The University of Montana has emerged as a national and international leader in recognizing the significance of Central and Southwest Asia, and translating that awareness into a major academic program. The program builds on significant faculty experience and expertise in the region, and includes scholars from a variety of academic disciplines. The program has also organized intensive summer language training programs at UM, as well as summer study tours for K-12 teachers to Central Asia, and also hosts an annual conference that brings leading scholars, diplomats, analysts, and journalists to the UM campus.
The University of Montana offers an undergraduate major as well as a Minor in Central and Southwest Asian Studies. Arabic, Chinese, Persian, Russian and Turkish language instruction are also offered. Faculty exchanges have been organized with universities in China, Egypt, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Russia and Tajikistan.
| First Year | A | S |
|---|---|---|
| CSWA 146 H Silk Road (Anthropology106H/History 146H) | 3 | - |
| WRIT 101 (ENEX 101) Composition | 3 | - |
| Languages (First Year)(Arabic OR Chinese OR Persian OR Russian) | 5 | 5 |
| Math General Education requirement | 3 | |
| General Education Electives (Groups IV, V, VII, VIII, IX, XI)* | 4 | 7 |
| Total | 15 | 15 |
| Second Year | A | S |
| Three 200-level Central and Southwest Asian Studies (CSWA) courses. | 3 | 6 |
| Languages (Second Year)(Arabic OR Chinese OR Persian OR Russian)WPE (Writing Proficiency Examination) | 5± | 5± |
| General Education Electives (Groups IV, V, VII, VIII, IX, XI)* | 7 | 4 |
| Total | 15 | 15 |
| Third Year | A | S |
| Three upper level courses in Central and Southwest Asian Studies courses (CSWA) (300 level or above) | 3 | 6 |
| Upper Division Electives(Third and Fourth Year language study strongly encouraged) | 12 | 9 |
| Total | 15 | 15 |
| Fourth Year | A | S |
| Capstone Requirement: CSWA/ANTH/HSTR 441(HIST 110): Seminar Central Asia OR CSWA 496: Independent Study (Twenty-five page research paper) Either course fulfills the Upper Division Writing Requirement in the Major | 3 | |
| Upper Division Electives | 15 | 12 |
| Total | 15 | 15 |
± Some languages may require 4 credits at the sophomore level.
* See General Education section in the catalogue.
Central & Southwest Asian Studies Program (CSWA)
Department of Anthroplogy
Department of Anthropology
Department of History
Requirements for a Minor in Central and Southwest Asia
The Central and Southwest Asian Studies Minor is available to all students. It consists of eighteen credits. Students selecting the minor are required to successfully complete HSTR 146 (HIST106)/ANTH 106H/AS 106H and six credits in foundational Central and Southwest Asian Studies courses (200-level courses). Students must then complete nine credits of additional course work at the 300- or 400- level. No language courses are required; however, students pursuing theminor are strongly encouraged to meet he University-wide general education foreign language competency requirement by completing at least the second semester of one of the following languages (100 level or higher): Chinese, Persian, Arabic, Turkish or Russian. Participation in a study-abroad program is strongly recommended.
To earn a minor in Central and Southwest Asian Studies, students must successfully complete 18 credits as follows:
1. Three credits: The Silk Road - Central and Southwest Asian Studies 106 (ANTH106H or HSTR 146H (HIST 106H)).
2. Six credits in approved 200-level foundational Central and Southwest Asian Studies courses
3. Nine credits in approved 300 or 400-level Central and Southwest Asian Studies courses.
In addition, it is expected that students will study one of the following languages: Turkish, Persian, Arabic, Russian or Chinese.
A list of approved Central and Southwest Asian courses is available from advisors.
Central & Southwest Asian Studies Program
U 146H The Silk Road 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Same as HSTR 146H (HIST 106H) and ANTH 106H. Introduction to the study of the human communities, cultures, and economies in Central and Southwest Asia along the ancient four thousand mile-long Silk Road.
U 241 Central Asia: Peoples and Environments 3 cr. Offered autumn. Same as HSTR 241 (HIST 214S) and ANTH 214. Introduction to Central Asia's history, culture and ways of thinking. Focus on the political and social organization of Central Asia and cultural changes as expressed in art and interactions with China, India and the Middle East.
U 262 Islamic Civilization: The Classical Age 3 cr. Offered autumn. Same as HSTR 262 (HIST 283H) and ANTH 283. A concise history of the Islamic world from the 6th century to the fall of the Abbasid Empire in the 13th century, focusing primarily on the teachings of Islam and the causes for the rapid expansion of the Islamic empire.
U 264 Islamic Civilization: The Modern Era 3 cr. Offered spring. Same as HSTR 264 (HIST 284H) and ANTH 284H. History of the Islamic world and particularly the Persian, Arabic, and Turkish speaking lands between 1453 and 1952.
U 346 Central Asia and Its Neighbors 3 cr. Offered spring. Same as HSTR 347 (HIST 346) and ANTH 346. Analysis of the human communities and cultures of Central and Southwest Asia, with particular emphasis on the importance of relationships with neighboring countries and civilizations since ancient times.
U 368 Iran Between Two Revolutions 3 cr. Offered spring. Same as ANTH 387. The socioeconomic, political, and cultural causes which resulted in the transformation of the Iranian society from a traditional Islamic entity to a modern secular state and the factors which led to the downfall of the secular state and the establishment of an Islamic republic.
U 386 Nationalism in Modern Middle East 3 cr. Offered autumn. Same as HSTR 386H (HIST 386H) and ANTH 386H. The several intellectual traditions and philosophies some ephemeral and visionary, most eclectic and confused, and virtually all conflicting that are usually believed to underlie the varying concept of Iranian and Arab nationalism in the 20th century.
UG 441 Central Asia Seminar 3 cr. Offered spring. Same as HSTR 441 (HIST 462) and ANTH 460. Advanced analysis of the historical and contemporary issues involving the human communities, cultures, and economies in Central and Southwest Asia.
UG 442 Cities and Landscapes of Central Asia 3 cr. Offered autumn. Same as HSTR 442 (HIST 402) and ANTH 462. Analysis of the main centers of civilization and culture, rich sites and monuments of Central Asia and Southwest Asia since ancient times.
UG 457 Artistic Traditions of Central and Southwest Asia 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Same as HSTR 459 (HIST 457) and ANTH 461. Analysis of the study of human artistic creativity and scientific innovations of various cultures in Central and Southwest Asia since ancient times.
FACULTY
Donald Bedunah, Ph.D., Texas Tech University, 1981
Samir Bitar, M.I.S., The University of Montana, 2009
Timothy Bradstock, Ph.D., Harvard University, 1984
Zhen Cao, Ed.D., The University of Montana, 1997
Robert H. Greene, Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2004
Louis D. Hays, Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1966
Marc Hendrix, Ph.D., Stanford University, 1992
Khaled Huthaily, Ed.D., The University of Montana, 2008
Ardi Kia, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1988
Mehrdad Kia, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1986
Ona Renner-Fahey, Ph.D., Ohio State University, 2003
Bharath Sriraman, Ph.D., Northern Illinois University, 2002
Clint Walker, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 2006