GENERAL INFORMATION

Why this program? In the time between the fall of Rome and the European Renaissance, it was the Islamicate Middle East, through its stewardship of ancient wisdom as well as their innovation upon it, that fostered the eventual rebirth of scientific and philosophical inquiry in Europe. The Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Classics (MAMEC) invites a close study of the texts that influenced this time. This program centers on the great texts and authors of Jewish and Islamic civilizations – civilizations whose origins lie in the geographic region now referred to as the Middle East – and provides students with an unrivaled opportunity to engage with rich literary traditions.

This one-year, intensive program offers a curated course of study during which students will encounter questions of timeless and universal importance: What is the relationship between human and divine wisdom? What is the soul, and what does it mean to attain happiness as a spiritual being? What is beauty, and how may it be brought into our lives? What is the proper role of religion in political society? The texts constituting the MAMEC curriculum speak to these questions with exceptional clarity and profundity, and students can expect to graduate from our program with a greater understanding both of themselves and their world. 

These works are not treated as objects of mere historical curiosity, but rather as living works that are as relevant today as they were centuries ago. In reading, discussing, and contemplating these texts, students will encounter ideas that are simultaneously alien and familiar, timeless and timely. The MAMEC aims to provide students with the vital opportunity to recover a lost part of their intellectual heritage and, in doing so, discover themselves. These are among the essential aims of liberal education that undergird all of the degree-granting programs offered at St. John’s College. 

What is the curriculum? The program comprises seminars, preceptorials, and language tutorials over the course of three semesters. Throughout seminar, students will engage with works that have influenced both Jewish and Muslim philosophy, science, and literature. During the fall preceptorials students study Greek philosophy and Muslim religious texts. Spring preceptorials focus on writings by four pivotal figures – al-Fārābī, Maimonides, Ibn ‘Arabi, and Rumi. Elective preceptorials will be available during the summer semester. Language tutorials – Biblical Hebrew or Quranic Arabic – are offered in the fall and spring semesters and aim to challenge students while giving them direct access to the texts studied.

What readings are included? The following is not an exhaustive list and may be subject to change. Readings may include the Epic of Gilgamesh; selected books of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh); the Gospel of Matthew and Gospel of John; Imru’al al-Qays Muʻallaqāt; Talmudic and Midrashic texts; selections of Philo of Alexandria; works of Rābi’a; poems by Manṣūr al-Ḥallāj and al-Mutanabbī; selections from Origens, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus; al-Fārābī’s Book of Religion, Book of Letters, Enumeration of the Sciences, Attainment of Happiness, Philosophy of Plato, Philosophy of Aristotle; Ibn Gabirol’s The Fountain of Life; Plato’s Laws, Timaus; Aristotle’s Physics, Metaphysics, and On the Soul; Qur’an; Ibn Ishāq’, Life of Muhammad; Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib, The Peak of Eloquence; ‘Ali Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn The Psalms of Islam; Ferdowsi, Book of Kings;Omar Khayyám, Rubáiyát; al-Ghazali, Deliverance from Error and The Alchemy of Happiness; Judah Halevi, The Kuzari; Ibn Tufayl, Living son of the Awake; Ibn Rushd, The Incoherence of the Incoherence and The Decisive Treatise; Niẓāmī, Layla and Majnun; Attār, The Conference of the Birds; Ibn al-Farid, The Wine Od, Poetry of the Sufi Way; Moshe ben Maimon, Guide of the Perplexed; Ibn Al’ Arabi, The Ringstones of Wisdom; Rumi, Masnavi; Suhrawardi, The Philosophy of Illumination; Sa’di, The Rose Garden, The Garden; Moses de Leon, The Book of Dvine Splendor; The Divān of Hafez; Ibn Khaldūn, Prolegomena to the Study of History; Judah Loew ben Bezalel, Pathways of the World; Mullā Ṣadrā, The Elixir of the Gnostics; One Thousand and One Nights; al-Khwārizmī’s Algebra.

How does it differ from the Eastern Classics and Liberal Arts programs? The Middle Eastern Classics (MAMEC) is organized similarly to the Eastern Classics program. The program has a cohort model, and students can only start during the fall semester with full-time students completing the program in one year. Classes explore theology, philosophy, and literature throughout the year, rather than being segmented by semester as in the Liberal Arts program. There will be a seminar (5 credits), a language class (3 credits) and two 8-week preceptorials (3 credits each) during the fall and spring semesters; the 8-week summer term will have a seminar (3 credits) and a preceptorial (3 credits). In total, the program is 34 credit hours. However, unlike the Eastern Classics program, the origins of the readings in the MAMEC stem from the Middle Eastern region and focus on works of Jewish and Islamic origin. 

LOGISTICS

When will the reading list schedule be finalized and available? As of February 2025, a faculty working group is finalizing the reading schedule. It is expected to be available by June 2025.

Will there be a language component? Yes. Students will study either Biblical Hebrew or Quranic Arabic.

Will the program be online? Not at this time.

Can I go part-time? Preference in admissions will be for full-time applicants, but we may have space for a limited number of part-time students.

Is this offered in Annapolis and Santa Fe? This program will only be offered through the Santa Fe campus.

What is the cost for the program? Tuition for the program is $1,243 per credit, or $42,262 in total, billed per semester. This does not include the cost of books, student fees, or financial aid. Tuition subject to change for the 2026 cohort.

Will there be financial aid? Yes. Admitted students can apply for financial aid using the FAFSA (domestic students) or CSS Profile (international students). The College anticipates awarding a mix of need-based grants and federal loans. The Educator Grant (minimum 1/3 discount on tuition) will be available for educators.

Will housing be available? There is limited housing available for graduate students on the Santa Fe campus. We cannot reserve campus housing until after a student is admitted to the program, and even then, housing on campus cannot be guaranteed.

What is the schedule for classes? Classes will be four days a week. Language will meet Mondays and Wednesdays, 5-6:30p.m. Preceptorial will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays 4-6 p.m. Seminar will be Mondays and Thursdays, 7:30-9:30p.m. 
 

APPLICATION

What is the application process? The application process is the same as our Graduate Institute application, with the addition of one essay question. The existing expedited process will be available to alumni of the College. Please contact Raven Malliett (e: Raven.Malliett@sjc.edu, p: 505-289-2374) for more information. The application is available at the bottom of this page.

When should I apply for Fall 2025? The application portal is available at the bottom of this page. Completed applications received by our priority deadline of March 28 should receive their decision by April 15. Applications may continue to be accepted after March 28, but we encourage early submission. Admitted students will be required to make their deposit by May 15 to secure their seat in the class. Students admitted and/or remaining on a waitlist once the class has filled may defer their admission to the Fall 2026 class. These dates are subject to change. Please contact Raven Malliett (e: Raven.Malliett@sjc.edu, p: 505-289-2374) for more information and details on any aspect of the admissions process.

Who can apply for the Fall 2025 cohort? Anyone with a bachelor's degree is welcome to apply. Anyone interested in the program for Fall 2025 MUST apply using the formal application process and MUST submit all requested application materials. Applying does not guarantee admittance to the Fall 2025 cohort.

When should I apply for Fall 2026? The application for Fall 2026 will be available in September of 2025.
 

Last updated: February 28, 2025
 

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