East or Islamic Art) | 3 |
CONF 653 | World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution | 3 |
ENGH 591 | Topics in Folklore Studies | 3 |
ENGH 665 | Seminar in Global Culture (when topic is Middle East or Muslim world) | 3 |
FRLN 550 | Special Topics (when topic is a language of the Middle East or Muslim world) | 3 |
FRLN 551 | Special Topics (when topic is a language of the Middle East or Muslim world) | 3 |
GGS 533 | Issues in Regional Geography (when topic is Middle East) | 1-6 |
HIST 535 | Problems in Global History | 3 |
HIST 585 | Problems in Middle Eastern History | 3 |
MEIS 599 | Issues in Middle East and Islamic Studies | 3 |
RELI 591 | Special Topics in Religious Studies (when topic is Islam or Muslim communities) | 3 |
RELI 645 | Muslim Comparative Theologies: Sunni-Shi`i Religious Thought | 3 |
RELI 646 | Islam and Human Rights | 3 |
RELI 660 | Islamic Biomedical Ethics | 3 |
For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements see AP.6.7 Bachelor's Accelerated Master's Degree policies.