MA in Ottoman/Islamic history

[history.CIB]

Which one of these three courses is a better fit for an academic career in pre-modern Ottoman/European history?

- MA in History (SOAS)

- MPhil in Islamic Studies and History (Oxford)

- MA in History (Leiden)

- MA in History (Central European University)

[TMP]

Do you have to write a MA thesis?  Where would the nearest archives for you be?  What about preferred faculty to work with?

[Marcion]

I would also look into GWU's program. It has a pretty impressive faculty list within the realm of Islamic studies:
https://religion.columbian.gwu.edu/master-arts-islamic-studies

[rbakshi]

McGill's Institute of Islamic Studies is a possibility. Toronto has the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, which is an excellent program. UBC recently hired an Ottoman specialist (though in art history). Also, Minnesota has a historian, Giancarlo Casale, and an art historian, Sinem Casale, specializing in Ottoman Turkey. Hope this helps.

Edited March 17, 2016 by rbakshi

[Neist]

2 hours ago, rbakshi said:

McGill's Institute of Islamic Studies is a possibility. Toronto has the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, which is an excellent program. UBC recently hired an Ottoman specialist (though in art history). Also, Minnesota has a historian, Giancarlo Casale, and an art historian, Sinem Casale, specializing in Ottoman Turkey. Hope this helps.

Can't speak directly of McGill, but I've taken courses with Ragep when he was at OU. He's an impressive scholar. It's only anecdotal, but I'm sure McGill is a decent location if he's the standard of faculty members.

[TMP]

Another important criteria to consider-- the availability of language program(s) that you need.  Don't go to a program that doesn't have Ottoman Turkish if your focus IS on Ottoman Turkish.  If you need Farsi, go to a program that does have Farsi or excellent resources that would allow you to study Farsi (i.e. summer program).

[history.CIB]

On 3/17/2016 at 5:21 AM, TMP said:

Do you have to write a MA thesis?  Where would the nearest archives for you be?  What about preferred faculty to work with?

Yes. The main ones are in Istanbul. But I will also need to consult a couple of archives across Europe; London, Vienna and Leiden. 

[history.CIB]

On 3/17/2016 at 0:48 AM, rbakshi said:

McGill's Institute of Islamic Studies is a possibility. Toronto has the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, which is an excellent program. UBC recently hired an Ottoman specialist (though in art history). Also, Minnesota has a historian, Giancarlo Casale, and an art historian, Sinem Casale, specializing in Ottoman Turkey. Hope this helps.

Thanks, for the suggestions.  McGill's and Toronto's ME programs are surely among the strongest and most competitive in the field. However, one of the merits of European schools for an MA is their proximity to archives and the possibility to attend workshops and summer schools across the continent. At least that's my perspective on the things. And I listed only the schools above because I've already got accepted into some of them. 

 

It seems that you have good knowledge of the field and its practitioners. Which subject are you doing? 

[history.CIB]

On 3/18/2016 at 2:59 AM, TMP said:

Another important criteria to consider-- the availability of language program(s) that you need.  Don't go to a program that doesn't have Ottoman Turkish if your focus IS on Ottoman Turkish.  If you need Farsi, go to a program that does have Farsi or excellent resources that would allow you to study Farsi (i.e. summer program).

That's a very important and valid point. I already have Arabic, Ottoman Turkish and a bit of Farsi. CEU has recently launched a center for teaching source languages which puts it at the top of my list. However, the advantage of Leiden and SOAS, for example, is their history in the field and obviously the name as well. 

[rbakshi]

2 hours ago, Abdelrahman.m.93 said:

Thanks, for the suggestions.  McGill's and Toronto's ME programs are surely among the strongest and most competitive in the field. However, one of the merits of European schools for an MA is their proximity to archives and the possibility to attend workshops and summer schools across the continent. At least that's my perspective on the things. And I listed only the schools above because I've already got accepted into some of them. 

 

It seems that you have good knowledge of the field and its practitioners. Which subject are you doing? 

Fair enough. Given your choices, I'd say SOAS or Oxford. The M.A. at SOAS is a one year program, though, expensive, but it gives you access to a host of scholars at other UoL institutions (at the top of my head I can think of Anna Contandini in History of Art at SOAS and Susan Babaie at the Courtauld). Moreover, London is an amazing location to be in. I cannot stress the importance of being in a place that you want to live in. Personally, for myself, I cannot imagine being in Leiden or some godforsaken central European town with a village-like atmosphere with nothing to do, and given the current political climate even brace myself for rampant racism. But, then again, that is just me. A diverse and vibrant city, such as London, has numerous advantages not just in terms of coursework and archives, but also in terms of opportunities (for instance, conferences, internships, and research positions).

If the university brand is of importance, then, nothing can beat Oxford. The Faculty of Oriental Studies is well-respected, the Khalili Research Centre is based at Oxford (I believe it is solely devoted to studies in islamic art and architecture, but I could be mistaken), and the geographic and chronological breadth of courses offered at Oxford is second to none. In fact, as I was looking at research programs the M.Phil./D.Phil. in Islamic art and architecture was on my shortlist, particularly because of the complex and rigorous coursework involved. Oxford isn't too far from London, so a day trip is always a possibility. Plus, it is fairly diverse in terms of its student population, but remember Oxford is no Cal Berkeley or Toronto.    

In my opinion, the deciding factor here should be funding. Which institution is funding you the most? Does it make sense to go into debt at Oxford or London, if the same outcome can be achieved at Leiden and/or CEU? Do not discount the importance of fellowships on your resume, as my M.A. supervisor once advised, funding begets funding. The more awards/honours/fellowships you have on your C.V. the more you are likely to get (granted not in all cases but generally that's how it works). Have you been offered any funding at Oxford or SOAS? If you have, I would jump at either. If not, then, you have a choice to make. Good luck!   

P.S. My area is early modern Islamic empires as well, though, I study Mughal (and I'm an art historian by training). If you're in Vienna, make sure you consult Ebba Koch (a Mughal art historian). What's your specific area? 

[TMP]

If you already have the languages, then what is your interest in getting a MA first?  Why not go for the PhD?  Will you plan to submit applications to PhD programs as well?

[illuminatedmannequin]

Hi,

It would probably be better for you to be in Europe but I just wanted to ask whether you checked Boğaziçi University's MA program in History. 

Best,