SOSANT2110 – Regional Ethnography: Middle East
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course is an introduction to some of the central themes in the contemporary anthropology of the Middle East. We will begin the course with a brief overview of the anthropological research traditions and themes that have contributed to the construction of the Middle East as a region. The main part of the course will cover a broad range of recent and current topics that shape anthropological studies on and from the Middle East, and we will discuss on-going debates about the discipline`s place in the region.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
- Overview of the region’s contribution to anthropology
- Familiarity with recent and current trends in the anthropology of the Middle East
- Critical reflection about the history and contemporary conditions of anthropology in the region
Skills
- Competence in regional ethnography and familiarity with some main themes in the region’s contemporary anthropology
Competencies
- Ability to engage with and communicate contemporary social anthropological insights
- The ability to express arguments both verbally and in writing
- Enhance academic reading competence, which involves the critical examination of form and content in anthropological texts
Admission to the course
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.
Recommended previous knowledge
Basic knowledge in social anthropology.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2120 – Regional Ethnography: Africa (discontinued) and SOSANT2130 – Regional etnografi: Latin-Amerika (discontinued).
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2120 – Regional Ethnography: Africa (discontinued) and SOSANT2140 – Regional ethnography: East and Southeast Asia (discontinued).
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2130 – Regional etnografi: Latin-Amerika (discontinued) and SOSANT2140 – Regional ethnography: East and Southeast Asia (discontinued).
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2120 – Regional Ethnography: Africa (discontinued) and SOSANT2150 – Regional etnografi: Norden (discontinued).
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2130 – Regional etnografi: Latin-Amerika (discontinued) and SOSANT2150 – Regional etnografi: Norden (discontinued).
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2140 – Regional ethnography: East and Southeast Asia (discontinued) and SOSANT2150 – Regional etnografi: Norden (discontinued).
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2120 – Regional Ethnography: Africa (discontinued) and SOSANT2160 – Regional etnografi: Oceania (discontinued).
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2130 – Regional etnografi: Latin-Amerika (discontinued) and SOSANT2160 – Regional etnografi: Oceania (discontinued).
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2140 – Regional ethnography: East and Southeast Asia (discontinued) and SOSANT2160 – Regional etnografi: Oceania (discontinued).
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2150 – Regional etnografi: Norden (discontinued) and SOSANT2160 – Regional etnografi: Oceania (discontinued).
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2120 – Regional Ethnography: Africa (discontinued) and SOSANT2170 – Regional ethnography: Europe.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2130 – Regional etnografi: Latin-Amerika (discontinued) and SOSANT2170 – Regional ethnography: Europe.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2140 – Regional ethnography: East and Southeast Asia (discontinued) and SOSANT2170 – Regional ethnography: Europe.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2150 – Regional etnografi: Norden (discontinued) and SOSANT2170 – Regional ethnography: Europe.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2160 – Regional etnografi: Oceania (discontinued) and SOSANT2170 – Regional ethnography: Europe.
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT1101 – Regional etnografi: jordens folk og kulturelt mangfold (discontinued).
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT2120 – Regional Ethnography: Africa (discontinued).
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT2130 – Regional etnografi: Latin-Amerika (discontinued).
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT2140 – Regional ethnography: East and Southeast Asia (discontinued).
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT2150 – Regional etnografi: Norden (discontinued).
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT2160 – Regional etnografi: Oceania (discontinued).
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT2170 – Regional ethnography: Europe.
Teaching
The course is made up of a series of lectures as well as seminar groups. The course builds on active preparation and participation on the part of students.
Examination
Portfolio submission. Students will submit six short texts (150 to 300 words), one for each lecture, in addition to a longer essay (3,000 words).
Examination support material
All exam support materials are allowed during this exam. Generating all or part of the exam answer using AI tools such as Chat GPT or similar is not allowed.
Language of examination
You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem)
Oct. 16, 2026 5:50:50 PM