Asian and Middle Eastern Languages and Literatures (DAMELL)

Basic Structure of the Department

• DAMELL offers courses in Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew and Japanese languages, literatures and cultures.
• DAMELL offers majors and minors in Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew or Japanese; the East Asian track (which requires the study of Japanese and Chinese); or any two of the languages offered in the department. These language/literature areas may also be modified with coursework in other departments.
• The introductory language sequences for all AMELL languages are numbered 1 (offered fall), 2 (offered winter) and 3 (offered spring). A student who wants to begin a language must begin in the fall.
• The department sponsors a Foreign Study Program for Chinese in Beijing (summer), an advanced Language Study Abroad (LSA+) for Chinese in Beijing (fall), an advanced Language Study Abroad (LSA+) for Japanese in Tokyo (summer), and a Foreign Study Program in Tangier, Morocco, for Arabic (fall).  Dartmouth also offers Exchange Programs in Japan at Keio University in Tokyo (full year), and at Kanda University in Makuhari, Chiba, Japan (fall, spring or full year), and a Korea Exchange Program at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea (fall).
• If a student wants to participate in an FSP or an LSA+, s/he should begin planning early.  Introductory language sequences in AMELL can only be started in the fall quarter, and the other prerequisites for DAMELL's off-campus study programs are only offered once a year.  See the Off-Campus Programs office for information and application.
• NOTE: Some prerequisites and required language courses for AMELL majors are not offered on-campus, only on the department's off-campus programs. These include Japanese 23, a prerequisite for the Japanese Major, and Arabic 31 -32, required for the Arabic Major.  Chinese 23 is offered on-campus during the spring term (as part of the Chinese 4-22-23 sequence), as well as on the FSP and LSA+.  Students are strongly advised to participate in the FSP and/or LSA+

Courses for the Student with Little or No Background Who Wants to Explore the Literatures and  Cultures of Asia and the Middle East

• AMEL 17: Discourse, Culture and Identity in Asia and the Middle East
• ARAB 10, CHIN 10, JAPN 10, HEBR 10, and AMES 11/KORN 10 are general introductions to the designated cultures.
• Courses numbered 61, 62, 63 literature-in-translation courses that introduce students to various topics and themes in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew, and Korean literatures and cultures. They do not have prerequisites.

Advice for the First-Year Student Who Plans on Pursuing Studies in DAMELL

• Students are encouraged to begin the language study as early as possible. A student who wants to begin a language can only begin in the fall.
• Prerequisites are as follows:
  • Prerequisite for the Morocco FSP: Two of the following language courses: ARAB 21 (fall), 22 (winter), 23 (spring); and ARAB 10 (winter).
  • Prerequisite for the China FSP: CHIN 3 (third term of the first year) or CHIN 4 (fall only, equivalent of 1-2-3) and 10 (winter)
  • Prerequisite for the Japan LSA+: JAPN 3 and 10 (both offered in spring only)
  • Prerequisite for the majors: ARAB 3, HEBR 3, CHIN 23 (offered on FSP and LSA+, and on campus), JAPN 23 (only offered on LSA+).

Other Information

• Any questions about the department can be addressed to Gerard Bohlen (department administrator) or Professor Susan Blader (department chair).

Current Enrollments, Class Size, and Distributives

The ORC

The DAMELL home page