Dual Master's Degree in Near Eastern Studies and

Information Resources and Library Science (SIRLS)

Academic libraries with special collections supporting Middle East area studies programs and other research libraries with Middle and Near East collections seek librarians with knowledge of the geographic region and Middle Eastern languages, as well as knowledge of library practices and operations. The dual master's degree in Information Resources and Library Science and Near Eastern Studies prepares individuals for professional positions responsible for providing collections and services in support of research and teaching about the Middle East.

The total number of units required to earn dual master's degrees in NES and IRLS is 51 (33 from NES and 18 from SIRLS).

Near Eastern Studies

The minimum number of units required in NES is 33.

• 3rd year MSA (Modern Standard Arabic) is worth 8 credits but 3rd year Persian, Turkish, and Hebrew are only 6 credits. Those pursuing the latter three languages will have to find two more units. Taking an additional 3-unit course will provide those two units and eliminate the need for a two-unit independent study.

Students must achieve 3rd year language proficiency in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish. Third-year language proficiency is achieved by successfully completing six semesters of the focus language. Students whose focus language is Arabic will concentrate on Modern Standard Arabic.
By the end of the second semester of enrollment, students must assemble a departmental paper committee of three faculty members, one of whom serves as the departmental paper advisor. At least two members of this committee must be tenured or tenure-track professors in NES and one must be a regular or adjunct faculty member at SIRLS, and the committee must be approved by the Graduate Advisor.

Topics for the departmental paper should incorporate or integrate both NES and SIRLS elements. The student’s departmental paper advisor will approve the appropriate subject matter and length of his or her paper, in consultation with the SIRLS committee member.
Information Resources and Library Science

The minimum number of units required in IRLS is 18.

Important Note

Dual degree students must start their program of study with IRLS 504.  IRLS 504 is a pre-requisite for all other IRLS courses, so it must be taken first.  Students may not be concurrently enrolled in IRLS 504 and any other IRLS or NES course.  Because of the intense nature of the residential component of this course, students cannot be enrolled in any other course while taking IRLS 504.

The first 18 credits (including IRLS 504) taken by students will be assessed SIRLS program fees, on a semester basis.  As of fall 2008, these fees were $500 per course for residents of Arizona and $1200 per course for non-residents.  NES courses do not carry program fees.

Starting with IRLS 504, students must register with ‘IRLS’ designated as their primary degree program with the UA Graduate College.  While registered with IRLS as their primary program, all credits taken (IRLS, NES, or other departmental credits) by students will incur SIRLS program fees.

After the semester in which 18 IRLS credits are completed, students should transfer their primary degree designation to NES.  After this change, students will no longer be assessed SIRLS program fees.  Please note that more credits than 18 may be assessed SIRLS program fees because the total number of credits taken during this semester will be assessed SIRLS program fees, even if that number exceeds 18.

Dual Credit Elective Options

The following courses fulfill both NES and IRLS requirements for the cultural perspectives and information evaluation electives. These courses are cross listed. Students taking the dual degree should register for them under the NES number. The list is not exhaustive and students are encouraged to consult their advisor when selecting courses.

FLAS (Foreign Language Area Studies) Fellowship

All students in the NES/IRLS Dual Degree Program who are US citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply for the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships offered through the Center for Middle Eastern Studies:  http://www.cmes.arizona.edu/students/grad.php