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 the minor 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 (ANTY 141H (ANTH 106H) 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.
R- before the course description indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R. Credits beyond this maximum do not count toward a degree.
Central & Southwest Asian Studies Program (CSWA) - Course Descriptions
146H, 241, 262, 264, 346, 368, 386, 441, 442, 457
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