Detailed Program Descriptions

General Requirements for Old Iranian

UCLA is one of the few institutions in the Americas to offer a B.A in Iranian Studies, the requirements of which are specified below.

Students majoring in Iranian Studies may combine the major with specialization in other fields to enhance their career opportunities. Due to the number of additional courses required, they are advised to consider this option early in their academic career.

Preparation for the Major

Required: Iranian 1A, 1B, 1C, or equivalent.

Transfer Students

To be admitted as Iranian Studies majors, transfer students with 90 or more units must complete the following introductory courses prior to admission to UCLA: one year of Persian.

Requirements for the Major

Required: Fourteen courses, including at least:

• 9 courses in Iranian, such as Iranian 102A, 102B, 102C; Iranian 103A, 103B; M110A, M110B, M110C; Iranian 140; Iranian 141; Iranian 142.
• 5 elective courses, such as Iranian 161A, 161B, 161C; M110A, M110B; Iranian 140; Iranian 141; Iranian 142; Iranian 120; Iranian 161A, Iranian 161B, Iranian 161C; 187A-F; A NE 150A, 150B; A NE 163; Arabic 1A, 1B, 1C; Art History 104A, 104B, 104C; Ethnomusicology 20B; History 106A, 106B, 106C; Political Science 157.

No more than two of the 14 courses may be credited through a proficiency test administered by the department. A maximum of two Iranian 199 courses (8 units total) may be applied toward the major.

Notice: The program of Iranian Studies does not offer a terminal MA. Students are only admitted to the PhD program, but shall fulfill the requirements for the MA, prior to be permitted to continue their study towards a PhD. The program of Iranian Studies allows for two tracks: Persian, which is tantamount to the Literature Emphasis, and Old Iranian, which corresponds to the Language Emphasis. Each track allows for sundry subfields for the details of which click here. Requirements are adjusted to the interests and academic goals of the students who shall define their qualifying examinations under the supervision of, and in consultation with, their primary advisor, and shall fulfill their Degree Requirements by choosing from listed Examinations schedule. Individually listed requirements may be combined with others, so that the actual number of such requirements may vary and shall depend on the decisions made by the advisor in conjunction with the students. A minimum of four Degree Requirements are required for the Literary (Persian) Emphasis, whereas five Degree Requirements are necessitated for the Language (Old Iranian) Emphasis. The Ph.D. field examinations will conform to the official rules, structure, and policy set in the UCLA Catalogue.

Degree Requirements for M.A.

A. PERSIAN (Literature Emphasis)

Languages:

(1) Persian
(2) Middle Persian
(3) Arabic

Qualifying Examinations:

(1) Persian
(2) Middle Persian
(2) Arabic
(4) Persian literature
(5) Survey of Iranian Literary Traditions

optional:
(5) Ancient Iranian History
(5) Medieval Muslim History (Pre-modern Islam)
(5) Arabic Literature

B. OLD IRANIAN (Language Emphasis)

Languages:

(1) Old Persian
(2) Western Middle Iranian
(3) Persian

Qualifying Examinations:

(1) Old Persian
(2) Western Middle Iranian
(3) Persian
(4) Survey of Iranian History
(5) Survey of Iranian Religions

optional:
(5) History of Iranian Literary Traditions

Degree Requirements for Ph.D.

A. PERSIAN (Literature Emphasis)

Languages:

(1) Persian
(2) Old Persian plus Middle Persian
(3) Arabic

Qualifying Examinations:

(1) Persian
(2) Middle Persian
(3) Arabic
(4) Persian literature
(5) Historical and Literary Background of Persian
(6) Historical and Literary Background of Languages (2) and (3)

optional:
(6) Medieval Muslim History
(6) Ancient Iranian History  

B. OLD IRANIAN (Language Emphasis)

Languages:

(1) Avestan plus Old Persian
(2) Western and Eastern Middle Iranian
(3) Persian

optional:
(3) Persian plus Arabic or Armenian or Hebrew

Qualifying Examinations:

(1) Avestan plus Old Persian
(2) Middle Iranian
(3) Persian
(4) Survey of Iranian History
(5) Survey of Iranian Religions
(6) Survey of Iranian Literary Traditions

optional:
(6) Historical and Literary Background of Persian
(6) Historical and Literary Backgrounds of Languages (3)
(6) Survey of Iranian Archaeology