South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Department

The South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (SAME) major cultivates understanding of South Asian and Middle Eastern cultures and their place in the world through an integrated, multidisciplinary course of study. Students will attain broad familiarity with both regions and more focused understanding of one of them. The major also exposes students to a variety of disciplinary perspectives and approaches. Study abroad and/or language study is strongly encouraged when available. Guidance will be provided by an advisor chosen from among the faculty who regularly offer South Asia and Middle East-related courses.

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a major in South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies will demonstrate:

• Major-specific areas of knowledge
  • Depth of knowledge of some South Asian or Middle Eastern cultures
  • Knowledge of connections between regions of South Asia and the Middle East
  • Academic knowledge of South Asia or the Middle East that spans more than one disciplinary perspective
• Critical Thinking
  • Develop skills of critical analysis that are broadly transferable
  • Analyze issues with a variety of tools and approaches from a range of disciplines
• Research Experience
  • Conduct academic inquiry on a research question that demonstrates substantial knowledge of a South Asian and/or Middle Eastern area in consultation with program faculty.
  • Ability to orally discuss, defend, and articulate the greater significance of one’s own academic work to broader issues in relation to the regions of South Asia and the Middle East

Major Requirements

• 36-50 credits
  • dependent upon use of single courses to fulfill multiple requirements
• Required Courses
  • SAME 492 or 498
• Other major requirements
  • At least 4 credits of Integrative Theory listed below
  • At least 8 credits in South Asia listed below
  • At least 8 credits in the Middle East listed below
  • At least 8 credits at the 300-level or 400-level, excluding integrative essay/honors thesis listed below
  • At least 12 credits in one of the following categories: Literary & Artistic Analysis, Humanistic Inquiry, and Social Inquiry; 4 credits in each of the other two categories listed below
• Other notes
  • No courses may be taken PDF
  • No more than 12 credits earned in off-campus programs or transfer credit as electives
  • If a student is double majoring, a maximum of 12 credits toward the South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies major may also be counted from another major programs.
• Senior Requirements
  • SAME 492 or 498
  • Integrative Essay
• Honors
  • Students submit a Honors in Major Study Application to their department
  • Students must submit a proposal for their thesis or project
    • Must be submitted within the first six weeks of the two-semester period in which student is eligible
  • Accumulated at least 87 credits
  • Completed two semesters of residency at Whitman.
  • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.300 on all credits earned at Whitman College
  • Major GPA of at least 3.500
  • Complete a written thesis or research project prepared exclusively for the satisfaction of this program
  • Earn a grade of at least A-on the honors thesis or project and the honors thesis course.
  • Pass the senior assessment with distinction
  • The department will submit the Honors applications to the Registrar’s Office of students pursuing Honors by the specified deadline
  • The department submit “Senior Assessment/Major Study Certificate” to the Registrar’s Office no later the Reading Day
  • An acceptable digital copy of the Honors Thesis must be submitted to Penrose Library no later than Reading Day

INTEGRATIVE THEORY

• Art History 357 The Art of Colonial India
• English 376 Counterpoints: Edward Said’s Work and Anti-Colonial Literature
• Film and Media Studies 340 Globalization, Culture, & Media
• Politics 312 Humanism between Europe and Its Others
• Politics 359 Politics of International Hierarchy
• Race and Ethnic Studies 305 Continental Philosophy, Postcolonial Theory, and the Palestinian Question
• Religion 160 Asian Religions and the Environment
• Religion 203 What Is Religion?
• Religion 330 Multireligious South Asia
• Religion/Film and Media Studies 307 Mediating Religions
• Religion 310 Hearing Islam

SOUTH ASIA

• Art History 243 Buddhist Art of Asia
• Art History 246 The Art of India
• Art History 356 The Taj Mahal and Beyond: The Art of Mughal India
• Art History 357 The Art of Colonial India
• Religion 221 Buddhists, Brahmins and Jains
• Religion 222 Hindu India
• Religion 250 Theravada Buddhism
• Religion 330 Multireligious South Asia
• Religion 347 The Buddha

MIDDLE EAST

• Film and Media Studies 345 The Middle East in Cinema & Media
• History 127 Islamic Civilizations I
• History 128 Islamic Civilizations II
• History 220 The Ottoman Empire
• History 235 The Arab Spring
• History 302 The Syrian War
• History 322 History of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
• History 325 Sex in the Casbah: Sex, Gender, and Islam
• Politics 207 Islam and Politics
• Politics 208 Middle East Politics
• Race and Ethnic Studies 305 Continental Philosophy, Postcolonial Theory, and the Palestinian Question
• Religion 207 Islamic Traditions
• Religion 217 The Qur’an
• Religion 304 Muslim Bodies
• Religion 321 Islamic Mysticism

LITERARY & ARTISTIC ANALYSIS

• Art History 243 Buddhist Art of Asia
• Art History 246 The Art of India
• Art History 356 The Taj Mahal and Beyond: The Art of Mughal India
• Art History 357 The Art of Colonial India
• Film and Media Studies 345 The Middle East in Cinema & Media
• Religion 217 The Qur’an
• Religion 310 Hearing Islam
• Religion 321 Islamic Mysticism
• Religion 347 The Buddha

HUMANISTIC INQUIRY

• Race and Ethnic Studies 305 Continental Philosophy, Postcolonial Theory, and the Palestinian Question
• Religion 154 Yoga, Meditation, and Mindfulness
• Religion 160 Asian Religions of the Environment
• Religion 207 Islamic Traditions
• Religion 221 Buddhists, Brahmins and Jains
• Religion 222 Hindu India
• Religion 250 Theravada Buddhism
• Religion 304 Muslim Bodies
• Religion 307 Mediating Religions

SOCIAL INQUIRY

• History 127 Islamic Civilizations I
• History 128 Islamic Civilizations II
• History 220 The Ottoman Empire
• History 235 The Arab Spring
• History 302 The Syrian War
• History 322 History of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
• History 325 Sex in the Casbah: Sex, Gender, and Islam
• Politics 207 Islam and Politics
• Politics 208 Middle East Politics

SAME 492 SENIOR INTEGRATIVE ESSAY

Fall, Spring
Staff
2 credits
Senior majors will work with an advisor to complete an integrative essay in the area of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Open only to senior majors in South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.

SAME 498 SENIOR PROJECT, HONORS

Fall, Spring
Staff
2 credits
Completion of a senior honors thesis in South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Students register for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies 492. The registration will be changed from Asian and Middle Eastern Studies 492 to 498 for those students who attain honors in South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Open only to senior South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies majors.