Middle Eastern Jewish and Islamic Civilisations (JH)

Overview

What is Middle Eastern, Jewish and Islamic Civilisations?

The cultures and societies of the Middle East have been deeply influential in shaping European and western values. In spite of this, the region and its peoples are often misunderstood and represented. Middle Eastern, Jewish and Islamic Civilisations is the study of the historical origins as well as contemporary culture of a wide range of societies of the region, providing you with an insight into the contemporary Middle East and to the challenges of diversity and multiculturalism in an increasingly globalised world.

Middle Eastern, Jewish and Islamic Civilisations: The course for you?

If you are interested in ancient and modern history, in literature, in religion and philosophy, in the Middle East and its cultures and religions, in the region’s relationship with the Western world, this course would be of great interest to you. If you find yourself asking how societies develop their values and perspectives, you will be able to explore how they do so over the course of some of the most exciting periods of human history beginning with the cultures of ancient Israelites, Persians and Babylonians, and extending to the contemporary political conditions in the Middle East.

Middle Eastern, Jewish and Islamic Civilisations at Trinity

Trinity is the only university in Ireland that offers a course in Middle Eastern, Jewish and Islamic Civilisations. It attracts students of social and cultural diversity from Ireland and abroad. Our graduates in Ireland and internationally include lecturers working in European, UK and US universities, as well as graduates and conservation in other areas including museum work, journalism, international relations, teaching, research, human rights and law.

The Department of Near and Middle Eastern Studies is small in size but has a thriving undergraduate and postgraduate community. Our dedication to small-group teaching makes the student experience particularly rewarding. Amongst our students we foster independent and creative thinking and to facilitate this, lecturers are always ready to meet individual students to discuss academic issues.

Pathways

The pathways available are Single Honours, Major with Minor and Joint Honours. There may also be an opportunity to take this subject up as a New Minor Subject from second year.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

This broad humanities degree in Middle Eastern, Jewish and Islamic Civilisations provides the ideal foundation for those aspiring to careers in public services, foreign affairs, diplomacy, journalism and education. Many of our graduates can be found in these and in other professions.

Students receive a rewarding education in Middle Eastern, North African, Jewish, and Islamic history and culture, but also instilled are more general skills, such as critical thinking and problem solving as well as training in international affairs that are highly attractive to potential employers.

Your degree and what you’ll study

At entry, Middle Eastern, Jewish and Islamic Civilisations must be combined with one other subject. In later years, you will be able to select additional subjects and electives.

First and second years

In first year, you are introduced to the history of the region as well as to the history of Jews and Muslims in the context of the Middle East and North Africa, Europe and the USA. We offer introductory courses in the Modern Middle East, to Jewish and Islamic cultures and Ancient Near Eastern history and culture. You explore the region through many sources including literature, film, ancient inscriptions, blogs and archaeological evidence. Topics in the first two years include: politics of the contemporary Middle East and North Africa, the Middle East during the World Wars, Jews in European Society, Islam in Europe, Ancient Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Empires, European relations with the Middle East and North Africa. You may also choose a language—Arabic, Modern or Ancient Hebrew, Turkish, Middle Egyptian Hieroglyphs, or Sumerian—although language study is not compulsory.

From second year, you may choose to commence study of a language, either Arabic, Turkish, Ancient or Modern Hebrew, Middle Egyptian Hieroglyphs or Sumerian, or alternatively select all non-language modules or Trinity Electives. In your core course, you will study diverse cultures in the ancient, medieval and modern worlds through political, religious and literary texts, material culture, music, blogs and film. Topics include the ancient empires of Mesopotamia, Egypt and Persia, Contemporary Islamic Movements, Human Rights in the Middle East, the History of Jews and Muslims in Europe from the Medieval to the Modern Period, Turkish Cultural History and the History of the Ottoman Empire.

Third and fourth years

In third year, you may choose to study for a semester abroad (this is not compulsory). You can continue with your Middle Eastern Language (if you have decided to study a language), or choose from a broad range of options offered by the department of Near and Middle Eastern Studies, open modules and Trinity Electives.

In final year, you can choose from a wide range of modules depending on your interests. Courses offered in recent years include: the Modern Middle East and European Powers; The Decline of the Ottoman Empire; the Middle East and America; The Jews of Egypt and their Encounter with Greek Culture; The Persian Empire; Islam and Gender; Holocaust Representation in Film and Literature; and Advanced Language.

At all levels, you will be assessed by a combination of continuous assessment and exams. We use a mix of traditional and innovative continuous assessment methods – essays, project work, presentations, book reviews and dossiers and podcast creation. Language modules are traditionally assessed by written and oral assessments and examinations. Final year students also write a Capstone project.

There are QQI/FET routes available for this course. Please see www.cao.ie for details.

Click here for further information on modules/subjects.

Study abroad

In third year, students have the opportunity to apply to study abroad in a prestigious European university with the EU funded Erasmus programme. Alternatively, you may apply to spend your third year in leading universities in North America, Australia and Hong Kong. The department of Near and Middle Eastern Studies also has a special exchange programme with Charles University, Prague, Boğaziçi University (Istanbul) and with a number of universities in the Middle East. For more information on study abroad destinations and requirements visit: www.tcd.ie/study/study-abroad