Bachelor of Arts Persian Studies

Lead Faculty: Dr. Ramin Sarraf

The Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Persian Studies consists of intensive proficiency-oriented coursework in Persian language acquisition, as well as instruction in essential knowledge and understanding of history, culture, geography, and politics of the Persian speaking countries. The program prepares students for a variety of career paths in government, military, business, and education.

Requirements

To receive the Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Persian Studies, students must complete at least 180 quarter units as listed below, 45 of which must be completed in residence at National University, and 76.5 of which must be completed at the upper-division level.  The following courses are degree requirements.  In the absence of transfer credit, general electives may be necessary to satisfy the total units required for the degree.  Students should refer to the section on undergraduate admission requirements for specific information regarding admission and evaluation.  If the foreign language requirement is not completed in General Education, the equivalent must be completed as preparation for the Persian Studies major, or by testing or by coursework equivalent preparation.

Program Outcomes
A graduate of the Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Persian Studies will demonstrate:

• An advanced proficiency in Persian listening, speaking and reading.
• A command of both formal/written and informal/spoken Persian.
• A satisfactory knowledge of the language for translating and interpreting to and from Persian.
• An operational knowledge of Persian vocabulary and grammar.
• An understanding of major aspects of Persian culture and civilization from pre-Islamic times to the present.
• A general familiarity with the history of Iran.
• A basic familiarity with Islam and its influence on Iran.
• Familiarity with modern issues in regards to Iran.

Preparation for the Major (9 courses; 28.5 quarter units):
PRS 100 - Beginning Persian I * (Co-requisite: PRS 100A)
PRS 100A - Beginning Persian I Lab (1.5 quarter units)
  (Co-requisite:PRS 100)
PRS 101 - Beginning Persian II *
  (Prerequisites: PRS 100/100A) (Co-requisite: PRS 101A)
PRS 101A - Beginning Persian II Lab (1.5 quarter units)
  (Prerequisites: PRS 100/100A)  
 (Co-requisite: PRS 101)
PRS 200 - Intermediate Persian I *
  (Prerequisites: PRS 101/101A) (Co-requisite: FAS 200A)
PRS 200A - Intermediate Persian I Lab (1.5 quarter units)
  (Prerequisites: PRS 101/101A) (Co-requisite: PRS 200)
PRS 201 - Intermediate Persian II *
  (Prerequisites: PRS 200/200A)  (Co-requisite: PRS 201A)
PRS 201A - Intermediate Persian II Lab (1.5 quarter units)
  (Prerequisites: PRS 200/200A) (Co-requisite: PRS 201)
LIT 100 - Introduction to Literature * (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)

* May be used to meet General Education requirements

Requirements for the Major (11 courses, 43.5 quarter units):
PRS 300 - Advanced Persian I
  (Prerequisites: PRS 201/201A) (Co-requisite: PRS 300A)
PRS 300A - Advanced Persian I Lab (1.5 quarter units)
  (Prerequisites: PRS 201/201A)
 (Co-requisite: PRS 300)
PRS 301 - Advanced Persian II
  (Prerequisites: PRS 300/300A) (Co-requisite: PRS 301A)
PRS 301A - Advanced Persian II Lab (1.5 quarter units)
  (Prerequisites: PRS 300/300A)
 (Co-requisite: PRS 301)
PRS 400 - Advanced Persian Conversation (Prerequisites: PRS301/301A)
SOC 362 - Persian Culture (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
HIS 339 - History of the Middle East 600-1600
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
HIS 342 - Modern History of the Middle East (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
PHL 332 - Religion of Islam (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
POL 410 - Middle Eastern Politics (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
LIT 320 - Contemporary Persian Literature in Translation
  (Prerequisite: LIT 100)

Upper-Division Electives (7 courses, 31.5 quarter units)
Choose seven courses from the following lists.

GLS 430 - The Global Economy (Prerequisite: ENG 240)
HIS 431 - The Ancient World (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101 and HIS 233)
HIS 434 - The Modern World, 1500 to the Present
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101 and HIS 234)
LIT 463 - 20th Century World Literature (Prerequisite: LIT 100)
PHL 320 - Comparative Religion (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
POL 340 - Comparative Politics (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
SOC 328 - Intercultural Thinking and Creativity
  (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
PRS 350 - Fundamentals of Persian Translation
  (Prerequisites: PRS 301/301A)
SOC 423 - Iranian Cinema (Prerequisites: ENG 100/101)
POL 415 - Petroleum and the Persian Gulf

Program Information

• Send to a Friend