Middle East Studies BA

Programme structure

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

The BA Middle East Studies degree programme is made up of compulsory (core) and optional modules, which are worth 15 or 30 credits each. Full-time undergraduate students need to complete modules worth a total of 120 credits each year.

Depending on your programme you can also take up to 30 credits each year in another subject, for instance a language or business module, to develop career-related skills or just widen your intellectual horizons.

Year 1

You will study the history, politics, society and economics of the Middle East, as well as the basic principles of Islam. CodeModuleCredits ARA1036Histories of the Middle East, 600-1800 C.E. 15 ARA1010Politics and Economy of the Contemporary Middle East 15 ARA1018Introduction to Islam 15 ARA1021Introduction to Persian History and Culture 15 Optional modules CodeModuleCredits ARA1013Elementary Persian 15 ARA1020Elementary Persian 215 ARA1030Introduction to Islamic Archaeology15 ARA1032Elementary Turkish II15 ARA1015Arabic for Beginners30 ARA1016Reading and Translation15 ARA1031Elementary Turkish I 15 ARA1034Elementary Indonesian 115 ARA1035Elementary Indonesian 215 Year 2

You will choose 120 credits of optional modules to continue your study of history, politics, society and economics of the Middle East, as well as the philosophy, theology, practices, traditions, poetry and law of Islam.

Optional modules  CodeModuleCredits ARA2130Society and Empire in the Modern Middle East 1798-1914 15 ARA2131M.E.20C Colonialism Revolution and Beyond15 ARA2118Gender-Identity and Modernity in the Middle East15 ARA2135Conflict and Peacemaking Palestine/Israel15 ARA2150Muslims in Britain15 ARA2160Islamic Movements: From the Muslim Brothers to Al-Qa'ida15 ARA2162Political Economy of Development in the Middle East15 ARA2166Revolution, Reform or Status Quo15 ARA2132Islamic Law and Society15 ARA2143Classical Persian Poetry in Translation 15 ARA2145Sufism and Islamic Devotional Life15 ARA2141Intermediate Persian15 ARA2146Islamic Theological Traditions15 ARA2151Intermediate Persian II15 ARA2118Gender-Identity and Modernity in the Middle East15 ARA2121Themes in the Arabic Short Story15 ARA2131M.E.20C Colonialism Revolution and Beyond15 ARA2132Islamic Law and Society15 ARA2135Conflict and Peacemaking Palestine/Israel15 ARA2139Intermediate Arabic Language II 30 ARA2141Intermediate Persian15 ARA2144Reading Qur'anic Arabic 15 ARA2146Islamic Theological Traditions15 ARA2148Arabic for Beginners II 30 ARA2150Muslims in Britain15 ARA2151Intermediate Persian II15 ARA2152Persian Literature 15 ARA2160Islamic Movements: From the Muslim Brothers to Al-Qa'ida15 ARA2161The Historiography of the Arab-Israeli Conflict15 ARA2162Political Economy of Development in the Middle East15 ARA2164Intermediate Turkish I15 ARA2165Intermediate Turkish II 15 ARA2166Revolution, Reform or Status Quo15 ARA2222Career Planning Workshops (Level 2)0 Year 3

The centre-point of the final year is the dissertation. This provides you with the opportunity to explore an area of interest and to demonstrate what you have learned over the previous years of your degree.

Compulsory modules CodeModuleCredits ARA3106Dissertation 30 Optional modules CodeModuleCredits ARA2118Gender-Identity and Modernity in the Middle East15 ARA2130Society and Empire in the Modern Middle East 1798-1914 15 ARA2131M.E.20C Colonialism Revolution and Beyond15 ARA3129Nationalisms in the Middle East15 ARA3136The History and Political Development of Iraq15 ARA2135Conflict and Peacemaking Palestine/Israel15 ARA2150Muslims in Britain15 ARA2162Political Economy of Development in the Middle East15 ARA3136The History and Political Development of Iraq15 ARA3146Iranian History, 1500 - the Present15 ARA3149Ethno-Politics: Theoretical Considerations and Case Studies15 ARA3152Folklore and Identity in the Middle East15 ARA3154EU Democracy Promotion in the Middle East and North Africa15 ARA2132Islamic Law and Society15 ARA2143Classical Persian Poetry in Translation 15 ARA2145Sufism and Islamic Devotional Life15 ARA2146Islamic Theological Traditions15 ARA2141Intermediate Persian15 ARA2151Intermediate Persian II15 ARA3141Islam and Persianate Culture in South Asia15 ARA3158Armed Islamist Movements: Jihadism and Beyond15 ARA3159The Orientalist Debate15 ARA3161Islamic Art and Architecture15 ARA3162Britain in the Middle East, 1798-197715 ARA3163Politics and Reform in the Gulf15 ARA3103Advanced Arabic Language 30 ARA3107Politics of Semi-democratic and Authoritarian Countries30 ARA3129Nationalisms in the Middle East15 ARA3136The History and Political Development of Iraq15 ARA3138Foundational Islamic Texts: Qur'an and Hadith15 ARA3144Advanced Persian Language I15 ARA3145Advanced Persian Language II15 ARA3146Iranian History, 1500 - the Present15 ARA3149Ethno-Politics: Theoretical Considerations and Case Studies15 ARA3152Folklore and Identity in the Middle East15 ARA3158Armed Islamist Movements: Jihadism and Beyond15 ARA3159The Orientalist Debate15 ARA3160Intermediate Arabic Language I30 ARA3161Islamic Art and Architecture15 ARA3162Britain in the Middle East, 1798-197715 ARA3163Politics and Reform in the Gulf15 ARA3185EU and US Democracy Promotion in the Middle East and North Africa30 ARA3186The History and Political Development of Iraq30