Middle East and Islamic Studies, MA

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.

Banner Code: LA-MA-MEIS

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 30

Core Courses

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. 

Optional Research Project or Thesis

Research Project

Students choosing to complete a research project take one of the following courses, and one less elective.

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.

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)

Reserve Graduate Credit courses (up to 6 credits) taken while an undergraduate and will only count for the graduate degree program

For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements see AP.6.7 Bachelor's Accelerated Master's Degree policies.