Chair: Susan Blader
Professors S. Allan, L. H. Glinert, D. Washburn; Associate Professors S. Blader, J. Dorsey, H. N. Kadhim, H. Mowry, W. Xing; Assistant Professors D. Abouali, C. P. Hanscom, J. Smolin; Senior Lecturers N. Ben Yehuda, M. Ishida, A. Li, M. Ouajjani, J. B. Rudelson, I. W. Watanabe; Lecturer J. Chahboun; Visiting Professors K. Abu-Deeb, P. Shang, Z. Zhu; Visiting Lecturer F. J. Kam.
PLACEMENT
Placement examinations for students with background in Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, or Korean will be scheduled for the 2009-10 academic year on September 17, 8 - 10:30 am. Consult the orientation week schedule for details.
MAJORS
Major Options for Asian and Middle Eastern Languages and Literatures
Option 1. The major in language and literature
Prerequisite for all languages: 23 or the equivalent
The major consists of 11 courses:
1. 10 [Note: these introductory courses are taught in English. The Department offers Arabic 10, Chinese 10, Hebrew 10, Japanese 10 and Korean 10; students must take the offering that corresponds to the language they are studying for the major (e.g. students of Arabic must take Arabic 10, students of Japanese must take Japanese 10, etc.).]
2. Four upper-level language courses beyond 23 [Note: for majors in Chinese one of these four courses must be Chinese 51. See web site for an alternative major option.]
3. Three literature-in-translation courses at the 60 level [Note: 60-level courses are basic surveys taught in English; majors in Chinese may substitute either Chinese 52 or 53 for one of these three courses]
4. One course in another DAMELL literature that is not in the student’s primary language area (see website or advisor for alternative requirements for the AMELL (Chinese) Major [Note: this requirement may be fulfilled by taking either one 10 or one 60-level course (e.g. a student of Arabic may take Hebrew 10 or a student of Chinese may take Japanese 10)]
5. One course in literary theory or linguistics chosen from an approved list of departmental and non-departmental courses [Note: AMEL 17 fulfills this requirement; examples of non-departmental courses include Comparative Literature 10, 71, 72 or 73, English 15 or 17, Linguistics 1; for updated lists please contact the department administrator]
6. One seminar at the 80-level [this course will serve as the culminating experience]
Students doing the Honors track for Option 1 will substitute the 80-level seminar with thesis writing (AMEL 85 and 87)
Note: Substitutions of courses under option 1 of the DAMELL major may be made with the approval of the major advisor and the chair.
Option 2. The major in two languages and literatures
Prerequisite: 23 or the equivalent for both languages
The major consists of 11 courses:
1. 10 in both languages (two courses)
2. Four upper level language courses beyond 23 [These courses may be all in one language or split equally between the two languages]
3. Three courses at the 60 level [these must be split between the two languages, two in one literary tradition and one in the second]
4. One course in literary theory or linguistics chosen from an approved list of departmental and non-departmental courses [Note: AMEL 17 fulfills this requirement; examples of non-departmental courses include Comparative Literature 10, 71, 72 or 73, English 15 or 17, Linguistics 1]
5. One seminar at the 80-level that will serve as the culminating experience.
Students doing the Honors track for Option 2 will substitute the 80-level seminar with thesis writing (AMEL 85 and 87)
Option 3. The modified major
AMELL will permit students to modify the major in language and literature with offerings from other departments or programs. Students will design this major in consultation with a department adviser. The modification to the major in language and literature must consist of a coherent selection of courses that focus on a single discipline. Possible partnering departments and programs include Anthropology, Art History, Comparative Literature, Economics, Environmental Studies, Film Studies, Geography, Government, History, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, and Religion. Students would be required to take a combination of courses that provide training in basic theory and background on subjects related to the study of Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, and Japanese.
Prerequisite for all majors: 23 or the equivalent
The major consists of 11 courses:
1. Six courses from AMELL: 10; three language courses beyond 23; two courses at the 50 or 60 level
2. Four advanced courses from among those offerings in another department or program that deal with the culture of the student’s chosen language and literature in AMELL [Note: students will not be permitted to count introductory-level courses that are used as prerequisites for the major in another department or program]
3. One advanced seminar either in AMELL or in the partnering department or program
Students doing the Honors track for Option 3 will substitute the 80-level seminar with thesis writing (AMEL 85 and 87).
MINORS
The minor has the following requirement:
Six AMELL courses approved either by a faculty adviser or by the Chair. Literature courses should be in the student’s primary area of language study (i.e, students of Arabic language should take courses in Arabic literature). Arabic 10, Chinese 10, Hebrew 10, Japanese 10 or Korean 10 is a required course for the minor. Only language courses beyond the first year count towards the minor; a minimum of two but no more than three of the six courses for a minor should be language courses. In the case of students who want to minor in Chinese language and literature, Chinese 52 or 53 and above may be counted as a literature course.
FOREIGN STUDY PROGRAMS
Students are encouraged to pursue study-abroad programs recognized by the Department (information on these programs can be obtained from the Department web site). At present, AMELL sponsors two Foreign Study Programs in Beijing, China, one Advanced Language Study Abroad (LSA+) in Tokyo, Japan, and one Foreign Study Program in Tangier, Morocco.
Dartmouth Foreign Study Program in Beijing, People’s Republic of China
Prerequisite: Chinese 3 or the equivalent, with at least a B average, and Chinese 10, or the equivalent, with at least a B average, or permission of the instructor.
The Dartmouth Chinese Foreign Study Program is conducted at Beijing Normal University (BNU) twice each year: once during the summer term, and once during the fall term. Dartmouth-at-BNU includes nine-and-one-half weeks of instruction on the BNU campus, with short trips to places of historical or cultural interest in Beijing and vicinity. The program includes a field trip within China (totaling 12-14 days) at the end of the term. Students participating in Dartmouth-at-BNU will live in the foreign student dormitories on the BNU campus, and will enroll in three courses. All students will enroll in Chinese 11 (taught by the Dartmouth faculty member in residence). In addition, students will be placed in two language courses appropriate to their level of proficiency. Students at the second-year level will enroll in Chinese 22 and 23; students at the third-year level will enroll in Chinese 31 and 32; and students at the fourth-year level will enroll in Chinese 41 and 42. Successful completion of the summer term BNU program will serve in satisfaction of the Summer Residence Requirement, even when taken in the summer following a student’s first year or third year. For application and further information, contact the Off Campus Programs Office, 44 North College Street.
Dartmouth Foreign Study Program in Tangier, Morocco
Prerequisites: Two out of the following three courses, with a B+ average or
permission of the instructor: Arabic 21, 22, 23, and Arabic 10; or the equivalent.
The Dartmouth Arabic Foreign Study Program is held in Tangier, Morocco during the fall term. The program offers two credits in language study at the advanced level (Arabic 31, 32) and one credit for Arabic 11, a seminar course taught by the Dartmouth director in residence. In addition to classroom instruction in Modern Standard Arabic and basic training in Moroccan colloquial Arabic, students will participate in regularly scheduled cultural trips, cooking and music lessons, lectures on Morocco, and bi-weekly lunches conducted in Arabic. For application and further information, please contact the Off-Campus Programs Office, 44 North College Street.
Dartmouth Advanced Language Study Abroad (LSA+) Program in Tokyo, Japan
Prerequisite: Japanese 1, 2, 3, or the equivalent, with at least a B average, and Japanese 10, or the equivalent, with at least a B average.
The Dartmouth Japanese LSA+ Program is conducted during the summer term at Kanda University of International Studies in Tokyo, Japan. The program includes nine and one half weeks of instruction, as well as organized trips to areas of cultural interest. Students enroll in three courses: Japanese 11 (taught by the Dartmouth faculty member in residence) and two second-year-level Japanese language courses (Japanese 22, 23). Successful completion of the Tokyo program will serve in satisfaction of the Summer Residence Requirement (even when taken in the summer following the first year or third year). For application and further information, contact the Off Campus Programs Office, 44 North College Street.
HONORS PROGRAM
Admission to the Honors Program is by application to the Department. Applicants must have a 3.0 GPA overall and a 3.3 GPA in the major to qualify for the Honors Program. The Honors Program, involving one credit over and above the regular major, is a two-term project, outlined as follows:
1) Senior fall or winter: AMEL 85: Independent Research (may serve as Advanced Seminar for the major)
2) Senior winter or spring: AMEL 87: Honors Thesis
Proposals must be submitted to the Department by the fifth week of the junior-year spring term. The proposal should be written in consultation with a prospective advisor, and is to include:
1) the title and nature of the project to be undertaken
2) the significance this research may have within the designated field of study
3) any relevant background (e.g., related courses; other preparation) which the student brings to the work
4) a tentative bibliography of studies germane to the project
5) the name of, and approval by, the thesis advisor
The Honors Program student must achieve and maintain a B+ in AMEL 85; otherwise, the project will be terminated. An informal oral presentation to AMELL faculty and students is required upon completion of the thesis, usually during the third week of May. The thesis must be turned in to the department office on the last day of spring term classes. Completion of the Honors Program is required for graduation with Honors or High Honors in the major.