If you are looking for additional courses in these areas, please look under the following in the Course Guide:

Middle East Studies (MIDEAST) for courses primarily taught in English and focused on disciplines related to Middle East studies (literature, religion, history, linguistics, cultural studies, visual culture, etc.)  

Arabic Language (ARABIC) for Arabic language courses

Armenian Language (ARMENIAN) for Armenian language courses

Hebrew Language (HEBREW) for Hebrew language courses

Middle East Eastern Languages (MELANG) for classical and ancient language courses

Persian Language (PERSIAN) for Persian language courses

Turkish Language (TURKISH)  for Turkish language courses

The Department of Middle East Studies offers instruction in the languages, literatures, histories, cultures, and religions of the ancient Near East and the medieval and modern Middle East. The department’s language offerings provide the foundation for the academic study of the literatures, histories, cultures, and religions of the region. The ancient language offerings include Sumerian, Egyptian, Akkadian, Hittite, Ugaritic, Aramaic, and Classical Hebrew. The medieval and modern language offerings include Armenian, Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish, and Uzbek.

MIDEAST Course Numbering

The Department of Middle East Studies does not have any courses at the 100-level. Our 200-level courses are introductory and designed for students with no background in Middle East studies. At the 300-level, our courses are designed for students with some background in Middle East studies, such as one or two previous courses. At the 400-level, topics are more in-depth and study a specific concept. A solid background in Middle East studies is expected. Courses at the 500-level and above are primarily meant for graduate students, though high level undergraduate students with a very strong background in Middle East studies are eligible to enroll as well.

Placement and Proficiency Tests

Language exams are for University of Michigan students who are planning on furthering their language study or want to test out of a language requirement. No preparation is necessary for the placement test – it is intended to be a tool to place you in the course most appropriate for your level.

For information on language exams, see the department website: https://lsa.umich.edu/middleeast/languages/placement-tests.html

Special Department Policy:

The student must maintain at least a grade of a C- in each term of a language. Those courses for which a student receives a lesser grade must be repeated.