TABLE OF CONTENTS

FACULTY

Department of Anthropology

DR. JANET BAUER
Visiting Associate Professor of Anthropology
B.S. 1970 (Central Missouri State Univ.), M.A., Ph.D. 1981 (Stanford Univ.)
Areas of specialization: gender and history, refugees and immigrants, identity and transcultural societies, politics of religious change, international women and family policy, Islamic societies



Department of Classics

DR. HUGHELTON
Visiting Assistant Professor of Classics and History
B.A. 1986 (Univ. of Sheffield), Ph.D. 1990 (The Queen's College, Oxford Univ.)

DR. MARTHA K. RISSER
Assistant Professor of Classics
B.A. 1981 (Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Ph.D. 1989 (Univ. of Pennsylvania)



Department of History

DR. SAMUEL D. KASSOW
Professor of History
B.A. 1966 (Trinity College), M.S. 1967 (London School of Economics), Ph.D. 1976 (Princeton Univ.)

DR. GARY L. REGER
Associate Professor of History, Middle East Studies Concentration Coordinator
B.A. 1975 (Univ. of Illinois-Urbana), M.A. 1983, M.A. 1984, Ph.D. 1987 (Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison)



Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

REV. STEVEN P. BLACKBURN
Lecturer in Modern Languages and Religion
B.S.F.S. 1974, M.S.F.S. 1977 (Georgetown Univ.), B.D. 1980 (Univ. of St. Andrews)

LEVANA POLATE
Lecturer in Modern Languages and International Studies
B.A. 1981 (Tel Aviv Univ.), M.A. 1991 (Hebrew College, Boston)

International Studies Program

DR. CLINTON BAILEY
Visitng Professor of International Studies
B.A. 1962 (The Hebrew Univ., Jerusalem), M.A. 1964, Ph.D. 1966 (Columbia Univ.)



Department of Religion

DR. ELLISON B.FINDLY
Professor of Religion and International Studies
B.A. 1971 (Wellesley College), M.A. 1973 (Columbia), M. Phil. 1976, Ph.D. 1978 (Yale)

DR. JOHN A. GETTIER
Associate Professor of Religion and Biblical Hebrew
B.A. 1956 (Wesleyan Univ.), B.D. 1961 (Yale Univ.), Th.D. 1971 (Union Theological Seminary)

DR. RONALD C. KIENER
Associate Professor of Religion
B.A. 1976 (Univ. of Minnesota), Ph.D. 1984 (Univ. of Pennsylvania)
 

MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES CONCENTRATION

Coordinator: Professor Gary Reger

The Middle Eastern Studies major is designed to acquaint students with the central historical, socio-political and religious issues of Middle Eastern culture through a sus-tained interdisciplinary mode of analysis. Students may opt to concentrate in Islamic/Arab or Jewish/Israel studies, or combine the study of these cultures.

Students may take approved courses offered through the Depart-ments of Anthropology, Art History, Classics, History, Political Science, Religion, Modern Languages and Literatures, and the International Studies Program.

Majors are encouraged to incorporate into their studies a semester or year of study abroad in a country or region related to their work in the major. Trinity College approves study abroad at the American University in Cairo, Haifa University, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv University, as well as semester programs in Israel offered by Wesleyan University and Brown University. Arrangements for such study can be made through the office of the Director of Educational Services.

The major is fulfilled by satisfactorily completing twelve courses, at least one of which is a thesis. Three of these courses constitute the core of the major, four constitute required language courses, and four constitute the elective courses which can be taken at the discretion of the participant.

To qualify for honors in Middle Eastern Studies, a student must have a grade average of B+ or better in the courses counted for the major, and a grade of Distinction on the thesis.

I. Core Courses: 3 credits

Every participant must take three core courses out of six approved core courses, one in each of three disciplines. The six core courses are:

II. Language Requirement: 4 credits

All participants in the MES concentration must satisfactorily complete at least two years’ worth of language instruction in either Arabic or Hebrew (Biblical or Modern). Language study beyond 4 credits can be counted as elective work. Students may continue language instruction beyond the first year through either classroom courses, independent study courses, or the Self-Instructional Language Program (SILP).

III. Electives: 4 credits

Participants in the minor may choose from any of the MES courses, to be designated "electives of the major." Students should be encouraged to take courses offered by visiting scholars, as the situation permits.

IV. 497. Senior Thesis.

Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment in this single-semester thesis. (1 course credit to be completed in one semester.)

FALL TERM (note: not all courses taught in every year)

  • Arabic 101. Elementary Arabic I—Blackburn
  • Arabic 201. Intermediate Arabic I—Blackburn
  • Hebrew 101. Elementary Modern Hebrew I—Polate
  • Hebrew 201. Intermediate Modern Hebrew II—Polate
  • History 229. History of the Middle East—Steele
  • Religion 103-01. Elementary Biblical Hebrew I—Gettier
  • Religion 203-01. Readings in Hebrew Literature—Gettier
  • Religion 253-01. Indian and Islamic Painting—Findly
  • Religion 181-01. Islam—Kiener
  • Religion 205-01. Classical Judaism I—Kiener
  • Religion 211-01. Introduction to the Old Testament—Gettier
  • Religion 287-01 Modern Trends in Islam—Abu Rabi
  • SPRING TERM

  • Anthropology 218. Women & Family in the Middle East—Bauer
  • Arabic 102. Elementary Arabic II—Blackburn
  • Arabic 202. Intermediate Arabic II—Blackburn
  • Hebrew 102. Elementary Modern Hebrew II—Polate
  • Hebrew 202. Intermediate Modern Hebrew II—Polate
  • History 336(1). Modern Jewish History—Kassow
  • International Studies 203. Jerusalem 3000—Polate
  • International Studies 206. The Arab/Israel Conflict—Bailey
  • International Studies 211. Minorities in Middle Eastern Politics—Bailey
  • International Studies 344. Political Dynamics in the Middle East—Bailey
  • Fine Arts 205-01. Survey of Islamic Art & Architecture—Blair
  • Religion 109-01. The Jewish Tradition—Kiener
  • Religion 104-01. Elementary Biblical Hebrew II—Gettier
  • Religion 204-01. Readings in Hebrew Literature—Gettier
  • Religion 209-01. Religion in the COntemporary Middle East—Kiener
  • Religion 304-01. Readings in Post-Biblical Hebrew Literature—Kiener
  • Religion 207-01. Jewish Philosophy—Kiener
  • Religion 218-01. Judaism in the Twentieth Century—Kiener
  • Religion 206-01. Classical Judaism II—Kiener
  • Religion 208-01. Jewish Mysticism—Kiener

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    Furthermore, there are courses offered in the PROGRAMA DE ESTUDIOS HISPANICOS EN CORDOBA which are acceptable as electives to the major:

  • Spanish 1400. Muslim Spain (History)
  • Spanish 1401. Spanish-Muslim Art
  • COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

    Department of Anthropology

    218. Women and Family in the Middle East - The examination of women's lives in the "man's world" of the middle East. Is there a conflict between modern and traditional gender roles and expectations? The course looks at the impact of 20th century modernization and socio-political change on gender relations, sexuality, adolescence, family structure, local culture and feminist movements across the Middle East and North Africa. Case studies survey male and female perspectives in a variety of ethnic/religious communities (Muslim, Jewish, Christian) and types of societies (Bedouin, agricultural, urban). Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. (Same as Women's Studies 218.) - J. Bauer



    Department of Classics

    222. Classical City - The City was the foundation of the Classical World. This course examines the city from its beginnings to the collapse of the Mediterranean empires in the seventh century A.D. It includes Athens and Rome, but other Greek and Roman cities are covered, as are cities of other cultures: Egypt, Carthage and the various Persian kingdoms. Topics include urban life, city government and democratic methods, women and the city-country relationship.



    Department of Fine Arts, Division of Art History

    253. Indian and Islamic Painting - A survey of the history of miniature painting from the Persian, Mughal and Rajput schools, with emphasis on their religious and cultural backgrounds. (Same as Religion 253.)



    Department of History

    229. History of the Middle East From 1900 - A survey of the Middle Eastern region from the rise of European imperialism through the two World Wars to the present. Topics covered include the growth of nationalism and interstate rivalries, the development of the petroleum industries and the course of political and social changes as these affect Middle East society with particular attention to changes in social structures and the role of women. (Same as International Studies 229.) - Steele

    374. The Age of Alexander the Great - This course covers the life and times of Alexander the Great, a man who was able to subjugate most of the known world, but failed to erect a lasting political structure. When he died at the age of 33 years, he left a vast empire to be torn t pieces by his successors. However, his achievements were more than military, and his colonists built cities in places as far from Greece as modern Afghanistan, creating a new world in which Greek culture flourished - Elton

    336. Modern Jewish History - This course will examine major trends in Jewish history since 1789. There will be particular emphasis on Jewish society in Eastern Europe and the breakdown of orthodox hegemony. Topics will include the Haskala, the Bund, the development of Zionism, the interwar period in Eastern Europe, the Holocaust, and the State of Israel. The approach will be primarily that of intellectual history with emphasis on the secular aspects of Jewish history. (Same as International Studies 336.) - Kassow



    Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

    101: Self-Instructional Language Program: Elementary I
    102: Self-Instructional Language Program: Elementary II
    201: Self-Instructional Language Program: Intermediate I
    202: Self-Instructional Language Program: Intermediate II
    301: Self-Instructional Language Program: Advanced I
    302: Self-Instructional Language Program: Advanced II
     

    Modern Standard Arabic

    101. Elementary Arabic I - The sounds and script of the written language will be mastered, along with some basic grammatical constructions. Oral and aural skills will also be drilled. Required lab work. (Same as International Studies-Arabic 101.) - Blackburn

    102. Elementary Arabic II - Continuation of Arabic 101, with further oral and written practice. Required lab work. Prerequisite: Arabic 101 or equivalent. (Same as International Studies-Arabic 102.) - Blackburn

    201. Intermediate Arabic I - Continuation of Arabic 102, with an introduction to Arabic composition as well as further grammatical study and conversation practice. Required lab work. Prerequisite: Arabic 102 or equivalent. (Same as International Studies-Arabic 201.) - Blackburn

    202. Intermediate Arabic II - Continuation of Arabic 201, leading to a completion of essential basic grammaticalconstructions as well as further conversational practice. Prerequisite: Arabic 201 or equivalent. (Same as International Studies-Arabic 202.) - Blackburn

    Modern Hebrew

    101. Elementary Modern Hebrew I - A comprehensive introduction to the basic vocabulary and grammatical rules of modern Hebrew will be systematically presented and reviewed. Designed to develop a basic ability to read, write, understand and speak modern Hebrew, this course will also include exposure to appropriate cultural materials. (Same as International Studies-Hebrew 101.) - Polate

    102. Elementary Modern Hebrew II - A continuation of Hebrew 101 with emphasis on increasing vocabulary, understanding, writing and speaking skills with widening exposure to appropriate cultural materials. Prerequisite: Hebrew 101. (Same as International Studies-Hebrew 102.) - Polate

    201. Intermediate Modern Hebrew I - This course continues the development of skills in conversation, composition and reading. Advanced grammar and syntax are introduced, as well as expanded readings from Israeli newspapers and literature. Prerequisite: Hebrew 102 or equivalent. (Same as International Studies-Hebrew 201.) - Polate

    202. Intermediate Modern Hebrew II - A continuation of Hebrew 201 with more advanced grammar and increased emphasis on composition and speaking as well as exposure to appropriate cultural materials. Prerequisite: Hebrew 201. (Same as International Studies-Hebrew 202.) - Polate

    301. Advanced Modern Hebrew I - Emphasis on written essays as well as on comprehension through readings and class discussion of short stories, articles and poetry. Prerequisite: Hebrew 202 or equivalent. (Same as International Studies-Hebrew 301.) - Polate

    302. Advanced Modern Hebrew II - A continuation of Hebrew 301 with emphasis on reading short novels and Israeli newspapers as well as viewing and discussing selected videos and movies. Prerequisite: Hebrew 301 or equivalent. (Same as International Studies-Hebrew 302.) - Polate



    Department of Political Science

    106. Introduction to Comparative and International Politics -This course, using various theoretical perspectives, will compare differing political systems of a number of selected states and the dynamics of the relations between these states. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing issues such as globalization, overpopulation, environmental degradation, causes of political conflicts and mechanisms for their resolution. (Same as International Studies 106.) Enrollment limited. - Schulz, M. Niemann

    205. Traditional Tribal Society and Law---The course will examine the nature of tribal societies in the Middle East and Africa and the legal systems they have devised, in the absence of established governmental authority, to regulate human relations. The Bedouin of the Middle East and North Africa will be the core group studied. [Same as International Studies 205 and Legal Studies 205.)---Bailey

    206. Interests and Positions in the Arab/Israeli Conflict---An examination of the dynamics of the Arab/Israeli conflict, especially since the establishment of the State of Israel, in 1948. The course will focus on the changing interests and positions of the parties involved: Israel, the Palestinians, the Arab states and the important international players. It will also highlight contradictions within the major camps. (Same as International Studies 206.)---Bailey

    Department of Religion

    109. The Jewish Tradition---A thematic introduction to the major concepts, ritual cycles, holidays, and beliefs of Judaism. Readings and course material will be taken from classic Jewish texts as well as modern secondary sources. (Same as International Studies 109.)---Kiener

    194. Eastern Orthodox Tradition---Freed from the restraints that bound them for much of the 20th century, the Orthodox churches of Eastern Europe are flowering. Although unfamiliar to many in the West, Orthodoxy is the lasting legacy of the Byzantine Empire and remains the dominant form of Christianity in much of Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. The course offers an introductory survey of the Orthodox Christian tradition, which stretches unbroken from first century Palestine to 20th century Russia, Greece and Armenia. It treats the history of the church, and its distinctive approach to theology and worship (including iconography, church architecture and sacred music).---Walsh 203. Readings in Hebrew Literature---An intensive study of selected portions of the Hebrew Bible in order to develop the methods and skills of biblical interpretation. Prerequisite: Religion 103-104 or permission of the instructor.---Gettier

    [208. Jewish Mysticism]---An examination of the secret speculative theologies of Judaism from late antiquity to the present. --Kiener