Courses on the Middle East and Surrounding Regions
The Ohio State University offers a wide variety of classes related to the Middle East area (270, total), across 30 disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, arts, professional schools, and applied sciences.
Many of these courses have the ability to fulfill various core requirements for undergraduates (GECs).
Languages
OSU also offers courses on less commonly taught languages such as:
- Ancient Semitic languages
- Arabic
- Biblical Hebrew
- Hebrew
- Hindi
- Pashto
- Persian/Dari/Tajik
- Qur’anic Arabic
- Turkish
- Urdu
- Uzbek
The Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (NELC) offers these courses. Check out what's being offered at nesa.osu.edu/courses
Upcoming Courses, SP27
Arabic Classes (not language instruction)
ARABIC 2241 — Contemporary Arab Cultures: Arts, Mass Media, Society
This course explores the political, artistic, and intellectual currents shaping contemporary Arab cultures. Topics include Arabic and its varieties, music, poetry, law, television, and cinema in Arab societies and diasporas.
3 credits · Online · Class not scheduled; time TBA · Instructor: Hekmat Dirbas · Section 0010 (26544)
ARABIC 2701 — Classical and Medieval Arabic Literature in Translation
Reading and analysis of major works of Arabic literature from the 6th to the 17th centuries, including classical poetry, the Qur’an, and The Arabian Nights. Prerequisite: English 1110 or completion of the GE Foundation Writing and Information Literacy course.
3 credits · Session 2, March 3–April 26 · In person, Monday and Wednesday, 2:20–3:40 p.m. · Hagerty Hall 159 · Instructor: Johanna Sellman · Section 0010 (30328)
ARABIC 2702 — Gender and Citizenship in Modern Arabic Literature
Reading and analysis of representative works by contemporary women authors from the 19th and 20th centuries. Cross-listed with Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
3 credits · In person, Monday and Wednesday, 12:45–2:05 p.m. · University Hall 082 · Instructors: Johanna Sellman and Noor Obeid · Section 0010 (36998)
ARABIC 3601 — Philosophy and the Just Society in the Classical Islamic World
A survey of the development, major subjects, and thinkers of the most vivid period of Arabic philosophy. Cross-listed with Philosophy 3221.
3 credits · In person, Tuesday and Thursday, 11:10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. · Denney Hall 238 · Instructor: Sean W. Anthony · Section 0010 (27851)
Hebrew Classes (not language instruction)
HEBREW 2700H — Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
An introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament from a historical perspective, examining the cultural dimensions of the ancient societies in which it was written, including the formation of ethnic, gender, and race identities.
3 credits · Honors course · In person, Wednesday and Friday, 11:10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. · Mendenhall Laboratory 175 · Instructor: Daniel Frank · Section 0010 (28393)
HEBREW 3245 — Israeli Film & Society
A survey of Israeli films from 1948 to the present, tracing the development of film production in Israel and the relationship between film and society. Cross-listed with Jewish Studies 3245.
3 credits · In person, Wednesday and Friday, 12:45–2:05 p.m. · Hagerty Hall 042 · Instructor: Galit Elli Golan · Section 0010 (28394)
HEBREW 3704 — Women in the Bible and Beyond
Examines the social, legal, and religious position of women in the Hebrew Bible and their representation and interpretation in later textual, visual, and audio sources.
3 credits · Online; class not scheduled, time TBA · Instructor: Yohnatan Naveh · Section 0020 (27932)
HEBREW 7602 — Studies in Hebrew Prose
Advanced study of selected periods, authors, or topics in prose writing, with extensive readings and discussion of primary and secondary materials. Repeatable to a maximum of 9 credit hours.
3 credits · Graduate · In person, Monday, 2:15–5:00 p.m. · Hagerty Hall 359 · Instructor: James Dryden Moore · Section 0010 (37159)
History Courses
HISTORY 1211 — European History I
Covers ancient civilizations of the Near East, Greece, and Rome; medieval civilizations including Byzantium, Islam, and Europe; and the Renaissance and Reformation.
Session 2, March 3–April 26 · Online; class not scheduled, time TBA · Section 0010 (36994)
HISTORY 3376 — The Silk Road: Cross-Cultural Exchanges in Eurasian History
Studies commercial and cultural relations among Chinese, Indian, Iranian, and Roman/Islamic civilizations.
3 credits · In person, Tuesday and Thursday, 12:45–2:05 p.m. · Hagerty Hall 259 · Instructor: Amanda S. Respess · Section 010 (36902)
HISTORY 3475 — History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
Traces the conflict from its late-19th-century beginnings to the early 21st century through historical sources, primary documents, memoirs, short stories, and films.
3 credits · In person, Tuesday and Thursday, 9:35–10:55 a.m. · Denney Hall 238 · Instructor: Ori Yehudai · Section 10 (28142)
HISTORY 4475 — Seminar in Jewish History
Advanced research and readings on selected topics in Jewish history.
3 credits · In person, Tuesday, 2:15–5:00 p.m. · Dulles Hall 024 · Instructor: Ori Yehudai · Section 10 (28136)
HISTORY 7350 — Studies in Islamic History: Empire, Imperialism, and Resistance in the Middle East
A graduate seminar on empire, imperialism, and anti-imperial resistance in the Middle East from the 19th-century Ottoman Empire to the present. Topics include imperial governance, anticolonial movements, nationalist revolutions, and post-imperial ideas of sovereignty and political community.
Graduate seminar · Thursday, 11:15 a.m.–2:00 p.m. · Instructor: Yigit Akin
International Studies Courses
INTSTDS/NELC 2200 — Introduction to the Modern Middle East
3 credits · In person, Wednesday and Friday, 11:10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Instructor: Parvaneh Hosseini
Cross-listed course: NELC 5020 is also listed as INTSTDS 5020
This course presents the student with a multi-disciplinary analysis of the issues involved in the modern-day transformation of the Middle East (including the Arab countries of Southwest Asia, as well as Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan). The course begins with a discussion of aspects o f the traditional culture relevant to life in the Middle East today and then devotes the bulk of its attention to the problems of rapid change as experienced in this century including most recent developments. Disciplinary
perspectives normally represented in the course include anthropology, history, international relations, literature and religion.
Islamic Studies Classes,
ISLAM 3201 — Muslims in America and Europe: Citizenship and Living Between Worlds
Explores how Muslims in Western societies navigate prejudice, Islamophobia, tradition, integration, war, migration, and new opportunities, with attention to communities whose families originated in the Arab world, Iran, South Asia, Turkey, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia.
3 credits · In person, Wednesday and Friday, 9:35–10:35 a.m. · Hayes Hall 005 · Instructor: Parvaneh Hosseini · Section 0010 (29852)
ISLAM 5701 — The Qur’an in Translation
An introduction in English to the literary, religious, and cultural implications of Islam’s foundational text.
3 credits · Graduate · In person, Tuesday and Thursday, 2:20–3:40 p.m. · Mendenhall Laboratory 191 · Instructor: Sean W. Anthony · Section 0010 (35848)
Jewish Studies Classes
JEWSHST 2201 — Jewish Culture, Thought, and Practice
Explores the diverse religious, cultural, and communal identities shaped by Jewish beliefs, traditions, histories, and regional influences, and what it means to identify as Jewish today.
3 credits · Session 2, March 3–April 26 · In person, Tuesday and Thursday, 3:55–5:15 p.m. · Hagerty Hall 071 · Instructor: Adena V. Tanenbaum · Section 0010 (30362)
JEWSHST 3111 — Introduction to Jewish Philosophy
Introduces major figures and trends in medieval, modern, and contemporary Jewish philosophy, including Philo, Saadia, Maimonides, Spinoza, Mendelssohn, and Buber. Cross-listed with Philosophy.
3 credits · In person, Wednesday and Friday, 9:35–10:55 a.m. · Journalism Building 375 · Instructor listed as Stewart Stewart Shapiro · Section 0010 (35681)
Cross-listed course: HEBREW 3245, Israeli Film & Society, is also listed as JEWSHST 3245; see the Hebrew section above.
Near Easternand South Asian Languages and Cultures Courses
NELC 2200 — Introduction to the Modern Middle East
3 credits · In person, Wednesday and Friday, 11:10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. · Mendenhall Laboratory 129 · Instructor: Parvaneh Hosseini · Cross-listed with INTSTDS 2200
NELC 2241 — The Middle East Close-Up: People, Cultures, Societies
3 credits · Hybrid: Tuesday in Caldwell Laboratory 137; Thursday online · Tuesday and Thursday, 12:45–2:05 p.m. · Instructor: Nathan Paul Young · Cross-listed with ANTHROP 2241
NELC 2244 — Films of the Middle East
3 credits · Session 2, March 3–April 26 · Online; time TBA · Instructor: Mehrak Kamali Sarvestani
NELC 3535 — Ancient Economies
4 credits · Hybrid; listed classroom: Mendenhall Laboratory 129 · Tuesday and Thursday, 12:45–2:05 p.m. · Instructor: James Dryden Moore
NELC 5020 — Oligarchs, Penthouses, and Yachts: The Global Lives and Times of Eurasian Elites
3 credits · In person, Monday, 2:15–5:00 p.m. · Mendenhall Laboratory 115 · Instructor: Morgan Yih-Yang Liu · Cross-listed with INTSTDS 5020 and SLAVIC 5020
NELC 5103 — Grammar of Selected Ancient Near Eastern Languages
3 credits · Online · Monday and Wednesday, 2:30–3:45 p.m. · Instructor: James Dryden Moore · Requires knowledge of a Semitic language or instructor permission
NELC 5120 — Biblical Aramaic
3 credits · In person, Wednesday and Friday, 9:35–10:55 a.m. · Hagerty Hall 056 · Instructor: Daniel Frank · Prerequisite: Hebrew 1103 or instructor permission
NELC 5193 — Individual Studies
1–10 credits · Online · Time and instructor TBA · Instructor permission required · Graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory
Political Science Courses
POLITSC 4327 — Politics in the Middle East
3 credits · In person, Tuesday and Thursday, 3:55–5:15 p.m. Instructor: Abdallah Jaber · Section 10 (29722)
Curricular Pathways:
Intercultural Competence Certificate:
Many area studies and language courses can count towards your Intercultural Competence Certificate, which is displayed on your diploma.
This certificate rewards self-understanding, empathy, and intercultural communication, as well as dedication to global citizenship.
Civil Discourse Certificate:
In the spirit of Ohio State’s motto – “Education for Citizenship” – the Civil Discourse for Citizenship certificate from the Center for Ethics and Human Values (CEHV) offers students the opportunity to learn more about, and to better practice, civil discourse.
Students may also wish to demonstrate their commitment to civil discourse to potential employers.
General Education Requirements:
Our Middle-East focused courses fulfill the following GE categories and more:
- Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Diversity
- Citizenship for a Diverse and Just World
- Historical and Cultural Studies
- Lived Environments
We also offer several Middle Eastern languages, which fulfill the World Language Proficiency requirement.
Additional Resources:
You may use the University-wide class search to find additional courses.
The Near East and South Asia department also feature a course page.
The History department also shares its upcoming courses, categorized by subject, such as the "Asia and Islam" undergraduate courses. All graduate courses in history are listed on the Spring 2024 Graduate Courses page.
You may also use this search tool to find a professor or a building.
If you require these materials in an alternate format contact our web manager.