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Graduate ProgramGraduate Program Requirements
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Autumn Quarter First Year |
Autumn Quarter Second Year |
Winter Quarter First Year |
Winter Quarter Second Year |
Spring Quarter First Year |
Spring Quarter Second Year |
Procedures for Fulfilling the NELC M.A. Requirements
These guidelines are provided to all NELC M.A. students to inform them of departmental procedures and to help guide them through the various stages of the M.A. program, which is normally to be completed in two years. Upon entering the NELC graduate program all students will also receive a Checklist for NELC M.A. Requirements. As they complete requirements, students must update the checklist and make sure a copy is on file in the Department's main office. Students whose plans deviate from NELC guidelines need approval of both the M.A. Supervisory Committee and the NELC departmental faculty.
I. The M.A. Supervisory Committee
As early as possible, and no later than the end of the 3rd quarter of study, the student should select a Supervisory Committee. The Committee must consist of at least 2 graduate faculty members, the primary advisor of a NELC graduate student must come from NELC (non-adjunct), though a NELC adjunct may serve as a 2nd member of the committee. UW faculty who are not in NELC and not adjunct in NELC also may serve on a committee provided they are the 3rd member. Written confirmation of the faculty member’s agreement to serve on the Committee must be filed by the student with the NELC office and the names of each Committee Member should be recorded on the student’s Graduate Student Checklist Form. Please keep in mind that the faculty member who designs the M.A. exam in the Second Near Eastern Language is a member of the student’s M.A. Supervisory Committee. It is strongly recommended that graduate students have instructors on their committees who teach the first and second Near Eastern languages they are studying. The student must seek that faculty member’s agreement to serve on the Committee and must obtain written confirmation of willingness to serve. A list of Committee Members, along with the written confirmation will be placed in the student’s file. By the time of the annual progress review, the student must have met this expectation or must have successfully petitioned the Graduate Program Advisor for a deadline extension. Any changes to the Committee requires written confirmation as soon as possible and no later than the beginning of the quarter in which the student will take the exams.
II. Annual Review
A Review Committee consisting of the NELC Graduate Advisor, the Chair of the Department, and a NELC representative from the student’s M.A. Committee will meet in the spring of every year to review the progress of each student in the M.A. Program on the Annual Review of Graduate Student Progress Form. Every Spring quarter, students must compile a written progress report for the Committee’s consideration. As early as possible, students should identify all of the languages they will be examined in for the M.A. degree, including the research language. This decision must be made in consultation with the Supervisory Committee and stated in the Annual Review. A copy of the Annual Review will be kept in the student’s file.
III. Reading Lists
Reading list serve as a guidelines for students preparing for exams. These lists will include readings covered in the student’s coursework, plus additional material. The student should begin constructing reading lists, in consultation with their Supervisory Committee, as early as possible. The reading lists serve as guidelines for students preparing for the general exam. The reading lists must be finalized ten weeks before the exam. The approved lists will be placed in the student’s file.
IV. Examinations
The scheduling of the exams is by agreement of the examiners and the student. The M.A. exams are normally scheduled for the student’s final quarter of M.A. study, however, the faculty may accept petitions for earlier examinations. The student’s Supervisory Committee will determine the format of each exam and will notify the student of the format in writing no later than three weeks prior to the exam. The student will sign this notice and it will be placed in the student’s file. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with the Graduate Advisor to obtain a more specific sense of what will be expected of them on exams and ask any questions about the exam guidelines.
Teaching Assistants are released from teaching assignments and graduate
students are not expected to attend classes on the days of their examinations. If a student fails an examination, then he or she may retake it only once, either in the same quarter or later. All M.A. examination questions will be placed on file in the NELC Main Office. These will be available for students and faculty to review.
- The Research Language Exam: The student must demonstrate a reading knowledge of French or German, or with the prior approval of the student’s M.A. Supervisory Committee, any other language pertinent to the research in the student’s area of study. The exam may take up to two hours and will test reading comprehension in the student’s field. Material on the exam may be drawn from the student’s reading lists, and the student may use a dictionary during the exam. Whenever possible, this exam will be administered or graded by the Head of the Supervisory Committee. The student’s Committee may recommend particular language courses as preparation for the exam, but coursework will not serve in lieu of the exam to meet the research language requirement. The student is expected to satisfy this research language requirement before the beginning of the second year of study towards the M.A. degree. Students requesting exceptions to this timeline must petition their Committee.
- The Near East Language Exam (Concentration Language): The student must demonstrate advanced knowledge of the concentration language by completing coursework in the language at the 450 level or above (for example, PRSAN 455) or pass an exam demonstrating an equivalent level of knowledge. Language course work satisfies the language exam requirement if the student has made satisfactory academic progress, earning a 3.5 or higher in the concentration language at the 450 level or above at the University of Washington. Courses must be chosen with the approval of the M.A. Supervisory Committee. However, if the student takes language courses at other institutions, then the language of concentration exam must be taken to demonstrate language ability. The exam may take up to two hours and must be taken on-campus (not a take-home or e-mail exam). The exams on the first and second Near East languages must be completed before the student goes on to the general exam and the specialized field exam. However, the order in which these two language exams are taken is at the discretion of the Supervisory Committee.
The Second Near Eastern Language Exam: The student must demonstrate knowledge at the intermediate level in a second Near East Language (normally, a 421-423 series in the NELC language curriculum) or pass an exam demonstrating an equivalent level of knowledge. Language course work satisfies the language exam requirement if the student has made satisfactory academic progress, earning a 3.5 or higher at the 423 level or above in the second Near East Language Exam at the University of Washington. If the student takes language courses at another institution, then the student will consult with the Department Chair to ascertain whether the grades received at the other institution warrant an additional exam. A student may study a language not offered through NELC, if it is related to the field of concentration and is approved by the student’s Committee and the departmental faculty. If the student takes the exam to satisfy the requirement, then the exam may take up to two hours and must be on-campus (not a take-home or email exam). The exams on the language of concentration and the second language must be completed before the student goes on to the general exam and the specialized field exam. However, the order in which these two language exams are taken is at the discretion of the Supervisory Committee.
The General Culture of the Near East Exam: All students will take a written examination on the General Culture of the Near East. The exam will assume broad core knowledge of the Near East and comparative perspectives on the field. However, it will not be a standardized exam but rather suited to each student’s course of study.
- It is appropriate for students to register for one or more quarters of Independent Study in order to cover material on the reading lists in preparation for the exam.
- M.A. students must take at least one course from the following list relevant to their degree track as preparation for the general exam: LIST A: NEAR E 210 (Islamic Civ.), NEAR E 211 (Islam), NEAR E 212 (Qur’an); LIST B: NEAR E 220 (Ancient Near East), NEAR E 230 (Themes in Near Eastern Lit.), NEAR E 240 (Hebrew Bible). If students have not taken these courses or equivalent courses as undergraduates, then they may cover the course contents by registering for NEAR E 490 or NEAR E 600 while attending the classes, and by completing additional work assigned by the instructor, thereby earning Independent Study credit.
- The format of the exam will be at the discretion of the M.A. Supervisory Committee. The student should consult with the Committee early to have clear expectations in this regard. Typically, the exams are three hours long, but given the diversity of fields covered in NELC, each Committee will have discretion to make final determinations on the length of the exam and on such issues as whether or not the exam is to be on-campus or take-home, open book or closed book, typed or handwritten, electronic submission or hard copy. After the exam, both the questions and the answers will be placed in the student’s file.
- In this exam students will need to apply their knowledge of their field of specialization to broader issues found in the general studies of Near Eastern cultures. Students’ responses should demonstrate the following abilities:
- to relate different fields of knowledge to one another,
- to make comparisons and contrasts,
- to develop a thesis (theoretical explanations of a phenomenon or phenomena), and
- support the theses with evidence.
- The General Exam must be read and approved by at least two members of the M.A. Committee.
- Specialization Exam: This exam assesses students’ ability to analyze the scholarship produced in a particular field. They should be prepared to assess the accuracy of content in particular works and to demonstrate a strong grasp of the chronology of their discipline. Students will need to demonstrate an awareness of the major scholarly approaches to the subject and the important questions each has raised over time. The Specialization Exam must be read and approved by at least two members of the M.A. Committee.
V. Seminar Paper
In order to complete the M.A. program, students must submit a seminar paper in its final form, two weeks before the M.A. exams are scheduled to begin. The paper should be submitted in rough draft form to the Supervisory Committee well before the due date so that problems can be corrected prior to the final submission. Specifications for format and length are at the discretion of the Committee. A copy of the seminar paper will be placed in the student’s file. The seminar paper must be read and approved by at least two members of the M.A. Committee.VI. Committee Review
Upon submission of the seminar paper and completion of all required exams, the members of the Committee will meet to assess the student’s completion of the M.A. Program.
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*
*Courses numbered 600, 700, and 800**
Please note that courses numbered 600, 700, and 800 ARE NOT calculated into a student's grade point average.
Final Steps to Degree Completion
1. Filing a Master's Degree Request
Students must submit a Master’s Degree Request online. Students may submit a request from the 1st day of the quarter they expect to graduate until the 7th Sunday of the quarter they expect to graduate (6th Sunday in Summer quarter) by midnight Pacific Time. If students miss the deadline, they have until the 9th Sunday of the quarter, or the 7th Sunday in Summer quarter, by midnight Pacific Time to submit a request in the quarter they expect to graduate. Be advised that a $250 Graduate Registration Waiver Fee applies to all late requests. If degree requirements are not met in the requested quarter and/or students neglect to pay the late fee, they must submit another degree request for the quarter in which they expect to complete requirements. Students should keep the Graduate Program Assistant and the Graduate Advisor abreast of the status of their Master’s Degree Requests.
2. Fulfilling Remaining Requirements
Students will receive an automatic email from the Graduate School notifying them of remaining Graduate School Requirements but not department requirements. Students are responsible for making sure they meet any Graduate School and departmental requirements remaining at the time they file their Request. Students should contact the Graduate Advisor or the Graduate Program Assistant if they have questions regarding their remaining requirements or the graduation process.
3. Submitting the M.A. Checklist
The M.A. Checklist must be completed and turned into the Graduate Program Assistant before the Department can approve the Master's Degree Request. The Checklist will be circulated among the student's Supervisory Committee with the Warrant for Graduation, which must be signed by each Committee member.
Timeline for Last Quarter of Study
Weeks 1-3
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Week 4
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Week 7
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Week 9
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Week 10
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Maintaining Graduate Student Status
If you fail to register for at least 2 credits for any quarter, without going on official On-Leave Status, you will lose your status as a student. You will be required to re-apply to the University. Graduate students may take one or more quarters off by filing a Petition for On-Leave Status (not necessary for Summer quarter), which must be approved and signed by the Graduate Program Coordinator. You must be registered in the quarter you graduate, so you cannot be on leave at that time. On-leave graduate students returning to the University on or before termination of their leave may register for courses beginning with Registration Period 2.
Research Facilities
The University of Washington libraries hold an extensive collection of books and materials in the languages of the Near East, the Turkic regions of Central Asia, and in European languages on Near Eastern and Central Eurasian Turkic subjects. Candidates for the Master's degree as well as doctoral students will find in the collection adequate resources for their research.
For many years the library participated in the PL 480 program, mandated by the Congress for the use of foreign currency to purchase books for U.S. libraries. Currently, the Library participates in the Library of Congress Middle East Cooperative program for the acquisition of Arabic serials, and the Library of Congress Cooperative program for Pakistan for the purchase of Persian books and serials. The library staff includes Near East specialists responsible for acquiring and cataloging the collection.
The library maintains book exchanges with the Soviet Central Eurasian Republics, some of these beginning as early as 1961. They are handled through the Slavic Section of the University's Suzzallo Library. Among its staff are an exchange librarian and a specialist trained in Central Eurasian Turkic languages. A book exchange with Xinjiang is administered through the Far East Library.