Undergraduate MArabic (Master of Arabic and Islamic studies)

ARA1010: Politics and Economy of the Contemporary Middle East

This module will introduce you to the politics and political economy of the Middle East and give you the foundational knowledge to understand the contemporary challenges that the region is facing. The module will familiarise you with the main themes through which the region's politics and economy have been studied and debated in the academia, from the legacy of colonialism, to the politics of Islam and latest waves of popular mobilization, looking into the political dynamics of key states (Egypt, Iran, the Gulf states, Iraq, etc).

The module aims to provide you with a general introductory survey of the politics and political economy of the Middle East, covering topics such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, the legacy of colonialism, the political economy of oil, the resilience of authoritarianism, the issue of political Islam and popular mobilization. It will provide you with an understanding of the key themes and issues pertinent to the academic study of the Middle-East region, and will seek to expand your ability to engage critically and analytically with issues facing the Middle- East region in the 21st century by situating them in historical and theoretical context, forming the basis for your studies in subsequent years.

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ARA1018: Introduction to Islam

This module will introduce you to Islam as both a textually based religious tradition and as a lived practice. It is an essential module that introduces you to themes and ideas that will be useful for your study of Islam and the Middle East in modules you may take in the future. As such, it is for the beginner with no prior knowledge and takes an inter-disciplinary approach using history, theology, law, literature, the arts and philosophy as a way to introduce the religious traditions of over 1.5 billion people worldwide. Starting from an introduction to the basic textual sources of the Qur'an and the practice of the Prophet Muhammad, we consistently ask what significance the history of the faith has for believers both in the past and in the future, and conclude with discussions on who speaks for Islam in the contemporary world and the difficulty of that very question.

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ARA1033A: Elementary Arabic Language I

Arabic is a modern language spoken by hundreds of millions of people and a foundational language of human civilisation. This elementary-level module introduces you as a complete beginner to the fundamentals of the language, enabling you to acquire basic reading, writing, oral and aural skills to level A1 (breakthrough/beginner) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). Through language, it will introduce you to aspects of Arab cultures. You will use a textbook as well as a variety of learning materials chosen by your lecturers.

No previous knowledge of Arabic is required to study in this module. If you have prior knowledge of Arabic acquired outside of your degree, your level will be assessed by the module convenor in order to establish whether this module is suitable for you—admission in such cases is not guaranteed.

The module will enable you to achieve basic proficiency in the language. You will first be introduced to the Arabic script, followed by the basics of Arabic grammar and syntax. Using a mixture of narrative-based and authentic content, both written and audio-visual, you will work on all language-related skills, including reading, listening, speaking, writing and cultural knowledge. You will be encouraged to practice learned material independently.

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ARA1033B: Elementary Arabic Language II

Arabic is a modern language spoken by hundreds of millions of people and a foundational language of human civilisation. This elementary-level module continues your introduction the fundamentals of Arabic, enabling you to develop basic reading, writing, oral and aural skills and take your language to level A2 (waystage/elementary) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL).Through language, it will further introduce you to aspects of Arab cultures.

You will use a textbook and a variety of learning materials selected by your lecturers.

This module is for students who have successfully completed ARA1033A. It aims to enhance your reading, writing and communication skills in Arabic. The module aims to develop all language-related skills, including reading, listening, speaking, writing—plus cultural knowledge—by means of written texts and audio-visual clips. By the end of the module, you are expected to be ready to embark on intermediate-level study of the language.

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ARA1036: Histories of the Middle East, 600-1800 C.E.

Few other regions of the world have provoked more interest and controversy than the Middle East. This module will provide you with an introductory overview of the historical, political, economic and strategic factors that shape the modern Middle East, examining key issues in the politics and society of the region from the Prophet to the end of the eighteenth century. It is designated to highlight the multi-faceted nature of Middle Eastern polities and to provide a continuity/change perspective on themes of regional unity versus political fragmentation. It also aims at providing you with the concepts and tools necessary to develop an analytical approach to understanding the Middle East.

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ARA1013: Elementary Persian

Persian is a modern Indo-European language spoken by over 100 million people—chiefly in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. This is an elementary-level module that introduces you as a complete beginner to the fundamentals of the Persian language, enabling you to communicate orally and to engage with text on a basic level. It provides you with the means and opportunity for you to take your reading, writing, oral and aural skills in Persian to level A1 (breakthrough/beginner) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). Through language, it will introduce you to aspects of Persian cultures. You will use a textbook as well as a variety of learning materials chosen by your lecturers.

If you have prior knowledge of Persian, your level will be assessed by the module convenor in order to establish whether this module is suitable for you—admission in such cases is not guaranteed.

The module will enable you to achieve basic proficiency in the language. You will first be introduced to the Persian alphabet and pronunciation, followed by the basics of grammar and syntax. Using a mixture of narrative-based and authentic content , both written and audio-visual, you will work on all language-related skills, including reading, listening, speaking, writing and cultural knowledge. You will be encouraged to practice learned material independently .

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ARA1020: Elementary Persian 2

Persian is a modern Indo-European language spoken today by over 100 million people—chiefly in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. This is an elementary-level module that takes place in Term II continues your introduction the fundamentals of the Persian] language, enabling you to communicate orally and engage with text on a basic level. It provides you with the means and opportunity for you to take your reading, writing, oral and aural skills in Persian to level A2 (waystage/elementary) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). Through language, it will further introduce you to aspects of Persian cultures. You will use a textbook as well as a variety of materials chosen by the module convenor. If you have prior knowledge of Persian acquired outside of your degree programme or have not completed the prerequisite modules, your level will be assessed by the module convenor in order to establish whether this module is suitable for you—admission in such cases is not guaranteed.

This module aims to enhance your basic reading, writing and communication skills in Persian. It aims to develop all language-related skills, including reading, listening, speaking and writing—plus cultural knowledge—by means of written texts and audio-visual clips. By the end of the module, you are expected to be ready to embark on intermediate-level study of the language

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ARA1030: Introduction to Islamic Archaeology

In this multidisciplinary module you will be introduced to the importance of material culture as a way of understanding Muslim societies of the past, and of better understanding Islam in the present. The module aims to familiarise you with the rich diversity of Islamic culture through archaeological, historical and ethnographic evidence.

You will develop critical skills in the following areas: the theory of material culture and archaeology with particular reference to Islamic cultures; the treatment of Islam and Islamic societies within the history of art, archaeology and material cultural studies; the use ethnography as a tool of research; and the methodologies and practices of archaeology.

Beyond the use of archaeology to merely understand historical phenomena, you will be introduced to innovative approaches to the study of Islamic societies, in particular, to the combined use of textual documentation, ethnological analogies, and the archaeological record.

This multidisciplinary module is designed to introduce students to the importance of material culture as a way of understanding Muslim societies of the past, and of better understanding Islam in the present. The module aims also to familiarise students with the rich diversity of Islamic culture through archaeological, historical and ethnographic evidence.

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ARA1031: Elementary Turkish I

Turkish is a modern Turkic language spoken by some 80 million native speakers, largely in the Republic of Turkey, where it has official status. This is an elementary-level Turkish module that introduces you as a complete beginner to the fundamentals of the language, enabling you to communicate orally and to engage with text on a basic level. It provides you with the means and opportunity for you to take your reading, writing, oral and aural skills in Turkish to level A1 (breakthrough/beginner) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). Through language, it will introduce you to aspects of Turkish cultures. You will use a textbook as well as a variety of learning materials chosen by your lecturers.

If you have prior knowledge of Turkish, your level will be assessed by the module convenor in order to establish whether this module is suitable for you—admission in such cases is not guaranteed.

The module will enable you to achieve basic proficiency in the language. You will first be introduced to the Turkish alphabet and pronunciation, followed by the basics of grammar and syntax. Using a mixture of narrative-based and authentic content, both written and audio-visual, you will work on all language-related skills, including reading, listening, speaking, writing and cultural knowledge. You will be encouraged to practice learned material independently.

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ARA1032: Elementary Turkish II

Turkish is a modern Turkic language spoken by some 80 million native speakers, largely in the Republic of Turkey, where it has official status. This is an elementary-level Turkish module that continues your introduction to the fundamentals of the language, enabling you to communicate orally and engage with text on a basic level.

It provides you with the means and opportunity for you to take your basic reading, writing, oral and aural skills in Turkish to level A2 (waystage/elementary) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). Through language, it will further introduce you to aspects of Turkish cultures. You will use a textbook as well as a variety of learning materials chosen by your lecturers.

If you have prior knowledge of Turkish acquired outside of your degree programme or have not completed the prerequisite modules, your level will be assessed by the module convenor in order to establish whether this module is suitable for you—admission in such cases is not guaranteed.

This module aims to enhance your basic reading, writing and communication skills in Turkish. It aims to develop all language-related skills, including reading, listening, speaking and writing—plus cultural knowledge—by means of written texts and audio-visual clips. By the end of the module, you are expected to be ready to embark on intermediate-level study of the language.

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ARA1041: Religious Communities of the Middle East: Culture, Endangerment and Survival

This module takes you to the heart of the struggle for survival of some unique religious communities of the Middle East, many of which have existed for many hundreds of years but which may not live beyond our lifetime. You will not only learn about the rich traditions of Eastern Christianity but also about the much smaller groups who challenge our received ideas of what a 'religion' is and what it must consist of.

Over the term we will take you historically from Late Antiquity up until the last few years, when violence displaced many minorities from their homelands. You will read academic, media and faith sources and will be invited to consider what prejudices, colonial or otherwise, might underly all these sources. No knowledge of any of the local languages is required, nor is it necessary to have studied the 'Introduction to Islam' module - though if you have, you will find that the two modules complement each other.

You will develop knowledge of the cultural complexity of the Middle East and the environment in which this arose. You will develop your ability to evaluate sources, both for accuracy and for underlying prejudice and bias. You will learn to use the principle of religious literacy.

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ARA2174: Year Abroad with Work Placement

Having completed the first year at IAIS, you will spend your second year of the MArabic programme in an Arabic-speaking country. There you will advance your knowledge of MSA as well as dialect of Arabic. This year is an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in an Arabic-speaking environment and to gain first-hand experience of Arab society and culture. It is a great opportunity for you to interact with Arabic-speakers and to become fluent in an Arabic dialect. The experience you gain from studying abroad will feed into your third and fourth year at IAIS. During the year abroad you will be supported in your studies by both colleagues in the host institution and by IAIS colleagues who will visit you abroad. The Module Convenor will act as your named IAIS contact. There will also be scheduled regular contact with IAIS colleagues online.

Pre-requisites: successful completion of ARA1033A and ARA1033B (Elementary Arabic Language) with a grade average of 50 or higher

There are 120 credits associated specifically with the year abroad, and students need to 'pass' the year abroad to progress to year 3 of the MArabic. Marking conventions will be applied to the host institution's assessments.

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ARA3190: Intermediate Arabic Language

Arabic is a modern language spoken by hundreds of millions of people and a foundational language of human civilization. This is an intermediate-level module that extends as your knowledge of the language, introducing you to new and more abstract fields of communication and providing you with the means and opportunity to take your Arabic beyond level B2 to C1 (vantage/upper intermediate or proficiency/advanced) on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). Through language, the module will continue your exposure to Arabic cultural expression.

Through your prior studies, you will have acquired a deeper knowledge of Arabic language and culture, as well as at least one dialect. This module helps you build on this experience and develop active and passive learning of the language through a wide range of written and audio-visual materials. You will strengthen your awareness of the various styles and registers of Arabic and develop your skills in composition and translation. You will also consolidate your knowledge of colloquial Arabic. You will use a variety of materials chosen by course tutors.

The pre-requisites are successful completion of ARA1033A, ARA1033B and Year-Abroad (or equivalent).

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ARA3196: Independent Research

This module provides you with the opportunity to carry out an in-depth and sustained research project on a subject of interest to you, resulting in the production of a dissertation. This independent research project is an important step in developing your specialism in the field of Arab & Islamic Studies. You should choose your topic in consultation with an academic supervisor—normally from the Institute—who will then guide you through the research and writing process.

This project aims to allow you to acquire knowledge of a particular subject, to benefit from one-to-one tuition from a specialist in the field, and to develop your research skills. These include the ability to collate, assess, analyse and order material from relevant types of sources, and the ability to communicate ideas, arguments and findings in academic prose.

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ARAM081: Advanced Arabic Language

Arabic is a modern language spoken by hundreds of millions of people and a foundational language of human civilisation. This advanced-level module comprises: i) an academic term studying in an Arabic-speaking country (where circumstances allow); ii) a work placement relevant to the Arab World (where circumstances allow); and iii) a term of study back in Exeter. The module offers you the means to raise your proficiency to level C2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). Through language, the module will deepen your exposure to Arabic cultural expression. You will use a variety of learning materials chosen by your lecturers. You will become familiar with various genres through reading, writing, translation and conversation. Your work experience and command of the language will be a significant employment asset.

If you have prior knowledge of Arabic acquired outside of your degree programme or have not completed the prerequisite modules, your level will be assessed by the module convenor in order to establish whether this module is suitable for you—admission in such cases is not guaranteed.

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ARAM082: Dissertation

This module is an independent research project resulting in a substantive paper that involves original collection or treatment of data and/or results. The module is designed to enable students to produce a paper of publishable quality. The MArabic dissertation, like a doctoral one, involves original research and exemplifies an original contribution to scholarship. Elements of the dissertation can include a comprehensive review and analysis of relevant literature, a research study design, the collection and analysis of data, and discussion of results, a synthesis and application of the literature on a topic, and/or the critical evaluation of empirical studies on the topic. The module involves mainly independent research done by the student and supervision and advice given by the dissertation supervisor.

Pre-requisite: ARA3196 Independent Research

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ARAM054: State and Society in the Middle East

This module explores key concepts, themes, ideologies and issues which are crucial to an understanding of the politics and society of the Modern Middle East. Thus in the module you will examine the interaction between institutions and ideas of the state, and the social context in which the state is rooted. It investigates theoretical and empirical questions related state-society interaction. Concepts such as civil society, class, tribe, sect, gender, religion, and informal politics are integral part of the examination of state-society relations. Course readings are interdisciplinary and include works of history, sociology, political science, economy, anthropology and human rights advocacy. Seminars take a closer look at the key concepts and theories analysed in the lecture by looking at one or two case studies. This allows students to expand their empirical knowledge of the Middle East, as well as their knowledge of debates in the field. Furthermore, students may choose which countries to focus on in their assessed work, so have the option of developing special expertise in particular areas of interest. Overall, the module enriches your understanding of the history, society and politics of the Middle East and therefore benefits their overall academic curricula.

No specific pre-requisite skills are required to take this module.

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ARAM090: Energy, Logistics, Infrastructure

This module examines the global politics of logistics, energy, and infrastructure. The module will provide you with an engaging overview - academically rigorous yet practically applicable - to key topics in energy transitions, logistics networks and processes, and global infrastructures.

The aim is to allow non-specialist students, without having taken any prerequisites, to study the subject. The module is available as an option in interdisciplinary pathways.

The module aims to provide you with

1) A knowledge of the scholarly debates over the politics of energy transition

2) An understanding of the key faultlines over the construction of infrastructures locally, nationally and globally

3) Familiarity the complex politics underlying the development of logistics networks

4) An ability to recognise the stakes of and apply trans-disciplinary theories to real-world cases concerning energy usage, infrastructure construction and logistical processes.

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ARAM091: Ecological Struggles

This module examines global struggles over the environment. The module will provide you with an engaging overview - academically rigorous yet practically applicable - to key topics in a range of ecological problems.

The aim is to allow non-specialist students, without having taken any prerequisites, to study the role of politics and socioeconomic contestation at local, national and global level in these enormously important areas of human and non-human life. The module is available as an option in interdisciplinary pathways.

The module aims to provide you with

1) A knowledge of the scholarly debates over the political and social life of the environment

2) An understanding of the key faultlines in global policy-making around ecological problems

3) An ability to recognise the stakes of and apply trans-disciplinary theories to real-world cases such as climate change, air and water pollution, waste production, ocean acidification, and species extinction, as well as the connections these processes have to health, disability, and human flourishing

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ARAM103: New Approaches to Islamic Thought

This module prepares you for the debates in Islamic intellectual history and the study of Islamic thought . We will problematize the very notions of 'Islam' and thought, considering what we mean by notions such as philosophy, theology, religion, political thought, and so forth within Islamic contexts. The module will equip you with the necessary analytical tools to venture into understanding and produce your own research on Islamic thought and society. The questions will be framed within an approach of 'decolonising Islamic studies'.

This module is part of the Islamic Studies pathway for the MA Middle East Studies programme.

This required core seminar should provide a common foundation for the thesis research of all MA students in Islamic Studies in four key respects:

(1) to give a broad overview of several key areas of "Islamic thought" (understood as the intellectual, written formulations of various Islamic cultural traditions in various historical settings) in their actual social and historical contexts;

(2) to train students in the methods of close, critical reading appropriate to each of the specific Islamic intellectual traditions covered in this course;

(3) to acquaint students with some of the pioneering secondary studies in each selected area of Islamic thought; and

(4) to offer students an opportunity to develop their expository skills in oral, classroom presentation of their research and reading.

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ARAM147: The Kurds: History and Politics

In this module you will focus on the socio-political history of Kurds and Kurdistan since the nineteenth century from the present day. You will examine the major events of Kurdish history, covering the late Ottoman Empire, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey and discussing the present volatile situation, focusing on the development of Kurdish nationalism and political movement(s), but also the relationships of the Kurds with their home governments, neighbouring populations, and international actors. You will also examine the transformation of the Kurdish society since the end of the 19th century looking in particular at issues such as social organisation, gender, religion, migration, urbanisation, and diaspora, economic change, and neoliberalism.

The module is seminar-based, consisting of short lectures followed by in-depth class discussions and student presentations. No prior knowledge of the subject is required; the module is suitable for interdisciplinary pathways.

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ARAM221: The Palestine Question: Past and Present

The Palestine question is still one of the most crucial feature of Modern Middle Eastern history and politics. It is also now a major research area, related to events in the past and present realities in the Middle East and beyond. Very few countries were so thoroughly researched academically as were Israel and Palestine.

This module introduces you to this rich literature in an engaging and critical manner, fitting post-graduate studies. The module allows you to examine the recent development in the study of Israel and Palestine. It allows you to become familiar with the various narratives on the history of the country and the influence recent conceptual and methodological developments had on the research on Palestine and Israel.

In addition, you will learn how to contextualise a case study within the wider debates about power and knowledge. Palestine is a textbook case study for the interaction between ideology and scholarly research. You will learn how to navigate between moral commitment, ideological orientations and academic acumen and professionalism.

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ARAM235: Contemporary History and Politics of the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula

This module will critically explore the contemporary history and politics of the Gulf monarchies and the Arabian Peninsula. It is structured around main themes which provide an in-depth comparative perspective on the question of power and ideology in the region. The module covers the roots of statehood and capitalism in the Gulf; the impact of oil and 'rentierism'; historical and current popular movements and rebellions; contemporary dynamics of capitalism and neoliberalism; Islam and politics; narratives and strategies of political legitimation. You will interrogate discourses that 'exceptionalise' the Gulf or 'culturalise' issues of history and politics therein. The module will also introduce analytical and theoretical tools that allow for critical examination of the debates that have dominated the study of the Arabian Peninsula; exploring new avenues of research that speak to the transformations currently underway in the region.

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ARAM244: Politics and Economics of the Middle East

The module aims to provide you with an understanding of the politics and economics of the Middle East and North Africa, using various books, practitioner reports, and policy papers on the region, covering both theoretical and empirical material. By utilising different types of texts, it is hoped that you will gain the skills to discuss the topics of Middle East politics and economics both in a country-specific and a broader, region-wide setting.

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EFPM839: Transdisciplinary Collaborations for Creative Futures

Within this module you will learn with staff and students from across the University, collaborating beyond traditional academic boundaries in a transdisciplinary way where disciplines serve the issue in hand, rather than serving each other. You will work in transdisciplinary teams to explore complex social, educational and ethical issues facilitated through a combination of Creative Pedagogies and Design Thinking. You will be encouraged to collaboratively, and critically, produce original ideas, and think innovatively about the future through research-based activities, fieldwork and creative workshops that blend the arts, sciences, social sciences, humanities and business. Using appropriately innovative assessment techniques, the module will equip you to respond to the global complexity and uncertainty that you will inevitably encounter when you graduate.

There are no pre-requisite or co-requisite modules; it is suitable for M-level students from across the University, including interdisciplinary pathways.

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HASM013: Mental Health in Social and Historical Context

This module invites students to critically reflect on the study of mental health across different historical and cultural contexts, in order to better understand and engage with challenges around mental health today. Rather than assume the universality of mental health experiences and treatments, this module aims to defamiliarize mental health as profoundly shaped by the specificities of time and place, introducing students to cutting-edge research being undertaken across the humanities and social sciences. Through reading recent innovative published work and discussions in seminars, students will engage with a range of historical and ethnographic case studies and develop a strong understanding of how mental health has been linked, for instance, to questions of power and social justice, colonialism and decolonisation, and migration and the environment. The module as a whole will equip students to think comparatively about mental health across distinct contexts, and to reflect critically on the value of humanities and social sciences approaches in the face of contemporary mental health challenges.

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