1. Graduate
  2. Ph.D. Program
  3. Ph.D. Requirements

Linguistics of Middle Eastern Languages Track

The track provides training in research methods and analysis, and features discussions on current debates on Middle Eastern languages and their varieties within regional and national contexts.

About the Track

The Ph.D. program in the linguistics of Middle Eastern languages accommodates students interested in Ph.D. research and students with primary interest in language pedagogy. The track is designed for students interested in the following specializations:

  • Empirical analysis of the phonology, morphology, or syntax of Middle Eastern languages
  • Regional and social varieties of Middle Eastern languages
  • Middle Eastern languages in social and political contexts
  • Historical and contemporary study of Middle Eastern languages

Required Courses

You will complete the core Ph.D. major requirements, and the following requirements:

Cultural Component (6 units)

Choose two of the following (One three-unit course may serve to satisfy the gender/society requirement above):

  • Sociolinguistics- Language & Society of the Middle East   
  • Cultural Anthropology
  • Survey-of-Middle-Eastern-Languages   

Basic/Theoretical linguistics component (15 units)

  • Linguistics 503: Syntax I
  • Linguistics 510: Phonology I
  • Linguistics 535: Morphology
  • Structure Courses - Choose two of the following structure courses:
    • New course: Structure of Near Eastern Languages
    • Courses in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian and Turkish Linguistics
    • TAFL: Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language, to be cross-listed with SLAT and Linguistics
    • A teaching methods course with emphasis on Less Commonly Taught Languages

Research Component (6 units)

  • Prelim course (3 units)
  • Qualifying paper credits (3 units)

Seminars (6 units)

Take 2 seminar courses:

  • Structure of Iranian languages
  • Structure of Hebrew
  • Arabic dialects
  • Diglossia
  • Jewish languages
  • Issues in language politics (possibly Language Planning and Policy LRC 795)
  • Language and Gender
  • Gender across disciplines (MENA 640)
  • Philosophy of language

Minor (9 units)

Can be in Linguistics, MENA, SLAT, Anthropology, LRC, or any related field approved by the Graduate Committee.   

Questions?

Contact Professor Samira Farwaneh (farwaneh@email.arizona.edu) for more information.