The Faculty Senate at the University of Virginia voted unanimously in support of creating a Masters degree in Middle Eastern and South Asian (MESA) Studies at its last meeting of the semester on November 20.
The Senate Academic Affairs Committee, chaired by Commerce professor Robert Kemp, presented the proposal to the Senate and claimed full support of its passage.
Prior to the vote, the floor was opened for questions directed at Daniel Lefkowitz, Chair of the MESA Department. Lefkowitz explained that the Masters program will not seek additional resources and will satisfy a sufficient demand.
Given the interdisciplinary nature of MESA studies, the bulk of the graduate course of study will come from classes in other academic disciplines, from politics and history to religious studies and anthropology. Furthermore, current upper-level language courses (500-level and higher) already grant credit to graduate students.
As a result, no new faculty hires in the MESA Department will be needed.
“Introduction of masters students will be a win-win situation,” says Lefkowitz. “Graduate students will enrich their knowledge of language skills while also increasing the vitality of courses with the added interest.”
This proposal has been in the works for a couple of years. Now, with the unanimous endorsement of the Faculty Senate, the proposal will be presented to the Board of Visitors in the coming months.
