Classes Offered through Distance Learning in Near Eastern Studies

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Distance and Web-Delivered Courses

If you are interested in the Middle East, but cannot be in Tucson to study at the University of Arizona, there is a brand new option for you:

Online Distance Learning Courses

Current Offerings

Enhance your career, widen your knowledge, advance your undergraduate degree program on your own time through our web-delivered distance classes. Students wishing to get a jump on their undergraduate education can begin right here- and finish in Tucson; or transfer our courses to another accredited University. Students must be admitted to the University in order to take courses. Complete information on application, enrollment, tuition and fees may be found on the Outreach College site below.

Outreach College Distance Learning web page

NOTE TO STUDENTS ALREADY TAKING COURSES ON CAMPUS: Registration Fees for distance learning are 'in addition' to any registration fees already due to the University. Please note that distance learning courses are intended for students who are not already on campus. NES majors and minors who are enrolled in classes at the UA are strongly encouraged to complete their coursework on campus.

Distance sections (i.e. 910, 911) must be for non-traditional students. TRADITIONAL, main campus students, i.e., students enrolled for degree seeking programs and taking the majority of their credits on main campus, must register for the sections numbered 001, 002, etc. and those will go through main campus Registrar and Bursar system.

See Distance Learning Fee Schedule.

Although at this time we do not have an entire program in Near or Middle Eastern Studies available through distance, our courses can fulfill the beginnings of a bachelor of arts in Near Eastern Studies. Likewise you may use these courses to satisfy your Tier II (NES 277A and 277B, History of the MIddle East, NES 334- Islamic Thought), or a Tier I General Education 'Non-Western' requirement (TRAD101, The Religion of Islam, TRAD101, Middle Eastern Humanities), and Tier I 'Individuals and Societies' requirement (INDV103, Islamic Civilization) for other majors at the University. Below are details of offerings available through NES for the spring 2010 semester:

Distance Offerings Spring 2010	Fulfills
NES 277A -- History of the Middle East (3 units) Description: Middle East history from the rise of Islam to the Turkish conquest of Constantinople, 600-1453. Grading: Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E. Identical to: HIST 277A, RELI 277A.	NES Core Requirement for all tracks (see BA requirements page) Approved as: General Education Tier Two - Humanities.
NES 277B -- History of the Middle East: Modern Middle East (3 units) Description: Modern Middle East: the Ottoman Empire, Iran, and the Arab lands, 1453-present. Grading: Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E. Prerequisite(s): NES 277A is not prerequisite to NES 277B. Approved as: General Education Tier Two - Humanities. Identical to: HIST 277B. Usually offered: Spring.	NES Core Requirement for all tracks (see BA requirements page) Approved as: General Education Tier Two - Humanities.
Middle Eastern Humanities TRAD 101 -- Non-Western Cultures and Civilizations (3 units) Generic Description: Historical development and fundamental concepts of a nonwestern culture. Examines how members of a particular culture are shaped by a distinct heritage of ideas, values, and artistic expressions that may be in sharp contrast to traditional western ideas and values. Grading: Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E. Specific Course Description: Middle Eastern Humanities Introduces students to the values, traditions, and development of Middle Eastern (Islamic) culture and civilization. This course is designed to familiarize students with the principal achievements in art, architecture and literature of Islamic civilization, to help students understand these achievements in their social and cultural contexts, and to consider the historical evolution of our knowledge and understanding of these achievements.	Approved as: Tier I, General Education Diversity Emphasis. Usually offered: Fall, Spring.
The Religion of Islam TRAD 101 -- Non-Western Cultures and Civilizations (3 units) Generic Description: Historical development and fundamental concepts of a nonwestern culture. Examines how members of a particular culture are shaped by a distinct heritage of ideas, values, and artistic expressions that may be in sharp contrast to traditional western ideas and values. Grading: Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E. Specific Course Description: This course provides an overview of the Qur'an, life and teachings of Muhammad, and the differences between Sunni and Shi'i Islam. Students also receive an introduction to Islamic intellectual traditions and cultures.	Approved as: Tier I, General Education Diversity Emphasis. Usually offered: fall, spring, summer
Islamic Civilization: Traditional & Modern Middle East INDV 103 -- Societal and Institutional Systems (3 units) Description: Explores the nature of human beings and their individual experiences in a social context. Course topics may include personal identification within a social identity, personal ethics and morality versus social standard, and others. Grading: Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E. Usually offered: Fall, Spring. Specific Course Description: This course will introduce students to the basic principles of the religion of Islam and its historical development from the seventh century to the present day. We will focus on Islam as a culture by asking how it spread and changed, how it produced traditions and institutions, and how it has both shaped and adapted to the realities of the modern world. The course will ask students to consider the religion and civilizations of the Islamic world as dynamic processes by looking for patterns of structure formation, institutionalization, change and decline in the political, economic, military and cultural realms. While the main focus will be on the Middle East heartland of classical Islam, the spread of Islam to Africa, South and Southeast Asia and the west will also be examined. Students will be expected to illustrate mastery of basic geographical, historical and doctrinal information, as well as to show increasing ability to critically evaluate certain central questions with regard to a variety of historical and geographical contexts and to mobilize evidence in defense of their views.	Approved as: General Education Tier One: Individuals and Societies (INDV) Usually Offered: fall, spring, summer

BA Tracks in Near Eastern Studies

Students seek degrees in this department out of general interest in this part of the world, often with a view to government service, an academic career, a position in international business, or preparation for advanced study in this or other fields.