REQUIREMENTS FOR THESIS TRACK

The Thesis track requires students to complete a major research project as preparation for work at the Ph.D. level in Near Eastern Studies or in other disciplines. 

Students in the Thesis Track Choose from Six Concentrations:

• Middle Eastern Languages and Literatures
• Islamic Studies
• Gender and Society in the Middle East
• Linguistics of Middle Eastern Languages
• Middle Eastern History, Culture, and Politics
• Topics in Near Eastern Studies.  This sixth concentration, Topics in Near Eastern Studies, affords students the opportunity to propose their own, original concentration that is subject to the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. 

Students consult with the Director of Graduate Studies each semester to select their courses and they are required to complete 3 courses in their concentration prior to graduation. Students who complete this track successfully in the concentrations of Middle Eastern Languages and Literatures, Islamic Studies, or Linguistics of Middle Eastern Languages may apply for admission to the Graduate Studies Committee for direct entry into the Ph.D. program.

Students must complete a minimum of 33 units of course work.  They enroll in either 3 or 6 units of Thesis research (NES 910) in their final semester(s).

Students must achieve 3rd year language proficiency in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish.  Dialect courses do not count towards fulfilling this requirement.

Students must demonstrate reading proficiency in either French or German.  Reading proficiency in any other research language, as an alternative, is subject to the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.

By the end of the second semester of enrollment, students must assemble a thesis committee of three faculty members, one of whom serves as the thesis advisor, and must also have filed their Master's Plan of Study (login to My GradColl using UA NetID; then go to 'Forms') in consultation with and approval of the Graduate Advisor.  At least two members of this committee must be tenure-track professors in NES, and the committee must be approved by the Graduate Advisor.

The student’s thesis advisor will approve the appropriate subject matter and length of his or her thesis.  Students are responsible for scheduling an oral defense of their thesis and coursework with their committee.  

Students who complete their M.A. in the thesis track may be considered for advancement to one of the NES Ph.D. programs (NES or Dual NES/Anth) in Near Eastern Studies.  To request advancement to, submit the, 'NES Student Petition for Advancement to the Ph.D. Program' to the NES Director of Graduate Studies.  You must have completed your Masters thesis, a recommendation from your Thesis Committee, and approval of the Graduate Studies Committee before advancement decisions will be rendered.  If approved, a 'Request for Change of Degree Program' should be provided to the NES Graduate Coordinator for processing.  Petitions should be submitted at least one semester prior to matriculation into the Ph.D. program.  For instance, if you plan to begin your Ph.D. in fall, the deadline for submission is January 15 of the spring semester prior: October 1 for spring admission.