MES4035 – Methods in Middle East Studies: History, Fieldwork, Discourse Analysis, and Literature

After completing this course, you will be able to

• use various methods of data collection and analysis.
• critically assess academic work through exposure to specific research methodological approaches.
• relate and apply methodology and theory, with concrete examples.
• identify the background and rationale for using the methodologies.
• use various types of data in different media formats.

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

This course is not available for single course students.

This course is only available for students enrolled in the programme Asia and Middle East studies, programme option Middle East Studies.

The teaching is given as 12 lectures/seminars. The students are expected to participate actively with presentations and contributions during the seminars.

The seminars include the following modules:

• Historical Methods (3 seminars)
• Fieldwork (3 seminars)
• Textual Analysis (3 seminars)
• Literary Analysis (3 seminars)

Compulsory activity:

1. Compulsory attendance: You are required to attend 60% of the seminar teaching. In this course, you must attend 7 out of 12 seminars.
2. Submission of four drafts total, one for each module.
3. Compulsory E-learning course in the protection of personal data (GDPR) that is available on Canvas.

You will find more information about the requirements for the compulsory assignments and the submission deadline in Canvas.

The approved compulsory activity remains valid for the two following semesters in which the course is offered. However, exceptions may arise if the course undergoes changes in its assessment format, teaching, or other significant modifications.

All compulsory activities must be approved to qualify for the exam. It is your responsibility to verify that you have obtained approval for all compulsory activities.

Absence from compulsory activities:

This course requires at least 60% attendance. This requirement is absolute.

The absence limit should cover normal absences due to illness, etc. You will therefore not be granted a valid excused absence based on a medical certificate, even if the absence is due to circumstances for which you cannot be blamed.

In special cases, for example, in the event of serious or long-term illness, you can apply for special needs accomodations. For questions about special needs accommodations, please contact studentinfo@ikos.uio.no

• Here you will find information about compulsory activities at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam.

More information on compulsory activities at the University of Oslo:

• Common guidelines relating to compulsory activities - University of Oslo (uio.no)

Access to teaching:

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Portfolio exam.

The exam consists of a portfolio consisting of four submissions discussing methodological approaches.

The default length for each submission is approximately 1500 words, excluding bibliography, footnotes, and supplementary materials.

More information about the submissions will be shared over the course of the semester.

Detailed information regarding the exam format will be announced on Canvas.

You must submit the exam in Inspera - see guides for digital exams.

You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam.

All compulsory activities must be completed and approved in order to take the exam.

You can find more information about the exam on the semester page of the course.