African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian Languages and Literatures

AMESALL offers an interdisciplinary curriculum in the languages, literature and cultures of Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Study Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hindi, Urdu or Twi with us or take classes on folklore traditions, contemporary women’s writing or Bollywood cinema.

 First semester planning

We recommend that students register for approximately 15 credits each semester and no more than 16 credits in their first semester. Your schedule should be well-balanced and include coursework from a variety of subjects. A diverse schedule will help you begin your studies in potential majors and minors; explore a breadth of new knowledge across departments at Rutgers to meet SAS Core Curriculum learning goals; and survey broader academic interests through elective courses as you work to attain the required 120 degree credits for graduation.

Your schedule will look something like this: 

Major Exploration Course(s) Recommended for Incoming First-Year Students

Introductory courses recommended by faculty. Include at least one of these in your schedule:

Course recommendations beyond this department

Your first year of college is an opportunity for you to explore fields of interest to enhance your understanding of yourself, the world around you, and your main academic and career goals. Think of your schedule as including courses you must take (English, courses to explore potential majors, etc.) and courses you can take (everything else!) All courses are part of your degree - if necessary, review the components of the SAS degree on this page.

Through these degree components, you will curate your own unique educational experience - but we understand that this level of flexibility and freedom can feel overwhelming for new students. Like a recommendation based on a book or TV show you enjoyed, the information below can help you identify related courses to consider in your first semester.

Related Subjects/Departments

The Schedule of Classes provides information about the courses being offered in a particular semester. There are literally thousands of courses offered each semester at Rutgers, and you may find it helpful to narrow down your options by looking for courses in subjects related to your potential major or minor. Use the recommendations below to find possible introductory courses in other subjects. 

To find potential courses in other subjects related to this one:

1. On the Schedule of Classes, select the current term, location "New Brunswick" and level "undergraduate". Click continue.

2. In the Search By box, click the "search multple subjects" link. Select the following departments:

African Studies (016)

Comparative Literature (195)

Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (685)

World Languages (991)

3. In Section Status, deselect Closed

4. In Level of Study, deselect 300 and 400. In general, 100 and 200 are appropriate for first-year students, 300 and 400 are often more appropriate for students with more familiarity with the subject. If you are interested in registering for a 300 or 400 level course, consult with an advisor before registering. 

Review these courses for possible inclusion in your first-semester schedule, or to consider for future semesters.

Additional Information Beyond the Classroom

For your first semester, we want you to focus on selecting appropriate courses, begin to understand the expectations and rigor of college, and identify resources to help you succeed at Rutgers. But, we also know that it is important to provide information for future planning.

In addition to the information below, students interested in exploring possible career options may find this resource from the Office of Career Exploration and Success helpful - you'll find that a degree in this subject prepares you for a wide variety of career options!

What opportunities exist in the department for beyond the classroom learning (internships, research, field work, etc.)?

Study Abroad

Is there a departmental Honors track or program?

No, though students may plan to pursue an Honors’ Thesis with faculty advisor.

Please provide information on the careers obtained by recent graduates:

https://www.amesall.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/prospective-students