Courses for Spring 2025

MELC courses offered prior to Fall 2024 were listed under NELC.

Title Instructors Location Time Description Cross listings Fulfills Registration notes Syllabus Syllabus URL
AMEL 4100-401 First Year Akkadian II Joshua A. Jeffers MW 3:30 PM-4:59 PM A continuation of First Year Akkadian I, this class teaches the grammar of the Akkadian language with emphasis on developing skills in the cuneiform writing system and reading of selected texts. AMEL6100401
AMEL 6100-401 First Year Akkadian II Joshua A. Jeffers MW 3:30 PM-4:59 PM A continuation of 1st Year Akkadian I, this class builds on the lessons of that class on the grammar of the Akkadian language with emphasis on developing skills in the cuneiform writing system and reading of selected texts. To take this class without first having taken 1st Year Akkadian I requires permission of the instructor. AMEL4100401
AMEL 6800-001 Coptic Valentina Anselmi The course will be an introduction to the writing, grammar, and literature of Coptic.
AMEL 7200-001 Sumerian Religious and Magical Texts Stephen J. Tinney This self-contained course sets the Sumerian language, writing system and use of writing in their social and historical context. The aim is to provide students of ancient history and culture from diverse disciplines with a good grounding in Sumerian culture, familiarity with the Sumerian language and cuneiform writing system and the requisite knowledge for critical assessment of published translations and of the secondary literature. The course is organized as two threads, culture on the one hand and language on the other. The two threads are united by taking examples in the language exercises, vocabulary assignments, etc., as far as possible from the domain of the week' cultural topics. The net effect is to examine the culture both through contemporary secondary literature and through direct contact with elementary primary texts of relevance to the various topics of discussion. The language component of the course will be carried out in a combination of transliteration and cuneiform, with an expectation that all students will gain familiarity with at least the core 80 syllabic signs, and about 100 additional logographic signs.
AMEL 7400-001 Akkadian Religious and Scientific Texts Joshua A. Jeffers R 1:45 PM-4:44 PM Readings in Akkadian of religious and scientific texts from ancient Mesopotamia.
ARAB 0100-401 Elementary Arabic I Amel Mili MW 3:30 PM-4:29 PM
TR 3:30 PM-4:59 PM
This is the beginners course in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). It will introduce you to the speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in the standard means of communication in the Arab World. The course is proficiency-based, implying that all activities within the course are aimed at placing you, the learner, in the context of the native-speaking environment from the very beginning. Evaluation is done by the more traditional testing methods (vocabulary tests, dictations, grammar and translation exercises). We anticipate that by the end of this course, students will range in proficiency from Novice High to Intermediate Low on the ACTFL scale; in other words (using the terminology of the government's Foreign Service Institute), from 'incipient survival' to 'full' survival' in the native-speaking environment. ARAB6100401
ARAB 0200-401 Elementary Arabic II Radwa El Barouni TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM
MW 10:15 AM-11:14 AM
This course is a continuation of first semester Elementary Arabic, and builds on the speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in the standard means of communication in the Arab World. Evaluation is done by the more traditional testing methods (vocabulary tests, dictations, grammar and translation exercises). We anticipate that by the end of this course, students will range in proficiency from Novice High to Intermediate Low on the ACTFL scale. ARAB6200401
ARAB 0200-402 Elementary Arabic II Amel Mili MW 12:00 PM-12:59 PM
TR 12:00 PM-1:29 PM
This course is a continuation of first semester Elementary Arabic, and builds on the speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in the standard means of communication in the Arab World. Evaluation is done by the more traditional testing methods (vocabulary tests, dictations, grammar and translation exercises). We anticipate that by the end of this course, students will range in proficiency from Novice High to Intermediate Low on the ACTFL scale. ARAB6200402
ARAB 0400-401 Intermediate Arabic IV Abdulrahman Atta TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM
MW 10:15 AM-11:14 AM
This is the continuation of the first semester Intermediate Arabic. This course is also proficiency-based, implying that all activities within the course are aimed at placing you, the learner, in the context of the native-speaking environment. Evaluation is done by the more traditional testing methods (vocabulary tests, grammar and translation exercises). We anticipate that students will achieve Intermediate High according to the ACTFL scale. ARAB6400401
ARAB 0400-402 Intermediate Arabic IV Abdulrahman Atta TR 12:00 PM-1:29 PM
MW 12:00 PM-12:59 PM
This is the continuation of the first semester Intermediate Arabic. This course is also proficiency-based, implying that all activities within the course are aimed at placing you, the learner, in the context of the native-speaking environment. Evaluation is done by the more traditional testing methods (vocabulary tests, grammar and translation exercises). We anticipate that students will achieve Intermediate High according to the ACTFL scale. ARAB6400402
ARAB 0600-401 Advanced Intermediate Arabic II Radwa El Barouni R 12:00 PM-1:29 PM
MW 12:00 PM-1:29 PM
This course is a continuation of first semester Advanced Intermediate Arabic. Emphasis continues to be on all four language skills: Speaking, Listening, Reading, & Writing. The readings for the class are chosen from actual texts from both medieval and modern Arabic in a variety of fields and subjects. Students will be expected to give classroom presentations and to write short essays in Arabic. Evaluation will be both Achievement- and proficiency- based. ARAB6600401
ARAB 4050-401 Arabic Readings in Belles-Lettres: Arabic Grammar and Rhetoric Huda Fakhreddine TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM Through engaging with authentic texts, this advanced class aims to activate the
language skills students have learned in previous language courses. We will read
selections from Arabic poetry and prose and will respond to them in writing,
discussion and translation. We will focus on close reading, relying on our
knowledge of grammar. We will also work to develop writing, comprehension, and
speaking skills through short critical responses and oral presentations. All class
discussions will be conducted in Arabic.
ARAB6750401
ARAB 6100-401 Elementary Arabic I Amel Mili MW 3:30 PM-4:29 PM
TR 3:30 PM-4:59 PM
This is the beginners course in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). It will introduce you to the speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in the standard means of communication in the Arab World. The course is proficiency-based, implying that all activities within the course are aimed at placing you, the learner, in the context of the native-speaking environment from the very beginning. Evaluation is done by the more traditional testing methods (vocabulary tests, dictations, grammar and translation exercises). We anticipate that by the end of this course, students will range in proficiency from Novice High to Intermediate Low on the ACTFL scale; in other words (using the terminology of the government's Foreign Service Institute), from 'incipient survival' to 'full' survival' in the native-speaking environment. ARAB0100401
ARAB 6200-401 Elementary Arabic II Radwa El Barouni MW 10:15 AM-11:14 AM
TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM
This course is a continuation of ARAB 0100/ARAB 6100. For the second semester: completion of the first semester or permission of the instructor. ARAB0200401
ARAB 6200-402 Elementary Arabic II Amel Mili MW 12:00 PM-12:59 PM
TR 12:00 PM-1:29 PM
This course is a continuation of ARAB 0100/ARAB 6100. For the second semester: completion of the first semester or permission of the instructor. ARAB0200402
ARAB 6400-401 Intermediate Arabic IV Abdulrahman Atta MW 10:15 AM-11:14 AM
TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM
This course is a continuation of Intermediate Arabic III at the graduate level. ARAB0400401
ARAB 6400-402 Intermediate Arabic IV Abdulrahman Atta MW 12:00 PM-12:59 PM
TR 12:00 PM-1:29 PM
This course is a continuation of Intermediate Arabic III at the graduate level. ARAB0400402
ARAB 6600-401 Advanced Intermediate Arabic II Radwa El Barouni MW 12:00 PM-1:29 PM
R 12:00 PM-1:29 PM
This course is a continuation of Advanced Intermediate Arabic I at the graduate level. ARAB0600401
ARAB 6750-401 Arabic Readings in Belles Lettres Huda Fakhreddine TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM Through engaging with authentic texts, this advanced class aims to activate the language skills students have learned in previous language courses. We will read selections from Arabic poetry and prose and will respond to them in writing, discussion and translation. We will focus on close reading, relying on our knowledge of grammar. We will also work to develop writing, comprehension, and speaking skills through short critical responses and oral presentations. All class discussions will be conducted in Arabic. ARAB4050401
HEBR 0200-401 Elementary Modern Hebrew II Ibrahim Miari MTWR 12:00 PM-12:59 PM A continuation of first semester Elementary Modern Hebrew, which assumes basic skills of reading and speaking and the use of the present tense. Open to all students who have completed one semester of Hebrew at Penn with a grade of B- or above and new students with equivalent competency. HEBR5200401, JWST0200401
HEBR 0200-402 Elementary Modern Hebrew II Ibrahim Miari MTWR 3:30 PM-4:29 PM A continuation of first semester Elementary Modern Hebrew, which assumes basic skills of reading and speaking and the use of the present tense. Open to all students who have completed one semester of Hebrew at Penn with a grade of B- or above and new students with equivalent competency. HEBR5200402, JWST0200402
HEBR 0300-401 Intermediate Modern Hebrew III Ibrahim Miari MTWR 1:45 PM-2:44 PM Development of the skills of reading, writing, and conversing in modern Hebrew on an intermediate level. Open to all students who have completed two semesters of Hebrew at Penn with a grade of B- or above and new students with equivalent competency. HEBR5300401, JWST0300401
HEBR 0400-401 Intermediate Modern Hebrew IV Joseph L Benatov TR 12:00 PM-1:29 PM
W 12:00 PM-12:59 PM
This course constitutes the final semester of Intermediate Modern Hebrew. Hence, one of the main goals of the course is to prepare the students for the proficiency exam in Hebrew. Emphasis will be placed on grammar skills and ability to read literary texts. Open to all students who have completed three semesters of Hebrew at Penn with a grade of B- or above and new students with equivalent competency. HEBR5400401, JWST0400401
HEBR 0400-402 Intermediate Modern Hebrew IV Joseph L Benatov W 1:45 PM-2:44 PM
TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM
This course constitutes the final semester of Intermediate Modern Hebrew. Hence, one of the main goals of the course is to prepare the students for the proficiency exam in Hebrew. Emphasis will be placed on grammar skills and ability to read literary texts. Open to all students who have completed three semesters of Hebrew at Penn with a grade of B- or above and new students with equivalent competency. HEBR5400402, JWST0400402
HEBR 1000-401 Advanced Modern Hebrew: Modern Israeli Culture & Television Joseph L Benatov TR 3:30 PM-4:59 PM In this course students are introduced to the vibrant world of contemporary Israeli culture by reading some of the best plays, poems, short stories and journalism published in Israel today. They also watch and analyze some of Israel's most popular films, TV programs, and videos. Themes include Jewish-Arab relations, the founding of the State, family ties and intergenerational conflict, war and society, and the recent dynamic changes in Israel society. Students must have taken four semesters of Hebrew at Penn or permission of instructor. Since the content of this course may change from year to year, students may take it more than once (but only once for credit). HEBR6000401, JWST1000401 Cross Cultural Analysis
HEBR 5200-401 Elementary Modern Hebrew II Ibrahim Miari MTWR 12:00 PM-12:59 PM A continuation of Elementary Modern Hebrew I, which assumes basic skills of reading and speaking and the use of the present tense. Open to all students who have completed one semester of Hebrew at Penn with a grade of B- or above and new students with equivalent competency. HEBR0200401, JWST0200401
HEBR 5200-402 Elementary Modern Hebrew II Ibrahim Miari MTWR 3:30 PM-4:29 PM A continuation of Elementary Modern Hebrew I, which assumes basic skills of reading and speaking and the use of the present tense. Open to all students who have completed one semester of Hebrew at Penn with a grade of B- or above and new students with equivalent competency. HEBR0200402, JWST0200402
HEBR 5300-401 Intermediate Modern Hebrew III Ibrahim Miari MTWR 1:45 PM-2:44 PM Development of the skills of reading, writing, and conversing in modern Hebrew on an intermediate level. Open to all students who have completed two semesters of Hebrew at Penn with a grade of B- or above and new students with equivalent competency. HEBR0300401, JWST0300401
HEBR 5400-401 Intermediate Modern Hebrew IV Joseph L Benatov TR 12:00 PM-1:29 PM
W 12:00 PM-12:59 PM
This course constitutes the final semester of Intermediate Modern Hebrew. Hence, one of the main goals of the course is to prepare the students for the proficiency exam in Hebrew. Emphasis will be placed on grammar skills and ability to read literary texts. Open to all students who have completed three semesters of Hebrew at Penn with a grade of B- or above and new students with equivalent competency. HEBR0400401, JWST0400401
HEBR 5400-402 Intermediate Modern Hebrew IV Joseph L Benatov W 1:45 PM-2:44 PM
TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM
This course constitutes the final semester of Intermediate Modern Hebrew. Hence, one of the main goals of the course is to prepare the students for the proficiency exam in Hebrew. Emphasis will be placed on grammar skills and ability to read literary texts. Open to all students who have completed three semesters of Hebrew at Penn with a grade of B- or above and new students with equivalent competency. HEBR0400402, JWST0400402
HEBR 6000-401 Advanced Modern Hebrew Joseph L Benatov TR 3:30 PM-4:59 PM After four semesters of language study, it's time to enter the vibrant world of contemporary Israeli culture. In this course students read some of the best plays, poems, short stories, and journalism published in Israel today. They also watch and analyze some of Israel's most popular films, TV programs, and videos. Themes include Jewish-Arab relations, the founding of the State, family ties and intergenerational conflict, war and society, and the recent dynamic changes in Israel society. HEBR 054 or permission of instructor. Since the content of this course may change from year to year, students may take it more than once (but only once for credit). HEBR1000401, JWST1000401
MELC 0002-401 The Making of the Middle East Paul M. Cobb TR 8:30 AM-9:59 AM This is the second half of MELC's Middle East sequence, but past enrollment in MELC 0001 is not required to take this course. This course surveys Islamic civilization from circa 600 (the rise of Islam) to the start of the modern era and concentrates on political, social, and cultural trends. Although the emphasis will be on Middle Eastern societies, we will occasionally consider developments in other parts of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and Spain, where Islamic civilization was or has been influential. Our goal is to understand the shared features that have distinguished Islamic civilization as well as the varieties of experience that have endowed it with so much diversity. HIST0830401 History & Tradition Sector
Cross Cultural Analysis
MELC 0012-001 Visible Language: History of Writing Systems Timothy Hogue MW 12:00 PM-1:29 PM This will cover the history of the invention of writing with a focus on Cuneiform, Egyptian Hieroglyphs, Mayan Glyphs, Chinese, the Alphabet, and their subsequent history down to their digital descendants. Writing will be analyzed as a technology with major social and cognitive effects.
MELC 0200-001 Land of the Pharaohs Josef W Wegner TR 3:30 PM-4:59 PM This course provides an introduction to the society, culture and history of ancient Egypt. The objective of the course is to provide an understanding of the characteristics of the civilization of ancient Egypt and how that ancient society succeeded as one of the most successful and long-lived civilizations in world history. Cross Cultural Analysis
History & Tradition Sector
MELC 0205-401 Literary Legacy of Ancient Egypt Jennifer Houser Wegner TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM This course surveys the literature of Ancient Egypt from the Old Kingdom through the Greco-Roman period, focusing upon theme, structure, and style, as well as historical and social context. A wide range of literary genres are treated, including epics; tales, such as the "world's oldest fairy tale;" poetry, including love poems, songs, and hymns; religious texts, including the "Cannibal Hymn"; magical spells; biographies; didactic literature; drama; royal and other monumental inscriptions; and letters, including personal letters, model letters, and letters to the dead. Issues such as literacy, oral tradition, and the question poetry vs. prose are also discussed. No prior knowledge of Egyptian is required. MELC5105401 Cross Cultural Analysis
MELC 0210-401 Art and Architecture in Ancient Egypt Valentina Anselmi This course will be an introduction to the art, architecture and minor arts that were produced during the three thousand years of ancient Egyptian history. This material will be presented in its cultural and historical contexts through illustrated lectures and will include visits to the collection of the University Museum. ANCH1305401, ARTH2180401 Cross Cultural Analysis
MELC 0300-401 Introduction to the Bible Timothy Hogue TR 12:00 PM-1:29 PM An introduction to the major themes and ideas of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament), with attention to the contributions of archaeology and modern Biblical scholarship, including Biblical criticism and the response to it in Judaism and Christianity. All readings are in English. JWST0303401, RELS0301401 Humanties & Social Science Sector
History & Tradition Sector
Cross Cultural Analysis
MELC 0304-401 Intermediate Biblical Hebrew II Joshua A. Jeffers MW 1:45 PM-3:14 PM This course is a continuation of the fall semester's Intermediate Biblical Hebrew I. No one will be admitted into the course who has not taken the fall semester. It will continue to focus on using the grammar and vocabulary learned at the introductory level to enable students to read biblical texts independently and take advanced Bible exegesis courses. We will concentrate this semester on various selections of Biblical poetry, including Exodus 15 and Job 28. We will also continue to translate English prose into Biblical Hebrew. JWST0470401, MELC5214401
MELC 0320-401 Modern Hebrew Lit. & Film in Translation: The Image of the City Nili R Gold T 12:00 PM-2:59 PM This course is designed to introduce students to the rich art of Modern Hebrew and Israeli literature and film. Poetry, short stories, and novel excerpts are taught in translation. The course studies Israeli cinema alongside literature, examining the various facets of this culture that is made of national aspirations and individual passions. The class is meant for all: no previous knowledge of history or the language is required. The topic changes each time the course is offered. Topics include: giants of Israeli literature; the image of the city; childhood; the marginalized voices of Israel; the Holocaust from an Israeli perspective; and fantasy, dreams & madness. CIMS0320401, COML0320401, JWST0320401 Arts & Letters Sector
Cross Cultural Analysis
MELC 0390-401 Jews and Violence in Antiquity Simcha Gross M 1:45 PM-4:44 PM This course explores the complex relationship between ancient Jewish communities and the phenomenon of violence in the context of their historical, cultural, and religious milieux. Students will delve into key aspects of ancient Jewish history, examining narratives, responses, and interpretations of violence from various perspectives. The course asks: What conditions generated violence against Jews? When and why were Jews violent? What role did different factors – politics, religion, economy, ideology, social fissures, literature and more – play in provoking moments of violence? To what degree was violence top down versus bottom up, official versus unauthorized, widespread versus local? How did Jews respond to moments of violence? MELC6390401
MELC 0460-401 First-Year Seminar: Of Horses, Bows and Fermented Milk: The Silk Roads in 10 Objects Oscar Aguirre Mandujano TR 3:30 PM-4:59 PM The empires of the Turkic and Turkish peoples have stretched across much of Eurasia since before the Common Era until the twentieth century. We first hear of them in Chinese chroniclers’ tales of a powerful people in the wilderness. Greek historians, Byzantine writers, and Arab polymaths write about the empires of the steppes. Centuries later, the heirs of the heroes of these empires move south and west, establishing empires and tribal confederations beyond the steppe, in Central Asia, Anatolia, and the Middle East. The Turkic empires seem to appear in the periphery of many civilizations, challenging, and, one could say, enriching their borders. But looking at a map, is really more than a half of Eurasia a periphery? If we flip the map, could we say these historians were writing from the margins of the Turkish empires? This course introduces the student to the history of empire by following the various histories of Turkic and Turkish people through 15 objects. It discusses the questions of periphery, borders, and the divide between agrarian, pastoral, and nomadic societies. The student will learn to derive historical questions and hypothesis through the intensive study of material culture, literature, and historical writing tracing the long and diverse history of the bow, the saddle, dumplings, and fermented milk (among others) across Eurasia. HIST0061401 History & Tradition Sector
Cross Cultural Analysis
MELC 0680-401 Civilizations at Odds? The United States and the Middle East Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM America has often been depicted in the Middle East either as a benevolent superpower or an ill-meaning enemy – in other words, foe or friend, Satan or saint. In America, too, stereotypes of the Middle East abound as home to the uber-wealthy, tyrants, and fanatics. This course will explore the relationship between the United States and the Middle East by moving beyond such facile depictions. We will read works of history and political analysis to shape our understanding of this relationship and to explore cross-cultural perspectives. Our goal is to understand why a century of interaction has sometimes done little to bring peace and greater understanding between these two intertwined communities. By reading a range of historical accounts, we will consider the origins of this cultural and diplomatic encounter. The readings will shed light on the extent of America’s involvement in the Middle East in the twentieth century. We will consider the impact of oil diplomacy on U.S.-Middle East relations, as well as the role of ideology and culture, in an effort to comprehend the antagonism that exists on a state-to-state level in some contexts. Most importantly, we will grapple with the ways in which international politics disrupts the lives of citizens trapped in the throes of political turmoil. HIST1788401 History & Tradition Sector
MELC 0700-401 Iranian Cinema: Gender, Politics and Religion Mahyar Entezari TR 3:30 PM-4:59 PM This seminar explores Iranian culture, society, history and politics through the medium of film. We will examine a variety of cinematic works that represent the social, political, economic and cultural circumstances of contemporary Iran, as well as the diaspora. Along the way, we will discuss issues pertaining to gender, religion, nationalism, ethnicity, and the role of cinema in Iranian society and beyond. Discussions topics will also include the place of the Iranian diaspora in cinema, as well as the transnational production, distribution, and consumption of Iranian cinema. Films will include those by internationally acclaimed filmmakers, such as Rakhshan Bani-Etemad, Asghar Farhadi, Bahman Ghobadi, Abbas Kiarostami, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Dariush Mehrjui, Tahmineh Milani, Jafar Panahi, Marjane Satrapi and others. All films will be subtitled in English. No prior knowledge is required. COML0700401, GSWS0700401 Cross Cultural Analysis
MELC 1000-401 Iraq: Ancient Cities and Empires Richard L Zettler W 1:45 PM-4:44 PM Iraq: Ancient Cities and Empires is a chronological survey of the ancient civilization that existed in the drainage basin of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers from the early settled village farming communities of the 7th millennium BCE to the middle of the 1st millennium BCE, when Nebuchadnezzar II ruled Babylon and much of the Middle East. Though organized period by period, NELC 241 explores various social, political, economic, and ideological topics, exposing students to various strands of evidence, including settlement survey data, excavated architectural remains, artifacts, and documentary sources, as well as an eclectic mix of theoretical perspectives. The course aims to provide students with a strong foundation for the further study of the ancient and pre-modern Middle East. ANTH1020401, URBS1020401 Cross Cultural Analysis
MELC 1001-301 The Arabian Nights Paul M. Cobb TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM The Arabian Nights (more accurately known as The Thousand and One Nights) is a collection of stories that circulated in the medieval Islamic world and would later become a canonical classic of world literature thanks to various stages of addition, translation, and creative retelling. It is a heady agglomeration of tales written with a distinctive frame story and form about characters and deeds that have been considered in turn memorable, hilarious, disgusting, arousing, thrilling, repugnant, and inspirational by various audiences since its beginning—and possibly even before it ever existed.
In this course, we will read almost the entirety of the 14th century collection of tales that constitute the earliest existing version of The Thousand and One Nights and analyze it both in relation to the medieval genres and historical contexts that shaped it and through contemporary theoretical frameworks. The Thousand and One Nights is a fluid and changing collection, so it is not our goal to focus on some clearly-defined “original”. We will instead discuss this collections’ origins, famous later additions such as the stories of Aladdin and Sindbad, and the role that its reception and translation in Europe played in making it a key text of world literature. We will also study some of its many later adaptations in film, poetry, and narrative. By analyzing key components of the text such as the frame story, fantasy, romance, and representations of race and gender, and by considering the aesthetics and politics of literary engagement with The Thousand and One Nights in modern contexts, we will come to appreciate the stories’ many travels across time and genres and develop our own ideas on what The Thousand and One Nights can teach us about the enduring power of storytelling. This course is taught in English, including all readings.
MELC 1700-401 Introduction to Persian Poetic Tradition Fatemeh Shams Esmaeili TR 5:15 PM-6:44 PM This course introduces some of the major genres and themes of the millennium-old Persian poetic tradition from ancient to modern Iran. Epic and romance, love and mysticism, wine and drunkenness, wisdom and madness, body and mind, sin and temptation are some of the key themes that will be explored through a close reading of poems in this course.The course suits undergraduate students of all disciplines, as it requires no prior knowledge of or familiarity with the Persian language or the canon of Persian literature. All teaching materials are available in English translation. Students are expected to attend seminars and take part in discussions MELC5710401 Cross Cultural Analysis
Arts & Letters Sector
MELC 1905-401 GIS for the Digital Humanities and Social Sciences Emily L Hammer TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM This course introduces students to theory and methodology of the geospatial humanities and social sciences, understood broadly as the application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques to the study of social and cultural patterns in the past and present. By engaging with spatial theory, spatial analysis case studies, and technical methodologies, students will develop an understanding of the questions driving, and tools available for, humanistic and social science research projects that explore change over space and time. We will use ESRI's ArcGIS software to visualize, analyze, and integrate historical, anthropological, and environmental data. Techniques will be introduced through the discussion of case studies and through demonstration of software skills. During supervised laboratory sessions, the various techniques and analyses covered will be applied to sample data and also to data from a region/topic chosen by the student. AAMW6460401, ANTH1905401, MELC6900401 Cross Cultural Analysis https://coursesintouch.apps.upenn.edu/cpr/jsp/fast.do?webService=syll&t=202510&c=MELC1905401
MELC 1905-402 GIS for the Digital Humanities and Social Sciences Emily L Hammer CANCELED This course introduces students to theory and methodology of the geospatial humanities and social sciences, understood broadly as the application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques to the study of social and cultural patterns in the past and present. By engaging with spatial theory, spatial analysis case studies, and technical methodologies, students will develop an understanding of the questions driving, and tools available for, humanistic and social science research projects that explore change over space and time. We will use ESRI's ArcGIS software to visualize, analyze, and integrate historical, anthropological, and environmental data. Techniques will be introduced through the discussion of case studies and through demonstration of software skills. During supervised laboratory sessions, the various techniques and analyses covered will be applied to sample data and also to data from a region/topic chosen by the student. AAMW6460402, ANTH1905402, MELC6900402 Cross Cultural Analysis https://coursesintouch.apps.upenn.edu/cpr/jsp/fast.do?webService=syll&t=202510&c=MELC1905402
MELC 2900-401 Who Owns the Past? Archaeology and Politics in the Middle East Emily L Hammer W 12:00 PM-2:59 PM This course explores the role of cultural heritage and archaeological discoveries in the politics of the Middle East from the nineteenth century to the recent aftermath of the Arab Spring. We will explore how modern Middle East populations relate to their pasts and how archaeology and cultural heritage have been employed to support particular political and social agendas, including colonialism, nationalism, imperialism, and the construction of ethnic-religious identities. Although it was first introduced to the Middle East as a colonial enterprise by European powers, archaeology became a pivotal tool for local populations of the Middle East to construct new histories and identities during the post-World War I period of intensive nation-building after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. To understand this process, we will first look at the nineteenth-century establishment of archaeology by institutions like the Penn Museum. Then we will move on to individual case studies in Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Iran, and the republics of former Soviet Transcaucasia to look at the role of archaeology and cultural heritage in the formation of these countries as modern nation-states with a shared identity among citizens. We will conclude with an examination of the recent impact of the Islamic State on material heritage in Syria and Iraq, the changing attitudes of Middle Eastern countries toward foreign museums, and the role of UNESCO in defining Middle Eastern sites of world heritage. The course will also include field trips to the Penn Museum. ANTH1925401 Cross Cultural Analysis https://coursesintouch.apps.upenn.edu/cpr/jsp/fast.do?webService=syll&t=202510&c=MELC2900401
MELC 2920-401 World Heritage in Global Conflict Lynn M. Meskell W 1:45 PM-4:44 PM Heritage is always political. Such a statement might refer to the everyday politics of local stakeholder interests on one end of the spectrum, or the volatile politics of destruction and erasure of heritage during conflict, on the other. If heritage is always political then one might expect that the workings of World Heritage might be especially fraught given the international dimension. In particular, the intergovernmental system of UNESCO World Heritage must navigate the inherent tension between state sovereignty and nationalist interests and the wider concerns of a universal regime. The World Heritage List has almost 1200 properties has many such contentious examples, including sites in Iraq, Mali, Syria, Crimea, Palestine, Armenia and Cambodia. As an organization UNESCO was born of war with an explicit mission to end global conflict and help the world rebuild materially and morally yet has found its own history increasingly entwined with that of international politics and violence. ANTH2840401, ANTH5840401, CLST3319401, HSPV5840401
MELC 2950-401 Living World in Archaeological Science Katherine M Moore
Chantel E. White
TR 12:00 PM-1:29 PM By focusing on the scientific analysis of archaeological remains from organic materials, this course will explore life and death in the past. Plant and animal remains from the archaeological record are studied from a variety of scales from landscapes and individual objects. The course uses laboratories in the Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials (CAAM) at the Penn Museum. Each module will combine laboratory and classroom exercises to give students hands-on experience with archaeological materials. We will examine how organic materials provide key information about past environments, the domestication of plants and animals, and the evolution of human foods and their environmental impacts. We will integrate archaeological data through discussions of topics such as health and disease, inequality, and traditional ecological knowledge. We will also discuss current approaches in archaeological science, including molecular and genomic studies, to explore the complex ways in which humans have interacted with plants and animals over time. ANTH2267401, ANTH5267401, CLST3303401, CLST5303401
MELC 3260-401 Eastern Christianities Reyhan Durmaz R 10:15 AM-11:44 AM The history of Christianity is often told from the perspective of its spread westward from Israel to Rome. Yet, in the first millenium, there were more Christians living in the East, in places as far away as Persia, Yemen, India, China, and Mongolia, than in the West. Spread across the Asian continent, these Christians were actively involved in local and imperial politics, composed theological literature, and were deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of their host societies. This course traces the spread of Christianity eastward, paying particular attention to its regional developments, its negotiations with local political powers, and its contact with other religions, including Buddhism, Manichaeism, and Islam. Readings will cover a broad range of sources, including selections from classical Syriac literature, Manichaean texts, Mesopotamian magic bowls, the so-called "Jesus Sutras," and the Quran. All readings will be provided in English, and no background is presumed. RELS2350401, SAST2350401
MELC 4300-401 Intro. to Modern Hebrew Lit.: Giants of Hebrew Lit, Pre-1948 Nili R Gold T 3:30 PM-6:29 PM This course introduces students to selections from the best literary works written in Hebrew over the last hundred years in a relaxed seminar environment. The goal of the course is to develop skills in critical reading of literature in general, and to examine how Hebrew authors grapple with crucial questions of human existence and national identity. Topics include: Hebrew classics and their modern "descendents," autobiography in poetry and fiction, the conflict between literary generations, and others. Because the content of this course changes from year to year, students may take it for credit more than once. This course is conducted in Hebrew and all readings are in Hebrew. Grading is based primarily on participation and students' literary understanding. COML4300401, JWST4300401, MELC5410401 Cross Cultural Analysis
MELC 4950-401 Mining Archaeology Vanessa Workman F 8:30 AM-11:29 AM In ancient times, materials such as stone and metals were used to produce artifacts including pigments, jewelry, tools, and weapons. This course is designed to introduce students to research on the early exploitation of mineral resources. Which techniques were used to access and process raw materials in antiquity? Which archaeological methods can be used to investigate these features and artifacts? The course will provide worldwide examples through time, ranging from Stone Age flint mining, Iron Age rock salt mining to Medieval silver mining. Ethnographic studies and hands-on activities will contribute to our understanding of mining in archaeology, and artifacts from the Museum's collections will undergo scientific analysis in the Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials. ANTH3219401, ANTH5219401, CLST3314401, CLST5314401
MELC 5050-401 Ancient Iranian Art Seminar Holly Pittman F 8:30 AM-11:29 AM The seminar offered under this rubric addresses a variety of topics focusing on the Art and Archaeology of pre-Islamic Iran. They include focus on Bronze Age Iran, Achaemenid period Iran, Interactions on the Iranian plateau, Interactions between Mesopotamia, the Persian Gulf and the Iranian plateau. All focus on material excavated from sites in the region. AAMW5220401, ARTH5220401
MELC 5105-401 Literary Legacy of Ancient Egypt Jennifer Houser Wegner TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM This course surveys the literature of Ancient Egypt from the Old Kingdom through the Graeco-Roman period, focusing upon theme, structure, and style, as well as historical and social context. A wide range of literary genres are treated, including epics; tales, such as the "world's oldest fairy tale;" poetry, including love poems, songs, and hymns; religious texts, including the "Cannibal Hymn"; magical spells; biographies; didactic literature; drama; royal and other monumental inscriptions; and letters, including personal letters, model letters, and letters to the dead. Issues such as literacy, oral tradition, and the question poetry vs. prose are also discussed. No prior knowledge of Egyptian is required. MELC0205401
MELC 5214-401 Intermediate Biblical Hebrew II Joshua A. Jeffers MW 1:45 PM-3:14 PM This course is a continuation of the fall semester's Intermediate Biblical Hebrew I. No one will be admitted into the course who has not taken the fall semester. It will continue to focus on using the grammar and vocabulary learned at the introductory level to enable students to read biblical texts independently and take advanced Bible exegesis courses. We will concentrate this semester on various selections of Biblical poetry, including Exodus 15 and Job 28. We will also continue to translate English prose into Biblical Hebrew. JWST0470401, MELC0304401
MELC 5410-401 Seminar in Modern Hebrew Literature Nili R Gold T 3:30 PM-6:29 PM This course introduces students to selections from the best literary works written in Hebrew over the last hundred years in a relaxed seminar environment. The goal of the course is to develop skills in critical reading of literature in general, and to examine how Hebrew authors grapple with crucial questions of human existence and national identity. Topics include: Hebrew classics and their modern "descendents," autobiography in poetry and fiction, the conflict between literary generations, and others. Because the content of this course changes from year to year, students may take it for credit more than once. This course is conducted in Hebrew and all readings are in Hebrew. Grading is based primarily on participation and students' literary understanding. COML4300401, JWST4300401, MELC4300401
MELC 5710-401 Introduction to Persian Poetic Tradition Fatemeh Shams Esmaeili TR 5:15 PM-6:44 PM This course introduces some of the major genres and themes of Persian poetry from ancient to modern Iran. Epic and romance, love and mysticism, wine and drunkenness, wisdom and madness, body and mind, sin and temptation are some of the key themes that will be explored through a close reading of poems in this course. The course suits students of all disciplines, as it requires no prior knowledge of or familiarity with the Persian language or the canon of Persian literature. All teaching materials are available in English translation. Students are expected to attend seminars and take part in discussions. MELC1700401
MELC 6020-401 Iraq: Ancient Cities and Empires Iraq: Ancient Cities and Empires is a chronological survey of the ancient civilization that existed in the drainage basin of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers from the early settled village farming communities of the 7th millennium BCE to the middle of the 1st millennium BCE, when Nebuchadnezzar II ruled Babylon and much of the Middle East. Though organized period by period, NELC 241 explores various social, political, economic, and ideological topics, exposing students to various strands of evidence, including settlement survey data, excavated architectural remains, artifacts, and documentary sources, as well as an eclectic mix of theoretical perspectives. The course aims to provide students with a strong foundation for the further study of the ancient and pre-modern Middle East.
MELC 6390-401 Jews and Violence in Antiquity Simcha Gross M 1:45 PM-4:44 PM This course explores the complex relationship between ancient Jewish communities and the phenomenon of violence in the context of their historical, cultural, and religious milieux. Students will delve into key aspects of ancient Jewish history, examining narratives, responses, and interpretations of violence from various perspectives. The course asks: What conditions generated violence against Jews? When and why were Jews violent? What role did different factors – politics, religion, economy, ideology, social fissures, literature and more – play in provoking moments of violence? To what degree was violence top down versus bottom up, official versus unauthorized, widespread versus local? How did Jews respond to moments of violence? MELC0390401
MELC 6500-301 Selected Topics Arabic Lit: The Abbasid Poets Huda Fakhreddine W 1:45 PM-4:44 PM This is the graduate seminar course in which a variety of aspects of Arabic literature studies are covered at the advanced graduate level. Students in this course are expected to be able to read large amounts of literature in Arabic on a weekly basis and to be able to discuss them critically during the class itself. Topics are chosen to reflect student interest. Recent topics have included: 1001 NIGHTS; the short story; the novel; MAQAMAT; classical ADAB prose; the drama; the novella; modern Arabic poetry.
MELC 6560-401 Religion and the Visual Image: Seeing is Believing Jamal J. Elias T 3:30 PM-6:29 PM Seeing is Believing engages in a historical, theoretical, and cross-cultural analysis of the place of visuality in religion and of religion in visual culture. We will examine images, buildings, places, objects, performances and events. The geographical, cultural and historical scope of the material is broad, including subjects from Europe, the Islamic World, non-Muslim South Asia, the US and Latin America from the medieval period until the present. Theoretical works will be read in conjunction with representative examples to invite intellectual engagement in a socially and historically grounded way. Important issues to be covered include the relationship of visual to material culture; visual theories versus theories of vision; locating religion in human sensory experience; perception at individual and collective levels; authentics, fakes and simulacra; iconoclasm and image veneration; aesthetics, use and utility; and things. RELS5410401, SAST5410401
MELC 6900-401 GIS for the Digital Humanities and Social Sciences Emily L Hammer TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM This course introduces students to theory and methodology of the geospatial humanities and social sciences, understood broadly as the application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques to the study of social and cultural patterns in the past and present. By engaging with spatial theory, spatial analysis case studies, and technical methodologies, students will develop an understanding of the questions driving, and tools available for, humanistic and social science research projects that explore change over space and time. We will use ESRI's ArcGIS software to visualize, analyze, and integrate historical, anthropological, and environmental data. Techniques will be introduced through the discussion of case studies and through demonstration of software skills. During supervised laboratory sessions, the various techniques and analyses covered will be applied to sample data and also to data from a region/topic chosen by the student. AAMW6460401, ANTH1905401, MELC1905401 https://coursesintouch.apps.upenn.edu/cpr/jsp/fast.do?webService=syll&t=202510&c=MELC6900401
MELC 6900-402 GIS for the Digital Humanities and Social Sciences Emily L Hammer CANCELED This course introduces students to theory and methodology of the geospatial humanities and social sciences, understood broadly as the application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques to the study of social and cultural patterns in the past and present. By engaging with spatial theory, spatial analysis case studies, and technical methodologies, students will develop an understanding of the questions driving, and tools available for, humanistic and social science research projects that explore change over space and time. We will use ESRI's ArcGIS software to visualize, analyze, and integrate historical, anthropological, and environmental data. Techniques will be introduced through the discussion of case studies and through demonstration of software skills. During supervised laboratory sessions, the various techniques and analyses covered will be applied to sample data and also to data from a region/topic chosen by the student. AAMW6460402, ANTH1905402, MELC1905402 https://coursesintouch.apps.upenn.edu/cpr/jsp/fast.do?webService=syll&t=202510&c=MELC6900402
PERS 0200-401 Elementary Persian II Mahyar Entezari TR 12:00 PM-1:29 PM
W 12:00 PM-12:59 PM
This course is designed to help you build upon what you have learned in Elementary Persian I. Emphasis is placed on using the language for interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication. Therefore use of English is restricted. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing-as well as culture, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation-are integrated into the course. Students must either have successfully completed Elementary Persian I, or take the departmental exam. PERS5200401
PERS 0400-401 Intermediate Persian II Mahyar Entezari TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM In this course, we will continue to address a broader variety of cultural topics in order to increase your proficiency in linguistic as well as cultural terms. Emphasis is place on actively using Persian for interpersonal, interpretive and presentational modes of communication. Therefore use of English is restricted. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are integrated into the course, as are culture, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Students must have successfully completed either Intermediate Persian I or Persian for Heritage Speakers I, or take the departmental placement exam. PERS5400401
PERS 2000-401 Advanced Persian I Fatemeh Shams Esmaeili TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM This course is for undergraduate and graduate students who have successfully completed Intermediate Persian II or taken the placement exam. It teaches students the monāzereh (debate) skills in Persian academic settings by focusing on short press commentaries and literary excerpts. Students will improve their translation skills by working on primary modern Persian poetry and short stories as well as original press excerpts of the most well-known newspapers and magazines of modern Iran. The course is designed to improve students' skills in comprehending, reading, and translating formal, written Persian. PERS6200401
PERS 5200-401 Elementary Persian II Mahyar Entezari TR 12:00 PM-1:29 PM
W 12:00 PM-12:59 PM
This course is designed to help you build upon what you have learned in Elementary Persian I. Emphasis is placed on using the language for interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication. Therefore use of English is restricted. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing-as well as culture, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation-are integrated into the course. Students must either have successfully completed PERS-011, or take the departmental exam. PERS0200401
PERS 5400-401 Intermediate Persian II Mahyar Entezari TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM In this course, we will continue to address a broader variety of cultural topics in order to increase your proficiency in linguistic as well as cultural terms. Emphasis is place on actively using Persian for interpersonal, interpretive and presentational modes of communication. Therefore use of English is restricted. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are integrated into the course, as are culture, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Students must either have successfully completed PERS 613 or PERS 617, or take the departmental placement exam. PERS0400401
PERS 6200-401 Advanced Persian I Fatemeh Shams Esmaeili TR 10:15 AM-11:44 AM A continuation of Intermediate Persian II, students will advance their skills in reading and listening, as well as in writing and speaking. Graduate students may have additional assignments. PERS2000401
TURK 0200-401 Elementary Turkish II Feride Hatiboglu TR 12:00 PM-1:29 PM This course is a continuation of Elementary Turkish I and is designed to strengthen and extend students' listening, speaking, reading and writing competence and to deepen an understanding of Turkish people in Turkey. By the end of this course, students will be able to handle a variety of day to day needs in Turkish-speaking settings and engage in simple conversations. Students can expect to be able to order food and drinks, purchase things, and to be able to be familiar with current social topics. Students will be able to talk about all tenses, present, future, past, past continuous, make comparisons, describe people and things in detail, make travel plans, make reservations in hotels and holiday resorts, write complaint letters. By the end of the course, students will be able to talk about their studies and their plans for the future. Also, students will develop reading strategies that should allow them to understand the general meaning of articles, and short literary texts. Students will learn practical life in Turkey and will explore Turkish culture on the internet. TURK5200401
TURK 0400-401 Intermediate Turkish II Feride Hatiboglu TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM Expands students writing and speaking competence in Turkish, increases vocabulary, and helps students' practice effective reading and listening strategies. Our In-class discussions are based on role-plays and weekly readings and news reports from TV and newspapers. We create Discussion wil take place in this course and let them and students will communicate through, threaded discussions, chat rooms and skype. The review of grammar will not be the primary focus of the course. Students' will, expand and deepen their knowledge of grammar will be extended through specific grammar exercises. They Students will have the opportunity to practice and read about the cultural and historical issues and get prepared for an advanced level Turkish. TURK5400401
TURK 4300-680 Advanced Turkish Culture & Media II Feride Hatiboglu T 5:15 PM-7:14 PM Similar to Advanced Turkish Culture & Media I, in this course students also will have exposure to social Turkish clubs and to establish their own. They will arrange their Turkish tea parties and learn about Turkish cuisine. Expose Turkish daily news and media will be discussed in class. Students will have chance to interview interview Turkish businessman, writer, journalists in class and/or skype or zoom people in Turkish. Team spirit or ethics with those of the United States. Students will present and prepare a drama. Mainly students will create and decide their activities and discussions. and the instructor will just monitor them most of time. They will continue watching Turkish movies and expose to Turkish culture through these films. After each movie discussions and essay writings will be expected. TURK5900680
TURK 4500-401 Ottoman Turkish I Feride Hatiboglu R 3:30 PM-6:29 PM This course is an introduction to Ottoman Turkish with basic characteristics. Ottoman Turkish through readings in printed selections will be exercised with different techniques. Students will learn Persian and Arabic effects on Ottoman Turkish. They will be able to read simple texts at the end of this course. General information on Ottoman Turkish will be given to students during this course. This course will be offered one semester during the school year. Not open to auditors TURK6700401
TURK 5200-401 Elementary Turkish II Feride Hatiboglu TR 12:00 PM-1:29 PM This course is a continuation of Elementary Turkish I and is designed to strengthen and extend students' listening, speaking, reading and writing competence and to deepen an understanding of Turkish people in Turkey. By the end of this course, students will be able to handle a variety of day to day needs in Turkish-speaking settings and engage in simple conversations. Students can expect to be able to order food and drinks, purchase things, and to be able to be familiar with current social topics. Students will be able to talk about all tenses, present, future, past, past continuous, make comparisons, describe people and things in detail, make travel plans, make reservations in hotels and holiday resorts, write complaint letters. By the end of the course, students will be able to talk about their studies and their plans for the future. Also, students will develop reading strategies that should allow them to understand the general meaning of articles, and short literary texts. Students will learn practical life in Turkey and will explore Turkish culture on the internet. Graduate students will have additional assignments. TURK0200401
TURK 5400-401 Intermediate Turkish II Feride Hatiboglu TR 1:45 PM-3:14 PM Expands students writing and speaking competence in Turkish, increases vocabulary, and helps students' practice effective reading and listening strategies. Our In-class discussions are based on role-plays and weekly readings and news reports from TV and newspapers. We create Discussion wil take place in this course and let them and students will communicate through, threaded discussions, chat rooms and skype. The review of grammar will not be the primary focus of the course. Students' will, expand and deepen their knowledge of grammar will be extended through specific grammar exercises. They Students will have the opportunity to practice and read about the cultural and historical issues and get prepared for an advanced level Turkish. TURK0400401
TURK 5900-680 Advanced Turkish Culture & Media II Feride Hatiboglu T 5:15 PM-7:14 PM Similar to Advanced Turkish Culture & Media I, in this course students also will have exposure to social Turkish clubs and to establish their own. They will arrange their Turkish tea parties and learn about Turkish cuisine. Expose Turkish daily news and media will be discussed in class. Students will have chance to interview interview Turkish businessman, writer, journalists in class and/or skype or zoom people in Turkish. Team spirit or ethics with those of the United States. Students will present and prepare a drama. Mainly students will create and decide their activities and discussions. and the instructor will just monitor them most of time. They will continue watching Turkish movies and expose to Turkish culture through these films. After each movie discussions and essay writings will be expected. TURK4300680
TURK 6700-401 Ottoman Turkish I Feride Hatiboglu R 3:30 PM-6:29 PM This course is an introduction to Ottoman Turkish with basic characteristics. Ottoman Turkish through readings in printed selections will be exercised with different techniques. Students will learn Persian and Arabic effects on Ottoman Turkish. They will be able to read simple texts at the end of this course. General information on Ottoman Turkish will be given to students during this course. This course will be offered one semester during the school year. Not open to auditors TURK4500401