MES4030 – Themes and Theories in Middle East studies
Course description
Course content
What is area studies and how does one go about studying a diverse and complicated region like the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)???
This course explores some of the key themes, theories, and debates in the field of Middle East Studies today. The course prepares students for their MA thesis research by providing solid knowledge about the history of MENA area studies and the problems and debates that have shaped the field. In addition, the course provides the necessary background to employ the methodologies introduced in MES4035 Methods in Middle East Studies in an informed and academically sound manner.?
The course materials will familiarize students with themes in the history, societies, cultures, and politics of the Middle East and North Africa along with theories in the social sciences and humanities that have proven especially foundational to Middle Eastern Studies. The course is taught collaboratively by multiple researchers from the Middle East Studies program in the Department of Studies of Culture, Religion, Asia and the Middle East (IKOS). Through lectures and seminars with various faculty, students will become acquainted with the broad range of thematic and theoretical expertise among the researchers in the department and will have an opportunity to meet some of the potential supervisors among the faculty for their MA research and theses.??
Learning outcome
Students who complete the course successfully will be able to?
identify key theorists and theories in Middle East Studies, and central themes and debates in scholarship on the history, societies, cultures, and/or politics of the Middle East?
describe the emergence and development of area studies in general and MENA studies in particular?
elaborate on the philosophical aspects of knowledge production (epistemology) and the relation between methodology, theory, and interpretation?
explain the relation between academic knowledge production, political objectives and ideological struggles??
assess and analyze approaches that have shaped the history of MENA studies, including Orientalism, Marxism, and post/de-colonialism?
critically discuss major themes in the study of MENA culture, society and politics since the 1950s and scholarly perspectives on the themes that have proven central to studies of the Middle East today?
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.
This course is not available for single course students.
This course is only available for students enrolled in the programme Asia and Middle East studies, programme option Middle East Studies and South Asian Culture and Society.
Overlapping courses
- 5 credits overlap with MES4000 – Theory, Methodology and Project Description in Middle East- and South Asia Studies.
Teaching
The teaching will include lectures and seminars taught by various members of the faculty, accompanied by coordinating sessions at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the semester held by the course coordinator.??
Compulsory activity:?
All compulsory activities must be approved to qualify for the exam. It is your responsibility to verify that you have obtained approval for all compulsory activities.?
Absence from compulsory activities:?Here you will find information about compulsory activities at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam.?
More information on compulsory activities at the University of Oslo:?
The approved compulsory activity remains valid for the 2 following autumn semesters in which the course is offered. However, exceptions may arise if the course undergoes changes in its assessment format, teaching, or other significant modifications.?
Access to teaching:?
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.?
Examination
School exam (four hours)
The exam is consisting of an essay on one of the themes or debates in MENA studies. Students will choose one of three topics to write about.?
Detailed information regarding the exam format will be announced on Canvas.?
You must submit the exam in Inspera - see guides for digital exams.?
You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam.?
All compulsory activities must be completed and approved in order to take the exam.?
You can find more information about the exam on the semester page of the course.
Language of examination
Assignment specifications are given in English. Students may write their submissions in English, Norwegian, Danish or Swedish.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.