Bachelor of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies

at Queens College USA

Russian is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It also is important in diplomacy, science, business, finance, and sports, serving as an official language in such forums as the United Nations, International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Bank, the International Olympic Committee, and many other organizations. Russian also is the language of great arts, including literature, dance, music, and painting.

The Russian program has been part of the curriculum at Queens College for almost fifty years. It instructs students in reading and speaking the language, and introduces them to the arts and culture of the Russian-speaking world. It also offers courses in Belarusian, Polish, Serbo-Croatian, and Ukrainian language and literature, and sponsors a chapter of Dobro Slovo, the National Slavic Honor Society.

Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies is an interdisciplinary field concerning the history, language, arts, and culture of the Greek people from Byzantine times to the present. Combining the humanities and the social sciences, it offers advanced coursework in four areas: Byzantine studies, modern Greek studies, modern Greek literature and culture, and Greek American studies. In the United States, the opportunity to earn an interdisciplinary BA in this field is unique to Queens College.

The bachelor’s degree offers excellent preparation for graduate work in Byzantine or modern Greek studies. In addition, it serves as an entrée to a career for students interested in the Greek experience and language.

History, at its simplest, is a story of what happened in the past, but it is also concerned with very contemporary issues such as equity, social structure, contested meanings and values, and relations between near and far places. At its core are the aims, methods, and results of historical research.

Students receive excellent training in research skills involving qualitative and quantitative primary sources. They learn to evaluate sources, weigh facts, write coherent accounts of the past, and make arguments. They also become attentive to history beyond the traditional national and Western frameworks.

Historical studies provide the background needed for graduate work in law, journalism, library science, and history doctoral programs. The coursework also provides essential skills for those planning careers in business or government. History is the best major for those planning to teach social studies on the secondary level in addition to being an excellent major for those hoping to teach in elementary school.

The Jewish Studies program is dedicated to unrestricted inquiry into all aspects of the Jewish experience. It hosts numerous public events concerning Jewish culture, film, arts, history, and religion, encouraging active outreach around current issues and, in the broadest sense, world affairs. Majors benefit from access to New York’s multicultural, multilingual Jewish community as well as the numerous museums, libraries, and cultural institutions in the metropolitan area.

The program has four main areas of study: Jewish social and intellectual history; the anthropology, sociology, political life, and folklore of Jews; Jewish religious and philosophical thought; and Jewish languages and literature. It can be tailored to a wide range of personal interests.

?One of the most urgent areas of study, research, and policymaking today is environmental quality. The environmental studies major and minor draw on interdisciplinary thought and skillsets in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to understand critical environmental issues and propose remedies for them.

Coursework in the natural sciences provides a basic understanding of the physical and biological sciences relevant to environmental issues in urban areas. The social science and humanities coursework emphasizes policy and planning practices pertinent to cities’ social, economic, and political environment. Graduates are well prepared for careers in the public or private sector as environmental practitioners, whether in scientific, policy, or management capacities.

Middle Eastern Studies concern the language, culture, and civilization of one of the world’s great cultures. An interdisciplinary major, it encourages students to achieve proficiency in at least one regional language while completing core and elective coursework in the history, literature, religions, and contemporary societies of the Middle East.

A major in Middle Eastern Studies can lead in several directions. Students have a solid foundation for advanced study in graduate school. Alternatively, various career paths are open, with needs for knowledge of the Middle East in museums and other cultural institutions, publishing, the arts, and education. Careers may also be pursued in business, journalism, government, international agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

For students interested in understanding and appreciating the literature and civilization of the Jewish people, Hebrew is indispensable.

Coursework emphasizes Hebrew language instruction, developing skills in listening comprehension, speaking, reading, writing, and translation. Advanced students take courses in biblical, Rabbinic, and modern Hebrew literature; Israeli culture; and courses in Aramaic and Talmud. There also are courses on Hebrew literature of various periods and Israeli, Sephardic, and Yiddish literature and culture in  translation. Students are encouraged to pursue study abroad in Israel.

Spanish is spoken across a Hugh territory ranging from Spain through Africa, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. It is the official language of Spain, Mexico, Central America and much of the Caribbean, and most of South America. It also is the first or second language of about 10 percent of the U.S. population. Much of the world’s great literature is written in Spanish, and Hispanic civilization includes masterpieces of music, the visual and performing arts, and the history of ideas. Thus, coursework in Spanish both instructs students in reading and speaking the language, and introduces students to Spanish-language literature, arts, culture, history, and civilization.

In a globalizing world, Spanish offers a versatile degree, adaptable to many interests and career goals. It has long been a popular field for teachers, and also can facilitate careers involving Spanish-language proficiency in publishing, journalism, international affairs, business, travel and tourism, international agencies, government, nonprofit organizations, and the arts. In addition, students are well equipped to continue on to graduate or professional school.

Biology serves as a large umbrella for many kinds of scientists and professionals. Biologists conduct basic and applied experimental and clinical work in both the public and private sectors—in the field, in zoos and wildlife refuges, in laboratories, and in medical settings. Just a few of the areas in which they work are wildlife and field ecology, conservation and environmental restoration, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and forensics. Although students with a BA may find employment as laboratory technicians, wildlife monitors, and other entry-level positions, those who hope to pursue a research career should plan to go on to graduate school. For many, biology is the first step toward medical, dental, or veterinary school. Biologists also work in law- and policy-related fields concerning scientific issues or in areas like scientific and medical illustration and writing.

Cultural knowledge, along with the ability to use a foreign language, are essential components of a liberal arts education. In addition to language courses, the faculty of this department offers a wide variety of literature and culture courses both in English and in foreign languages. Students who already know the languages are able to take advanced courses to enrich their understanding of the humanities in these traditions; sequences of such courses can become important components of interdisciplinary concentrations, minors, or double-majors that complement a student's primary field of study. "In-translation" courses give students an understanding of the ancient Western and Asian classics, and of various modern Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cultures.