Studies & Degrees in Farsi Language and Literature
Choose where you would like to study Farsi Language and Literature:
IndiaIranThe United StatesAre you a post-graduate student with a deep interest in Iran, the language spoken by its people, Farsi, and the ancient and contemporary literature penned by some of the country’s most respected authors and poets? Have you considered earning a doctorate-level (PhD) degree in Farsi Language and Literature—a program now offered by a select number of universities around the globe? If so, the following information should prove quite useful. Here we will briefly discuss the PhD program in Farsi Language and Literature, providing you with a brief course description and outline, as well as the eligibility requirements for admission into the program.
Farsi Language and Literature: About the Program
The PhD degree program in Farsi Language and Literature is an in depth and very advanced course of study open to students who have earned a Master’s degree in the subject and completed the Master’s thesis as required by the university. The program typically spans five to seven years in duration, although the exact timeframe for earning the degree depends largely on the student and the institution. During the course of the program, students will complete a total of 27 courses, which typically equates to three full years of study. They must also complete a minimum of 5 units in a teaching role at the university, serving as a language assistant, course assistant, and/or lecturer—duties which usually takes place between year three to five.
Following the successful completion of all coursework and participating as a graduate assistant, all students must take and pass a series of comprehensive examinations by the end of the fourth year. If these examinations are passed, a dissertation proposal must be proffered to the faculty by the end of year five, and the successful defense of that dissertation must occur within two years of approval.
Like with all Islamic and Middle Eastern fields, PhD candidates for the Farsi Language and Literature program must achieve competence in at least two Near Eastern languages. Naturally, one of these languages must be Farsi (also called Persian), and depending on the student’s research focus, the other could be Turkish, Arabic, Aramaic, Hebrew, Armenian, Kazakh, Old Persian or Uzbek. Before taking the comprehensive examinations students must demonstrate advanced competency and proficiency in Farsi and at least intermediate competency in the secondary Near Eastern language.
Coursework and Examinations for the PhD in Farsi Language and Literature
The coursework for the PhD program in Farsi Language and Literature will address a myriad of topics, including, but not limited to:
- Pre-modern Farsi Literature
- Modern Farsi Literature
- Philology
- Farsi Linguistics
- Islamic Thought and Literature
- Islamic History and Society
- Islamic Philosophy and Political Thought
- Islamic Theology or Sufism
- And more…
The four comprehensive examinations for the Farsi Language and Literature degree will include a major exam on modern or pre-modern Farsi Language and Literature; a methodology examination to measure students’ ability to work with primary materials in Farsi and their secondary Near Eastern language; an examination on Islamic History and Society; and one minor examination. Topics for the minor examination are based on each student’s primary research area. These topics can include Islamic Art, Islamic Archaeology, Pre-modern or modern Arabic literature, pre-modern or modern Turkish literature, Early Islamic History, and Turkish, Persian, Arabic or Hebrew Philology and Linguistics, among many others.