2008 Woodie Awards
Middle Eastern Studies A Potential Major
Lauren Breitenother
Issue date: 4/15/05 Section: News
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Colgate students and professors are working to add an interdisciplinary Middle Eastern Studies major and minor to Colgate's curriculum. Sophomores Greg Dunlavey and Timothy Barry have been working with 14 other students to implement the program, and they hope to have the Middle Eastern Studies major and minor established by the time they graduate.
Dunlavey and Barry were motivated to undertake this endeavor because of their mutual interest in developing the new concentration. Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion Omid Safi and Instructor in History Noor-Aiman Khan have also been instrumental in this process.
Thus far, 16 people have expressed interest in the program. The students believe that a Middle Eastern Studies major can be established within the current course catalog.
"Of course, ideally we'll get to add more classes eventually," Barry said.
The new program will span history, political science and religion courses to offer a broad understanding of the Middle East.
"[The program] takes a humanities and social sciences approach to the material," Safi said. "The new concentration will give students a chance to study the religious, artistic, philosophical and spiritual heritages of Islam and the Middle East."
If Colgate adds the Middle Eastern Studies concentration to the curriculum, the University will be among the first liberal arts institutions to offer such a major. While many large universities offer Middle Eastern Studies, few of the smaller liberal arts schools offer such courses. The students are hopeful that they will establish the new program. In fact, Colgate now offers beginner and intermediate courses in Arabic.
Barry is currently studying both Hebrew and Arabic. Despite the challenges of taking these two courses, he would like to continue his studies.
"People say I'm crazy, but I'm glad I'm taking both classes," he said.
Dunlavey is currently a history major but would like to add Middle Eastern Studies as a second major.
Dunlavey and Barry were motivated to undertake this endeavor because of their mutual interest in developing the new concentration. Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion Omid Safi and Instructor in History Noor-Aiman Khan have also been instrumental in this process.
Thus far, 16 people have expressed interest in the program. The students believe that a Middle Eastern Studies major can be established within the current course catalog.
"Of course, ideally we'll get to add more classes eventually," Barry said.
The new program will span history, political science and religion courses to offer a broad understanding of the Middle East.
"[The program] takes a humanities and social sciences approach to the material," Safi said. "The new concentration will give students a chance to study the religious, artistic, philosophical and spiritual heritages of Islam and the Middle East."
If Colgate adds the Middle Eastern Studies concentration to the curriculum, the University will be among the first liberal arts institutions to offer such a major. While many large universities offer Middle Eastern Studies, few of the smaller liberal arts schools offer such courses. The students are hopeful that they will establish the new program. In fact, Colgate now offers beginner and intermediate courses in Arabic.
Barry is currently studying both Hebrew and Arabic. Despite the challenges of taking these two courses, he would like to continue his studies.
"People say I'm crazy, but I'm glad I'm taking both classes," he said.
Dunlavey is currently a history major but would like to add Middle Eastern Studies as a second major.