Five years after the first students registered for a Middle Eastern and Islamic studies (MEIS) minor, Boston College may approve an Islamic civilizations and cultures major this spring, which would be a huge step for a university often questioned for its consideration of cultural diversity.
"I think it is very important to have MEIS offered as a major given the extremely urgent need for people with a knowledge of this region," said Dorothy Zirkle, A&S '07, a political science major and MEIS minor.
"It's our generation's responsibility to educate ourselves about other people's cultures and beliefs, especially the Middle East and Islam. Look at the newspaper or listen to the news; you cannot go five minutes without focusing on that area, and the sad thing is that most people have no clue about the culture over there. They just make assumptions based on inaccurate news reporting. This only proliferates the problem."
Ali Banuazizi, a professor in BC's psychology department and co-founder of the MEIS program, hopes that a major in Islamic studies would stem this problem by providing students with a more comprehensive understanding of Islamic culture. "The approval of this major will broaden the scope for our students," he said. "The Islamic world goes beyond the Middle East. For example, Indonesia has one of the largest Muslim populations in the world."
In 2002, Banuazizi and Benjamin Braude, a professor in the history department, began the Middle Eastern and Islamic studies program with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Recently, the program received a positive review by the Department of Education, which Banuazizi hopes will encourage the adoption of the major into the BC curriculum. "It is quite a glowing report and one that we are very proud of," he said.
Faculty members have been working with students through the Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Student Association of BC (MEISSA) to create this major. In early December of last year, the MEIS program submitted a proposal to the Educational Policy Committee of the College of Arts and Sciences. They expect to hear a decision from the EPC this spring.
Currently, BC has 23 faculty members who teach 56 courses in such departments as fine arts, theology, political science, theology, psychology, history, Slavic and Eastern languages, and English. Course offerings include Arabic (beginner to advanced), Rise and Rule of Islamic States (political science), Islamic Women Writers (English), Middle East in the Twentieth Century (history), and Israelis and Palestinians (theology). More staff would be hired in the event of the major's approval. "I have loved the community of students and professors in the MEIS department," said Zirkle. "I have learned so much, not only about the Middle East, but also about Central Asia and parts of Russia."
If approved, the Islamic civilizations and cultures major would have rigorous curriculum requirements, including a four-semester study of the Arabic language (the current minor requires two semesters). Banuazizi hopes to include a study of Muslims as minorities in the major's curriculum. "There is a sizeable Muslim population, about six million people, in our own country," said Banuazizi. "There are several million in Europe. We have people in the faculty who specialize in the study of Muslim minorities, which would be included with this major."
Majors would be encouraged to spend at least one semester studying abroad in a Middle Eastern country or a country with a significant Islamic population. Currently, BC has two programs for students interested in Middle Eastern Studies, one in Egypt and one in Morocco. According to Matthew Hess, a program assistant at the Center for International Programs and Partnerships, there has been a significant increase in students studying abroad in these programs, many of whom are Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies minors.
According the latest polling results of MEIS minors, 39 out of the 40 students said they would have majored in this interdisciplinary field had it been offered by the University. As a professor, Banuazizi sees a strong intellectual and practical interest for this major. "They realize that such a program will enable them to have more career options," he said. "Members of Congress have talked about the critical need in our country for individuals who are linguistically competent in Islamic cultures and language. But our goal is not to train students to be government employees but to emphasize the historical, cultural, literary, and linguistic value of Islamic studies."
Maggie Schneider, A&S '07, an international studies major and MEIS minor, registered for her minor during her junior year but wishes she could have majored in it from the beginning. "With this major, BC will reflect the diversity of other cultures," she said. "It shouldn't be viewed as a threat to our cultural identity."
If it is approved, the Islamic civilizations and cultures major would be considered an interdisciplinary field, similar to the international studies major. Other cultural areas of study at BC include American studies, Asian studies, and Irish studies, all of which are currently minor programs.
Colleges and universities across the country either have or are in the process of adding programs in Middle Eastern studies to their curriculums. Across the Charles River, Harvard University has run its prestigious Center for Middle Eastern Studies since 1954. Fellow Jesuit institution Georgetown University's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies has been around for over 30 years as part of its School of Foreign Service. At the University of Notre Dame, students can major in Arabic or minor in Mediterranean and Middle East Studies. Fordham University offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate major for Middle Eastern studies, which includes Arabic training and a study abroad component.
With other Jesuit institutions making an effort to diversify their academic cultures, it seems inevitable for BC to follow suit. "The mission statement of BC clearly states that the internationalizing of the University curriculum and the student body is one of its goals," said Banuazizi. "We haven't really had that yet. The major of international studies is a recent addition. A Middle Eastern studies program would certainly strengthen our international offerings."
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