CAIS Study guide
2015
Centre for
Arab & Islamic
Studies (The Middle
East & Central Asia)
College of
Arts & Social
Sciences
CONTENTS
Study Guide 2015
Centre for Arab & Islamic
Studies (The Middle East &
Central Asia)
The Australian National University 4
The Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies 4
Advisory board 6
Academic staff 7
Undergraduate Programs 10
Graduate Programs 12
Rules & procedures 14
Undergraduate courses 16
Language programs 17
Online language courses 17
Graduate Courses 21
Application procedures 26
ANU services & requirements 27
Scholarships & prizes 28
T h e A u st r a l ian N ationa l Uni v e r sit y
The Australian National University
(ANU) is situated in the heart of
Canberra, the capital city of Australia.
The University campus is spacious
(approximately 145 hectares) and
conveniently situated adjacent to
the central business district. It is
accessible by public transport and
an excellent city-wide bicycle path
system. Canberra, a planned city of
around 360,000 people, is surrounded
by natural bush-land. It is only a few
hours away from both the mountains
and the coast and three hours driving
distance from Sydney.
The University was founded as a
research university in 1946, and
undergraduate teaching was added
in 1960. The unique structure of ANU makes it the most research-intensive university in Australia. ANU is
comprised of seven Colleges, made up of the research and education Centres, Schools and Faculties that
contribute to the various broad disciplines. The ANU Colleges link research and teaching at undergraduate,
postgraduate and higher degree levels, and provide the base to achieve research at the highest standards
of excellence, educational programs informed by current research and active researchers that offer
students a memorable learning experience.
Internationally recognised as an outstanding university, ANU is a national centre of excellence in both
research and teaching, with world-class computing, library and research facilities. A recent independent
quality review of the University found it ranked among the world’s best research universities, with 77% of
external assessors ranking ANU as one of the top 50 universities in their field in the world - including 44%
who rated ANU in the world’s top 25 universities.
& the Pacific, as well as professional association with other ANU Colleges. Its activities are guided by a
twenty-one member Advisory Board and a group of international advisers, made up of prominent scholars
in Arabic, Islamic, Middle Eastern and Central Asian studies.
The Centre draws on the support of a rich academic community at the ANU to bolster its coverage and
activities. Throughout the year students are encouraged to attend special lectures and events by leaders
in the academic, political and business communities. The Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies is situated
in a new and contemporary-styled building which reflects the architecture of the region. Here, students
have access to the leading academics in the field, a specialised library and an audio-visually enhanced
lecture theatre.
The Centre offers graduate programs, undergraduate courses and postgraduate supervision (PhD
and MPhil) on a wide range of topics, including the contemporary politics, modern history and political
economy of the Middle East and Central Asia, as well as Islamic Studies, Arabic, Persian and Turkish
languages, literature and culture.
The primary objectives of CAIS:
>> to promote Arab, Islamic, Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies by providing quality educational
programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels;
>> to conduct research of its own, and to coordinate broader research projects with Australian and
international academics and specialists;
>> to provide a pool of expertise for public and private sectors;
>> to strengthen Australia’s ties with the Middle Eastern and Central Asian domains through educational
links, and engagement with government, business, diplomatic missions and the broader community.
The Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies
(The Middle East & Central Asia)
The Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (Middle East & Central Asia) - CAIS - forms part of the College of
Arts & Social Sciences at the Australian National University and is Australia’s premier location for studies in
this field. It has a high international standing and links with its major counterparts in the Arab and Muslim
world, as well as in North America and Europe.
The Centre integrates the study of Middle Eastern and Central Asian contemporary politics, international
relations, history, culture, political economy, and the role of Islam within the broader framework of the
changing global order. The Centre fosters the study of the region’s most relevant languages of Arabic,
Persian and Turkish. It also focuses on issues pertinent to Australia’s interests in, and the development of
its cultural, commercial, scientific and industrial ties with, its areas of coverage.
CAIS is a multi-disciplinary teaching and research Centre, with cognitive links with ANU College of Asia
4 Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia)
Study Guide 2015 5
ad v iso r y boa r d
ac A D E M I C S T A F F
Centre Patron
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid
Deputy Ruler of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Al-Maktoum
Advisory Board
Professor The Hon Gareth Evans AC AO QC
ANU Chancellor
Professor Ian Young AO
ANU Vice-Chancellor (ex-officio)
The Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser AC CH PC
Former Prime Minister & Honorary Chair, InterAction
Council
The Hon Sussan Ley
Member for Farrer, Australian Parliament
The Hon Warren Snowdon
Member for Lingiari, Australian Parliament
The Hon Melissa Parke
Member for Fremantle, Australian Parliament
Ms Gai Brodtmann
Member for Canberra, Australian Parliament
Mr Mirza Al-Sayegh
Al-Maktoum Foundation, Dubai
Dr Khalifa Bakhit Al-Falasi
Arab Thought Forum, Dubai
Professor Toni Makkai
Professor Veronica Taylor
Professor Deane Terrell AO
Professor Jacqueline Lo
The Hon Thomas R Pickering
Mr Tom Harley
Professor Adam Shoemaker
Dean, ANU College of Arts & Social Sciences
(ex-officio)
Dean, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific (exofficio)
ANU College of Business and Economics
Director (Acting), Research School of Social
Sciences, ANU (ex-officio
Vice-Chairman, Hills and Company, International
Consultants
Senior Advisor to the Executive Leadership
Committee, The Dow Chemical Company
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), Monash
University
Mr Richard Gibbs
Head of Economic Research, Macquarie Bank
Mr Robert Sercombe
Consultant / Company Director
Professor Amin Saikal AM
Director, Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, ANU
(ex-officio)
6 Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia)
Amin Saikal AM FASSA
Professor
CAIS Director
Matthew Gray
Associate Professor
PG Coursework convenor
Amin Saikal AM, FASSA is
Professor of Political Science,
Public Policy Fellow, and Director
of the Centre for Arab and
Islamic Studies (Middle East and
Central Asia) at ANU. He has
been a Rockefeller Foundation
Fellow; a Visiting Fellow at
Princeton University, Cambridge
University and Institute of
Development Studies, University
Sussex, and Visiting Pan-Asia
Distinguished Scholar, Indiana
University. He was awarded
the Order of Australia (AM)
‘for service to the international
community and as an author
and adviser’ in January 2006,
and is an elected Fellow of the
Academy of Social Sciences
in Australia. His books include:
Zone of Crisis: Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Iran and Iraq, London:
I.B. Tauris, 2014; Democracy
and Reform in the Middle East
and Asia: Social Protest and
Authoritarian Rule after the Arab
Spring, I.B. Tauris, 2014 (coeditor); Modern Afghanistan: A
History of Struggle and Survival,
London: I.B. Tauris, 2012; The
Rise and Fall of the Shah: Iran
from Autocracy to Religious Rule,
Princeton: Princeton University
Press, 2009; and Islam and the
West: Conflict or Cooperation?,
London: Palgrave/Macmillan,
2003. He has also published
in major dailies, including The
New York Times, International
Herald Tribune, The Wall Street
Journal, and The Guardian; and
is a frequent commentator on TV
and radio.
Matthew Gray has a BA and MA
from Macquarie University and
a PhD from ANU. A/Prof. Gray
joined CAIS in 2005. Prior to
this appointment he held several
positions with the Australian
Government, working at the
Australian Trade Commission,
the Department of Defence, and
the Department of Immigration
and Multicultural and Indigenous
Affairs.
A/Prof. Gray is the author of
Global Security Watch—Saudi
Arabia, Praeger, 2014; Qatar:
Politics and the Challenges of
Development, Lynne Rienner,
2013; Conspiracy Theories in
the Middle East: Sources and
Politics, Routledge, 2010.
He has also published widely
in particular on the politics and
political economy of the Middle
East in academic journals and
edited books; his articles have
appeared in journals such as
Critique: Critical Middle East
Studies, Arab Studies Quarterly,
Global Change, Peace &
Security, The Australian Journal
of International Affairs, Middle
Eastern Studies, Thunderbird
International Business Review,
and The Journal of South Asian
and Middle Eastern Studies.
Robert Bowker
Adjunct Professor
Robert Bowker, a specialist on
Middle East and Islamic issues,
is an Adjunct Professor at CAIS.
Prior to his appointment in 2008,
he served with the Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(DFAT), undertaking five postings
in the Middle East, including
as Australian Ambassador
to Jordan (1989-92) and as
Australian Ambassador to Egypt
(2005-08). At different periods in
his diplomatic career, he served
as Director, External Relations
and Public Information, and
subsequently Senior Adviser,
Policy Research, of the United
Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees
in the Near East (UNRWA) in
Gaza and Jerusalem; on the
Directing Staff of the Centre for
Defence and Strategic Studies
at the Australian Defence
College, Canberra, and (in 2004)
as Visiting Reader at CAIS. Dr
Bowker is the author of Egypt
and the Politics of Change in the
Arab Middle East, Edward Elgar,
2010; Palestinian Refugees:
Mythology, Identity and the
Search for Peace, Lynne Rienner,
2003 and Beyond Peace: the
Search for Security in the Middle
East, Lynne Rienner, 1996.
Study Guide 2015 7
academic S T A F F
Dr Kirill Nourzhanov
Senior Lecturer
HDR Coordinator
Dr Zahra Taheri
Lecturer and Convenor of the
Persian Program
Dr Minerva Nasser-Eddine
Lecturer & Undergraduate
Coordinator
Ms Huda Al-Tamimi
Lecturer and Convenor
of the Arabic Program
Dr Omid Malek
Behbahani
Lecturer in Persian
Kirill Nourzhanov has an MA
from Moscow State University
and a PhD from ANU. His main
academic interests include
politics, international relations
and conflict resolution in
contemporary Central Asia. He
has published in the Central
Asian Monitor, Central Asian
Survey, Europe-Asia Studies,
and World Today, and his PhD
thesis on 'Politics and Change in
Tajikistan' was published in mid2000. Dr Nourzhanov's expertise
in Post-Soviet and Central
Asian Studies is internationally
recognised. He has a strong
record of supervision at both
the masters and doctoral levels.
His recent publications include:
Tajikistan: A Political and Social
History, (with Dr Christian
Bleuer), ANU E Press, 2013, pp
404; 'Mackinder on the Roof
of the World: Contemporary
Geopolitical Discourse in
Tajikistan', in Megoran, N. and
Sharapova, S., eds. Central Asia
in International Relations: The
Legacies of Halford Mackinder.
New York: Columbia University
Press, 2013, pp. 149-170; and
'Omnibalancing in Tajikistan's
Foreign Policy: Security-Driven
Discourse Alignment with Iran',
Journal of Balkan and Near
Eastern Studies, Vol. 14, No. 3,
2012, pp. 1-19.
Zahra Taheri holds the position
of lecturer in Persian Language
and Iranian Studies at CAIS. Dr
Taheri received her BA in Persian
language and literature from
Pahlavi/ Shiraz University, Iran,
her MA in Persian literature from
The Research Institute of Persian
Culture in Tehran, and her PhD
in Near Eastern Studies from the
University of California, Berkeley.
She has taught Persian literature
and language at UC Berkeley
and Tokyo University of Foreign
Studies, Japan.
Dr Taheri is the author of Meter
in Classical Persian Narrative
Poetry, 'Indian and Persian
Prosody and Recitation',
Nagasaki, H. (ed), Saujanya
Publications, Delhi 2012, pp. 4558; The Silence of Old Mirrors:
The Lost Voice of a Muslim
Woman in the Constitutional
Period, Michitani Publishing
Co., Tokyo, 2012; The Presence
and Absence of Women in Sufi
Texts: Women in Persian mythical
literature from the beginning of
the Islamic era to 1900, ILCAA
Press, Tokyo University of
Foreign Studies, 2007; and two
collections of poetry: Pegãh-e
Nokhostin (The Primal Dawn)
1997 and Milãd (The Birth) 1990.
Minerva Nasser-Eddine has an
MA from ANU and a PhD from
The University of Adelaide. She
has held academic positions
at The University of Adelaide,
UniSA and Flinders University. Dr
Nasser-Eddine has published in
Middle East Quarterly and The
Australian Journal of Political
Science. Her most recent
publications are: (with Prof.
Bowker) 'Middle East Studies in
an Age of Turmoil', in Adel Abdel
Ghafar, Brenton Clark and Jessie
Moritz (eds), The Contemporary
Middle East: Revolution or
reform? MUP, 2014, pp 226-247.
‘How R2P Failed Syria’, Flinders
Journal of History and Politics,
Vol. 28, 2012; ‘Syria, What
Next?’, The Arab Revolutions
in Context: Socio-Political
Implications for the Middle East
and Beyond, (eds) Ben Isakhan,
Fethi Mansouri and Shahram
Akbarzadeh, MUP, 2012.
Dr Nasser-Eddine is Director of
Al Hikma - Middle East Advisory
Agency and a founding member
of the Arab Cultural Program
(Centre for Asian and Middle
Eastern Architecture) at The
University of Adelaide. She has
had an active role in community
organisations and has extensive
networks amongst the local,
national and international Arabic
and non-Arabic speaking
communities and governments.
Huda Al-Tamimi is a
language teacher of
considerable experience.
Most recently she
has taught Arabic for
the Department of
Immigration and the
Canberra Institute of
Technology in Canberra.
Ms Al-Tamimi has
an MPhil and a
Postgraduate Diploma in
Education from Massey
University, NZ, a BA
in English Literature
from Mustansiriyah
University, Baghdad and
a Graduate Diploma in
Applied Linguistics and
Language Teaching from
Trinity College, Dublin.
At CAIS, she has used
her specialist skills to
teach courses in Arabic
linguistics and literature.
Ms Al-Tamimi's research
includes the teaching
of Arabic as a second
language and a study
of the changing role of
women in Iraqi politics.
Dr Behbahani was
appointed to CAIS as
a visitng lecturer in
January 2014. She is
a specialist in Ancient
Iranian Languages and
Cultures with an MA
from the University of
Tehran and a PhD from
Azad University, Tehran.
Dr Behbahani has over
20 years experience in
teaching, supervision
and research. She
is currently on leave
from the Institute for
Humanities and Cultural
Studies in Tehran, where
she holds the position
of Associate Professor.
Her recent publications
include: 'A Manichaean
Parable Based on the
Pattern of Cosmogony
in Middle Persian',
Zabashenakht, Vol. 4,
No. 7, 2014, pp. 15-28;
'The Role of Women
in the Manichaean
Society', Woman in Art
& Culture, Vol. No. 2,
2012, pp. 87-96; 'A
Manichaean Parable on
the Sin of Mourning for
the deceased', Iranian
Journal of Applied
Language Studies, Vol.
10, 2011, pp. 148-163.
8 Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia)
Ms France Meyer
Lecturer in Arabic
Dr Raihan Ismail
Associate Lecturer
France Meyer is an
Associate Lecturer in
the Arabic program. Ms
Meyer has a BA and an
MA in Arabic Language,
Literature and Civilisation
from the Aix-Marseille
University, Department of
Middle Eastern Studies,
France. She was
awarded a scholarship
at the Institut Français
du Proche-Orient (IFPO)
in Damascus. She is
a professional literary
translator of Modern
Arabic Literature and has
translated into French
many articles and 16
novels, seven of them
by Egyptian writer and
Nobel Prize Laureate
Naguib Mahfouz. Ms
Meyer has worked
in collaboration with
the Institut du Monde
Arabe in Paris and is a
translator and reviewer
of Modern Arabic
literature for several
major French Publishing
Houses. Her latest
translations include
Abdul Rahman Mounif
'Cities of Salt' (Villes de
Sel - 2013) and Naguib
Mahfouz’s 'Wedding
Song' (Les Noces du
Palais - 2015).
Raihan Ismail was
appointed as an
Associate Lecturer in
January 2014. She has
a Bachelor in Political
Science, with a minor in
Islamic Studies, and a
Masters in International
Relations from the
International Islamic
University of Malaysia.
She was awarded a PhD
from ANU in 2013.
Dr Ismail's research
interests include:
Sectarianism in the Gulf
region, Political Islam
with a strong focus on
Egypt and South East
Asia, and studies of
religious institutions in
the Middle East. She has
published in the Journal
of Shi'a Islamic Studies
and has also written for
The Canberra Times
and openDemocracy
and has presented at a
number of international
conferences, including
the British Middle
East Society's annual
conference in Dublin
2013. Dr Ismail's
doctoral research is to
be published by Oxford
University Press.
Study Guide 2015 9
Unde r g r ad u ate P r og r ams
Bachelor of Middle
Eastern and Central
Asian Studies
The Bachelor of Middle Eastern
and Central Asian Studies
at ANU) takes you through
the topics, debates and
developments in the Middle
East and Central Asia. You
will study the socio-cultural,
political, historical and economic
structures of these regions
and develop comprehensive
knowledge of their relationship to
global trends. In order to further
engage with the history and
culture of the regions, you will
have the opportunity to study a
Middle Eastern or Central Asian
language. You can also choose
from a wide range of electives to
complement your studies.
Middle Eastern and Central
Asian Studies students have the
opportunity to:
•
Discern socio-cultural,
historical and political
structures of the Middle East
and Central Asia
•
Define and analyse the
global implications of events
and developments in the
Middle East and Central
Asia
•
Understand the role of
economic modernisation
and themes relevant to
regional security
•
Communicate in a Middle
Eastern or Central Asian
language.
The Middle East and Central Asia
is a significantly important region
in world finance, trade, tourism,
and politics. In the Bachelor
of Middle Eastern and Central
Asian Studies you will learn the
complexities of the region while
being able to communicate
effectively in a relevant language.
Middle East and Central
Asian Studies (MECAS)
Major or Minor
A MECAS major requires the
completion of 48 units of CAIS
courses (see pages 18 & 19).
A MECAS minor requires 24
units of these courses. CAIS
undergraduate courses are
frequently chosen as part of an
Arts or Asian Studies Degree.
The politics courses can be
included in a Political Science
major, the European Studies
Program, and the Development
Studies and History majors and
as a minor or electives in the
International Relations Program.
Depending on the rules of their
program, students from other
Colleges may be able to include
the CAIS courses as their
electives.
MECAS (Hons)
Plan: HMECA CRICOS: 082705K
A Bachelor degree with Honours
is the most effective means of
qualifying for higher degrees
(PhD or MPhil) in the future.
10 Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia)
The MECAS Honours program
can be taken in Arabic language,
Persian language, or in a nonlanguage stream (with a focus on
a social science such as political
science, history, international
relations. It can be taken in a
BMECAS, BA or PhB degree.
It is normally only available
full-time and starting at the
beginning of First Semester. It is
an intensive program, requiring
the completion of 24 units of
course work, normally in the
first semester, and 24 units for
a thesis of up to 20,000 words,
normally with the topic refined
in the first semester and then
all or most research and writing
conducted in second semester.
Admission Criteria
MECAS Hons
The entry requirement is a
MECAS major or a major in
a cognate discipline, with a
weighted average mark of 70%
or higher across 36 units of latter
year courses.
Applicants will also need the
written agreement of a supervisor
for the thesis.
Arab and Islamic studies-focused
graduates, like all Arts graduates, are also
employable in areas not directly related to
their language and area studies because
the training they obtain develops their
ability to carry out research, communicate
ideas and solve problems.
Dan is studying Arabic as part of
his Bachelor of Middle Eastern and
Central Asian Studies
“When I was choosing my undergraduate
program, I wanted a degree that offered the
opportunity for specialisation, without limiting
my studies to only one field. I chose the
Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian
Studies, as it allowed me to pursue courses
in a number of disciplines, while focusing my
core studies on a significant and incredibly
diverse geopolitical region.
I have always been interested in Middle
Eastern affairs and the degree’s flexible yet
strategic approach really appealed to me over
a standard undergraduate degree. Courses
like ‘Politics in Central Asia’ and ‘Islam: History
and Institutions’ have helped me to develop a
comprehensive understanding of the complex
dynamics that influence the region.
The degree allows for the creation of a tailored
program and accommodates a wide range
of study spanning political science, sociocultural, economic, history and business
interests.
I’ve also chosen to complete a major in
Modern Standard Arabic, which is often
challenging but incredibly rewarding! Learning
to master a language that is spoken by
over 250 million people in 27 countries, and
is one of the six official languages of the
United Nations will help to open doors upon
graduation.”
Study Guide 2015 11
G r ad u ate p r og r ams
The aim of these programs is
to provide quality and coherent
graduate education in Middle
Eastern, Central Asian and
Islamic Studies. The programs
are designed for students who
seek academic preparation for
a career in a professional area
requiring a solid understanding
of the Middle East, Central Asia
and Islam, whether in diplomacy,
the public service, teaching,
journalism or business.
Graduate Coursework
Graduate Certificate
of Arts (specialising in
MMECAS)
CRICOS 082255J
Studied over one semester
full-time, or one year part-time,
the Graduate Certificate of Arts
provides a foundation for further
graduate study including some
Master's programs.
CAIS offers a Middle Eastern
and Central Asian Studies
specialisation to give you an
introductory understanding of the
area. This specialisation requires
the completion of 24 units.
Master of Middle
Eastern and Central
Asian Studies
(MMECAS)
to get a broad education in
Middle East and Central Asian
Studies.
The program consists of 96 units
of coursework. Students will
choose a maximum of sixteen
courses (with a value of 6 units
each) and can elect to include a
maximum of two 6 unit courses
from Arabic, Persian or Turkish.
Applicants may be eligible for
credit (up to 48 units) for prior
study.
Master of Middle
Eastern & Central Asian
Studies - Advanced
CRICOS 075887B
The Master of Middle Eastern
and Central Asian Studies Advanced is a separate program
to the MMECAS. Students can
apply to transfer to the MMECAS
- Advanced only after completing
their coursework component
with an average of 70 per cent
or above and provided they have
a supervisor available for their
proposed topic. This program
enables students to undertake
research training in the form of
a supervised research thesis of
approximately 20,000 to 24,000
words (24 units) to complement
the skills and knowledge gained
in the coursework.
CRICOS 049043G
The Master of Middle Eastern
and Central Asian Studies is
designed for students who want
12 Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia)
Master of Islam in the
Modern World (MIMW)
CRICOS 065139K
The Master of Islam in the
Modern World aims to provide
detailed understanding of the
complex and diverse issues that
are common to Muslim societies
across the world. It will also
allow students to develop critical
methods for the study of the
modern Muslim experience.
The program consists of up to
96 units of coursework. Students
will choose a maximum of 16
courses (6 units each) and can
elect to include a maximum
of two language courses from
Arabic, Persian or Turkish.
Applicants may be eligible for
credit (up to 48 units) for prior
study.
The MIMW subjects are available
to students in other degree
programs, subject to approval.
Master of Islam in
the Modern World Advanced
CRICOS 082315B
The Master of Islam in the
Modern World - Advanced
is a separate program to the
MIMW. Students can apply to
transfer to MIMW-Advanced
only after completing their
coursework component with
an average of 70 per cent or
above and provided there is a
supervisor available for their
proposed topic. This program
enables students to undertake
research training in the form of
a supervised research thesis of
approximately 20,000 to 24,000
words (24 units) to complement
the skills and knowledge gained
in the coursework.
Admission Criteria
Graduate Certificate
Applicants should have a
Bachelor degree or international
equivalent.
MMECAS & MIMW
Applicants for direct entry to
the MMECAS and the MIMW
should have a Bachelor degree
or international equivalent with
an average mark of at least 65
per cent.
All applicants must meet the
University's English Language
Admission Requirements for
Students.
Program Requirements
This program has a duration of
two years but applicants may
be eligible for credit for prior
learning.
The degree takes two years to
complete if the applicant has
no cognate qualifications. A
two year program requires the
completion of 96 units, or 16
courses, of which four can be
Study Guide 2015 13
substituted for a thesis.
Enrolment Dates
Applicants with a Bachelor
Degree or Graduate Certificate
in a cognate discipline may be
eligible for 24 units (1 semester)
of credit.
Admission to the degree is
possible in either first or second
semester.
Applicants with a Graduate
Diploma or Honours in a cognate
discipline may be eligible for 48
units (1 year) of credit.
Cognate disciplines
•
Politics, including political
science, international
relations, political economy,
security studies, strategic
studies; sociology; modern
history; religious studies/
Islamic studies;
•
Other social sciences and
humanities disciplines
and fields where there is
significant coverage of a
relevant aspect of Middle
Eastern, Central Asian or
Islamic Studies and where
similar approaches and
methodologies are used;
•
Part-time enrolment is available
for all programs offered by CAIS.
Research Degrees
The Centre also offers Master of
Philosophy and PhD by research
in the field of its coverage.
Admission to such degrees
at ANU normally requires an
Honours degree (at Honours 2A
or above), or equivalent prior
studies including some research
work. Equivalent studies can
include a Graduate Diploma
or a Master qualifying course,
or a Master degree with some
research work at a sufficient
standard. Candidates with other
qualifications and experience
that include research may be
considered for admission.
And modern languages
relating to the Middle East
and/or Central Asia region
such as Arabic, Persian,
Turkish, Russian or French.
Prospective students should
contact the Centre regarding
their proposed research topic.
For more information on applying
for a research degree see the
website: cais.anu.edu.au/higherdegrees-research/prospectivestudents
Career prospects for graduates with a
background in Arab and Islamic Studies
include opportunities in both the public
and private sectors. Our graduates find
employment in the public service, diplomacy,
journalism, business and trade, both in
Australia and overseas.
Rules & Procedures
Board of Studies
The academic details of the
Centre’s Graduate programs
are supervised by a Board of
Studies, which is responsible to
the Dean of the ANU College of
Arts & Social Sciences (CASS).
The Board comprises: the
Director, Graduate Studies in
International Affairs, Department
of International Relations,
ANU College of Asia & the
Pacific; Director, ANU Centre
for European Studies, CASS;
the Director, Centre for Arab &
Islamic Studies; the Graduate
Coursework Convenor, CAIS;
and a representative of the CAIS
graduate programs.
continued page 16
Sandra is enrolled in the Master of Middle
Eastern & Central Asian Studies
“I began my Master of Middle Eastern and
Central Asian Studies at CAIS in February 2014
after graduating from a Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
and Bachelor of International Studies from the
University of Adelaide. I have also worked in
migrant and refugee settlement in both Adelaide
and Canberra.
In my International Studies degree I took a
particular interest in the Middle East, and in
my Law degree I focused on comparative law.
Through my Masters I hope to combine these
two interests and study the legal systems of the
Middle East and avenues for legal development,
focusing specifically on Egypt.
I chose to study at CAIS due to its range of
academics covering various topics within the
Middle East. The breadth of expertise available
at has provided me with a well-rounded
understanding of the region. My studies at CAIS
have given me the kind of nuanced and practical
understanding that I hope will ensure my future
research on Middle Eastern legal systems takes
into account the surrounding political, economic
and social issues.
I have also had the unique opportunity to learn
Persian as a part of my degree, and this will open
the door to a wealth of literature that I otherwise
may not have been able to access.
After completing my Masters and thesis I would
like to work for an NGO focusing on legal
development or women's empowerment in the
Middle East.”
14 Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia)
Study Guide 2015 15
Lang u ages
Award of Master
Degree
For the MMECAS and MIMW
degrees, the minimum
requirement will be a pass in
each course.
The minimum requirement for
award of the MMECAS or MIMW
Advanced will normally be a
Distinction average across the
coursework courses and a pass
in the thesis.
Students who achieve
a Distinction in both the
coursework and thesis may
be awarded the degree with
Honours.
The Graduate Marking
Scale %
High Distinction 80-100
Distinction
70-79
Credit
60-69
Pass
50-59
Fail
Less Than 50
Academic Progress
After the end-of-year
examinations, a review of
progress will be made. If a
student is deemed to have
made unsatisfactory progress
his or her case may be referred
to the delegated authority for
assessment. The student may
then be required to 'show cause'
to continue their program. For
more details see website: http://
about.anu.edu.au/__documents/
rules/acadprogressrules.pdf
Time Limits
Maximum periods of candidature
may apply according to the
length of each individual
program. Students intending to
take program leave are advised
to discuss their plans with the
Postgraduate Advisor.
Program Leave
From 1 January 2014,
domestic coursework
students (undergraduate and
postgraduate) will not be required
to formally request program leave
from their studies. Students can
remain active in their programs
for a period of two years without
course enrolment.
Arabic
Persian
Turkish
CAIS offers the following
language courses:
Students failing to enrol after this
period will be discontinued from
their program and be required to
reapply for admission.
The Centre currently offers
courses in three of the major
languages of the regions of its
coverage—Arabic, Persian and
Turkish.
Advanced Arabic A/B
Each of these languages is
associated with a rich historical
and cultural legacy. Each is
also a dynamic contemporary
language, with large populations
of speakers throughout the
regions of the Centre’s coverage.
Introduction to Arabic Literature
Undergraduate students can
take Arabic or Persian as a
major, minor or elective. And
Turkish as a minor or elective.
Introductory Persian A/B
Postgraduate coursework
students can take up to 36 units
of language in a MMECAS or
MIMW program. The number of
language units in their degree
will depend on the length of their
coursework program.
Elementary Turkish A/B
All international students are
still required to request program
leave by way of submitting an
application form.
students.anu.edu.au/manage/
leave.php
Medical Leave
A medical certificate is required
if special consideration is being
sought. For longer absences
students need to undertake
program leave and may refer
to the ANU Students website
for more information: students.
anu.edu.au/aep/assessment/
consideration.php
The Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies may vary entrance
requirements, content and availability of programs outlined in this
publication. It reserves the right to change the contents of programs
and not to offer programs or courses listed in this publication.
16 Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia)
No prior knowledge is
required for the Introductory
A units, but a student may
be admitted directly to a
more advanced unit if he/
she is assessed by the
lecturer as having sufficient
prior knowledge.
Introductory Arabic A/B
Intermediate Arabic A/B
Arab Current Affairs and Media
Arabic (online course)
Introduction to Arabic Linguistics
Research Essay (Arabic)
Special Topics in Arabic
Directed Study Project (Arabic)
Applied Arabic
Intermediate Persian A/B
Advanced Persian A/B
Intermediate Turkish A/B
Arabic and Persian
Online
CAIS offers Arabic and Persian
as online courses.
Students at ANU, as well as from
universities around Australia and
internationally, can apply directly
to study Arabic or Persian
online and seek credit for their
existing program at their home
university. Arabic and Persian
online courses can be enrolled
in as electives or part of a major
or minor.
Arabic and Persian are available
online to ANU and non-ANU
students who cannot attend the
on-campus courses. On-campus
and online students will achieve
an equivalent competency in
all aspects of the language and
receive equal standing towards a
Persian major or minor.
The following online courses will
be offered in 2015:
Introductory Arabic A & B
Current Affairs and Media Arabic
Introductory Persian A & B
Intermediate Persian A & B
Study Guide 2015 17
Unde r g r ad u ate C o u r ses
MEAS1001 Introduction to the
Modern Middle East
Dr Minerva Nasser-Eddine
The aim of this interdisciplinary
course is to acquaint students
with the major historical,
religious, social, economic,
and political dimensions of the
Middle East. It will cover topics
such as the construction of
identities, the place of tradition
and history, the impact of
imperialism, the development
of nationalism, and the reasons
for revolution and conflict in the
region. The course will also look
at the contemporary challenges
of globalisation, religious
radicalisation, democratisation,
and transnational terrorism.
MEAS1002 Islam: History and
Institutions
Dr Raihan Ismail
Students will be presented with
a general outline of the history of
Islam from the seventh century to
the present day. The course also
examines the development of the
central institutions of Islam in the
context of that history. Special
attention will be paid to particular
developments and institutions
such as: the emergence of Islam;
the Qur'an and basic Islamic
teachings; Islamic Jurisprudence;
and political institutions (e.g. the
Caliphate), which have influenced
the modern political debate
in Muslim communities in the
Middle East and beyond.
POLS2031 Politics in the
Middle East
Prof. Amin Saikal
The course concentrates on
the contemporary politics of
the Arab world, Iran, Turkey
and Israel, with some reference
to Afghanistan. It examines
the political development and
dynamics of the major countries
involved at national and regional
levels. This is done in the context
of four major variables - Islam,
oil, the Arab-Israeli conflict and
other regional disputes, and
major power involvement and the consequences of the
interaction of these variables for
the region in world politics.
POLS2069 Politics in Russia
Dr Kirill Nourzhanov
This course provides an
introduction to the politics of
Russia. It traces the evolution
of Russian politics by offering
a wide-range discussion of
main events, figures and
scholarly interpretations of
Russia's past and present.
While the initial focus is on
the rise and fall of communist
ideology and institutions, the
course examines in detail the
ongoing development of political
structures in post-communist
Russia and the forces, both
domestic and international, that
shape the life of Russians today.
POLS2070 Politics in Central
Asia
Dr Kirill Nourzhanov
This course covers a
predominantly Muslim region,
which has recently come to
prominence in world politics
since the collapse of the Soviet
Union in 1991. Its focus is on
the national politics and regional
and international relations
of Afghanistan, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,
18 Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia)
Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan,
with references to other players'
role in the region. The course
concentrates on selected themes
concerning political and social
change, economic modernisation
and regional security against
the backdrop of sectarian,
ethnolinguistic and ideological
diversity, as well as outside
interference and geopolitical
rivalry.
MEAS2000 Iranian History and
Culture
Dr Zahra Taheri
This course broadly examines
the processes which have
formed and transformed Iranian
culture and civilization. The
student will be introduced
to history, politics, language,
literature, art and society in Iran,
ranging from ancient Persia to
contemporary Iran. The course
will seek to analyse a range of
topics, which includes the legacy
of Pre-Islamic Iran as well the
history of the Islamic conquest
and its impact on Iranian
literature, art, and architecture.
It will also provide an analysis of
the socio-political aspects that
came to create modern Iran,
emphasising the move towards
the constitutional revolution, the
consequences of the fifty-year
Pahlavi dynasty, and finally the
developments of the domestic
and foreign policies under the
Islamic Republic of Iran.
MEAS2001 New States of
Eurasia: Emerging Issues in
Politics and Security
Dr Kirill Nourzhanov
Following the collapse of the
USSR in 1991, fifteen former
Soviet republics emerged as
sovereign states. All of them
have struggled to evolve
working political systems
and maintain sovereignty and
internal cohesion. The newly
independent states have been
under pressure from Russia,
China and the USA competing
for geopolitical influence
and, in a number of cases,
control over extensive energy
resources. Most of them have
experienced economic decline,
armed conflicts, terrorism, civil
violence, organised crime and
separatism of minority groups.
Emphasis will be placed on the
issues of great power rivalry,
ethno-nationalism, and conflict
management. The course will
discuss security dilemmas at
multiple levels, ranging from
state policies to sub-state actors
and transnational issues.
MEAS2105 The Political
Economy of the Middle East
A/Prof. Matthew Gray
The aim of this course is
to analyse and explain the
dynamics of political economy
in the contemporary Middle
East. There is a focus on
how political actors and
social forces influence, and
in turn are influenced, by
political economy structures
and development strategies.
Institutions, international
actors, social forces, and
others are all examined, and
various theoretical approaches
assessed. Focused discussions
cover Islamic economic
approaches, the politics
of economic reform, the
globalization debate, specific
development models, and the
political economy of the Arab
uprisings.
MEAS2106 Persian Art
Dr Omid Behbahani
This course broadly examines
the Persian arts, including
Persian styles of architecture,
calligraphy, miniature (small
painting on paper), carpet
and rug (patterns, motifs and
designs), music (traditional and
folkloric), Persian cinema, and
the contemporary arts of Iran.
In addition, the social processes
which have contributed to the
fame and popularity of these
arts, and their impact on the
formation of Iranian culture
and civilization are examined.
The course investigates these
issues within a conceptual and
thematic framework from ancient
to modern Iran.
MEAS2107 Gender and
Culture in Iran and the Middle
East
Dr Zahra Taheri &
Dr Raihan Ismail
This course will explore women's
cultural contribution to the
modern Iran and the Middle
East. During the last three
decades, women have played
a significant role in the making
of culture, through cinema,
music, literature and art in the
region. To introduce students
to the region, this course will
also provide background of the
social history of the Middle East
and Iran. Women have become
the leaders of various artistic
movements, and in today's
Middle East literature, cinema,
music, visual and performing
arts are inspired by a growing
female presence. This course
will focus on the role of women,
as novelists, playwright, movie
directors, and musicians.
MEAS2108 Gallipoli: History
and National Imagination
Convenor: TBC
This course details the Gallipoli
naval and military campaigns,
the historical and political
contexts in which they were
fought, and the impact that
the campaign has had on later
generations. Turkish, British,
French, German, Russian,
Australian and New Zealand
perspectives are considered,
and current archaeological
controversies as well as
representations of Gallipoli in
popular culture are examined.
BUSI2024 Dynamics of
Business in the Middle East
A/Prof. Matthew Gray
This course provides an
overview of business issues,
processes and debates in
the Middle East. Specific
topics include the political and
economic factors shaping the
business environment, the
cultural issues that impact on
business, and specific strategies
in cross-cultural marketing
and sales, the management of
political risk, human resource
management, logistics, finance
and e-business.
Study Guide 2015 19
g r ad u ate co u r ses
“I think it’s essential for members of
the military to ensure their opinions
are generated from study and tested
through the academic process.”
Daniel is enrolled in the Master of Middle
Eastern & Central Asian Studies
“As a serving member of the Australian Army I have
a keen interest in the affairs of our areas of operation.
Middle Eastern affairs are too often abridged by shallow
journalism as oil politics, which belies the diverse ethnic,
religious and economic motivations of the region.
I developed a passion for Middle Eastern affairs in my
youth, which led me to undertake an Advanced Diploma
in Vocational Arabic through 18 months intensive study
in Australia and at the University of Jordan. I sought to
capitalise from this study with a broader qualification, and
upon relocating to Canberra I chose the MMECAS. After
a traditional undergraduate experience, where I was one
of one hundred students in the room (B Economics/B
Commerce at the University of Queensland), I was
looking for greater academic interaction. The CAIS class
sizes, often in single digits, enabled me to become
personally acquainted with all the lecturers. This
relationship was especially important when temporarily
studying by correspondence overseas.
The challenge of simultaneous work and study was
made easy by the collegial nature of the students and
the quality of teaching - articles by lectures and PhD
candidates from CAIS are regularly published in the
national media. For my final subjects I chose Persian
language studies, which complimented my economic
and political focus.
I think it’s essential for members of the military to ensure
their opinions are generated from study and tested
through the academic process. Studying at ANU parttime has enhanced my profile within the military and
given me confidence to provide accurate commentary on
global events.”
20 Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia)
MEAS8100
Oil, Religion, Politics and
Conflict in the Middle East
Prof. Amin Saikal
This course examines the
evolution of state and society
in the contemporary Middle
East against the backdrop of
the dynamics of relationships
between oil, foreign intervention,
Islam, domestic strife and intrastate conflict. The course is
thematic in its approach and
selective in its use of major
events to illustrate its coverage.
It emphasises the themes of
change, continuity and conflict
in the political, social and
economic transformation of the
region.
MEAS8102
Islamic Radicalism
Dr Kirill Nourzhanov
This course is aimed
at developing a better
understanding of Islam, Islamic
movements, Islamic revivalism or
Islamism in a variety of settings.
Specifically, it is a course about
how to think about Islamic
radicalism as a conglomeration
of context-specific policies,
projects, ideals, institutions,
and movements that have
their origin in Muslim societies’
response to “modernity”. It is
designed to introduce students
to major theoretical perspectives
on Islamism, and its practical
manifestations in individual
countries (not confined to the
Arab World), as well as in the
regional and global arena.
MEAS8103
Central Asia in Regional and
Global Perspectives
Dr Kirill Nourzhanov
The course is designed to
provide students with an
in-depth understanding of
politics in Central Asia. It
aims at exploring issues of
governance, security, conflict
and cooperation in the region as
a whole, as well as investigating
problems and processes
specific to each of the former
Soviet republics of Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
While international relations of
the newly independent states
will be analysed primarily from
the geopolitical and geostrategic
point of view, students will
be encouraged to develop
interpretive frameworks based
on indigenous knowledge and
perceptions.
MEAS8105: Special Topic Revolution and Reform in the
Arab World
Adj/Prof Bob Bowker
This course examines the drivers
of political, economic and social
change in the Arab world, at
both national and regional
levels. It considers the impact
of globalization in the context
of rising levels of education and
literacy, demographic pressure,
economic reform, changing
business models, access to
the Internet and generational
change. It also examines the
formal and informal institutions
which constitute the power
structure in Arab countries,
and discusses their relationship
to the process of change and
reform. The course will also
address the impact of Islam, the
dealings between regional and
external governments, and the
effects of the regional political
and security outlook on the
prospects for further economic
and political reform.
MEAS8105
Special Topic - Reading course
on the Middle East
A/Prof. Matthew Gray
This course is an advanced
reading course, for students
who wish to pursue in depth
research on the Middle East.
The course will have a topic of
focus – a country or theme –
which will vary from time to time.
The course commences with
4-5 weeks of weekly seminars,
which provide students with
relevant background and
context. During this time
students also start to identify
and refine a research topic, for
which some advice is provided.
Students then complete a
major research essay over the
remainder of the semester, in
consultation with the course
convener.
MEAS8105
Special Topic - Islam and the
Politics of Sectarianism in the
Middle East
Dr Raihan Ismail
This course will familiarise
students with Islamic
sectarianism in the Middle East.
The growing sectarian tension
and conflict between Sunni and
Study Guide 2015 21
g r ad u ate co u r ses
Shia Muslims has come to define
much of the region’s political
landscape. The course aims
to examine the complexities
of sectarianism in the Middle
East and extends to looking
at the nature of the theological
divisions between the two sects,
Shia identity in various countries
in the Middle East, and power
politics in the region.
MEAS8108
Issues of Development in the
Middle East
A/Prof. Matthew Gray
The course will combine
theoretical and comparative
approaches to development,
broadly defined, in the Middle
East. A discussion of what
constitutes ‘development’ and
how it can be measured sets the
framework for an assessment
of themes and dynamics such
as globalisation, economic
liberalization, rentierism, the role
of forces for and against various
development approaches, the
potential of various development
“models”, and others.
MEAS8109: Energy and
Security in Central Asia and the
Caucasus
Dr Kirill Nourzhanov
Energy in the form of oil and gas
is the most plentiful and valuable
natural resource of the Caspian
Sea and its vicinity. The opening
up of the region’s hydrocarbon
reserves represents one of the
most significant consequences
of the Soviet Union’s collapse
in 1991. Potential benefits
from energy development to
national and commercial entities
are enormous, but so are the
challenges stemming from the
expansion of global economy,
international and intra-regional
competition, and the internal
political dynamics of the Caspian
states. The region is at the
crossroads: from its current
volatile situation, it could evolve
either as an area of crisis, or as
a zone of stability. The dynamics
of energy development will be
crucial for determining the actual
outcome.
MEAS8010: Turkish History:
Ottoman State to Modern
Turkey
Convenor: TBC
At its peak in the sixteenth
century the Ottoman state
spread across three continents.
European colonial penetration
and the rise of nationalism
undermined the vitality of the
Ottoman state and the empire
came to an end after the First
World War. The Turks, however,
reunited and founded a new
modern state after the war of
independence. Turkey today
acts as a bridge between the
East and the West. From a geostrategic perspective it is one
of the most important countries
in the post-cold war world. The
course aims to provide an indepth coverage of the process
of state building in Turkey from
the Middle Ages to the present;
to comprehend the factors
that played a role in the rise,
stagnation and collapse of an
empire; to analyse the factors
that led to internal conflicts
22 Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia)
and strife in a heterogeneous
society; and to reach a better
understanding of nationalist
movements.
leaderships;
• political dynamics since the
demise of the Oslo Peace
Process.
MEAS8111: Islam, the West
and International Terrorism
Prof. Amin Saikal
MEAS8113: The Gulf Strategic
Environment
A/Prof. Matthew Gray
This course examines the
changing relations between the
‘domain of Islam’ and ‘the West’,
more specifically the United
States, against the backdrop
of the events of September
11, 2001, and its aftermath. It
does so in both historical and
contemporary terms. Its inquiry
focuses mainly on three main
issues: the nature of Islam and
its relations with the West in
history, the rise of the United
States to globalism since World
War II and its role in the Muslim
domain, and the problems with
US and Muslim approaches in
dealing with the phenomenon of
international terrorism.
The Gulf is a critical source of
global traded energy supplies,
as well as possessing a range
of specific security dynamics
and challenges, yet it also has
very weak security architecture
and is a highly penetrated subregion. This course looks at the
Gulf as a unique and specific
sub-region, and examines the
forces for continuity and change,
the interaction of domestic and
external actors and dynamics in
shaping its security environment,
the role of major external actors,
and the prospects for stability or
instability in the sub-region in the
future.
MEAS8112: Dynamics of the
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Dr Minerva Nasser-Eddine
The central focus of this
course will be the forces of
continuity and change in the
Palestinian–Israeli conflict, and
the challenges facing efforts to
sustain a viable peace process.
The course will examine the
Israeli–Palestinian conflict from
four angles:
• the search for security
and identity within national
frameworks;
• peace negotiations
• external forces, and
the Palestinian and Israeli
MEAS8114: Geopolitics of
Central Asia
Dr Kirill Nourzhanov
This course examines the roots
of contemporary geopolitical
thought, focusing on the British,
continental European, American,
and Russian contributions. It will
examine practical manifestations
of geopolitics during World War II
and the Cold War before moving
to an analysis of contemporary
conflicts in Eurasia’s southern
Muslim belt through the prism
of great power rivalry involving
China, Russia, the USA, and
other regional actors. The course
includes a survey of modern
critical approaches within the
discipline of geopolitics, which
go beyond the Realist paradigm
in explaining conflictual and
associative patterns of behaviour
of territorial states in the region.
MEAS8115: Islam in World
Politics
Dr Minerva Nasser-Eddine
This course covers the
international politics of the
Muslim world, with a special
emphasis on the Middle East
since 1945. Classical and
modern Islamic thought on
war and peace serves as the
backdrop to a consideration
of a number of themes. These
include the compatibility of Islam
and nationalism, the significance
of Islamic transnationalism, the
role of the pan-Islamic ideal,
the impact of radical networks,
and the effects of globalisation.
The course examines modern
historical & political trends to
larger concerns and theories of
international relations.
MEAS8116: Islam and
Democracy
Convenor: TBC
This course examines in
detail the debates over the
democratisation of Muslim
societies. It begins by an
examination of modern Islamic
thought and considers diverse
views of the state, authority,
pluralism, and citizenship. It
assesses the importance of
political culture and structural
factors to the emergence of
democracy. In doing so, it
critically examines essentialist
and exceptionalist assumptions
about Middle Eastern and
Muslim societies, the role of
elections, the position of Islamist
movements, the constraints on
democratic consolidation, and
the possibilities of ‘exporting’
democracy. While the course is
organised thematically, examples
are drawn from a number of
specific cases and democratic
theory is invoked in order to
relate the specificity of Muslim
societies to broader debates.
MEAS6503: Modern Turkey:
History, Culture and Regional
Relations
Convenor: TBC
Westerners prior to the
foundation of Modern Turkey
referred to the Ottoman State as
Turkey. The word Turkey was
used for a geographical region
that fell between the Balkans
and Arabia, but with no clearcut boundaries. The Balkans
and Arabia as well as much
of North Africa were once the
Ottoman lands with a continuing
Ottoman heritage and culture.
WWl marked the end of the
Ottoman Empire. The Turks
under the leadership of Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk, later the founder
of modern Turkey, fought the
War of Liberation, securing
the boundaries of the modern
Turkish Republic. Ataturk was
declared the first president of
Turkey. The new modern state
was founded following the
western model and started to
act as a bridge between the East
and the West.
Study Guide 2015 23
g r ad u ate co u r ses
This course covers the major
approaches and controversies
in the study of modern Muslim
societies and emphasises
methods of analysis and
critical thinking. While dealing
with broad themes such as
colonialism, nationalism, social
change, and globalisation, the
course evaluates the social
and political significance
of theological debates and
normative change in Islam.
In the process a range of the
major works on modern Islam,
drawn principally from the
social sciences and history but
also including the literature on
Orientalism and its critics, are
categorised and evaluated.
MEAS8120: Islam: Faith and
Community
Convenor: TBC
This course provides an
overview of the main tenets,
historical development, and
principal institutions of Islam
over the Centuries. It explores
what ‘Islam’ itself has meant,
and means, to believers and
non-believers. It assesses the
relative importance of such
factors as the ‘invention’ of
tradition, the establishment of
and challenges to legal and
political order, and the nature of
religious authority. It provides an
introduction to the controversies
and schools of thought in the
general field, considers the
interaction between doctrine
and history, and encourages the
re-examination of conventional
assumptions and a recognition
of the diversity of Muslim thought
and experience.
MEAS8122: Shi’ite Islam in
World Politics
Convenor: TBC
This course introduces the
nuances and trends that exist
in Shi’a theology as a vibrant
faith and a lesser-known branch
of Islam and the challenges it
creates or encounters in world
politics. Specifically, it will
examine the origin and historical
development of Shi’ite Islam and
its position in the wider Islamic
world. The Shi’ite theological
interpretation of the sociopolitical themes of governance
and religious authority as well
as its conceptual approach
toward modern notions such
as democracy, secularism and
globalisation will be explored. At
regional and international levels,
the course provides insights
on the major Shi’ite populated
countries in the Middle East,
namely Iran, Iraq and Lebanon,
and their religious and political
interactions and with the
wider Muslim and international
community.
MEAS8117: Islam in Central
Asia
Dr Kirill Nourzhanov
This course explores the
historical, political, social and
cultural aspects of the evolution
of Islam in Central Asia from
the 8th century to the present.
It investigates the reasons
24 Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia)
and mechanisms of Islam’s
expansion in the region as well
as its dynamic interactions with
local religious traditions and
ways of life. Rather than reducing
Islam to a homogenous, static,
and dogmatic creed, the
course analyses diverse Muslim
identities and practices across
time and space, and how
different communities of believers
have adapted Islam’s common
patterns and denominators
to survive in the frequently
challenging environment. By the
end of the semester, students
should be able to appreciate how
sixty million Muslims in Central
Asia follow their faith in terms
of ritual, intellectual discourse,
politics, and daily life.
MEAS8118: Islam in Australia
Convenor: TBC
This course presents an overview
of Muslims in Australia and
assesses the relative importance
of such factors as ethnicity,
immigration, and legal status on
their social and political roles. It
compares Muslims in Australia
to Muslims in other societies of
the West, such as Europe, and
places the Australian experience
of ‘minority Islam’ into the
larger picture of the modern
Islamic experience. It deals with
questions of multiculturalism,
reinterpreting religious traditions
in local contexts, the demands
of citizenship, the importance
of communal institutions, the
experiences of Muslim women in
a liberal society, and Australian
media representations of
Muslims and Islamic issues.
MEAS8119: Islam in Turkey
Convenor: TBC
This course examines the roles
of Islam in Turkish history and
culture throughout the centuries,
starting with the conversion of
the Turks in the eighth century.
It traces the significant role they
played in the spread of Islam,
and the broad contributions
to Islamic art, culture, and
politics that occurred with the
Seljukids and especially with the
Ottomans. Examined in detail
are the ways in which the whole
of the Balkans in Europe, the
Middle East and North Africa
came under the Ottomans’
rule, and how they managed to
hold Muslims and non-Muslims
together in one empire for six
centuries. The course also
documents the interaction of
nationalism and Islam in the
War of Independence and in the
creation of modern Turkey under
Atatürk.
from other parts of the Muslim
world.
INTR8058: The Politics of Islam
in Southeast Asia
A/Prof. Greg Fealy
ASIA6165 Islam in Southeast
Asia
A/Prof. Greg Fealy
Islam is a major element in
Southeast Asian affairs, though
academically neglected.
Muslims are the largest religious
community in Southeast Asia,
comprising about 45% of the
region's population, and Islam
is critical to understanding
political, security and cultural
developments. This course
will survey the diverse Muslim
societies in the region and
examine the complex historical,
and cultural ties between
them. It will consider the role
of 'external' forces in shaping
Muslim life in Southeast Asia as
well as considering in what ways
regional Islam may be distinctive
This course concentrates on the
History of Islam in Southeast
Asia and current political and
social issues. As a background,
students will be presented
with a general outline of the
history of Islam. The course also
examines the development of
the central institutions of Islam
in the context of that history.
Special attention will be paid to
the interaction between Islam
and Southeast Asian social,
political and religious traditions.
Attention will also be paid to new
Islamic movements elsewhere
in the Muslim world and their
implications for Southeast Asia.
Photo: Stuart Hay
MEAS8121: Approaches to
the Study of Modern Muslim
Societies
Convenor: TBC
(r to l) CAIS Director Prof. Amin Saikal with the ANU Chancellor Prof. The Hon. Gareth Evans and
the ANU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ian Young
Study Guide 2015 25
A P P L I C A T I O N P R O C E D UR E S
Coursework Degrees
Domestic Students
Domestic students (citizens and
permanent residents) can apply
for admission to the BMECAS,
MMECAS and MIMW through
the Universities Admissions
Centre (UAC).
Contact UAC:
W uac.edu.au
T + 61 2 9752 0200
If your academic qualifications
alone do not meet the admission
requirements and admission
is being sought on the basis
of a combination of academic
qualifications and relevant work
experience, you need to attach
a supporting statement and
upload your application.
Lodge your application with
UAC, paying particular attention
to UAC’s requirements for
supplying academic transcripts.
UAC will make offers throughout
their postgraduate admissions
cycle (which is open 11 months
of the year). To maximise your
chance of a timely offer, apply
by 31 October for Semester
1 admission and 28 May
for Semester 2 admission.
Applications after these dates
will be accepted. Please refer to
UAC for final closing dates.
For further information on
programs available you may
wish to check the ANU website:
programsandcourses.anu.edu.
au/
International Students
Postgraduate Coursework
applications are made online
for admission to the MMECAS,
MIMW in Middle Eastern
and Central Asian Studies
at: students.anu.edu.au/
applications/
Please attach to your completed
application form:
Copies of full academic
transcripts (originals will need to
be sighted prior to enrolment).
Evidence of English language
proficiency (or education in
English) in accordance with
Admission Requirements.
Details of work experience and
a supporting statement where
admission is sought on the basis
of a combination of an academic
qualification and relevant work
experience.
There is a $75 fee for online
international applications.
Applications and supporting
documents must be
lodged by 15 December for
commencement in February/
March the following year, OR by
15 April for mid-year entry.
You may seek further information
about the ANU at the Australian
Education Centre in your home
country: aei.gov.au/Pages/
default.aspx or students.anu.
edu.au/for/international/
Research Degrees
instance, contact the Centre
for Arab & Islamic Studies to
ascertain the suitability of their
candidature.
Applicants are asked to submit
a sample of written analytical
work and an outline of their
thesis proposal and copies of full
academic transcripts to assist
with this process.
International Students will be
asked to show evidence of
English language proficiency.
All enquiries for Higher Degrees
by Research at CAIS should be
sent to:
HDR.CAIS@anu.edu.au
Applicants proceeding to the
next level of enrolment can apply
online.
Application for both domestic
and international students:
students.anu.edu.au/
applications/
There is a $100 fee for
international student
applications.
CAIS is home to a diverse body
of research scholars. To view
the topics of current and past
scholars go to: cais.anu.edu.au/
people
Further information
If you would like to discuss any
aspect of our programs or the
application process, please do
not hesitate to contact the CAIS
program administrator:
Domestic & International
Students
E cais@anu.edu.au
Applicants enrolling in either an
MPhil or PhD should, in the first
W cais.anu.edu.au
26 Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia)
T + 61 2 61251061
A N U se r v ices & r eq u i r ements
Library Resources &
Research Facilities
The University Library comprises
three main buildings, the R G
Menzies, J B Chifley and W K
Hancock Buildings, as well as
the Law Library and five branch
libraries. Total holdings now
comprise 2,000,000 volumes,
and approximately 13,000 serial
titles are regularly received.
The R G Menzies Building
houses a substantial collection of
material on the Middle East and
Central Asia and Islam. These
have been built up through a
number of teaching and research
programs since the 1960s.
Together with the large collection
in the National Library, they
enrich the Centre with the best
data sources in the country.
Library services include access
to electronic databases, indexes
and a range of international
media resources.
The Centre has a small,
specialised library, for the use
of CAIS postgraduate students,
associates and staff.
Student Support
Services
A range of support services is
offered to students, including:
>> International Education
Office, which provides
pre-departure information
and airport pick-up; a
comprehensive orientation
program; and on-going
support and advice
>> Academic Skills & Learning
Centre
>> Accommodation Support
Services
>> Careers & Employment
Service
>> University Health Service
>> Counselling Centre
>> Computer Support Services
(IELTS), contact any IPD
Education Australia office or your
nearest British Council office
(ielts.org/default.aspx)
For the American Test of English
as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
contact:
CN6151, Princeton NJ 085416151, USA
>> Support Services for
Spouses & Families
The ANU institution code #0506.
>> International Student
Associations
Fees and Financial
Assistance
>> Religious Services for Various
Faiths
English Language
Requirements
International applicants should
note that the University requires
evidence of an adequate
standard of English. Unless
undergraduate studies were
undertaken in English in
Australia, Canada (if English
was the language of instruction),
New Zealand, the UK or the
USA, international students will
normally be required to produce
evidence of:
• an IELTS overall band score of
6.5 together with a score of at
least 6.0 in all components
or
• a minimum TOEFL score of
550 and a Test of Written English
(TWE) score of 4.
Tuition fees are adjusted annually
and are calculated on a per
course basis. The Domestic
Tuition Fee is applicable to
Australian and New Zealand
students. All other students pay
the International Student Fee.
For current fees please consult:
anu.edu.au/sas/fees/tuition_
fees_postgraduate/
International students will be
required to pay an application
fee of A$100 (hard copy) or
A$75 (online).
Higher Education Loan
Program Fee-Help
The Australian Government
loans facility for eligible students
who are enrolled in fee-paying
graduate courses.
studyassist.gov.au/sites/
StudyAssist/
TOEFL – internet based test
score of 68, with a minimum of
18 in writing.
Other Opportunities
ANU English Language Policy/
policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/
document/ANUP_000408.
anu.edu.au/sas/scholarships/
Please also refer to the funding
opportunities listed at:
For the International English
Language Testing System
Study Guide 2015 27
SCHOLARSHIPS & PRIZES
CAIS Scholarships for
PhD Studies
These 2 scholarships, awarded
every 3-4 years, are offered for
PhD Studies at CAIS on a topic
relating to the Centre’s coverage.
Eligible candidates are PhD
applicants - either domestic
or from the Middle East or
Central Asia - who meet the
ANU admission requirements.
Preference, however, will
be given to highly qualified
applicants from the Middle East
or Central Asia.
Applicants may be eligible to
apply for funding opportunities
offered through the Australian
Government or other
organisations.
Please refer to studyassist.
gov.au/sites/StudyAssist/
ScholarshipsAndAwards for
further information and eligibility
criteria for scholarships offered
by the Australian Government.
Hafez Prize
Fulbright Foundation
Scholarships (For US
Citizens)
Dr Hashem Etminan, Chief
Executive of the Iranian/Persian
Cultural Foundation in Canberra,
has generously donated a prize
for the subject of Iranian History
and Culture. The prize of $400
shall be awarded annually to
the student who achieves the
best result in Iranian History and
Culture.
iie.org/fulbright
Other Scholarships
ANU PhD Scholarships
The closing date each year
for applications is 31 August
for international students
or 31 October for domestic
students, for the main round
of scholarships commencing
in Semester 1 (February) of the
following year. There is a minor
round of mid-year scholarship,
applications for which must
be received by 31 May.
Applications for scholarships are
made on the admission form. To
apply go to:
students.anu.edu.au/
scholarships/gr/
International Applicants
There are a number of
scholarships available to
International students. For a list
go to the web link:
Prizes
Khalifa Al-Falasi Prize
This prize was established by
and named after Dr Khalifa AlFalasi, a CAIS graduate and
the former Ambassador of
the United Arab Emirates. It is
awarded to the best student for
the Master of Arts specialising
in Middle Eastern and Central
Asian Studies. The prize is
valued at $400.
Khayyam Prize
The Sa’id Foundation for the
Promotion of Persian Language
and Literature has donated a
prize of $500 to be awarded
annually to the student with
the best overall marks in
Introductory Persian Language.
anu.edu.au/graduate/
scholarships/international_only.
php
28 Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (The Middle East & Central Asia)
The Sa’id Foundation for the
Promotion of Persian Language
and Literature has donated a
prize of $500 to be awarded
annually to the student with
the best overall marks in
Intermediate Persian Language.
Hashem Etminan prize
con t ac t
The Australian National University
Building 127
Canberra ACT 0200 Australia
T 61 2 6125 4982 / 61 2 6125 1061
F 61 2 6125 5410
E cais@anu.edu.au
W cais.anu.edu.au
Director of Studies
Professor Amin Saikal
Graduate Studies Advisor - Coursework
Associate Professor Matthew Gray
Graduate Studies Advisor- Research
Dr Kirill Nourzhanov
Undergraduate Advisor
Dr Minerva Nasser-Eddine
Senior Administrator and Postgraduate Coordinator
Ms Lissette Geronimo
Administrator
Ms Pamela Lourandos
Publications
Dr Anita Mack
ANU CRICOS Provider Number: 00120C