The M.A. studies program is conducted on one of two tracks: with or without a thesis. The first track, which lasts maximum three years, is obligatory for students who are interested in continuing their studies for a Ph.D. degree. If the student is not interested in doing a Ph.D. degree, it is recommended to choose the second track (the studies here last two years only).
Students who decide to choose the second track, and later on prefer to pursue a Ph.D. degree, should at first write a shorter thesis, study additional courses, and if successful, they are permitted to start working towards their Ph.D. degree.
Students who obtained their B.A. certificate from another university, in which the teaching language is not Hebrew, and intend to pursue the M.A. degree at Haifa University, should first pass a Hebrew-language test conducted by the University of Haifa.
The Chair of the M.A. committee at the department is Dr. Ibrahim Geries.
MA Program Structure
The MA program has two tracks: Master's with thesis (3 years) and Master's without thesis (2 years). The thesis track includes writing a thesis in one of the following fields: Arabic grammar and syntax, Arabic dialectology, modern and classical Arabic literature and prose, Arabic cinema and theater, Islamic law, exegeses of the Koran and Muslim mysticism. All students are required to participate in research seminar and must acquire reading skills in a European language: either French or German.
Master's with thesis: Students are required to accumulate 32 semester hours during their first two years. The third year is dedicated to writing the thesis.
The courses in this track are dividing as follows:
- 16 semester hours: Level 4 elective courses that are open only to MA students.
- 4 semester hours: seminar
- 12 semester hours: Level 3 elective courses from other departments (courses that open only to third year BA students). Students generally choose courses in which they are interested and that are related to their thesis.
In the second semester of their first year of study, students must also hand in a "declaration of academic intent" to the MA committee that describes the field of study they have chosen and their supervisor. A thesis proposal is submitted by the end of the second semester and no later than the third semester of their studies.
The thesis constitutes 45% of students' final grade; two seminars 20% and the courses 35% comprise the rest of their grade.
Master's without thesis: Students are required to accumulate 36 semester hours which are divided as follows:
- 20 semester hours: Level 4 elective courses that are open only to MA students.
- 4 semester hours: seminar
- 12 semester hours: Level 3 elective courses from other departments (courses that open only to third year BA students).
At the end of their studies the students must take a final exam, which constitutes 30% of the final grade (in addition to 30% for three seminars and 40% for the courses).