Advice needed: UA or UW

[HumbabaRed]

I was hoping you guys could give me your opinions about the Middle Eastern and Near Eastern programs I have been accepted to. I go to a public university which offers no middle eastern languages and very very few courses about the Middle East. In fact, with my very limited experience with the region I was shocked I was accepted to UA's Near Eastern Studies and UW's JSIS. I was hoping that anyone with any knowledge about these programs could inform me as to the strengths/weaknesses of the programs. I apologize for being so vague, but I have very few resources here to rely on. Any information or advice will be greatly appreciated.

[jaydee]

I would be interested in hearing people's opinions regarding strength of program as well. I am trying to compare Arizona, Texas and Indiana's departments in Middle Eastern/Near Eastern studies as well. For your question Humbaba, my pre-application research led me to believe that Arizona is a more established program than the one at UW. One key fact that illustrates this to me is that UW does not have a PhD track in Middle Eastern Studies, whereas U of A does. Also U of A has a simplified process for moving from MA to PhD. It probably does depend on what your area of concentration is though!

[gollux]

UW does have a PhD, in interdisciplinary studies, which combines the Near Eastern Languages and the Middle Eastern studies program. It appears to be a great program.

[jaydee]

UW does have a PhD, in interdisciplinary studies, which combines the Near Eastern Languages and the Middle Eastern studies program. It appears to be a great program.

Indeed, on closer examination: http://www.grad.washington.edu/students/interdisciplinary/nme/index.shtml ....

[Malumat]

Ok here's the scoop on UW. I'm just finishing up the MES Masters program there this quarter.

Whether it's a good place for you vs. other programs will really depend on your specific interests. I highly encourage you to check out who is at each school in terms of faculty and what classes are currently being taught. The course listings for the last year are a good start. The catalog is not-- it may include things that aren't actually offered.

The program itself is barely a program. There is no structure. You find classes that are at least somewhat relevant to your interests and take them. That can be good because it's flexible, but bad because there is not much in the was of advising. It is up to you to find a professor that wants to form a more personal mentor-like relationship with you. There are no professors in "Middle East Studies" as such, it is not actually a department.

Things you should know:

Jonathan Brown, who does Islam-related courses in NELC, is leaving for Georgetown.

The Arabic program is consistent but you must test in if you are wanting to enter a higher level than year 1. If you miss the test you can't enroll.

Beginning and Intermediate Turkish are offered every other year alternating which is lame. If you come in on the wrong year and you wanted to do Turkish, sorry.

Intermediate Persian has disintegrated due to no funding. I think some students do independent study but that's not the same as regular class time.

There are basically no classes which are graduate only. The classes you will be taking will be mixed grad and advanced undergrad.

And the language stuff is really important, for funding and for being a competitive applicant if you want to go on to a PhD.

Speaking of which the PhD at UW is very small and only admits a handful of students every year so don't assume you will just progress from the MA here. I didn't apply here as my dream PhD program is elsewhere (and that's where I'm going but some other students in my year assumed it would be a sure thing and it sure wasn't.

I think we get a pretty big FLAS allotment but there are a lot of applicants too.

What else?

Why don't you just ask me what you want to know.

[burnt]

*bump*

Does anyone have anymore information on this? Especially the interdisciplinary PhD in Near and Middle Eastern Studies. It looks comprehensive and really interesting, but does anyone have any first-hand knowledge about it?

Ok here's the scoop on UW. I'm just finishing up the MES Masters program there this quarter.

Whether it's a good place for you vs. other programs will really depend on your specific interests. I highly encourage you to check out who is at each school in terms of faculty and what classes are currently being taught. The course listings for the last year are a good start. The catalog is not-- it may include things that aren't actually offered.

The program itself is barely a program. There is no structure. You find classes that are at least somewhat relevant to your interests and take them. That can be good because it's flexible, but bad because there is not much in the was of advising. It is up to you to find a professor that wants to form a more personal mentor-like relationship with you. There are no professors in "Middle East Studies" as such, it is not actually a department.

Things you should know:

Jonathan Brown, who does Islam-related courses in NELC, is leaving for Georgetown.

The Arabic program is consistent but you must test in if you are wanting to enter a higher level than year 1. If you miss the test you can't enroll.

Beginning and Intermediate Turkish are offered every other year alternating which is lame. If you come in on the wrong year and you wanted to do Turkish, sorry.

Intermediate Persian has disintegrated due to no funding. I think some students do independent study but that's not the same as regular class time.

There are basically no classes which are graduate only. The classes you will be taking will be mixed grad and advanced undergrad.

And the language stuff is really important, for funding and for being a competitive applicant if you want to go on to a PhD.

Speaking of which the PhD at UW is very small and only admits a handful of students every year so don't assume you will just progress from the MA here. I didn't apply here as my dream PhD program is elsewhere (and that's where I'm going but some other students in my year assumed it would be a sure thing and it sure wasn't.

I think we get a pretty big FLAS allotment but there are a lot of applicants too.

What else?

Why don't you just ask me what you want to know.