Middle Eastern Studies at Texas
2010–2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Middle Eastern Studies program at The University of Texas at Austin.
From its very beginning, the program was intended to bring together scholars from numerous programs throughout the university together to explore common interests, foster learning, and develop innovative approaches to the study of the modern Middle East.
Nearly five decades later, the program has grown exponentially, but the core mission of collaboration, innovation, and producing top-level experts remains the same.
Today, the Middle Eastern Studies programs bring together more than 150 scholars in 22 departments throughout the University, who offer nearly 300 Middle East language and area studies courses each year.
The core of the program lies in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies, promoting specialized knowledge and public understanding of this crucial part of the world, which includes the Arab states, Iran, Israel, and Turkey.
With more than 50 core faculty members, the Department provides students with a learning environment of the highest quality instructional programs built on a solid academic foundation, delivered by a faculty with extensive experience and world-class credentials.
The Department of Middle Eastern Studies offers five academic programs in Arabic Studies, Hebrew Studies, Islamic Studies, Persian Studies, and Turkish Studies that focus on developing a strong knowledge base and training top tier scholars.
The Center for Middle Eastern Studies provides a supportive interdisciplinary environment for faculty researching and teaching on the Middle East throughout the University. The Center offers undergraduate and graduate programs in Middle Eastern Studies.
The stature of its faculty and the quality of special programs such as conferences and lectures, educational outreach, and the publication of scholarly and literary works, have brought the Center national and international recognition in the field.
The Arabic Flagship Program offers a five year training program in Arabic language and culture for undergraduates and incoming freshman. Our Scholars receive the resources and training to reach superior level Arabic while pursuing the undergraduate major of their choice.
The ROTC Language and Culture Project cultivates a deeper understanding of Arabic- and Persian-speaking cultures within UT’s ROTC student body in an effort to enrich each cadet and midshipman’s military, professional and personal experiences.
News
New Center to Promote Foreign Language Study
A new, first-of-its-kind language center will help develop standards and benchmarks for teaching foreign languages at The University of Texas at Austin and serve as a resource for faculty and departments.
College of Liberal Arts Announces New Humanities Research Awards
To promote research in the humanities, 10 liberal arts tenured or tenure-track faculty will receive Humanities Research Awards totaling $150,000 from the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin.
Middle Eastern Studies Graduate Hired by U.S. Institute of Peace
Anne Womer, summer graduate of the Middle Eastern Studies/Public Affairs dual degree, has been hired by the U.S. Institute of Peace, where she is busy learning the nuts and bolts of government-funded peace programs. Most of her work deals with the rule of law in Iraq, and she helps administer projects on judicial independence, constitutional review, and the property rights of returning refugees. She uses her advanced knowledge of Arabic to translate documents from partner organizations in Iraq, and she will be traveling to Iraq next year to participate in a conference on governmental powers.
Ramadan, Islamic and Arab Experts
This week, followers of the faith of Islam will begin to celebrate Ramadan, one of the religion's most important observances, which will continue through Sept. 20. Scholars at The University of Texas at Austin are available to discuss the Islamic faith, history and culture, and the Arab world from a variety of perspectives.
Unprecedented Number of Female Faculty Hired
About half of the 49 professors who will be joining the College of Liberal Arts faculty in 2009-2010 are female. That includes an unprecedented five women coming in as full professors from such schools as Harvard University, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Southern California.
